Publications 174

In the face of global challenges like climate change, migration, and rising inequalities, citizen engagement is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Local and regional governments (LRGs), being the level of governance closest to the people, are uniquely positioned to connect global issues with daily realities. Through Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR), LRGs play a transformative role in fostering active, informed and responsible citizenship.

DEAR is not just about delivering information, it’s about sparking engagement, critical thinking, and collective action. This article presents the key findings and recommendations from PLATFORMA’s Success Stories Collection, showcasing how LRGs and their associations help citizens understand global interdependencies and become agents of change.

PLATFORMA, a pan-European coalition of LRGs active in development cooperation, advocates for the strategic role of LRGs in informing, mobilising, and engaging communities for global sustainable development. The collection highlights real-life examples of how LRGs across Europe use DEAR to bring the 2030 Agenda closer to citizens.

Why LRGs Matter for DEAR
LRGs are trusted institutions with a public mandate. By collaborating with schools, civil society organisations (CSOs), and cultural actors, they can:

Simplify complex global agendas like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without diluting their message,
Restore trust in public institutions,
Build social cohesion,
Reach under-resourced municipalities through national associations of LRGs (LRGAs).

What is DEAR?
Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR) strategies seek to transform community behaviour and attitudes toward global challenges. Rooted in concepts like Global Citizenship Education (GCE), DEAR blends learning with action. Its two main approaches are:

Global-Learning: Focused on knowledge-building and participatory education.
Campaigning-Advocacy: Aimed at policy and behaviour change through public mobilisation.

Showcasing DEAR in Action
The publication features 19 case studies, divided into two parts:

Part 1: Ten Campaigning-Advocacy projects targeting policy or institutional changes.
Part 2: Nine Global-Learning projects focused on pedagogical empowerment and community knowledge-building.
A third section delves into the financial tools and methodologies that support DEAR implementation.

The DEAR experience proves that raising citizens’ awareness is not a one-off campaign, it’s a continuous process of reflection, transformation, and action. PLATFORMA outlines seven clear recommendations for local and regional governments to enhance their DEAR impact:

Promote whole-of-society partnerships: Create inclusive spaces and initiatives like the European Days of Local Solidarity to unite communities around shared challenges.

Commit to long-term planning: Change takes time; DEAR strategies must evolve and stay relevant.

Foster mutual learning and participation: Engage citizens in workshops, forums, and school programmes, learning is most effective when it is shared.

Defend the unique role of LRGs: Encourage inclusion of LRGs in EU DEAR calls and empower their associations to support smaller municipalities.

Prioritise youth engagement: Let young people lead and amplify messages through social media and peer-to-peer initiatives.

Use public and digital spaces creatively: Awareness campaigns in urban areas and online tools ensure a wide reach and participation.

Evaluate meaningfully: Include both qualitative and quantitative indicators, participatory feedback, and mid-term evaluations to track behaviour change.

As we face increasingly complex global challenges, LRGs and their associations are vital in shaping how communities think, act, and respond. By embedding DEAR into their governance and outreach strategies, local institutions become not only service providers but educators and catalysts of global change.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

BALLESTA ORTA Rocío

Officer – Education & Development

GAUDRON Marine In Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Publications, Territorial development, Territorial development

Empowering Europe’s rural future

CEMR urges inclusive, place-based vision for rural territories

As the European Union shapes its long-term vision for rural areas, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) calls for a fresh, inclusive approach that recognises rural territories as vibrant, diverse, and essential to Europe’s sustainable future.

In a context shaped by post-COVID realities, demographic shifts, and the need for climate resilience, CEMR stresses that rural areas must no longer be seen as peripheral or left behind. Over 50% of Europeans live in rural or peri-urban territories, yet these areas still face gaps in investment, connectivity, and access to services.

CEMR’s position lays out a clear path forward:

Shift the narrative: Rural areas are not just agricultural zones in decline, but places of opportunity, well-being, and innovation. A positive and modern image must be promoted across all levels of government.

