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BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva
In Climate, Environment, Impact community Society, PLATFORMA, Uncategorized

The post-2030 Scenarios

Beyond 2030: How can territories help shape the future of sustainable development? 

On 5 October, CEMR and PLATFORMA brought together almost 100 participants from over 50 countries for a public webinar on the future of the global sustainable development framework beyond 2030. The discussion gathered voices from research, civil society, women’s organisations and local government to answer one question:how can territories really be at the heart of the post-2030 framework? 

Eleven years after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), many targets remain off track. The webinar, which followed CEMR spokespersons’ debate in June, examined lessons from SDG implementation and emerging challenges, from climate risks to technological disruption and geopolitical tensions, that will shape the next agenda. 

Opening the meeting, Fabrizio Rossi, CEMR Secretary General, stressed that the SDGs remain the world’s most important shared political framework, but that implementation will only succeed if it is localised. Local and regional governments are not merely implementers of global agendas: they are political actors that turn commitments into services, investments and policies, and must be recognised as strategic partners and co-architects of the next agenda. He also called for better local data to anticipate risks, and for gender equality to move from commitment to leadership. 

“The SDGs remain the world’s most important shared political framework, but implementation will only succeed if it is localised.

The local and regional governments should be part of the discussions; they should be at the table, not solely the implementers.” – Fabrizio Rossi 

Four possible scenarios after 2030 

Axel Berger, Deputy Director of the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), opened the discussion with a keynote on a global sustainability agenda beyond 2030. He recalled that the SDGs have delivered real progress: 92% of the world’s population now has access to electricity, 74% of people were online in 2025 (up from 40% in 2015), and 134 countries have already met the target on under-5 child mortality.  

Yet an implementation gap remains, driven by successive shocks and conflicts, a financing gap of around $4 trillion a year in developing countries, a weak implementation architecture, and eroding political ownership and trust. 

“The debate should move from the number of goals to purpose and delivery, with resilience, new alliances and a role for subnational actors.”

Berger stressed that negotiations on a successor agenda will take place in a harder context than in 2015, marked by multipolarity, low trust and overlapping crises, which makes an inclusive and trust-building process even more important.

“At the moment, we are putting an emphasis on issues like competitiveness and security, and the SDGs in the Agenda 2030 falls to the wayside.”   

Berger presented four possible paths: continuing the SDGs, extending them with new goals, reducing the number of goals, or building a new vision focused on delivery, resilience and new alliances, including the role of subnational actors. With the SDG Summit in September 2027 meant to launch the process, he called for negotiations that are inclusive, transparent, science-based and learning-oriented. 

“Beyond pushing forward on SDG implementation, what we urgently need to do between now and September 2027 – and well beyond – is to build progressive alliances with like-minded nations and stakeholders.” – Axel Berger 

Perspectives from civil society, research and women’s organisations 

Jyotsna Mohan Singh, Advocacy Officer at Forus International, a network representing more than 24,000 civil society organisations, argued that putting territories at the heart means shifting power, resources and decision-making closer to people, not only localising implementation. She underlined the complementary roles of local governments, civil society and communities, including civil society’s independent accountability role, and presented Voluntary Local Reviews as a way to connect local evidence to budgets, national reviews and global accountability. 

“Putting territories at the heart of the post-2030 framework should not mean simply asking territories to do more. It should mean giving territories, and the people within them, a greater voice, greater resources and greater influence over the decisions that affect their lives.”  

“Local governments are not simply the last mile of implementation. They are important governance actors, with knowledge of what works, what does not work, and what people actually need.” – Dr Jyotsna Mohan Singh

João Tavares, Co-Founder and CEO of Nexus Governance, presented an analysis of 474 Voluntary Local Reviews from 359 cities in 72 countries. He pointed out that the local reviews are becoming more candid: challenges rose from 11% to 29% of reported items between 2017 and 2025. Cities name financing, institutional capacity and coordination across government tiers as their main barriers. In Europe, 45% of commitments are concrete, compared with 50% worldwide.  

“Cities have already written the evidence. What we have done is make it countable: 474 local reviews, from 359 cities in 72 countries.”  

“Local reviews are becoming more honest. Challenges have gone from 11% to 29% of what cities report, led by the most vulnerable territories.” – Joao Tavares

Gabriele Köhler, Board Member of Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF), warned of a global retrogression on women’s rights, with austerity and militarisation displacing social spending. She highlighted the intersecting inequalities and structural barriers, such as unequal access to resources and time poverty, that limit women’s representation and leadership. She also called for building CEDAW and Universal Periodic Review recommendations into SDG 5 accountability in a post-2030 framework. 

