Regions4 Perspectives on COP29

Amidst shifting political dynamics and rising global tensions, COP29 served as a critical juncture for climate negotiations. With a significant portion of the world’s political power in flux, the conference, attended by 65 000 participants, faced the daunting challenge of redefining the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance.  As negotiations unfolded, the outcomes were mixed, with some successes and notable setbacks.

Key Outcomes and the Role of Regional and Local Governments

Carbon Trading and Climate Finance 

Among the key outcomes achieved at COP29, we celebrate the conclusion of nearly a decade of negotiations with the finalization of rules for carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. These agreements, covering both country-to-country trading (Article 6.2) and the international carbon market framework (Article 6.4), represent a significant milestone. Subnational governments, like Québec and California, have already demonstrated leadership through their joint carbon market, showcasing how such frameworks can be operationalized at subnational levels. We look forward to seeing how other subnational governments can contribute to and benefit from this progress.

On climate finance, while the agreement on a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) of $300 billion annually by 2035 – tripling the previous goal – represents a step forward, this figure remains small compared to the adaptation needs estimated to $215–387bn annually by 2030 by the Adaptation Gap Report 2023. Germany’s pledge of an additional €60 million to the Adaptation Fund is a promising sign, but it is crucial to ensure that this figure acts as a floor, not a ceiling. We also stress the importance of grant-based finance to avoid further exacerbating the debt burdens of developing countries and welcome the mention in the text that it recognizes, increasing, as appropriate support to locally led approached and institutions, which was a key ask of Regions4 advocacy at COP.

We welcome the NCQG’s emphasis on balancing adaptation and mitigation, though it falls short of addressing loss and damage comprehensively. It is disappointing that, unlike the Loss and Damage Fund established at COP28, which decided for direct access for developing countries, including through subnational entities, no such provisions at subnational level were included here. The “Baku to Belém Roadmap,” which aims to chart pathways to $1.3 trillion annually by COP30, is a critical step, and we believe subnational governments should play a central role, given their ability to drive transformative local action.

Adaptation and Loss & Damage Agenda: A Need to Accelerate Implementation

On adaptation, we regret there were no major advancements on key topics such as the Global Stocktake (GST) and the assessment of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), which have been postponed to June 2025. Despite this, progress in NAP submissions—growing from 14 in 2018 to 60 today, with over 140 countries participating—is encouraging.

A positive step forward in adaptation was the progress made on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) since the establishment last year at COP28 of the UAE Framework on Global Climate Resilience. We welcome the consensus on limiting indicators to 100 globally applicable options, with voluntary reporting by countries. However, we are disappointed by the lack of recognition for subnational monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), which remains a crucial source of information for a comprehensive national picture. Our joint event with Catalonia illustrated how subnational governments have a critical role in both delivering adaptation on the ground and informing global adaptation processes. (Read our Event Article Evaluating Sub-State Government Adaptation Strategies: Advancing Territorial Climate Justice).

We are hopeful that the launch of the Baku Adaptation Road Map and the high-level Dialogues on Adaptation will drive forward the UAE Framework’s work and we will continue advocating for significantly increased priority given to adaptation at future COPs. Current increase in frequency and intensity of climate disasters are clearly outpacing our efforts  to adapt and failure to deliver on emissions commitments will only increase the cost of adaptation going forward.  On Loss and Damage, the finalization of hosting arrangements with the World Bank is a positive step, enabling disbursements to begin in 2025. Additional pledges have raised the fund’s total to $759 million, yet there is still no clarity on implementation pathways for subnational access. Together with a number of networks, we issued a call to action emphasizing inclusive, multi-level governance to address climate impacts. Regions continue to lead in this space, sometimes outpacing state parties in ambition and action. For instance, Scotland remains a standout Global North government, being the first to commit funds for Loss and Damage.

Renewing the Climate Champions Mandate for strengthened non-Party climate actions

We also welcome the renewal of the Climate Champions mandate, which reaffirms the critical role of non-Party stakeholders in driving progress toward global climate goals. Regions4, through its flagship RegionsAdapt initiative, plays an active role in supporting the Climate Champions’ efforts, particularly as a key contributor to the Race to Resilience Campaign and the Sharm el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda. We are eager to continue collaborating with the Climate Champions to amplify the impact of subnational governments in advancing global climate action.

This year, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29, Nigar Arpadarai, launched the Impact Makers, a global campaign dedicated to shining a light on effective climate action, highlighting diverse innovators and their tangible solutions across regions, industries, and communities. The campaign will also continue to grow through to COP30, taking place in Brazil in 2025. Meet the selected impact makers here.

They also launched the “Climate-proofing SMEs”, campaign to empower and enable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to take ambitious climate action to which Regions4 has joined as partner organisation.

Nature and Climate: Bridging Agendas for Comprehensive Action

Lastly, while the link between biodiversity loss and climate change remains underemphasized in formal discussions, side events and publications at COP29 highlighted its importance. Nature is conspicuously absent from discussions in key frameworks such as the mitigation work program, the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. Bridging these gaps will be essential to align climate efforts with the preservation of ecosystems.  Regions4 event with Lombardy explored the critical role of subnational governments in driving solutions for biodiversity and climate, leveraging their own resources and budgets for accelerated action (Event summary article Available here). We launched the RegionsAdapt Report, showcasing concrete integrated policies and solutions of 40 regions from 16 countries.

Looking forward, we are encouraged by the framing of COP30 as a “Nature COP,” offering a pivotal opportunity to place nature at the heart of climate strategies, especially given its proximity to the Amazon rainforest. This provides an ideal moment to align climate and biodiversity agendas for more comprehensive and effective action.

The Role of Local and Regional Governments: A Growing Force 

While national governments continue to grapple with the complexities of climate action, and in the wake of recent U.S. elections, local and regional governments (LRGs) have increasingly emerged as essential players in the global fight against climate change. At COP29, over 500 delegates from local and subnational governments rallied together to advocate for greater inclusion in global climate frameworks, highlighting the importance of multilevel governance in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement (LGMA).

Local Government and Municipal Authorities (LGMA)

The Local Government and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) constituency was more united than ever in its call for urgency. The LGMA made it clear that future climate action must be inclusive, multilevel, and gender responsive. It stressed the need for embedding local and regional governments within Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), ensuring their full participation in climate decision-making processes. This inclusive approach, we argue, is critical to shaping strategies based on real-world knowledge and actionable solutions from the grassroots up.

One of the most significant demands from the LGMA at COP29 was for a more equitable climate finance framework. The constituency called for an ambitious NCQG that ensures direct access to finance at all levels of government, with particular attention to the needs of vulnerable communities and connections to biodiversity preservation. This appeal was underpinned by the shared belief that climate justice must be central to the allocation of resources, with those most responsible for emissions contributing the most.

>> Consult here the LGMA joint COP29 position and key text inclusions requests.

Race to Resilience Campaign

In addition to our work with the LGMA constituency, regional governments are also playing a significant role in the Race to Resilience campaign through RegionsAdapt. The initiative aims to spotlight the progress of non-party stakeholders, such as subnational governments, in their efforts to build resilience of vulnerable communities against the impacts of climate change. RegionsAdapt, the official partner of the race driving the participation of states and regions in the campaign, has focused on tracking the development of regional adaptation plans and strategies, underscoring the importance of tailored, localized solutions in building resilience at scale. Regions such as Andalusia, Pernambuco, Assam State, Louga have proudly joined the Race to Resilience this year, contributing to the campaign’s growing impact.

>> Consult Race to Resilience in action 2024 report, here.

CHAMP: Advancing Multilevel Climate Action 

A key initiative that gained traction at COP29 is the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships for Climate Action (CHAMP). With the endorsement of over 74 governments since COP28, CHAMP is playing a crucial role in amplifying the voice of regional and local governments in global climate negotiations. The coalition is dedicated to showcasing the critical contributions of subnational governments and strengthening multilevel partnerships to enhance global climate action.

CHAMP provides a platform for dialogue between national and subnational entities, fostering integrated policymaking and cross-government collaboration. By elevating the role of regional governments, CHAMP is helping to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement’s climate goals, demonstrating that regional actors are not merely stakeholders, but key partners in the global fight against climate change.

>> Read how subnational governments support CHAMP here 

Brazil’s Commitment to Climate Federalism: A Milestone Achievement 

On Day 3 of COP29, 13 November, Brazil submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution with a strong focus on multilevel governance and collaboration. While Brazil’s new commitment to reduce emissions by 59% to 67% by 2035, as compared to 2005, made headlines, the LGMA Constituency, and local and regional governments around the world, are paying attention to the how of the NDC – which strongly integrates Brazil’s subnational governments into the national plan and actions, encouraging the creation of local adaptation plans and sectoral plans (16 for adaptation and 7 for mitigation) by mid-2025.

>> Read more here. 

Regions4 at COP29: A Showcase of Regional Leadership 

At COP29, Regions4, our global network of regions, collaborated closely with the LGMA constituency and the Race to Resilience initiative to showcase the vital work being done at the regional level.

With 18 attending regions members of Regions4 and RegionsAdapt delegation, Regions4 co-led five events, supported 21 others, and secured 37 speaking opportunities for 13 members, further reinforcing the importance of subnational action in the global climate conversation.

A key moment for Regions4 at COP29 was the launch of the RegionsAdapt Progress Report on November 16. This report highlights the growing expertise of regional governments in implementing integrated solutions that address both climate change and biodiversity loss. The connection between nature and climate is becoming an increasingly prominent theme at COP, and the work done by regional governments is helping to pave the way for more comprehensive, nature-based solutions.

>> Consult RegionsAdapt 2024 report here. 

RegionsVoice at COP29 

Launched in 2019, Regions4’s #RegionsVoice campaign amplifies the role of regional governments in UN sustainable development processes. It aims to boost their visibility and recognition by sharing impactful messages during the UN Decade of Action. Discover 15 videos from 13 regional governments featured at COP29 on the dedicated page here.

The Way Forward: Climate Resilience for All 

The call for greater inclusion of regional governments in national climate strategies is not just about representation—it’s about ensuring that climate policies are informed by the lived experiences of communities and are actionable on the ground. Regional governments are uniquely positioned  to effectively tackle social, economic and environmental challenges, of both rural and urban realities, while engaging local communities and targeting the most vulnerable, and generating culturally appropriate bottom-up sustainable solutions that contribute to global targets.

As COP29 draws to a close, the message is clear for COP30 in Belem, Brazil: where national governments may lag behind, local and regional governments are stepping up to lead the way. Their growing influence and commitment to climate justice must be recognized and supported as we move forward in the fight against climate change. Only through true multilevel collaboration can we hope to meet the ambitious targets set by the Paris Agreement and secure a sustainable, resilient future for all.

Stay connected:

• Download the Regions4 at COP29 Contributions and Outcomes Report
• Explore the 2024 RegionsVoice Campaign: Read and watch inspirational stories from our members
• Read our COP29 Event Insights | From Cali to Belem: The Leadership of Subnational Governments for Climate Action and Biodiversity
• Read our COP29 Event Insights | Evaluating Sub-State Government Adaptation Strategies: Advancing Territorial Climate Justice