Studies

Europe has always been a bold political project. Born from the ashes of two World Wars, it was built on the conviction that lasting peace and prosperity can only be achieved together. From the beginning, local and regional leaders played a decisive role: mayors and municipalities spearheaded cooperation across borders and called for stronger local democracy through the European Charter for Local Liberties.

Today, facing crises from climate change to migration, from social tensions to war at its borders, Europe once again needs its local pioneers. In 2016, CEMR launched a visionary initiative inviting leaders, citizens, and young people to share their vision of Europe in 2030. The results were clear: citizens want a more cohesive, democratic, and responsive Europe, one that listens and acts closer to their daily lives.

The vision for 2030 is ambitious: empower local and regional governments with greater resources, strengthen cooperation between all levels of governance, and ensure that policies remain people-centered. Local governments already provide over 60% of public investment in the EU, showing that they are key drivers of innovation, social support, and sustainable development.

Contributors stress that decentralisation is essential to building trust in democracy. Nation-states should act as regulators and guarantors of equality, regions should drive economic growth, and towns should remain the heart of community life. At the same time, Europe must stay united in diversity, serving as the guardian of territorial cohesion, welfare, and collective security.

By 2030, Europe will be more global and more urban. Local and regional governments must therefore take a stronger role in international cooperation, through city diplomacy, twinning, knowledge-sharing, and decentralised cooperation, to tackle challenges like climate change and sustainable development.

The message is simple but powerful: to change the world, we must think and act locally while standing united as Europeans. A renewed European model, decentralised, democratic, and open to the world, is the key to regaining citizens’ trust and securing a brighter future.

For more information, contact:

ROSSI Fabrizio

Secretary General

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

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 public health. Rising sea levels, water scarcity, disease outbreaks, and food insecurity are just some of the growing challenges. In response, many local governments across the continent are taking voluntary steps to adapt and strengthen territorial resilience.

Adaptation is more than reacting to extreme weather, it means preparing for long-term climate impacts and turning risks into development opportunities. This involves adjusting policies, infrastructure, and urban practices to reduce vulnerability and protect communities.

A recent methodological review explores how African cities are assessing the local effects of climate change and using that knowledge to shape their adaptation strategies. Actions range from bioclimatic architecture to reduce indoor heat, to shifting agricultural practices, protecting water resources, and diversifying tourism away from climate-vulnerable coastlines.

Importantly, cities must ensure that adaptation and mitigation plans are aligned. Involving the same stakeholders in both processes supports integrated planning and more coherent climate action.

This work reflects a growing commitment among African cities to lead the way in climate adaptation by studying local risks, acting early, and building more sustainable urban futures.

For more information, contact:

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

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 risk”. Yet, these same cities, particularly smaller and secondary urban areas, also hold significant potential to drive sustainable development. Through the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA), local governments are acting by developing Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs) and seeking ways to finance their implementation.

Building on years of support, the CoM SSA initiative is now focused on helping cities move from planning to implementation, particularly by unlocking access to climate finance. This includes support in understanding the finance landscape, preparing robust projects, and building partnerships with funders and investors.

A recent publication highlights solutions adopted by cities to finance SEACAPs, from reducing planning costs through inter-municipal cooperation to using public-private partnerships, risk-sharing mechanisms, and community-based funding models.

Key lessons include:

Diversifying financial sources improves resilience and reduces dependency. This includes crowdfunding, climate funds, local capital markets, and private investment.

Empowering communities through pooled resources, microfinance, and participatory planning ensures sustainability and buy-in.

Using digital technologies helps cities manage climate action more efficiently and affordably.

These examples illustrate that while challenges remain, Sub-Saharan African cities are making progress in creating bankable, inclusive, and resilient climate solutions, paving the way for sustainable urban futures.

For more information, contact:

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

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. Rapid urbanisation has increased their exposure to climate risks and greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, signatories of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) are developing Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs). These plans aim to foster low-carbon, resilient development while ensuring access to sustainable energy.

However, limited access to climate finance remains a major hurdle. Many local governments lack the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the complex landscape of climate-related funding. A new publication addresses this gap by mapping out available financing instruments, eligibility criteria, and technical considerations tailored to Sub-Saharan cities.