“We need to look at the really disaggregated level to see what is happening to women and girls from disadvantaged communities, which can be anything from where they are located to their citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ethnicity.” 

“I think that beyond 2030, what we really need to think about is binding accountability.” – Gabriele Köhler 

The meeting was also joined by CEMR spokesperson on SDGs, Carola Gunnarsson, the Councillor of Sala Municipality and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR).  

“Trust is perhaps the most important resource we have for managing transformation.”  

“If we can strengthen those partnerships and keep people at the centre of decision making, then local and regional governments will not only implement future global goals, but they will also help shape it being them.” – Carola Gunnarsson  

Four key asks from local and regional governments 

Closing the webinar, Boris Tonhauser, Director of PLATFORMA, stressed that the question is no longer whether territories matter for sustainable development, but whether the next framework will empower them to help shape decisions, not just implement them. He recalled the key asks that will structure the CEMR-PLATFORMA position: 

  • Put multilevel governance into practice, giving local and regional governments a defined role in shaping, implementing and reviewing the future framework 
  • Reflect the interconnections of today’s challenges, addressing climate, inequality, demographic change, digital transformation and peace and security in an integrated way 
  • Match ambitions with means of implementation, ensuring access to finance, capacities, data and knowledge 
  • Strengthen international and decentralised cooperation, recognising the contribution of local governments to global sustainable development 

“The question is no longer whether territories matter for sustainable development. The real challenge is whether the post-2030 framework will empower local and regional governments to help shape decisions, not just implement them.”  

“If sustainable development happens in territories, then territories must have a seat at the decision-making table. This means moving from a model of consultation to a model of genuine co-creation and shared governance.” – Boris Tonhauser 

Anna Goclawska
In Climate, Environment, Governance, Impact community Climate, Impact community Society, Latest, Local democracy

State of the Union: Local Alliance letter

Climate Change News

Local Alliance calls for a stronger role for towns, cities and regions in EU reforms ahead of SOTEU

342 words
1–2 minutes
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A day ahead of President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union (SOTEU), CEMR has joined Local Alliance, which comprises seven other leading European networks of local and regional governments including ACR+, Climate Alliance, Energy Cities, Eurocities, FEDARENE, ICLEI Europe and POLIS, in a joint letter reaffirming support for a more competitive, resilient and cohesive Union, while raising a clear warning about the direction EU reforms are taking.

The letter recalls the summer’s wildfires and heatwaves, during which towns, cities and regions coordinated evacuations, sheltered residents and led recovery efforts. It is a reminder, Local Alliance writes, that cities and regions are not mere implementers of EU policy: they carry out close to 70% of EU legislation and account for around 68% of climate-significant public investment across the EU and OECD countries.

The signatories warn that the Commission’s envisaged restructuring of its services, the next Multiannual Financial Framework and ongoing simplification efforts risk removing both the institutional dialogue and the financial channels through which local and regional governments engage with the Union. Streamlining EU governance is welcome, the Local Alliance stressed, but not if it comes at the cost of centralisation, weaker locally led transitions, or a thinner territorial dimension in EU policy and funding.

The letter also points to the local dimension of Europe’s other priorities: security, economy and enlargement, noting that towns, cities and regions integrate people fleeing war, sustain partnerships with Ukrainian towns that will matter even more during reconstruction, and are where enlargement will ultimately be felt by citizens in candidate countries.

The ask is simple. The Local Alliance calls on President von der Leyen to use her State of the Union address to reaffirm the Commission’s commitment to local and regional governments as trusted, indispensable partners with a strong Commission service that engages with them directly, and an EU budget that gives them the investment and capacity to deliver for every community.

For more information, contact:

GRIFFON Axelle
In Climate, Environment, Impact community Climate, Latest

Joint letter on Climate Resilience

Letter on Climate resilience

Joint letter to President von der Leyen on Climate Resilience

600 words
3–4 minutes
Read the letter here

After a series of natural disasters this summer, CEMR joins 30+ organisations call on the front line of floods, droughts, wildfires, mate disasters.  

Two days ahead of the State of the European Union address, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has joined more than 30 organisations representing local and regional governments, sustainable farmers, water providers, healthcare providers and financial service providers in an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The letter urges her to make nature-based solutions the first line of defence against climate disasters, and to embed this ambition in the upcoming European Framework for Climate Resilience. 

