Publications
Climate adaptation position paper
CEMR calls for a territorial approach to Europe’s climate resilience Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world. Heatwaves, floods, droughts and extreme weather events are already...
2026-02-04
EU budget: Local Alliance action plan
Making the next EU budget work for cities and regions: the Local Alliance’s 10-point action plan The Local Alliance – a coalition of Europe’s leading...
2025-11-18
Renewables with communities first
A European consensus sets guiding principles to accelerate renewable energy and grid deployment while ensuring fairness, transparency, biodiversity protection, and local benefits Europe is at...
2025-03-14
EU water resilience strategy
Recommendations for the EU water resilience strategy As Europe faces increasing water challenges—ranging from severe droughts to devastating floods—CEMR is calling for action. In its...
2025-01-31
An incluve local green transition deal
CEMR launches groundbreaking report on the local green transition CEMR is excited to announce the launch of its new report, “Local Green Transition: Prospects for...
2024-10-07
Adoption of the nature restoration law
Cities and regions urge swift adoption of EU Nature Restoration Law to combat climate and biodiversity crises As Europe faces intensifying environmental challenges, from biodiversity...
2024-06-11
Local Alliance for the Green Deal
Local Alliance: city and regional networks urge EU to stay the course on Green Deal implementation Eight leading networks of European cities and regions –...
2024-04-15
Sustainable textile waste management
Strengthening EU Waste Legislation Through Local Collaboration and Producer Responsibility As the EU prepares to implement key provisions of the revised Waste Framework Directive, including...
2023-10-26
Electricity market design reforms
Reforming the European Electricity Market: Priorities and Challenges In March, the European Commission proposed a regulation to improve the EU’s electricity market. The reform is important...
2023-06-23
Smarter building rules in Europe
EPBD revision: Local flexibility and long-term planning key to success, say CEMR and Housing Europe EPBD revision: Local flexibility and long-term planning key to success,...
2022-12-14
Territorial leaders in action at the COP 27
10 key points to prevent the inexorable march toward utter climate disaster It’s now or never. We must gear up for climate action and advance...
2022-10-04
CEMR report of 2021
Report on the publications, knowledge-sharing, advocacy and communications in 2021 The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is pleased to present its 2021 Activity...
2022-06-27
Investing in Europe’s future
A new EU growth model must empower local services, boost resilience and deliver sustainable investments The war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the COVID-19...
2022-03-22
Empowering local Europe
CEMR unveils its vision for stronger, inclusive and sustainable territories across Europe The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has launched its political manifesto...
2022-02-08
Paris agreement at the local level
Glasgow Climate Pact calls for “multilevel and cooperative action” “Disappointment” was a word on the lips of many at the closing on the COP26 UN...
2021-11-16
Fit for 55 – local climate transitions
The Fit for 55 package must empower municipalities and regions to drive Europe’s energy transition The European Union has committed to reaching climate neutrality by...
2021-11-12
Local green recovery in Europe
Discover our infographic and key messages for COP26 After much delay and uncertainty to due to COVID crisis, it’s finally happening: the 26th UN summit...
2021-10-26
Localising sustainable goals after COVID19
How European territories are driving sustainable change amid the Covid-19 crisis The Covid-19 pandemic has been a profound shock for municipalities and regions across Europe....
2021-04-07
Energy performance in buildings directive
CEMR calls for flexible, well-resourced revisions to the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) The European Green Deal aims to make Europe the first...
2021-03-19
People first in Europe’s mobility shift
Sustainable and smart mobility must be built with, not just for, cities and regions That’s the core message from the Council of European Municipalities and...
2021-03-01
Local waste water policy
CEMR urges a proportionate, flexible and locally tailored approach to EU waste water reforms As the European Commission advances its revision of the Urban Waste...
2021-02-12
Empowering local climate action
CEMR’s Joint Response to the EU Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Directive Reviews The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) submitted a joint response...
2021-02-08
EU delegations & local action
Exploring how EU Delegations engage with local and regional governments in global development As the global landscape of development cooperation evolves, the role of local...
2021-01-20
Building climate-ready cities in Africa
Lessons from the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa on strengthening local capacity for energy access and resilience The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa...
2021-01-09
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...
2020-11-07
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...
2020-08-19
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...
2020-07-16
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...
2020-06-24
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...
2020-06-01
Adapting to climate in Africa
How African cities are assessing climate risks and building resilient futures As climate change accelerates, African cities face mounting threats to their infrastructure, economies, and...
2020-01-17
Just transition mechanism analysis
The Just Transition Mechanism urges stronger local partnerships and clearer funding priorities The EU’s ambition to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 is taking...
2020-01-14
Financing climate action in African cities
Innovative approaches to funding sustainable urban transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa Cities across Sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, with two-thirds considered at “extreme...
2019-12-13
Climate finance in Sub-Saharan Africa
Helping Sub-Saharan African cities access funding to deliver local climate and energy action plans Sub-Saharan African cities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis....
2019-10-02
Global goals into local action
How local and regional government associations turn global goals into local action The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Goals are often seen...
2019-09-19
Climate action in African cities
Lessons from the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa on energy, adaptation and resilience The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) is a...
2019-09-13
Water framework and floods directive
Balancing high environmental goals with realistic implementation, funding, and stronger local involvement The Water Framework Directive (WFD), in force since 2000, is one of the...
2019-03-02
Financing climate action in Africa
New guide helps African cities unlock funding to implement their sustainable energy and climate plans As cities across Sub-Saharan Africa face mounting climate threats, they...
2018-11-23
Talanoa for climate action
Inclusive dialogues in Africa driving cooperation to strengthen and raise ambition of national climate commitments Urban areas contribute up to 70% of global greenhouse gas...
2018-10-08
Towns leading global change
How Europe’s towns and regions are turning global sustainability goals into everyday reality Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it has...
2018-08-20
Review of clean vehicles directive
Rethinking EU Clean Vehicles Rules: Why CEMR Calls for Flexibility, Funding, and Local Autonomy With road transport accounting for nearly a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse...
2018-05-12
EU strategy on climate change
Why Local Governments Must Be Central to the EU’s Climate Resilience Strategy As the EU evaluates its 2013 Adaptation Strategy, the Council of European Municipalities...
2018-03-27
Permanent platforms for energy dialogue
Integrating local governments into national climate and energy planning through multilevel dialogue The transition towards a sustainable, decentralised and decarbonised energy system is a collective...
2018-03-21
Local and regional leaders at COP23
Driving decarbonisation through cooperation, finance and multilevel governance At COP23, European towns and regions reaffirm their commitment to building decarbonised and sustainable societies. Local and...
2017-11-17
Regions driving climate action
Municipalities and regions as catalysts for COP22 progress COP22 in Marrakesh marked a crucial moment in translating the Paris Agreement into concrete action. For Europe’s...
2016-10-03
Circular economy starts locally
CEMR’s Priorities for Revising EU Waste Rules and Advancing the Circular Economy With the EU revising its Waste Framework Directive as part of the broader...
2016-03-19
Local voices for climate at COP21
Municipalities and regions shaping COP21 success In December 2015, the Paris Summit (COP21) became a milestone in global climate governance. For Europe’s municipalities and regions,...
2015-09-05
Key messages of regions for COP21
From Lyon to Paris: Regions and Municipalities as Catalysts for COP21 Success As the world prepared for the Paris Climate Summit (COP21), Europe’s municipalities and...
2015-06-12
