Network of Regional Governements
for Sustainable Development
for Sustainable Development
The Region of Rhône-Alpes, the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4SD) and The °Climate Group (T°CG) co-organised the European Conference of Regions on Climate Action on the 20-21 October 2011 in Lyon, France.
Download the flyer of the event EN - FR >
Through this event the three organisations promoted a common approach of Regional Governments and Federated States reaffirming their commitment to climate action at subnational level. The conference focused closely on the EU aspects of climate action but also aimed to give impetus to UNFCCC COP17/CMP7 in Durban in December. This preparatory event for COP17 was co-organised by nrg4SD under the European activities of the network. This two-day conference also presented the best regional practices and innovative public-private partnerships in order to tackle climate change, a road map for further cooperation and strengthened practical actions on mitigation and adaptation.
On the first day, 3 workshops were organised focusing on three themes which are identified as being essential in the fight again climate change.
Workshop 1 - Energy Efficiency (animated by The °Climate Group and FEDARENE)
The first workshop addressed the crucial need for energy efficiency. Specific emphasis was placed on investment and funding challenges. Different possibilities for mobilising the public and promoting sustainable and low carbon consumption habits were also discussed.
Workshop 2 - Sustainable Mobility (animated by Rhone Aples Region and The Climate Group)
The second workshop analysed different solutions to reduce the climate impact of the transport sector with a focus on territorial policies and technology (e.g. electric vehicles).
Workshop 3 - Solidarity between regions (animated by nrg4SD)
The third workshop focused on interregional solidarity and the cooperation initiatives developed by European Regions. Mutual practices and fostering a rollout of mitigation and adaptation measures were also discussed.
Outcomes of the workshop
The workshop highlighted the political commitment and long-term investment in human and financial resources for regions in the North and South who are struggling to carry out their decentralised cooperation projects to tackle climate change. A rich exchange of concrete experiences in the field of climate action allowed participates to draw on a number of factors on the role of subnational governments in climate action. The workshop allowed participants to discuss three areas of action relating to international solidarity in climate action where regional governments and local authorities can use their proxility to citizens and pragmatic approach to benefit its territory and the communities within it.
1) Climate action can be used as a tool for economic and social development in a territory. Regional and local authorities have the ability to use climate action as an engine for economic development, regeneration and structuring of a territory.
2) The second field of action relating to international solidarity (particularly relating to adaptation to climate change) is the experience of regions in mobilising their communities. A regional plan for adaptation to climate change requires the mobilisation and territorial consultation with various stakeholders including civil society, the private sector and academia with a multilevel governance approach. A region knows first hand the richness and complexity of the processes of consultation and can work with other levels of government from regional to national and international.
3) The third area of action relating to international solidarity is the coherence between the objectives and initiatives towards which action is oriented between regions in the North and South and domestic actions that regions in the North carries out within its borders.
Today, there are multiple decentralised cooperation initiatives in climate action that have managed to establish real solidarity between regions and mutual learning between North and South, South and North and South or North. Subnational governments have successfully undertaken the adventure of decentralised cooperation in mutually reinforcing emerging climate action and, in many cases, the actions supported in the South have become open for questioning as well as actions taking place in the North .
A point of optimism is the fact that regions have reacted so quickly in terms of international solidarity for climae action. It is nearly 10 years since the creation of nrg4SD and the Network has multiplied its training, partnerships, capacity building and efforts exponentially. Additionally, regional and local communities have gone straight to the heart of the climate issue, identified the essential elements of an integrated and multifaceted approach to meet the multifaceted needs of their communities. There is also a high degree of political involvement, often at the highest level, directly expressed by regional governments and local authorities with their commitments made at the subnational, national and international levels.
However there are still challenges. Sooner or later, regions and local governments need to move towards a new paradigm of development, real transformation towards a low carbon economy in the North and true sustainable development in the context of poverty eradication in the South. This new paradigm of global solidarity needs democratic arbitration mechanisms adapted to each area and able to include in the process to all sectors of our societies. In this context, it is essential that the role of women is seen as a vehicle for everyday behaviour change of great importance for climate action in our societies. This needs to be fully recognised and supported with sufficient resources, specific training initiatives and support for direct participation of women in decision making.
Public resources devoted to climate change also need to be increased. In this context, the new programming period for structural funds from the European Union for the period 2014-2020 is a fantastic chance for the climate dimension of the internal and external policies of the European Union are an example of orientation of public resources to climate action. It is also evident taht we need to identify methods and common standards and tools that allow us to scientifically validate with a spatial dimension to evaluate the impact of what we are doing. The GDP, universally used as the sole indicator, falls short to assess the complexity of climate action, and more action on sustainable development in an area.
Finally it is essential that the approach to the participation of regional governments and local authorities in the international climate change negotiations is fully recognised and implemented as 'governmental stakeholders' which was formally recognised in the Cancun Agreements of COP17.
Declaration of Lyon
The Conference adopted the 'Lyon Declaration' on regional climate action reaffirming their commitments as well as promoting action at EU and UN level. The Declaration was signed at the end of the two day conference, by: Jean-Jack Queyranne, President of the Regional Council of the Rhone-Alpes region, Mark Kenber, CEO, The Climate Group and Lluís Recoder i Miralles, Minister for Territory and Sustainability of Catalonia, Co-Chair of nrg4SD, and representatives of the participating Regions (Baden- Württemberg, Rhône‐Alpes, Basque Country, Brittany, Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, Lombardy, Catalonia, Sao Paulo Federated State, Scotland, Wales, Wallonia)
Download the Lyon Declaration - EN >
Press release
The Conference also prepared a press release - EN - FR >