A summer that exposed Europe’s vulnerability 

The letter follows a summer that broke heat records and once again exposed how unprepared Europe is for the climate it already faces. Western Europe recorded its hottest June–July period since records began, with severe wildfires sweeping across the continent. At least 35,000 excess deaths have been linked to this summer’s back-to-back heatwaves, a figure that does not even include August, meaning the true toll is likely higher still. 

For local and regional governments, who are on the front line of responding to floods, droughts, wildfires and heatwaves, these are not abstract statistics. They translate directly into strained emergency services, damaged infrastructure, and communities left exposed. 

Restoring nature to restore resilience 

The signatories point to a common root cause behind Europe’s intensifying climate risks: the degradation of landscapes, soils and water systems. Wetlands, floodplains, peatlands, healthy soils, coastal ecosystems and forests naturally store water, recharge aquifers, regulate temperatures and buffer extreme events. Yet, these systems have been steadily lost or degraded across the continent, leaving communities exposed to increasingly volatile cycles of flooding, drought and heat. 

The letter calls the Commission to: 

  • Make the systemic integration of nature-based solutions a key priority in the legislative part of the European Framework for Climate Resilience;  
  • Provide legal incentives and financing mechanisms so that Member States manage landscapes and water systems to prioritise resilience, including national targets for natural water retention delivered through locally driven approaches that reflect territorial needs and capacities. 

This last point matters greatly for CEMR’s members: it recognises that effective climate adaptation must be designed and delivered at the local and regional level, where the knowledge of territorial needs and the capacity to act actually sit. 

A moment for action 

“Europe’s recent summers have shown that climate resilience can no longer be treated as a problem for the future. The Commission has acknowledged the vital role that nature-based solutions play in protecting communities and ecosystems from climate disasters. With the interservice consultation on the European Framework for Climate Resilience expected to begin before the end of September, now is the moment to ensure that this recognition is translated into the legislation itself,” said Claire Baffert, Senior EU Policy Officer, Water & Climate Change Adaptation at WWF EU, speaking on behalf of the 30+ signatories. 

President von der Leyen has herself acknowledged the stakes: in her State of the Union speech last year, she warned that climate change is making summers hotter, harsher and more dangerous, and that Europe must radically step up its efforts on resilience, adaptation and nature-based solutions. In July, she confirmed in writing to MEPs that nature-based solutions play an essential role in adapting to heatwaves, droughts, and floods. 

CEMR and its co-signatories are now calling on the Commission to turn that recognition into law and to give local and regional governments the tools, incentives and financing they need to lead the way. 

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva
In Climate, Climate, Energy, Energy, Environment, Environment, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Projects and programmes, Projects and Programmes, Publications, Water, Water

Localising the Sustainable Development Goals in Europe

Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities - image 1

European territories localise the SDGs: cities at the core of implementation

613 words
3–4 minutes
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With less than four years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda, a new CEMR–PLATFORMA report highlights a clear message from local and regional governments across Europe: sustainable development will only succeed if cities, towns and regions are placed at the centre of decision-making, financing and implementation.

Published by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and PLATFORMA at the occasion of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the 2026 edition of the report European territories localise the SDGs: Cities at the core of the implementation examines how local and regional governments are contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and what is needed to accelerate progress during the final stretch to 2030.

The study is based on a survey of 23 respondents from 17 countries, including associations of local and regional governments from 15 EU Member States and two non-EU countries.

Local action is essential for global goals

The report comes at a pivotal moment. As both the UN New Urban Agenda and the Urban Agenda for the EU reach their tenth anniversary, local and regional governments are reaffirming their indispensable role in translating global ambitions into concrete results on the ground.

From mobility and housing to climate resilience and social inclusion, towns, cities and regions are responsible for many of the policies that directly affect residents’ daily lives. According to the report, SDG implementation is not primarily a technical matter but a political one, requiring trust, resources and authority to be devolved to the territorial level.

The publication places particular emphasis on SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, one of the goals under review at the 2026 HLPF. It argues that sustainable urban development cannot be achieved without strong local democracy, effective multi-level governance and meaningful involvement of subnational authorities in national and international decision-making processes.

Six recommendations to accelerate SDG implementation

Drawing on the experience of local and regional governments, the report puts forward six recommendations addressed to the United Nations, the European Union and national governments.

Among its key messages, the study calls for:

  • Reinforcing multi-level governance as a political priority for the 2026–2030 period.
  • Placing the subnational level at the centre of SDG implementation, including stronger participation of local and regional governments in global review processes and improved access to development finance.
  • Reaffirming the importance of the UN New Urban Agenda as the main global framework for sustainable urbanisation.
  • Ensuring that cities and towns remain central to Europe’s sustainable development agenda through stronger alignment between EU and UN urban policy frameworks.
  • Recognising the role of territories in the upcoming EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034, with more accessible and place-based funding for municipalities and regions.
  • Accelerating the localisation of the SDGs by fully involving local and regional governments in the design and implementation of sustainable development policies.

A contribution to the global SDG debate

Beyond policy recommendations, the report showcases good practices from across Europe and explores how local and regional governments are advancing the goals under review in 2026 (SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals). It also includes a dedicated focus on housing and the outcomes of discussions linked to the World Urban Forum, reflecting growing concerns about affordability, inclusion and sustainable urban growth.

As the international community approaches the final years of the 2030 Agenda, the report sends a strong and consistent message: the SDGs will be achieved — or missed — at the local level. Empowering towns, cities and regions with the necessary political mandate, resources and partnerships is therefore not optional, but essential.

Discover this report also online: European Territories Localise the SDGs

For more information, contact:

DECOURCELLE Elisa
In Climate, Environment, FOSTER, Impact community Climate, Impact community Society, Local democracy, Projects and Programmes

Lessons learned from the project FOSTER on climate

Climate - News

Climate change impact mitigation: what about the role of participatory democracy? Lessons from the FOSTER Project 

On 9 June 2026, the FOSTER project brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations and citizens from across Europe for an online conference to answer the following question: how can local communities become more resilient to the long-term impacts of climate change through democratic participation? 

Hosted by the partner Foster Europe Foundation, the event offered a unique opportunity to showcase the results achieved throughout the project while fostering a broader discussion on the role of participatory democracy, strategic foresight and collaborative governance in addressing climate-related challenges.

A central part of the event was dedicated to the presentation of the local pathways developed by FOSTER partners: Association of Romanian Municipalities (Romania), Comparative Research Network – CRN (Germany), Foster Europe (Austria),  IASIS (Greece), Istituto per la Ricerca Sociale – IRS (Italy),  NOTUS (Spain), Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities – UBBSLA (Bulgaria), with the support of ALDA and CEMR.

Participants had the opportunity to explore the case studies, exchange perspectives and reflect on the lessons learned in the project. The presentations demonstrated how strategic foresight can become a powerful tool for communities to anticipate future challenges and transform them into opportunities for collective action and highlighted both the potential and the challenges of participatory climate governance.

Despite the diversity of local contexts, several common challenges emerged from the case studies. Participants highlighted the increasing vulnerability of urban areas to extreme weather events, the unequal distribution of green infrastructure, the need to protect and regenerate public spaces, and the importance of ensuring that climate adaptation measures also address social inclusion and quality of life.

Strategic foresight as a key tool for engaging with local stakeholders

The FOSTER local pathways demonstrated how participatory foresight can help communities move beyond short-term responses and engage in long-term thinking. Through workshops, scenario-building exercises and co-design activities, citizens, civil society organisations and local authorities worked together to identify future risks and develop locally grounded solutions. These ranged from urban greening interventions and climate-resilient public spaces to sustainable housing strategies, stronger governance mechanisms and new forms of civic participation.

The project also highlighted the importance of building trust between citizens and public institutions. Involving municipal representatives directly in the participatory process helped create constructive dialogue and increased the legitimacy of the proposed solutions. At the same time, participants recognised that maintaining engagement over time remains a challenge. Project’s partners highlighted the phenomenon of “participation fatigue”. Discussions confirmed that citizens are willing to engage in climate-related decision-making when they can clearly understand the purpose of the process and when their contributions are translated into concrete actions.

Another key lesson emerging from the conference and the project was that participatory processes alone are not sufficient. Long-term impact requires institutional commitment, supportive legal frameworks, coordination among stakeholders, and mechanisms that ensure the implementation of the solutions developed collaboratively. As several speakers noted, participation is most effective when it becomes an integral part of governance rather than an isolated project activity.

Together, these contributions reinforced one of the key messages emerging from the FOSTER project: addressing climate change requires governance models that combine long-term thinking, community participation and cross-sector collaboration. Resilient communities are built through inclusive decision-making processes that empower citizens to actively anticipate and shape their futures while co-creating practical and inclusive responses.

Recordings from the Conference:

For more information, contact:

Leonie Kuhlmann
In Climate, Climate, Energy, Energy, Environment, Environment, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Latest, Publications

Local Alliance calls to put cities at the heart of Europe’s climate plans

Local Alliance news

Local Alliance calls for a governance overhaul to put cities at the heart of Europe’s climate plans

408 words
2–3 minutes
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In a new position paper, the Local Alliance – a coalition of CEMR, ACR+, Climate Alliance, Energy Cities, Eurocities, FEDARENE, ICLEI Europe, and POLIS – calls on the EU to seize the revision of the Governance Regulation to make National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) truly implementable, investable, and grounded in local realities. 

Cities, towns and regions across Europe are already acting — renovating buildings, deploying renewables, transforming mobility systems. Yet the EU’s climate planning framework has not caught up. National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) continue to be drafted largely without the involvement of the local and regional governments that will ultimately deliver them. 

The revision of the Governance Regulation, expected from the European Commission in the last quarter of 2026, is therefore a critical opportunity — one the Local Alliance is determined not to miss. 

A structural disconnect 

A wealth of local data, investment pipelines and climate plans already exists across Europe — from Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans to Climate City Contracts and local heating strategies. Yet this territorial knowledge rarely feeds into NECPs, creating duplication, fragmentation and missed investment opportunities.  

Meanwhile, the multi-level dialogues already required under Article 11 of the current Regulation have largely remained disconnected from real implementation decisions or remained tick-the-box level only. 

The result is a dangerous two-speed dynamic: high ambition at European and national levels, too little attention to what happens on the ground. 

The Local Alliance’s answer: connect what already exists 

The position paper calls for the revised Regulation to be built around four mutually reinforcing elements:  

  1. a permanent multi-level dialogue platform in each Member State to align all levels of government around NECP preparation and monitoring, taking into account national governance structures and needs;  
  1. a territorial chapter in each NECP drawing on existing local plans to show where and how national objectives will be delivered;  
  1. territorially informed sectoral pathways linking national targets across buildings, transport, heating, renewable energy, and circular economy with the local realities that determine whether delivery is actually possible; 
  1. and investment strategies that take account of local investment and capacity needs. 

This is not a call for more bureaucracy. It is a call to make what already exists work together — reducing consultation fatigue, cutting administrative duplication, and turning NECPs from reporting exercises into genuine frameworks for implementation and investment. 

Read the full position paper here

For more information, contact:

GRIFFON Axelle
In Climate, Environment, Impact community Climate, Latest

Climate Chance Summit 2026

Climate Chance Summit 2026

Cities and regions must lead Europe’s climate adaptation 

CEMR participated on 3 and 4 of June in the Climate Chance Europe Summit 2026 organised in Brussels by The Climate Chance association. The two-day event brought together local and regional leaders, European institutions, businesses, NGOs and civil society networks around a shared theme: climate adaptation as a lever for resilience and prosperity in Europe.  

The message shared by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) was that towns, cities and regions must be recognised as strategic partners in designing Europe’s climate response, not merely as implementers on the ground.  

The summit echoes the key messages of CEMR’s position paper “Adapting Together – A territorial approach to resilience and risk management”, published in February 2026. In this position paper, CEMR makes a case for a territorial approach to climate resilience, grounded in multi-level governance. A fundamental gap is highlighted: local and regional governments already implement most adaptation measures, yet their role remains insufficiently recognised and supported in EU and national frameworks.  

To close this gap, CEMR continues to flag six priorities:  

  1. Empowering local and regional governments with clear mandates and flexibility to act 
  1. Strengthening local capacity through better access to data and peer learning 
  1. Securing predictable and accessible funding for adaptation investments 
  1. Improving preparedness and disaster risk management 
  1. Restoring ecosystems and scaling nature-based solutions 
  1. Ensuring water resilience through integrated, locally driven water management 

The summit organised by Climate Chance came at a critical political moment. The European Commission is currently developing a new integrated framework for European Climate Resilience and Risk Management, expected to be adopted in the second half of 2026.  

Ronan Dantec, CEMR Spokesperson for Climate: “Climate adaptation will only succeed if local and regional governments are recognised as full partners in the future resilience framework. Territories need a common trajectory, the tools to understand their vulnerabilities and the long-term funding to turn resilience into reality.” 

Discussions at the summit on multi-level governance, funding adaptation and resilience at local level, technical support for LRG to prepare risk management strategies and investments, and solidarity mechanisms all reinforced what our position paper argues: coherent and effective climate action requires local and regional governments at the table from the very beginning — in the design, financing and monitoring of policy, not just its delivery. 

The summit closed with the adoption of the Brussels Declaration of European Non-State Actors on Climate Change Adaptation, signed by a wide range of local government networks, economic actors networks, and NGOs, including: Eurocities, FEDARENE and Association internationale des maires francophones (AIMF). 

It commits all signatories to playing an active role in shaping Europe’s climate resilience policies and calls for adaptation to be built into every level of decision-making, from EU policy down to local plans. 

CEMR will continue to push this message forward in the lead-up to the adoption of the EU framework by the end of the year. Europe’s resilience starts in its territories. 

Connie Heedegard, Chair of the Climate Adaptation Mission and former Commissioner for Climate Action: “Adaptation is crucial for resilience, but it is also key for citizens safety. The EU Adaptation Mission has laid the foundations; now is the time to harvest the fruits and scale up implementation.” 

Read our position paper Adapting Together – A territorial approach to resilience and risk management  

For more information, contact:

GRIFFON Axelle
In Climate, Environment, Impact community Climate, Latest, Water

New MFF: EU funding and water 

Climate - Water management

Webinar report: EU funding opportunities for water resilience in local governments

Read the full report here

How can towns, cities and regions secure the investments needed to strengthen water resilience in the face of climate change, ageing infrastructure and growing regulatory requirements?

On 13 May 2026, CEMR and Aqua Publica Europea (APE) hosted a webinar bringing together representatives from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), local and regional governments, and public water operators to discuss EU funding opportunities for water resilience.

The discussions highlighted both the opportunities available under the current EU budget and the challenges that local and regional governments may face under the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The key messages and recommendations from the event are now available in a new webinar report jointly published by CEMR and APE.

Water resilience starts locally

Opening the webinar, Andrea Carli, CEMR spokesperson for Environment and Regional Councillor of Friuli Venezia Giulia, highlighted the growing pressures facing towns, cities and regions across Europe. From droughts and water scarcity to flooding, local and regional governments are increasingly at the forefront of climate adaptation while also facing rising investment needs.

For CEMR, this reinforces the need for strong governance frameworks, technical support and sufficient financial resources to ensure sustainable and affordable water services for all communities.

Financing remains the key challenge

A central message emerging from the discussions is clear: financing remains the main barrier to achieving Europe’s water policy objectives.

APE and CEMR highlight the significant investment gap identified by the European Commission, while also pointing to governance and capacity challenges that can limit access to available funding. Although water resilience has been recognised as a priority area in the mid-term review of cohesion policy, many local and regional governments and water operators continue to struggle to secure the resources needed for critical investments.

Looking ahead to the next MFF

With negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) underway, the webinar explored how the proposed future funding architecture could affect water investments.

While the new National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) may offer greater flexibility, they also raise important questions about the involvement of local and regional governments in setting investment priorities. CEMR continues to advocate for a strong cohesion policy and meaningful participation of towns, cities and regions in shaping and implementing the future EU budget.

New opportunities through the EIB

During the webinar, participants also heard about EIB’s growing role in supporting water investments, including the forthcoming Sustainable Water Advisory Facility. The initiative aims to help local and regional governments and water operators access financing and advisory support more easily, strengthening the preparation and delivery of water projects across Europe.

As discussions on the future EU budget continue, achieving Europe’s water resilience objectives will require long-term investment, strong local governance and a central role for towns, cities and regions.

Read the webinar report to discover the main conclusions from the discussion, the latest funding opportunities, policy developments and recommendations for local and regional governments.

Read the article on APE´s website here: APE and CEMR host webinar on EU funding opportunities for Water Resilience | Aqua Publica Europea

 Check the presentations used during the event:

For more information, contact:

Meritxell PARRAMON VILA
In Climate, Energy, Environment, Impact community Climate, Latest, Local Insights

Meet Fabien Pérez (Marseille)

Marseille city image

Meet the Local Hero: Fabien Pérez, building Marseille a climate-neutral city

Marseille’s path to climate neutrality

Marseille is in the middle of a major ecological transformation — one that began in 2020, when climate action was placed firmly at the centre of the local political agenda. This renewed momentum emerged at the same time as Europe was strengthening support for cities taking the lead on climate neutrality, creating the right moment for Marseille to accelerate its transition.

The city recognised that its challenges were multidimensional. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change or addressing energy poverty were among the urgent priorities. Local leaders understood that climate action could not be separated from social realities.

In February 2026, ahead of the French local elections, we interviewed Fabien Pérez, then Marseille’s councillor responsible for European Funds, to learn more about this experience.

Connecting local vision with European ambition

In 2022, Marseille was selected from 377 candidates to join the 100 cities part of the “EU Mission: Climate-neutral and smart cities”, a moment that Fabien Pérez describes as “the start of a new chapter in Marseille’s ecological transition”.

Two years later, in 2024, the city officially received the “100 climate-neutral cities” label after an evaluation by the European Commission. The distinction not only strengthens the city’s visibility at the European level but also provides access to technical expertise and dedicated funding to accelerate decarbonisation — crucial steps on the path towards Europe’s 2050 climate neutrality goal.

A collective process: building a shared Climate City Contract

One of the cornerstones of this transformation is Marseille’s Climate City Contract, drafted in collaboration with the Aix‑Marseille‑Provence Metropolis, the Region Sud and more than 250 private actors. As Pérez explains, “the Climate City Contract was prepared with citizens, enterprises, associations… a collective roadmap to decarbonise the territory by 2030”.

Behind this roadmap lies a political choice: to move away from a top‑down vision and instead build a shared strategy that tackles various topics such as mobility, building, renewable energy, circular economy and waste, nature in the city, urban agriculture, sea and coastline or education.

The elaboration of the contract also created a new sense of momentum across the territory — a desire to transform the city and accelerate the transition, matched with the need to secure and coordinate the necessary financial resources.

Climate action rooted in Marseille’s realities

Marseille’s ecological transition is shaped by the unique challenges of its territory. Like many European cities, road transport is a major source of emissions. But Marseille also faces additional pressure from industrial activities surrounding the city, emissions linked to air transport or food supply chains, and the geographical reality of being a major port.

Being part of the Mediterranean region also makes this city extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. As Pérez explains, Marseille regularly faces extreme weather events, soil fragility, and a coastline that is already evolving — and will continue to change in the coming years. These vulnerabilities have forced the local government to think long‑term and to get ready for tomorrow’s challenges.

Social urgency is another defining factor. Combating energy poverty has become not only an environmental priority but also a way to build social cohesion and support residents in tangible, meaningful ways. “The ecological transition must go hand in hand with social justice”, says Pérez.

From planning to action: relevant projects on the ground

The European label has already helped unlocking new funding for Marseille’s transition. Around €6 million are being invested in concrete, community-centred initiatives, including:

  • A neighbourhood outreach programme (€600,000), sending ambassadors into key districts to work directly with residents and companies on ecological initiatives.
  • Jet cities project, supporting changes in employment and skills caused by green transition (€1.5 million).
  • The “Poséidon” project (€400,000), promoting renewable energy, heat recovery systems and energy‑efficient renovation.
  • The PeriAsty project (€1.2 million), supporting the transition of Europe’s peri-urban areas towards climate-neutral, sustainable and resilient environments in areas such as mobility.
  • Additional support via the ELENA mechanism, helping finance large scale retrofits of public buildings and the expansion of renewable energy solutions.

These early projects illustrate how Marseille is moving from planning to delivery — and how European support can help local authorities turn long-term strategies into visible action.

Marseille also became a signatory of the EU Covenant of Mayors in 2021, an initiative in which CEMR is also involved. Through this initiative, the city has shared various of its case studies such as its plan for zero-euro electricity bills, its strategy to “refresh” public spaces, its heat strategy, and its transformative energy community strategy.

Under the umbrella of the Metropole Aix-Marseille-Provence, the city has been involved in the EU Missions Adaptation to Climate Change, another initiative in which CEMR is involved, with a budget of €999,000 budget for a project combining public and private partnerships to reduce CO₂ emissions.

A Mediterranean city that can inspire Europe

Marseille’s initiative in this field, combined with its geography and identity, makes it a compelling example for other European cities. As a major Mediterranean hub with diverse communities and a complex socio‑climatic landscape, it faces many of the shared challenges that cities across Europe are dealing with.

Fabien Perez - Local Hero Marseille

This is why Pérez emphasises the city’s wider relevance:

“Bring forward representative cities like Marseille, with a Mediterranean port, can inspire other cities in Europe to move towards carbon neutrality”.

Marseille is proving that climate neutrality is not only an environmental imperative, but also an opportunity to rethink governance, strengthen social cohesion and build a shared vision for the future. Its initiative shows how cities are already delivering results aligned with the global objectives of achieving the climate neutrality goal by 2050.

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Marseille is a member of CEMR’s French association AFCCRE.

For more information, please contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva
In Climate, Environment, Impact community Climate, Latest, PLATFORMA

Town Hall COP webinar

TOWN HALL COP - News

Town Hall COP: Faster climate action and multilevel governance to tackle climate change

Strengthened local action and multilevel governance to meet climate targets is one of the key messages defended by CEMR and PLATFORMA. On 19 November 2025, both networks organised their first Town Hall COP, a community-led climate dialogue aimed at reinforcing partnerships across levels of government. Participants insisted on linking climate efforts with broader global agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event took place online while COP30 negotiations are expected to conclude by the end of the week in Belém (Brazil).