Invest in connections: Better transport links, broadband access, and energy infrastructure are key to rural inclusion. Public investment must step in where market failures persist.

Strengthen local governance: Municipalities and regions are best placed to tailor solutions to their rural communities. They must be true partners in designing and delivering EU and national policies.

Support rural services and quality of life: Equal access to health, education, culture, and mobility is crucial to prevent depopulation and ensure territorial cohesion.

Target EU funding more effectively: Cohesion Policy, CAP, Horizon Europe, and recovery instruments must better support rural-specific needs, with simplified access for small municipalities.

Foster youth engagement and gender equity: Making rural areas attractive for young people, women, and families will require tailored policies and investment in social infrastructure.

CEMR calls on the EU, Member States, and institutions like the OECD and Council of Europe to take these principles seriously and to build rural policies that are integrated, inclusive, and future-focused. From tourism and energy to local governance and public services, rural areas must be seen as full contributors to Europe’s social and territorial fabric.

For more information, contact:

GAUDRON Marine

Advisor – Territorial Cohesion & Local Finances

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva In Climate, Climate, Energy, Energy, Environment, Environment, EU Covenant of Mayors, EU Covenant of Mayors, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

Local action for climate at COP26

Municipalities and regions are essential to implementing the Paris Agreement and achieving the SDGs

As the world prepares for COP26, the urgency of implementing the Paris Agreement is clearer than ever. Delays are no longer acceptable: ambitious climate action must be delivered across all levels of governance, with municipalities and regions at the forefront. Local leadership, appropriate regulatory frameworks, and decentralised solutions will be crucial to achieving carbon neutrality and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Tackling climate change requires ambitious leadership, and local governments are uniquely positioned to deliver practical results. Cities and regions across Europe are already setting climate targets and developing local solutions to global challenges. Their involvement in international processes, such as through the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) constituency, ensures that local voices shape global action.

Effective climate policies also depend on appropriate regulatory and financial support. EU and national frameworks must acknowledge the diversity of local realities, enabling tailored solutions. Adequate funding, capacity-building, and investment are necessary to empower municipalities and regions to meet their commitments. Initiatives like the European Green Deal and a just transition should ensure no community is left behind.

Finally, the localisation of the SDGs is inseparable from the climate agenda. With 65% of SDG targets linked to local action, decentralised approaches and multi-level governance are vital. Embedding the 2030 Agenda into territorial strategies will ensure that global commitments translate into tangible improvements in communities.

The path to COP26 underscores a simple truth: global goals can only be achieved through local action. By supporting municipalities and regions with resources, recognition, and a genuine role in decision-making, the EU and international community can ensure that the Paris Agreement and SDGs are implemented effectively, delivering a sustainable and resilient future for all.

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva

Senior Advisor – Global Agendas, SDGs & Climate

BENNIS Hamza In Digitalisation, Digitalisation, Employment, Employment, Gender equality, Gender equality, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, Migration and inclusion, Migration and inclusion, Publications, Skills, Skills, ,

Social rights, local action

What are the priorities for implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights with a strong local and regional involvement?

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) welcomes the European Pillar of Social Rights as a step toward strengthening fairness and equality in Europe. While supporting its ambition, CEMR stresses that the measures linked to the Pillar’s 20 principles should remain non-binding, respecting the diversity of national, regional and local competences. For local and regional governments, the Pillar should serve as a reference framework to inspire reforms, rather than impose uniform rules.

CEMR identifies key challenges where Europe must act: rising inequality, persistent poverty, gender gaps, and labour market transitions accelerated by digitalisation and COVID-19. Municipalities and regions, as major providers of education, housing, health, social inclusion and employment services, are at the heart of delivering social rights.

CEMR’s policy priorities include:

Skills and education: investment in training, apprenticeships and digital access to avoid a “lost generation” of young people.
Demographic change: integrating women, older workers, migrants, and disadvantaged groups into the labour market.
Gender equality: boosting women’s participation and addressing work-life balance challenges, especially in the pandemic’s aftermath.

