On 19th of October, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, at MR7 at the venue of the Habitat III Conference, Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana “Benjamin Carrion, members and partners of the RegionsAdapt Initiative will gather to showcase their adaptation efforts and explain their contributions to build urban and territorial resilience. The event will be organized by nrg4SD, Secretariat of the initiative, together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the World Centre for Sustainable Development (RIO+Centre). 

The event advocates for a comprehensive approach that values horizontal and vertical integration among different levels of governance while facing climate adaptation. “To promote resilient cities, it´s crucial to go beyond city boundaries, and work on multi-level governance structures. This is the case, for example, when it comes to addressing food security, preserving water bodies in the light of climate change impacts or integrating pertinent issues at an urban-rural and metropolitan scales.” says Joan França, RegionsAdapt project manager and member of the secretariat of nrg4SD – Network of Regional Governments for sustainable development. 

Initiatives focused on climate adaptation at the level of states and regions, such as the RegionsAdapt, promote learning and exchanges on several topics that are crucial to the promotion of urban resilience, for example, on water management, sustainable agriculture, forestry and biodiversity conservation, disaster risk reduction, social and economic impacts and opportunities. 

Among the panelists will be the governments of Rio de Janeiro, Basque Country, Esmeraldas, and more.

About RegionsAdapt

RegionsAdapt is a global initiative for regional governments to take action, cooperate and report efforts in climate adaptation. Commissioned by the governments of Catalonia and Rio de Janeiro, it has the nrg4SD serving as its Secretariat, and CDP and The Climate Group as its endorsing partners.

By signing the commitment, RegionsAdapt participants accept to: 

• Adopt a strategic approach to adaptation and prioritize adaptation actions within two years of joining the initiative;
• Take concrete action on adaptation in at least one of the key priority areas identified by the regions; and
• Report data on the progress of the adaptation actions on an annual basis through the risk and adaptation section of CDP’s states and regions platform. 

By joining the initiative, RegionsAdaptwill assist states, regions and provinces to:
• Track adaptation plans and strategies across the globe,
• Accelerate the adoption or revision of regional climate adaptation plans and strategies,
• Promote concrete actions,
• Cooperate and share best practices, and
• Report progress towards adaptation targets.

List of new participants:Australian Capital Territory (Australia), Azuay (Ecuador), Basque Country (Spain), British Columbia (Canada), California (USA), Catalonia (Spain), Ceará (Brazil), Fatick (Senegal), Goiás (Brazil), Gossas (Senegal), Jalisco (Mexico), KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), Lombardia (Italy), Parana (Brazil), Prince Edward Island (Canada), Québec (Canada), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), Saint Louis (Senegal), São Paulo (Brazil), South Australia (Australia), Sud-Comoé (Ivory Coast), Tocantins (Brazil), Tombouctou (Mali), Vermont (Canada), Wales (UK), Western Province (Sri Lanka), Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer (Morocco), Fès-Meknès (Morocco), Dakhla-Oued Ed Dahab (Morocco), Kaffrine (Senegal), Chaco Tarijeño (Bolivia), Central Departament (Paraguay), Amambay (Paraguay), Cordillera (Paraguay), Santander (Colombia), Risaralda (Colombia), Caldas (Colombia), O’Higgins (Chile), Araucanía (Chile), Pastaza (Ecuador), Napo (Ecuador), Morona Santiago (Ecuador), Cerro Largo (Uruguay), Cusco (Peru), Roraima (Brazil), Canary Island (Spain), Reunion Island (France).

Regional associations who also signed: 

– AJUDEPA (Asociacion de Juntas Departamentales del Paraguay)
– ANCORE (Asociacion de Consejeros Regionales de Chile)
– ANGR (Asamblea Nacional de Gobiernos Regionales de Peru)
– CONGOPE (Consorcio de Gobiernos Autónomos Provinciales del Ecuador) 

To know more about how to join RegionsAdapt, please get in touch with regionsadapt@nrg4sd.org or go to the website.

About Habitat III Conference 

The Conference that is organized every 20 years will gather this time in the city of Quito, Ecuador, between 17-20 October, 2016. During the opportunity, Member-States and stakeholders, with special attention to Local and Regional Governments, will discuss the main challenges and opportunities of an always increasing urbanization. As a result, it will be adopted the New Urban Agenda, an action-oriented outcome document, which envisages to drive sustainability in the urban scenario. 

Several side and networking events will be organized alongside the Conference’s main plenary sessions. Considering the crucial relevance in the participation of subnational authorities in this agenda, nrg4SD members and other representatives will join different activities in Quito. In addition to the RegionsAdapt networking event, it should be highlighted: 

– Sunday 16 October, Second World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments for the New Urban Agenda, 14.30-18.30h “Agora room” at the UN Conference venue Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana “Benjamín Carrión”. Organized by the Global Task Force, which became the main platform for the participation of local and regional governments in this agenda. The Assembly will present recommendations and key messages of the constituency to the Habitat III and for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. More information at http://www.gtf2016.org/

 – Monday 17 Octubre, “Integrated and Balanced Territorial Development – Regional Governments in the New Urban Agenda”, 09.30 – 10.30h Room R9, Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana “Benjamín Carrión”. Organized by ORU-Fogar and the Government of Catalonia, with the support of nrg4SD. Regional governments from Latin America and Europe will showcase good practices that exemplify their role as crucial enablers for a holistic and integrated territorial approach. 

A full list of events supported by nrg4SD can be found at the Members’ Briefing.

Ends 

Media contact
Thais Ferraz, Communications Officer, nrg4SD
M: +34 633 235 432
tferraz@nrg4sd.org 

About nrg4SD 

The Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development – nrg4SD is a non-profit international organization representing subnational governments and associations of subnational governments at global level. Established in 2002 at the World Summit of Johannesburg, today nrg4SD totals 50 states, regions and provinces from 30 countries and 7 associations of subnational governments. nrg4SD campaigns internationally for the recognition of the role played by subnational governments in ensuring more effective sustainable development models. The network also focuses on climate change and biodiversity, fostering the dissemination of members’ innovative actions, and encouraging cooperation and partnership programmes for the exchange of best practices. 

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