While a range of climate finance sources exists, most are not directly accessible to local authorities, often requiring intermediaries such as national governments or development banks. To close this gap, national institutions must improve coordination, provide direct financial support, and create enabling environments for private investment. Mechanisms like Subnational Development Banks and dedicated national climate funds are also key to improving financial flows at the local level.

Development partners and the international community play a critical role by offering technical assistance for project planning, design, and implementation. With stronger multilevel cooperation, cities across the region can increase their access to climate finance and accelerate the delivery of their SEACAPs, driving both climate resilience and sustainable development.

For more information, contact:

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

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

Study on how local and regional governments apply the SDGs

Just out: New study on how towns, regions and their associations bring international ambitions to territorial realities

Four years into Agenda 2030, it is clearer than ever that a global shift requires local action. But how are local and regional governments, and their associations, paving the way towards sustainable development? Find out more in the new study carried out by the Council of European and Municipalities (CEMR) and PLATFORMA.

This study entitled “How local & regional government associations bring the SDGs to life” highlights how towns and regions are bringing international ambitions to territorial realities.

The 10 recommendations of this study are there to take towns and regions one step closer to better localise the SDGs. The study also shows that no less than 73% of the European countries surveyed are now developing local indicators to assess the implementation of the SDGs.

Towns and regions are “tailoring, mainstreaming and living” the SDGs

“One year on, local and regional government associations have not just been implementing policies in service of the goals, they are tailoring, mainstreaming and living them. Local and regional government associations are increasingly being recognised as the torchbearers in embracing the 2030 Agenda,” said Frédéric Vallier, Secretary General of CEMR, lead partner of PLATFORMA.

“The clock is ticking – we only have around ten years left before we hit 2030. We need all hands on deck! Until then, we should be proud of what Europe’s cities and regions have already achieved,” added Stefano Bonaccini, President of CEMR, AICCRE & Emilia Romagna Region (Italy).

This new study is based on a joint survey conducted by CEMR, PLATFORMA and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) sent out to national associations of local and regional governments. It is a follow up of the 2018 study entitled “Sustainable Development Goals – How Europe’s towns and regions are taking the lead”.

More about #LocalizingSDGs

Local and regional governments represented in New York

European local and regional leaders from a CEMR-PLATFORMA delegation are calling to accelerate climate action and the localisation of UN Global Goals at the UN General Assembly.

> Read more

Engaging citizens in Global Sustainable Development

PLATFORMA is presenting the 4th edition of the European Days of Local Solidarity (EDLS) at the Europeaid InfoPoint Lunchtime Conference “Cities & regions: engaging citizens in Global Sustainable Development” on Wednesday 25 September 2019, 12:30-14:00.

> Read more & register

CEMR Congress on SDGs

Ten years ahead of the SDGs global deadline, CEMR invites you to its congress on SDGs in Innsbruck, from 6 to 8 May 2020. One of a kind, the congress will bring together the whole SDG family in one place: mayors, local and regional leaders, national governments, etc.

> Read the interview with the Mayor of Innsbruck, Georg Willi.

Note to the editor:

25 September is the Global Day to act for SDGs: it marks the 4th anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by Heads of State and Government. But even though the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were launched by the United Nations, the targeted beneficiaries are citizens and its primary implementers are local and regional governments.

For more information, contact:

TONHAUSER Boris

Director – PLATFORMA

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

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 as a global framework, but their success depends on local action. Nearly two-thirds of the SDGs must be implemented at the local level, making municipalities, regions, and their associations crucial actors in bringing this agenda to life.

Local and regional government associations (LRGAs) act as bridges between citizens and higher levels of governance. They support awareness-raising, provide technical expertise, and advocate on behalf of local governments at the national, European, and international levels. Their proximity to communities allows them to translate abstract global objectives into tangible improvements in daily life, from better public services and climate action plans to gender equality policies and local economic development.

Since the first CEMR-PLATFORMA study in 2018, the role of associations in localising the SDGs has grown significantly. Many are now actively involved in monitoring, reporting, and international advocacy, including through contributions to the UN’s High-Level Political Forum. Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) and decentralised cooperation projects have become powerful tools to highlight progress, inspire others, and ensure that local voices are heard on the global stage.

At the same time, challenges remain. Municipalities and their associations still struggle with limited resources, lack of data, and uneven awareness across regions. In particular, gaps persist between Northern/Western Europe, where SDG implementation is more advanced, and Central/Eastern Europe, where awareness and uptake are still developing. To make the 2030 Agenda truly transformative, multi-level collaboration and inclusive partnerships are essential.

Despite these hurdles, LRGAs continue to push boundaries. By fostering cooperation between cities and regions, they strengthen international solidarity, enhance capacity-building, and adapt services to better reflect sustainability goals. They are not only localising the SDGs but also giving them credibility and momentum in Europe and beyond.

In short, associations of towns and regions are proving that the SDGs are more than a global vision: they are a practical tool for creating sustainable, inclusive communities, driven by partnerships and citizen engagement.

Check the infographic here

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva

Senior Advisor – Global Agendas, SDGs & Climate

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 landmark initiative launched by the European Union in 2015 to strengthen local governments’ response to climate change, promote access to clean energy, and build long-term urban resilience. With over 200 signatory cities and a strong support network of partners, the initiative has empowered local authorities to develop Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs) based on their own priorities and challenges.

At a concluding workshop held in Cape Town, participants from pilot cities, non-funded signatories, and local experts gathered to reflect on their experiences, share lessons learned, and chart the way forward for climate action at the local level.

A bottom-up approach to climate action
The CoM SSA approach is rooted in the understanding that cities, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, are uniquely positioned to implement climate policies that are both ambitious and inclusive. Through support in planning, training, technical assistance and data collection, cities were equipped to address three central themes: mitigation, adaptation and access to affordable energy.

Energy access remains one of the region’s most pressing challenges, with only 32% of the population having access to electricity. Yet despite low carbon emissions compared to global averages, African cities are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This makes the integration of climate and development priorities not only desirable, but essential.

Key lessons from the ground
The workshop highlighted a set of practical insights for future projects:

Climate planning must be institutionalised across all levels of government to ensure continuity and avoid fragmentation.
Political backing is vital: champions within local councils can significantly boost project success.
Data collection is fundamental, but often difficult. Cities need targeted support to overcome technical and bureaucratic hurdles.
Stakeholder inclusion, especially at the early stages, is key to making plans locally relevant and actionable.
Behaviour change within institutions and communities is as important as infrastructure investment.
Training local officials and developing tailored communication strategies are essential to securing long-term buy-in.
Journalists and the media can play a crucial role in building public understanding, but they also need to be supported and trained.

The transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa is urgent, and the CoM SSA programme has laid a solid foundation for this transformation. However, participating cities stressed that they are not ready to continue alone. Continued support for capacity-building, funding, and guidance through the next phases of SEACAP implementation is essential.

To meet global climate goals and reduce inequality, both bottom-up and top-down approaches must work together. Local governments need stronger backing from national authorities and the international community to bridge the gap between policy ambition and service delivery.

Ultimately, the experience of CoM SSA cities shows that climate action in Africa must be collaborative, context-specific, and inclusive, because the future of climate resilience lies in empowering those who are closest to the challenge.

For more information, contact:

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

BORDELOT Federica In Gender equality, Gender equality, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, Migration and inclusion, Migration and inclusion, Publications

Women in politics – first edition

CEMR study reveals persistent underrepresentation of women in politics and calls for stronger action at local and European levels

Gender equality is a cornerstone of democracy, yet women remain significantly underrepresented in politics across Europe. According to CEMR’s study Women in Politics: Local and European Trends, women account for only 34.1% of political decision-makers, despite representing half of the population.

At the local level, the situation is particularly concerning: only 15.4% of mayors are women, while women councillors make up just under 30% of local councils. Although there has been gradual progress over the last decade, the pace is slow, and parity remains a distant goal.

The report highlights important regional variations. Nordic countries lead the way, thanks to decades of policies fostering a genuine culture of equality. In Central and Eastern Europe, positive trends are visible, especially in the Balkans, where reforms and EU accession processes have strengthened gender mainstreaming. Yet, in much of Europe, women still face structural, cultural, and financial barriers to political participation.