COP30 negotiations update and progress made since COP21

Intervening from Belém, the Director for Intergovernmental Support and Collective Progress at UNFCCC Cecilia Kinuthia-Nienga provided an update on the COP 30 negotiations, highlighting the presidency’s focus on multilateralism, building trust, and moving “from commitments to implementation.”

She discussed the importance of clear governance structures, investment pipelines, and support for developing countries to ensure credible Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) implementation.

Just back from COP30, Bridgette Burken-Holder, Director of International Program at the European Climate Foundation, emphasised the evolution of the 2015 Paris Agreement as a “living instrument” and the progress made in reducing emissions in cities, but also the growing recognition of subnational governments in climate policy. She noted that 80% of submitted NDCs now include cities and regions as key partners.

Paraphrasing a COP30 participant, she said: “As local governments, we don’t need just a seat at the COP table, we need to rebuild the table to make sure that we can fit everyone we need.”

CEMR Spokesperson on environment and Senator for Loire-Atlantique (France) Ronan Dantec, also discussed the evolution of local governments’ role in climate governance over the past 20 years, emphasising the importance of their involvement for reaching climate targets.

Thysia Tchekouteff, Policy Assistant at the European Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action, reminded the European Union’s climate goals: to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, with a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a 90% reduction by 2040.

She emphasised the importance of multi-level cooperation, highlighting the EU’s endorsement of the Coalition of High Ambition Multi-Level Partnerships (CHAMP) and its commitment to working with subnational governments.

Climate action: political, financial, and citizen engagement

“Climate change does not wait for the next election,” stressed Emil Brogn, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca (Romanian Municipalities Association), who called for reinforced political support, blending financial resources, and making green choices easy for citizens. The mayor named “three key elephants in the room”: political support, finance, and citizen engagement.

He stressed the importance of communicating climate change actions in a way that resonates with citizens. A comment shared by Siri de Vrijer, Policy advisor on environment to MEP Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew Europe – Netherlands), who said: “we must show citizens what’s in it for them.” She discussed the need for a narrative that aligns with citizens’ perspectives and policy makers’ responsibilities.

This was also supported by Nadia Pellefigue who presented the Committee of the Regions’ opinion on COP30. “Without multi-level governance, ambitions remain theoretical. With it, ambitions become reality,” stated the Vice-President of the Occitanie Region (France). She called for a formal multi-level governance dialogue within the UNFCCC.

National perspectives from Moldova and Croatia

Marina Lungu, Head of Climate Change section at the Ministry of Environment of Moldova presented her country’s newly submitted NDC, which emphasises multi-level governance and includes institutional mechanisms for climate policy coordination across all levels of government.

Miljenko Sedlar, Head of climate in the Northwest Croatia Regional Energy and Climate Agency, presented Croatia’s approach to climate action. He also mentioned a new EU27 project called National Adaptation Hubs, which aims to shift from reactive to systemic adaptation and resilience across EU member states.

Local climate action initiatives

“80% of what can be done is under the influence of local governments,” said CEMR spokesperson for climate Marianne Overton, who discussed the challenges of climate change and the importance of local government in addressing it. The Councillor of North Kesteven and Lincolnshire (UK) highlighted the need “to make green choices easier for residents” and shared examples of successful initiatives, such as solar installations on council housing and energy-efficient building designs.

Overton emphasised the role of local municipalities in achieving climate targets and mentioned a motion passed by over 200 councils aiming for net zero by 2030.

Ola Nord, Head of the City of Malmö (Sweden) EU Office presented his city’s Town Hall COP initiative, which engaged 40 citizens to identify key climate action areas, resulting in 26 proposals focused on city planning, transport, democracy, just transition, lifestyle, and energy. “Change is happening, there’s a lot of positive developments, but it needs to be sped up and made stronger,” he said.

Looking towards 2027

Risto Veivo, Climate director at Central Administration of the City of Turku (Finland) provided an update on the IPCC Special Report on Cities to be presented at COP27. The report, involving approximately 100 lead authors will focus on various aspects of urban climate change, including solutions by city types and regions globally.

The results of CEMR-PLATFORMA Town Hall COP will now be shared with the large community of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency of the United Nations, of which CEMR is a member. Ahead of COP30, CEMR endorsed the LGMA Joint Position, a joint call for COP30 leaders to empower cities and regions as key drivers of global climate implementation.

 

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