Local authorities are the real trailblazers in the fight against climate change
Compared with previous UN conferences, there seems to be a far greater sense of optimism at the Paris climate talks. Before the start of the negotiations more than 146 countries, representing 86% of global emissions, submitted their plans to cut them. Yet this was deemed not enough: it would have only, according to the UNFCCC , limit temperature rises to 2.7C by 2100 – not the 2C scientists consider to be the maximum the world can tolerate.
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There is hope. Over the 25 years of global climate talks what has been striking is the level of action taken not by states, but by regions and cities. The UNDP estimates that local authorities are responsible for more than 70% of climate change reduction measures and up to 90% of climate change. For local leaders, better air quality, lower energy costs, improved transport systems and green growth makes political and economic sense.
That’s why the European Committee of the Regions – whose 350 members are mayors and councillors from all 28 member states – is calling for better recognition from the UN of the work local authorities do to tackle climate change.Local authorities are well-placed to develop collaborations that are fundamental to tackling climate change. My city of Espoo in Finland has a new sustainable policy group, which gathers politicians and top civil servants to stir citizen engagement and develop partnerships with industries and universities. Bristol, meanwhile, has laid out plans to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 through initiatives such as its green capital partnership, which brings together more than 800 businesses, community partners and charities. The British city, selected as European Green City 2015 for its efforts, expects to save £300m in energy bills and create more than 10,000 jobs.
Many local and regional governments have invested in sustainable transport to dent carbon emissions. The Swedish city of Malmö is a leading example: its gas-electric hybrid buses are expected to reduce emissions by 40% at a cost of only €15m.
Another area where local government is leading the way is in divestment. Councils, including Oxford, Lancashire, and Strathclyde in the UK, are moving their pension pots away from fossil fuel projects to investments in clean energy.
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In Europe, local governments are clearly taking the lead on climate action. The Covenant of Mayors – which asks cities and regions to agree to meet and exceed the EU’s 20% CO2 reduction target by 2020 – has signed up more than 6,500 authorities, representing 200 million people.
But mitigation is only half the story: adapting and building resilience to climate change ultimately falls on the shoulders of local and regional authorities, which are on the frontline in dealing with natural disasters. From using the natural environment to protect against disasters to providing rapid response units, preparing for climate change is high on the agenda for many local authorities.
The EU’s Mayors Adapt initiative encourages cities and regions to share experiences, exploit EU funds, and address knowledge gaps in climate adaptation. And it recently merged with the Covenant of Mayors, when a new target of at least 40% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 was agreed for local governments around the world that want to take part.
What is clear is that local ambition often overrides national targets on climate action. After 25 years of UN conferences, the initial Paris draft agreement explicitly referred to the role of local and regional governments as key players in tackling climate change, but this looks as if it has been watered down.
Finding an answer to climate change is not possible by going alone. We need a global governance structure that further supports, engages and mobilises regional and local governments together with the national and international ones. We need a roadmap that is ambitious, binding and, crucially, based on shared responsibility and partnership. National governments cannot afford to ignore local authorities in our shared fight to end climate change.
Markku Markkula is the president of the European Committee of the Regions
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