CEMR stresses that achieving gender equality requires more than political rhetoric. Quotas and legal measures have proven effective in boosting women’s representation, but they must be accompanied by mentoring, training, and dedicated funding to empower women candidates and dismantle persistent stereotypes.

As the level of government closest to citizens, municipalities and regions are pivotal in fostering inclusive leadership. Local office often serves as the first step towards regional, national, or even European roles. Supporting women at this level is therefore essential for building stronger, more representative democracies.

CEMR, through its European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life and the Equality Observatory, continues to mobilise local and regional governments, promote good practices, and push for equality to remain at the heart of the EU’s political agenda.

The study’s message is clear: while progress has been made, gender parity in politics is far from achieved. Europe must act now, through quotas, support structures, and political will, to ensure that women and men share power equally at every level of governance.

Check the infographics

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica

Director – Policy & Impact

BORDELOT Federica In About CEMR, About CEMR, Governance, Governance, Latest, Local democracy, Local democracy, Publications

National associations in Europe

Discover how national associations unite and represent Europe’s 100,000 towns and regions

Europe is home to approximately 100,000 municipalities, provinces and regions, each embedded in its national political system yet also interconnected across borders. But who represents them? Who ensures their voices are heard by national and European institutions?

To answer these questions, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has published a new study delving into the vital but often overlooked world of national associations of local and regional governments.

Since its creation in 1951, CEMR has championed local democracy, subsidiarity and citizen participation. At the heart of this mission are its member associations, 60 in total from 41 European countries, who work every day to represent the interests of towns and regions.

Based on a survey conducted among 58 member associations, the publication sheds light on the structure, function and political weight of these associations, also known as LRGAs (Local and Regional Government Associations).

Organised into five chapters, the report explores:

Who they represent – the types and numbers of municipalities and regions linked to each association.

How they are structured – their legal status, governance, staffing and membership models (voluntary or mandatory).

What they do – including advocacy with national authorities, knowledge sharing, training for elected officials, and support for policy implementation.

Their legislative influence – assessing how and when they are consulted in national law-making.

Their European and international role – detailing their involvement in CEMR, the EU institutions and global agendas such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The second part of the study offers a country-by-country overview of all member associations, providing a practical “identity card” for each organisation.

This study offers a rare and valuable insight into the backbone of local democracy in Europe: the national associations that bring together municipalities and regions, giving them a common voice. Though often under-recognised, these associations play a vital role in shaping effective governance, ensuring policies are informed by local realities and that decisions taken at higher levels reflect citizens’ everyday needs.

Strengthening the structure, recognition and influence of these associations is more than a technical issue, it’s a democratic imperative. From local services to national reforms and European cooperation, their contribution is essential for building resilient, inclusive and well-governed communities across the continent.

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica

Director – Policy & Impact

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 are also increasingly expected to lead the response. Rapid urbanisation, vulnerability to extreme weather, and growing emissions underscore the urgent need for robust local climate action. Yet financing remains a critical hurdle.

To address this, a new publication supported by the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) offers a practical overview of climate finance options available to local governments. It focuses on helping cities develop and implement their Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs), a cornerstone of the CoM SSA initiative.

While numerous funding mechanisms and instruments exist, from global climate funds to development grants and blended finance models, many remain inaccessible to local authorities. Complex application processes, lack of technical capacity, and a mismatch between financing requirements and city realities are key barriers.

The publication identifies actionable pathways forward. Among them:

Clearer guidance on eligibility and technical criteria for accessing major funding streams.
Support for project preparation, including technical assistance and capacity building.
The need for intermediary institutions, such as subnational development banks, to channel finance to the local level.
Improved national frameworks to enable direct municipal access to funds and attract private sector investment.
Community-based and innovative financing models, such as cooperatives, crowdfunding, and microfinance, to mobilise local capital.

The guide also encourages governments and donors to strengthen partnerships with local authorities, recognising their key role in meeting national and global climate goals.

Ultimately, the success of SEACAP implementation depends not only on access to finance but also on inclusive planning, local ownership, and sustained political will. Empowering cities with the tools and resources to act will be essential for climate resilience and sustainable development across the region.

For more information, contact: