Regions Delivering for Climate Action

Climate COP31 must mark a shift from ambition to implementation. As climate impacts intensify, the credibility of global climate action increasingly depends on whether commitments can be translated into results across territories, and that is where regions come in.

At COP31 in Antalya, the leadership of regions will take centre stage, showing how their action on the ground is turning global climate commitments into results for people and territories. For more than 20 years, Regions4 has connected global commitments with the realities and solutions of territories. States, regions and provinces translate national and international commitments into policies, investments and practical solutions, coordinating delivery across sectors and levels of government.

Regions4 will showcase how regions are advancing climate action across four interconnected areas: territorial implementation, adaptation and resilience, climate finance, and climate-nature action. Marking ten years of RegionsAdapt, our programme at COP31 will bring a decade of regional evidence and experience to global conversations, highlighting the critical role of subnational governments in turning ambition into measurable results and ensuring that climate finance and action reach the territories where implementation happens.

 

Highlights

  • A key opportunity to restore credibility in global climate governance by closing the gap between commitments and implementation.

     

  • Building on 10 years of RegionsAdapt, Regions4 will showcase how regions are advancing long-term, transformational adaptation and resilience.

  • Strengthening multilevel governance to ensure regional priorities and contributions shape climate action and strengthen cooperation across all levels of government.

  • Climate finance must reach where climate action happens, unlocking more direct and accessible funding for subnational implementation.

  • Putting nature at the heart of climate action will be critical for building resilient territories. Regions4 will promote more integrated approaches that connect climate, biodiversity and sustainable development.

  • COP31 will provide an opportunity to bring regional leaders and their partners together to share practical solutions, strengthen partnerships and ensure that regions play a meaningful role in delivering the next phase of global climate action.

Regions4 COP31 Position Paper

COP31 must represent a decisive shift from ambition to implementation. Growing fragmentation, polarisation and declining trust in multilateral cooperation stand in sharp contrast to the increasingly severe climate impacts communities are experiencing.

Delivering on climate and biodiversity commitments depends more than ever on governance systems that connect global commitments with implementation. States, provinces and regions are at the forefront of implementation and are the drivers of change.

Regions4 Key Launches at COP31

RegionsAdapt 2026 Anniversary Report 
Our flagship anniversary report, tracing lessons learned from ten years of regional climate leadership, sharing real adaptation journeys from 10 regions, and a call to action for what must come next.

RegionsAdapt: A Decade of Leadership
Our tenth-anniversary social media campaign throughout the year, culminating with an impact video premiering at COP31.

Bridging the Adaptation Gap: Subnational Implementation of National Adaptation Plans
A new policy brief on what actually makes or breaks a region’s ability to deliver a national adaptation plan, drawing on case studies from São Paulo, Paris Region, Gauteng and Lombardy.

Case Study Series: Delivering NAPs on the Ground
A three-part case study series exploring how subnational governments engage with NAPs -from Gauteng’s legal mandate to São Paulo’s municipal model and Lombardy’s strong planning capacity.

Join our initiatives at COP31


RegionsAdapt 10-Year Anniversary Event & Session


Ten years after its launch at COP21 alongside the Paris Agreement, RegionsAdapt has helped strengthen regional leadership on climate adaptation through peer learning, collaboration and advocacy. This high-level event will take stock of what a decade of regional action has taught us and explore what is needed to accelerate adaptation implementation in the decade ahead. The discussion will bring together regional leaders, international partners, and financial and technical institutions to reflect on lessons learned and identify pathways to strengthen partnerships, finance and multilevel cooperation.

Date and Time:  Tuesday 10 November, 18:00–21:00 h
Location: To be confirmed
Organiser: Regions4

By invitation only

Roundtable: Bridging National Adaptation Planning and Local Delivery: Financing Local Adaptation Implementation 

As countries move from adaptation planning towards implementation, ensuring that finance reaches the regions and communities where climate impacts are most acute is critical. This roundtable will explore how national adaptation plans, national climate finance systems and multilevel governance can better integrate subnational priorities and create stronger pathways for territorial investment. The discussion will highlight emerging financing and governance models and explore how national governments, subnational governments, development finance institutions and international partners can work together to scale locally led adaptation.

Date and Time: To be confirmed
Location: Blue Zone, to be confirmed
Organiser: Regions4 (Host), in partnership with NAP Implementation Alliance & European Climate Foundation (ECF)

Investing in Resilience: From Subnational Action to Local Delivery for the Most Vulnerable

This event will explore how investing in systemic, growth-oriented approaches to resilience can strengthen local implementation and support communities most vulnerable to climate hazards. Anchored in multilevel governance, robust data and stronger links between policy and investment, the discussion will highlight how subnational leadership can help turn resilience strategies into practical action on the ground.

Date and Time: To be confirmed
Location: Blue Zone, to be confirmed
Organiser: World Resources Institute (lead), CDP Worldwide, Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA), and Regions4

Multilevel Governance from State Strategy to Local Climate Action: Examples from ProClima2050
Brazil and Beyond: Climate Federalism in Action

Date and Time: To be confirmed
Location: Brazilian Pavilion, to be confirmed
Organiser: Regions4, Co-organised with Rio Grande do Sul, with a focus on ProClima 2050

Effective climate action depends on strong connections between state strategies and local implementation. This event will explore how national, state and regional governments can translate climate ambition into effective territorial action. Drawing on Brazil’s AdaptaCidade, with a special focus on Rio Grande do Sul’s ProClima 2050, alongside examples from Regions4/RegionsAdapt members, the discussion will highlight practical lessons on coordination, data, capacity building and implementation, and identify opportunities to replicate, scale and strengthen multilevel climate action in support of CHAMP implementation.

