July 4, 2025

The following is a press release:

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) expects this year's COP30 climate conference to catalyse the engagement of local and regional governments in accelerating socially just climate action. In a debate with Ana Toni, CEO of the Brazilian COP30 presidency, and European Parliament's ENVI Committee chair Antonio Decaro, members stressed that in the current geopolitical context the climate transition must remain a priority, and that local and regional action is more important than ever to ensure long-term economic resilience and energy security.

The CoR plenary session adopted on 3 July an opinion led by Nadia Pellefigue (FR/PES), Vice-President of the Occitanie region, outlining EU cities and regions' key messages for the UNFCCC COP30 climate conference which will take place in Belém (Brazil) from 10 to 21 November. It emphasises that the EU's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which sets out the EU’s commitments and has to be submitted ahead of the COP30, should recognise the leadership and responsibilities of local and regional authorities, consider local and regional socio-economic circumstances and ensure support for all sectors of the economy to foster Europe’s transition, sustainability and competitiveness. Local and regional authorities should also have a more formal role in EU climate planning and governance structures, including in sectoral legislation that will follow the 2040 target proposal published by the European Commission yesterday.

The Committee is calling on the EU and all Parties of the Paris Agreement to support subnational climate diplomacy and cooperation between cities and regions at global level. It recalls that despite some national governments backtracking on climate commitments and the United States’ regrettable withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, subnational authorities across the world stand committed to climate targets.

Regions and cities also urged to tackle the financing gap for climate mitigation and adaptation at local and regional level. The opinion highlights that cities and regions are not merely implementing policies but actively shaping markets for clean industrial solutions and therefore must be equipped with the financial tools to deliver the green transition. It further underlines the importance of stable and constant regulatory frameworks for businesses to continue investing in clean technologies.

To improve resilience against severe and more frequent climate disasters, the Committee underlines the need to integrate local knowledge and nature-based solutions in adaptation strategies, including in the National Adaptation Plans. With the COP30 taking place in the Amazonia, local and regional leaders believe that Brazil is well placed to support efforts to align climate adaptation with nature restoration and preservation and strengthen the nature-climate nexus.

Finally, EU cities and regions stress that a formal decision on Just Transition Work Programme at the COP30 is essential for ensuring a fair and equitable transition to a climate-neutral economy. It should establish clear funding pathways, integrating just transition policies in the NDCs and prioritizing direct financial access for local and regional governments to implement transition strategies effectively.

Quotes:

Nadia Pellefigue (FR/PES), Vice-President of the Occitanie region and rapporteur of the CoR opinion: "The key point of the opinion is that cities and regions are with their citizens in addressing climate change – and the current situation shows that we need achieve ambitious climate targets. If EU cities and regions get the necessary instruments and support, the EU as a whole will not have to rely on carbon credits or non-EU reduction projects, because we will be able to meet our 90% CO2 reduction by 2040 based on our own strength and innovation."

Antonio Decaro (IT/S&D), Chair of the European Parliament's ENVI Committee: "In a world marked by deep uncertainty, one thing remains indisputable: the reality of climate change. At this crucial moment, the European Union must take a leading role. Following the position of the United States on the Paris Agreement, many now look to the EU as a point of reference for climate action. And Europe cannot afford to turn a blind eye or to question its own commitments. Local and regional authorities are key interlocutors for the European Parliament, because they hold in their hands the fate of the people and communities they represent. Our ability to engage in dialogue and work together will determine whether we can influence environmental choices and policies that balance protecting our planet with business competitiveness and the development of our regions."

Ana Toni, CEO of the Brazilian COP30 presidency: “COP30 must represent a turning point to implementation and bring forward the solutions from all stakeholders: countries, cities, regions, business, investors, and civil society. Local authorities are first responders, and both bear the costs of inaction in extreme heat, floods and fires, but also hold great solutions that benefit people and economies. Brazil has acknowledged the crucial role of multilevel action in its own NDC. We now count on the leadership of Europe to bring forward an ambitious NDC, building on its 2040 targets and engaging all actors to accelerate implementation. We must more than ever work together in a spirit of a global ‘Mutirão’ against climate change.”

More information:

Photos and video from the CoR plenary debate

The European Commission proposed on 2 July an amendment to the EU Climate Law, setting a 2040 EU climate target of 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 1990 levels. The CoR President Kata Tüttö and First Vice-President Juanma Moreno welcomed the proposal but warned that structural cuts to the EU funding for regions and cities risk undermining the target.

The UNFCCC COP30 will take place in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November. Parties of the Paris Agreement are required to submit updated targets – called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – by September 2025.

On November 3-5, Brazilian COP30 presidency and Bloomberg Philantropies are organising the Local Leaders Forum in Rio on 3-5 November, gathering representatives of local and regional governments worldwide. Held just days before the COP30 World Leaders Summit and official negotiations, the Forum will highlight how bold local policies can improve lives while advancing global climate goals.

Contact:

Lauri Ouvinen

Tel. +32 473 536 887

lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu