The chain of events of the past 2020 related to the health of the planet and people demonstrated that we must continue to raise regions’ voice on issues related to higher climate ambition, increased efforts to ensure biodiversity conservation, and accelerated action to achieve the global goals on sustainable development from a multilevel governance approach.

In this context, Regions4 and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) will continue to collaborate to enhance international cooperation through the 2021-2022 Action Plan approved at the 200th Meeting of the European Committee of The Regions Bureau last December.  

Through this new collaboration, Regions4 and CoR will continue to seek synergies, enhance good practices, increase political advocacy, and contribute to policy recommendations on sustainable development, working alongside regional governments.   

The actions proposed for 2021 and 2022 will mainly focus on:

  • Participating in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework process led by the Convention on Biological Diversity and at COP15.
  • Contributing to a balanced approach between climate adaptation and mitigation at regional level through the participation at COP26 and related fora.
  • Supporting the efforts towards the EU climate neutrality by 2050 by Local and Regional Authorities.
  • Fostering a territorial approach to the localisation of SDGs to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

The strategic alliance between Regions4 and the CoR will also serve to contribute to the future EU strategy on SDGs, biodiversity, and climate action, engaging with the wider community of regional governments.

Regions4 Secretary General, Iñaki Susaeta, said: “We welcome this strategic alliance, and we look forward to further engaging with the CoR and its members. Thanks to their proximity to their territories and their specific competences, regional authorities are better prepared to promote innovative actions on the ground and raise the bar for the global ambition and leadership. As organisations of regional governments, we must continue to promote their key role in the implementation of the Global Goals and demand a meaningful participation within the EU and United Nations systems.”