Regions call for more support to address climate emergency at local and global level

After the floods in Spain that claimed more than 200 human lives and other climate disasters that have caused significant damage across Europe in the recent months, local and regional leaders have highlighted the importance of cohesion policy funds for boosting resilience and developing adaptation measures at local level. Furthermore, with the negotiations at the COP29 climate conference reaching the crucial final days, the members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) urged for an ambitious outcome ensuring support for climate action locally and globally.

The CoR plenary session started today with a minute of silence for the victims of flooding in Spain, and with statements by the presidents of the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia and Catalonia that were most affected by the floods. Their interventions underlined the need to improve coordination between different levels of government and urged for more support from the EU to the affected people and territories, as well as to other regions and cities to boost their resilience against the deadly impacts of climate change.

On Thursday, the CoR will adopt an urgent resolution on Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE) and EAFRD measures to aid Member States affected by natural disasters. It calls on the European Commission to urgently propose genuine additional resources for the affected regions, and to allocate more resources to reinforce the preparedness and the resilience of regions and municipalities in the next multiannual EU budget.

President Vasco Alves Cordeiro, who led the CoR delegation to the COP29 in Baku last week, expressed his solidarity with the victims of the tragedy in Spain and stressed that preparedness to deal with the climate crisis should be at the forefront of our action. Members who attended the COP29 took the floor at the plenary session, with the President of Andalusia Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla (ES/EPP) intervening from Baku. Ahead of the crucial final days of the negotiations and with some national governments threatening to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the delegation recalled the importance of local and regional governments in the fight against climate change and called to ensure sufficient financing for them at global level.

The assembly of EU regions and cities also adopted fresh recommendations for the renewal of the EU's climate policy. The opinion prepared by Markku Markkula (FI/EPP), President of Helsinki Region, calls for the new European Commission to lead a systematic transformation where cities and regions have a leading role in accelerating innovation, engaging citizens for change and promoting sustainable production and consumption habits. It also underscores the necessity of establishing new mechanisms to mobilize substantial private investment and to enhance the effectiveness of EU's cohesion and R&I funding in supporting climate initiatives for both mitigation and adaptation.

Quotes:

Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions and Member of the Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores: "The worst natural disaster to hit Spain in a century represents a tragic reminder of the challenge that the climate crisis poses for all of us. Local and regional authorities are the closest to our citizens, and we are the first ones to respond to emergencies. In COP29, the Committee of the Regions leveraged subnational governments' role in climate policy development and implementation, placing climate adaptation at the center stage, because we know that preparedness to deal with the climate crisis should be at the forefront of our action."

Carlos Mazón Guixot (ES/EPP), President of the Autonomous Region of Valencia: "The Valencia region has been victim of one the worst natural disasters that Spain has known throughout its most recent history. There is no alternative to the solidarity that has been part of the European project since its beginning. The people of the province of Valencia cannot feel alone at this moment: they must start seeing the results of our decisions and actions as soon as possible. Above all, they must have the certainty and guarantee that Europe will not leave them to their fate."

Emiliano García-Page (ES/PES), President of Castilla-La Mancha: "We are all potential victims of climate disasters. What may now sound like a call from someone who is suffering is a collective reflection on what can happen to Europe as a whole, or to any of us. We are asking for solidarity and help. When reflecting on the flexibility of cohesion funds and NextGenerationEU, it should be made possible to establish rapid mechanisms against emergencies. There is a European contingency fund that must be put in place, but there is also need for other mechanisms."

Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla (ES/EPP), President of Andalusia and member of the CoR delegation to the COP29 (intervening in direct from Baku): "The emergencies arising from climate change are intense and frequent, and their effects tragic. It is necessary to strengthen the regions' capacity to act, their competences and their financial allocations, to provide them with more support and to make them more resilient against the risks. However, the commitment on mitigation must remain firm. More national governments need to involve their subnational governments in climate action plans ahead of next year's COP30 in Belém, Brazil."

Salvador Illa Roca (ES/PES), President of Catalonia: "We need to strengthen mechanisms for cooperation between administrations at all levels to deal with emergencies such as the recent floods in Spain. Catalonia is committed to addressing the climate emergency. Addressing climate change is not a choice, it is our duty. Every day we see the tragic consequences of denialist speeches."

Markku Markkula (FI/EPP), rapporteur of the opinion on The future of EU climate policy: aligning mitigation targets and adaptation challenges: "The imperative to achieve climate neutrality and resilience transcends environmental concerns; it is crucial for the vitality of the European Union, touching on every aspect of our future - from industrial strength and competitiveness to self-sufficiency, security, and societal well-being. This encompasses health, employment, and both urban and rural policies. What the EU requires now is not incremental change but a sweeping, Europe-wide systemic transformation. This shift must be underpinned by innovative, multi-level leadership that inspires every stakeholder to engage from their unique vantage point. This can only be achieved through robust public-private cooperation in research, development, and innovation, integrating technology-neutral and nature-based solutions."

More information:

The floods in Spain in the end of October caused the deaths of 226 people in the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia, with 14 people still missing. The region of Valencia was by far the most affected with 216 deaths. The President of Valencia Carlos Mazón intervened remotely from Valencia. The Presidents of Castilla-La Mancha and Catalonia attended the plenary session in Brussels.

President Cordeiro and six other members attended the COP29 climate conference in Baku last week. The CoR launched there a new study on financing mechanisms for climate adaptation at local level. It presents recommendations for overcoming barriers cities and regions face in accessing both public and private finance for climate adaptation. Earlier today, the President of Andalusia Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla represented the CoR at the ministerial meeting on climate and urbanization at the COP29.

EU regions and cities at the COP29:

· Flash report 15 & 16 November

· Flash report 13 & 14 November

· Flash report 11 & 12 November

· Photo gallery: CoR delegation at the COP29

· COP29 liveblog

· CoR delegation and political messages to the COP29 (brochure)

Contact:

Lauri Ouvinen
Tel. +32 473536887
[email protected]

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