 


Navigating Water Extremes: A Multilevel Governance Approach to Climate Resilience

Climate change is intensifying droughts, floods and other water-related hazards, exposing communities, ecosystems and economies to increasingly complex risks. This session will showcase how regional governments can connect climate science, territorial planning, disaster risk reduction and integrated water management to strengthen resilience across river basins, mountain systems and metropolitan areas. Drawing on experiences from Lombardy and other subnational governments, the discussion will explore replicable approaches to addressing both water scarcity and extreme rainfall, while advancing stronger access to international climate finance for territorial action.

Date and Time: To be Confirmed
Location: Italian Pavilion
Organiser: Regions4, Co-organized with the Government of Lombardy – DG Environment and Climate

Investment Forum

Moving from climate commitments to action requires investment at scale. The Investment Forum will bring together subnational governments, investors, financial institutions and climate leaders to explore opportunities for financing regional climate action and developing stronger pipelines of investable projects. The forum will highlight partnerships and innovative financial mechanisms that can unlock investment in mitigation, adaptation and resilience.

Date and Time: To be Confirmed 
Location: To be confirmed
Organizers: Regions4 and Under2Coalition

UN-Habitat Urban Ministerial

Cities and regions are where many climate commitments become reality. The Urban Ministerial will bring together national and subnational leaders to strengthen multilevel cooperation on climate-resilient and inclusive urban development. Discussions will focus on urban adaptation, resilience, finance, housing and integrated planning, with an emphasis on turning global commitments into practical action in communities.

Date and Time: To be Confirmed 
Location: To be Confirmed
Organizers: UN-Habitat

Climate Champions – Event Opportunities​

Regions4 will work with the Climate Champions and partners to highlight regional climate leadership, practical solutions and opportunities for collaboration through the COP31 Action Agenda.

Date and Time: To be Confirmed 
Location: Zero Waste Pavillon
Organisers: Climate Champions

The Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency (LGMA) Press Conference​

The LGMA press conference will highlight how regional and local governments are driving climate delivery through multilevel collaboration. The session will provide an opportunity to showcase the contribution of subnational governments to the COP31 agenda and the implementation of the CHAMP initiative and LGMA Constituency Joint COP31 Position.

Date and Time: To be Confirmed 
Location: Press Room, Blue Zone​
Organisers: The Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency (LGMA)

Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership Side Events 

Mediterranean regions and other territories with Mediterranean climates are facing growing risks from drought, wildfire and extreme heat. Through the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership, regional governments across five continents are sharing knowledge, strengthening capacity and advancing practical approaches to climate resilience. COP31 will provide an opportunity to showcase this bioregional approach and explore how collaboration, investment and shared solutions can strengthen resilience for communities, ecosystems and economies.

Date and Time: To be Confirmed 
Location: To be Confirmed 
Organisers: Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP)

Blue Economy in Action – Territorial Solutions for Ocean and Climate Resilience

Climate commitments become real in territories. This interactive roundtable will explore how subnational governments can translate ocean and climate ambition into policies, investments and partnerships that advance a sustainable and inclusive Blue Economy. Drawing on experiences from Rio de Janeiro and other subnational governments, the discussion will examine coastal resilience, ocean governance, science-policy integration, data, blue innovation, nature-based solutions and implementation finance, with a focus on identifying transferable solutions and partnerships for locally owned and scalable action.

Date and Time: To be Confirmed 
Location: Ocean Pavilion, To be Confirmed 
Organisers: Government of Rio de Janeiro, Regions4 and The Ocean Cleanup

Celebrating 10 years of RegionsAdapt

Ten years after its launch, RegionsAdapt has evolved into a global movement, bringing together subnational governments to drive climate adaptation worldwide. As it marks this milestone on the road to COP31, the anniversary highlights a decade of regional leadership and the solutions already being delivered on the ground.

RegionsAdapt Anniversary

Regions4 climate initiatives


A global platform of 85+ States and regions leading on climate adaptation

RegionsAdapt is Regions4’s flagship initiative dedicated to empowering subnational governments worldwide to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It is also the platform where subnational governments can report on and track progress on climate adaptation, and showcase their action and ambition within the Regions Race to Resilience.

How to join: Visit the Join RegionsAdapt webpage to register your region and begin engaging with the initiative.

Supporting real change on the ground in Africa and connecting science and policy in Europe

Regions4 is also supporting its members in climate action projects: building resilience for EU regions in the Pathways2Resilience project, connecting science and policy for action in the MAIA project, and building capacity of Francophone African Regions through the COOP’R project.

How to join: Regional governments interested in learning more about these projects are invited to contact climate@regions4.org.

Media Resources

Are you a partner in Regions4 events? Do you want to amplify your announcements and regional stories? We invite you to visit and use our below resources.

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Trello Board with Resources

Press Releases/Articles

  • LGMA Joint Positioning (Coming Soon on 28 September)
  • Regions4 Outcomes Report (Coming after COP31)

Photo Gallery: here

Press/Communications Contact

Join us!

All regions are welcome to join us
Contact us to know more

    Héloïse Chicou, responsible
    of this project:

    Héloïse Chicou

    Climate Action and Resilience Programme Manager

    climate@regions4.org

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