Regions4 at COP26
Raising the bar for climate resilience through multi-level governance and best practices from regional governments.
As an observer organisation to the UNFCCC, the overall objective of Regions4 participation at UNFCCC COPs is to promote multilevel governance for increased ambition and effective action on climate adaptation through the key role of regional governments.
Regions4 brought forward innovative solutions that can be up-scaled, and presented the role Regions4 and its newly reinforced initiative, RegionsAdapt, can play in supporting regional governments in raising their ambitions on adaptation and resilience.
Regions4 has worked closely with the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities constituency to advocate for a multi-level action COP in which collaboration at all levels of government is recognised as the new normal and taken into account in the announced new ambitions. Through the Race to Resilience campaign, Regions4 will continue to provide further visibility to the actions of regions, as part of the non-actors’ community developing and accelerating actions towards resilience.
The content below presents the key messages and activities that Regions4 delivered at COP26 in Glasgow.
Message by Regions4 President
Ms Arantxa Tapia Minister for Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment, Basque Country
Regions4 messages and resources for COP26
Report
Raising ambitions on climate adaptation: lessons learnt and contributions of regional governments
Based on a review of 11 key best practices within the past 5 years, from Regions4 and RegionsAdapt members, this report for COP6 aims to show how regional governments have developed, implemented and raised the ambitions of their adaptation plans, and resilient climate actions, providing lessons learnt that can inform policymakers.
>> Read the report here
Statement
Regional governments’ call to action: What ambition should look like at COP26
On the 30th of September, the governments of Lombardy and Scotland, with the support of Regions4, organised a key preparatory COP26 event on the subnational governments call for action for raising ambitions at COP26. During this event, a draft statement from regional governments towards COP26 was presented and shared with more than 14 regions present at the meeting, for their review and inputs.
>> Read the statement in English, Spanish and French.
Outcomes
COP26 Outcome Activity Report
>> Read the brief report here.
Main advocacy asks
Regions4 and RegionsAdapt main messages at COP26:
Regions4 activities
Message by UN High-Level Climate Champion
Mr Nigel Topping UN High-Level Champion for COP26 Co-leader of the Race To Zero & Race To Resilience campaigns
Pledge to the Race To Resilience
As the first global initiative to support the acceleration of adaptation by regional governments, RegionsAdapt has been working since its launch at COP21 to strengthen the voice and actions of regions worldwide. Working on adaptation through capacity building, knowledge exchange and cooperation, the initiative has reported annually over 50 plans and 230 adaptation actions.
RegionsAdapt is a unique platform that inspires and supports regional government in developing ambitious adaptation strategies, implementing concrete actions, and transparently reporting on their progress, while actively contributing to building resilience for regions’ most vulnerable communities with a multi-level governance approach. With 76 signatory members impacting 300 million citizens RegionsAdapt is mobilising ambition on adaptation worldwide.
As a proud partner of the Race To Resilience, and lead initiative for regions within the campaign, we pledge to:
When regional governments engage with the RegionsAdapt initiative, they demonstrate their leadership in becoming part of the global solution to tackle climate change and automatically become part of the Race to Resilience.
To join the RegionsAdapt community click here, to join the Race to Resilience campaign as a regional government and learn about the commitments click here.
To learn how we can support your government, read the RegionsAdapt Strategy 2021-22.
Media resources
- PRESS RELEASE
Accelerating Adaptation: regional governments commitments and actions to raise climate ambitions at COP26
On 8 November, Regions4, the global voice of regional governments, organised a high-level event which included the best practices and commitments of regional leaders and global ambassadors; the launch of a brief report for COP26 on raising ambitions; and the presentation of a statement of regions in an open call for an effective multi-level partnership with the Parties to the UNFCCC to accelerate action on the global climate agenda.
- MEDIA AVDISORY
Regions4 High-Level Event at COP26
The Leading role of regions in raising ambitions for adaptation and resilience
Date: Monday, 8 November 2021, 2:00 pm – 3.30 pm GMT time
Venue: COP26 Blue Zone – Scottish Events Campus, Multi-level Action Pavilion, Hall 4C
Streaming: Registration and interpretation available here.
>> Access the document here in English, Spanish and French.
- EDITORIAL
By Natalia Uribe, Regions4 Secretary General
COP26, an opportunity to make history for climate action
Publication date: Saturday, 6 November 2021
>> Access the article here
- PHOTO GALLERY
>> Acess our COP26 photo album here
- BEST PRACTICES AT A GLANCE
>> Acces our case studies’ selection for COP26 here
Regions4 Community
Regional governments stand ready to meet the challenge and Regions4 will continue to catalyse this leadership for a sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient future. I warmly invite all regions to join us to collectively build a future which leaves no one behind.Natalia Uribe Secretary General, Regions4
Join us!
We welcome the participation of all regional governments at Regions4 activities at COP26.
Do not hesitate to contact us!
Héloïse Chicou, responsible
of this project:
Héloïse Chicou
Climate Action and Resilience Programme Manager
climate@regions4.org