At the same time, CEMR warns against excessive bureaucracy or additional reporting obligations for local authorities, calling instead for best practice exchange, benchmarks, and adequate funding.

For the European Pillar of Social Rights to succeed, it must respect subsidiarity, strengthen social dialogue, and involve local and regional governments as essential actors. Municipalities, cities, and regions are indispensable in turning principles into concrete progress, provided they are given the flexibility, resources and recognition needed to deliver.

For more information, contact:

BENNIS Hamza

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

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

New EU strategy to climate change

CEMR’s Response to the EU Adaptation Strategy Review

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) strongly supports the development of a revised EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, calling for a clear EU Action Plan that empowers local and regional governments (LRGs) to lead on the ground.

Climate change is already a reality for Europe’s cities and regions, with impacts ranging from floods and heatwaves to droughts, wildfires and biodiversity loss. As the first responders to these challenges, LRGs are on the front line and play a vital role in ensuring climate-resilient communities.

In its official response to the 2020 EU consultation, CEMR stresses that:

Adaptation is as urgent as mitigation. While reducing emissions remains essential, Europe must also adapt to unavoidable impacts already underway.

Localised responses are essential. Climate impacts vary significantly across territories. An effective adaptation strategy must reflect local vulnerabilities, risks and capacities.

Integration is key. Adaptation should be embedded into land use planning, infrastructure, housing, water and environmental management, combining it with mitigation whenever possible.

Transformation requires support. LRGs need financial tools, enabling policies, capacity-building, data access and stronger multilevel governance to deliver meaningful change.

Nature-based solutions are critical. Investments in green infrastructure, biodiversity and water retention areas help cities adapt sustainably and cost-effectively.

CEMR also urges the Commission to ensure that adaptation becomes a mainstream requirement in planning and investment decisions. Risk and climate vulnerability assessments should guide long-term urban development, infrastructure planning and emergency preparedness.

Moreover, LRGs are not only ready to act locally but also to support international efforts, particularly in cooperation with developing countries, contributing to the goals of the Paris Agreement.

As part of the European Green Deal, the new strategy should enable and accelerate local action, ensuring that no city or region is left behind in preparing for climate risks.

For more information, contact:

GRIFFON Axelle

Advisor – Environment and mobility

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva In 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, Publications

Localising the 2030 Agenda

How local and regional governments and their associations are driving sustainable development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, laid out an ambitious global roadmap for peace, prosperity, people, and the planet. Its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are universal in nature but require deeply localised responses to be effectively achieved.

Local and regional governments (LRGs), and the associations that represent them are at the frontline of this challenge. They have the democratic mandate, institutional legitimacy, and daily proximity to citizens to implement sustainable solutions tailored to local realities. This article explores the critical role these governments and their national associations play in bringing the 2030 Agenda to life across Europe and beyond.

The Role of LRGs and Their Associations
Local and regional governments are uniquely positioned to translate global goals into tangible public policies and services. Whether it’s improving access to education, ensuring clean water, fostering inclusive economies, or promoting environmental protection, the SDGs intersect directly with their mandates.

However, the successful localisation of the SDGs requires not only local action but also strong national coordination and multilevel governance. That’s where national associations of LRGs come in. They serve as intermediaries between municipal and national levels, raising awareness, building capacity, and advocating for policy coherence and the resources necessary for implementation.

A Framework for Transformation
For LRGs, the 2030 Agenda is more than a checklist, it’s a strategic and transformative framework that enables long-term thinking, breaks down silos across departments, and connects various stakeholders. When well-integrated, the SDGs improve how public services are delivered and empower communities to engage meaningfully in decision-making processes.

A New Decade of Action and Challenge
Despite early progress, the world is not yet on track to meet the SDGs by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic has added new complexity, strained local budgets and exacerbated inequalities. Yet the pandemic also highlighted the vital role of LRGs in crisis response, ensuring healthcare access, food security, education continuity, and social protection.

The recovery period offers a chance to “build back better” by placing the SDGs at the core of reconstruction efforts. The UN Secretary General has emphasised the 2030 Agenda as a guiding principle for a resilient, inclusive, and green recovery. In this context, national associations of LRGs become even more essential to facilitate dialogue, share knowledge, and advocate for the tools local governments need to succeed.

The decade ahead will be decisive. The COVID-19 crisis may have disrupted momentum, but it has not undermined the fundamental relevance of the 2030 Agenda. On the contrary, it has reaffirmed the importance of public services, local resilience, and inclusive governance, values that are deeply embedded in the SDGs.

Local and regional governments, supported by their associations, are essential actors in this journey. They are adapting, experimenting, and collaborating to deliver sustainable results, even amid uncertainty. Their work shows that global agendas only become real when rooted in local action.

Going forward, stronger partnerships across sectors and governance levels are needed to ensure no place and no person is left behind. Multi-level and multi-sector cooperation will be vital to address the growing challenges ahead and to seize the opportunities that lie in sustainable, equitable recovery.

In short, if the SDGs are to be met, they must be localised and that starts with empowering the actors who are closest to the people.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva

Senior Advisor – Global Agendas, SDGs & Climate

TONHAUSER Boris In Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Publications

Agenda 2030 study for local and regional governments

Just out: New study reveals how municipalities, regions and their associations are embracing the SDGs

Caught in the COVID-19 storm, Europe’s local and regional governments and their associations are at risk of losing the progress made in the last few years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Although they are increasingly familiar with the Global Goals, they need further support to bring international ambitions to territorial realities.

This is what emerges from a new study led by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and PLATFORMA entitled “The 2030 Agenda through the eyes of local and regional governments’ associations”.

In times of COVID-19: the SDGs at a make-or-break moment

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and around the world has brought about unprecedented challenges for local and regional governments. In several countries, the pandemic has markedly deepened inequalities and has slowed down efforts to raise awareness and promote the work of the 2030 Agenda at local and regional level.

“The current crisis and the uncertain future are a call for action. Every player around the globe has to act now,” said Tine Soens, Member of the City Council of Kortrijk (Belgium), CEMR and PLATFORMA Spokesperson on 2030 Agenda. “Local and regional leaders should not be afraid to take the leap! Our generation of politicians, civil servants and citizens is the generation that has to turn the tide.”

The study at a glance

Based on a survey of 34 associations from 28 European countries, the study shows that one third use the SDGs as an important reference in their own development strategies, compared to only one fifth last year. What’s more, four out of five associations are aware of the SDGs. The trend is clear: year after year, local and regional governments and their associations are increasingly making the efforts necessary to materialise the global agenda at local level.

But have the SDGs also gained traction among central governments? Our study shows that close to 80% of associations indicated that there is an official national strategy to implement the SDGs. For those who indicated that a national strategy has been set up, 59% specified that there is a clear mention of the need to support local and regional action in SDG implementation.

Nevertheless, there is still considerable room for improvement to bring about closer ties between all levels of government and to achieve global progress on sustainable development. To step up our efforts, the study offers a checklist for associations “Know where your members stand in the localisation of the SDGs”, a set of simple steps to contribute to Voluntary National Reporting and several key recommendations.

What’s more, this 40-page publication is packed full of illustrative examples from the ground. Finally, it identifies persisting challenges and new opportunities that municipalities, regions and their associations have been encountering when working with the SDGs. These come at a timely moment as the pandemic continues to spread around the world.

Background information

This new study is based on a joint survey conducted by CEMR and PLATFORMA, designed in collaboration with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). It is a follow up to the 2019 study “How local & regional government associations bring the SDGs to life” and the 2018 study “Sustainable Development Goals – How Europe’s towns and regions are taking the lead”.

The study was launched on 15 July 2020 at the occasion of the workshop Localising the Sustainable Development Goals (watch the recording) organised by PLATFORMA during the United Nations’ 2020 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

PLATFORMA and CEMR are actively taking part in many of this virtual event’s sessions and webinars together with their partners and members.

Please click on this link if you want to get printed copies of our study (Europe only).

For more information, contact:

TONHAUSER Boris

Director – PLATFORMA

THOMAS Carol In EU budget, EU budget, Governance, Governance, Latest, Local democracy, Local democracy, Local finances, Local finances, Publications

Lessons from the COVID19 Pandemic

Local and regional governments need stronger support, recognition, and autonomy in times of crisis

As Europe continues to grapple with the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) highlights the vital role of local and regional governments during the pandemic and the urgent need for stronger multilevel governance and financial resilience.

From the earliest days of the pandemic, local and regional authorities were at the frontline: managing public health measures, ensuring social services, maintaining education and local transport, and supporting vulnerable groups. They also had to cope with increased expenditure while facing plummeting revenues, a phenomenon CEMR described as the “scissor effect.” Despite their efforts, many municipalities and regions received little compensation or recognition for their critical role.

In light of these challenges, CEMR has outlined ten key recommendations to ensure more effective responses in future crises and support long-term resilience:

Recognition of essential services
Local and regional governments must be acknowledged as essential actors in crisis management. Their competences, funding, and resources must be guaranteed and reinforced, with better alignment of policies across government levels.
Equal access to EU recovery tools
Municipalities and regions should be directly involved in shaping and implementing national recovery plans, particularly in the context of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. This means ensuring equal access to EU funds, simplification of procedures, and stronger monitoring mechanisms.
Flexible financial frameworks
The EU fiscal rules need to evolve. CEMR calls for more flexibility for local and regional governments in borrowing and investment, especially for long-term sustainable projects. Debt incurred for these purposes should be excluded from deficit calculations under the Stability and Growth Pact.
Stronger digital transition
The pandemic highlighted the digital divide across Europe. More investment is needed to strengthen local digital infrastructure and capacity, especially in rural and underserved areas. Local and regional authorities must play a central role in the EU’s digital transition.
Health, care, and social services
Municipalities and regions are often responsible for delivering or coordinating health and care services. They must be involved in national health policy planning, with proper resources and long-term investment to ensure quality and accessibility.
Support for local economies
Cities and regions played a key role in supporting local businesses and workers during the crisis. The EU and Member States must ensure that economic recovery policies reach the local level and that municipalities can take proactive measures to protect local economies.
Strengthening social cohesion
COVID-19 amplified existing inequalities. Local authorities are best placed to address social exclusion, support vulnerable groups, and reinforce community resilience, but need adequate funding and policy support.
Better governance
The pandemic exposed the weaknesses of top-down crisis responses. Multilevel governance, subsidiarity, and the partnership principle must be strengthened to ensure effective cooperation and faster, more tailored solutions.
Green recovery
Recovery funds and policies must prioritise sustainability. Local governments are already implementing the Green Deal at ground level, through sustainable mobility, energy-efficient buildings, and green public spaces. Their role must be formally supported in EU policy and funding instruments.
Crisis preparedness
Europe must develop better tools for future emergencies. This includes building the capacity of local administrations, sharing best practices, and ensuring municipalities have access to critical resources when crises hit.

Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a stress test for European governance and local governments passed it with resilience and determination. Now, CEMR urges EU institutions and Member States to turn these lessons into action. By strengthening the role, autonomy, and resources of local and regional authorities, Europe can better prepare for the next crisis and deliver a fair, green, and inclusive recovery for all.

For more information, contact:

THOMAS Carol

Senior Adviser, Governance, Gender Equality, Local Democracy

BIZARRO Pedro In Climate, Climate, Covenant of Mayors for Sub-Saharan Africa [closed project], Covenant of Mayors for Sub-Saharan Africa [closed project], Environment, Environment, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Latest, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

Evaluation of Covenant of Mayors in Africa

Evaluating the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa: added value, progress, and lessons for the future

Since its launch in 2015, the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) has become a major initiative supporting African cities in their response to climate change and in improving access to clean energy. Funded by the European Union and co-financed by Germany and Spain, CoM SSA is part of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. Today, more than 200 cities across 36 Sub-Saharan countries have signed up, committing to long-term climate and energy action through Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs).

