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Regions and cities on the road to Copenhagen
19.08.2009, 11:19
Next December, negotiators from across the world will meet
in Copenhagen to decide on a successor to the UN's Kyoto Protocol on
reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Swedish Presidency of the EU
will lead the European Union delegation to the so-called COP15 talks,
and the Committee of the Regions (CoR) will play its part in ensuring
that the key role of local and regional authorities in both reducing
emissions and coping with the effects of climate change is taken on
board.
The CoR has widely debated this issue over the last few years, and in June 2009 adopted a political resolution underlining the key areas where sub-national authorities have a significant influence on climate change policies. In the resolution - the CoR's 'message' to the COP15 negotiators - the Committee emphasises in particular that the Copenhagen protocol will only succeed in reducing the threat from climate change if local and regional authorities are involved in every stage - not merely in adapting to climate change but also in mitigating its threat.
Local and regional authorities have the power to act in several key areas where a significant reduction in greenhouse gases can be achieved, from introducing 'greener' public transport, encouraging car sharing or developing a network of cycle lanes, to improving recycling facilities and take-up, and introducing requirements for energy efficiency in all public buildings. The CoR resolution emphasises the work of the many cities and communities that have signed the Covenant of Mayors, a binding commitment to go beyond the EU's current target of a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
The resolution also stresses that in order to continue to play their part in the collective measures to tackle climate change, regions and local authorities need to have sufficient support - both political and financial - from national and European leaders. Without this, the CoR resolution argues, the vital work of implementing climate change measures on the ground will be undermined. The resolution also repeats the message of various CoR opinions on climate change - that the issue cannot be dealt with isolation but that climate change adaptation and mitigation must be part of all EU policies if Europe is to continue to take the global lead in fighting global warming.
Source: www.cor.eu