Programme Achievements
The final evaluation highlights both the relevance and scale of the initiative. With Africa’s rapid urbanisation, CoM SSA’s focus on local governments is crucial. The programme has successfully engaged hundreds of municipalities, surpassing its target of 200 signatories, and has provided significant capacity building through technical assistance and workshops. Cities especially valued peer exchanges, which created strong networks for sharing experiences and best practices.

Pilot projects showed mixed results: while some cities advanced quickly with draft SEACAPs, others faced delays due to political instability, lack of technical expertise, or limited direct involvement of city administrations. Still, the overall added value of the initiative is clear: it created political ownership, improved local technical skills, and promoted sustainable energy and climate planning at the local level.

Key Lessons and Recommendations
The evaluation also draws important lessons for the future. Greater alignment between local SEACAPs and national climate strategies is needed to ensure impact. Capacity building remains a priority, requiring more technical staff on the ground and support from local organisations to guarantee continuity. Better coordination with other international programmes is recommended to avoid duplication of efforts. Finally, fostering multilingual platforms for experience-sharing among cities will strengthen the CoM SSA community and enhance learning across regions.

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa has proven its relevance and value by mobilising hundreds of cities and building local capacity for climate action. While challenges remain, the initiative has laid a strong foundation for Phase III, where scaling up, deepening vertical integration with national governments, and securing sustainable financing will be key. CoM SSA is now well-positioned to continue empowering African municipalities as central actors in the global fight against climate change.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

BIZARRO Pedro

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

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

Local action driving the green deal

CEMR outlines the crucial role of municipalities and regions in making Europe climate neutral by 2050

The European Green Deal, launched in December 2019, sets out the EU’s ambition to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050. While the framework is driven at the European level, its implementation will rely heavily on municipalities and regions. Local and regional governments (LRGs) are already responsible for delivering 70% of climate mitigation measures, 90% of adaptation policies, and 65% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) highlights that empowering these actors is essential to achieving the Green Deal’s goals.

CEMR stresses that LRGs are not only implementers but also innovators, mobilising citizens and setting ambitious targets beyond EU requirements. For example, the 10,000 signatories of the Covenant of Mayors have pledged to reduce CO₂ emissions by 47% by 2030, well above the EU’s current 40% target.

CEMR puts forward several recommendations to strengthen the Green Deal’s delivery:

Recognition and resources: LRGs must be recognised as full partners, equipped with sufficient financial capacity and flexibility to adapt implementation to diverse local realities.
Better regulation and coordination: The EU should enforce existing legislation, improve policy coherence between sectors, and avoid additional administrative burdens for local governments.
Climate and energy: Ambitious targets are welcome but must be matched with adequate resources. Local authorities should be included in decision-making on National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). Renewable energy should be treated equally, whether produced onsite or via networks such as district heating.
Circular economy: Municipalities manage nearly 500 kg of waste per capita annually and are central to recycling, waste reduction, and energy recovery. Their role must be reinforced in shaping circular consumption and production patterns.
Clean mobility: LRGs are at the forefront of decarbonising transport and public mobility, but need financial and regulatory support to modernise infrastructure and introduce innovative solutions.
Financing the transition: Investment is critical. Tools like the Just Transition Fund are welcome but insufficient. Sustainable local investments should be exempt from EU debt rules to unleash their full potential. Innovative funding mechanisms tailored to municipalities of all sizes are also needed.
Global leadership: LRGs can act as ambassadors of the Green Deal through international cooperation, capacity building, and partnerships with local authorities abroad, reinforcing Europe’s climate leadership on the global stage.

Europe’s success in delivering the Green Deal will be determined locally. Municipalities and regions are already leading in climate action, but they need recognition, resources, and flexibility to scale up their efforts. By ensuring LRGs are fully integrated into EU policies and financing, the Green Deal can drive not only a carbon-neutral Europe but also a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.