Local leaders step up work on water resilience and sign Action Plan with the European Commission to boost subnational climate action

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) will step up collaboration with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) with a new Joint Action Plan signed during the meeting of the CoR's Commission for environment, climate change and energy (ENVE) on 24 June. The plan aims at boosting the recognition of cities and regions' crucial role in decarbonisation, clean transition and resilience. ENVE members also appointed CoR President Kata Tüttő and First Vice-President Juanma Moreno as co-rapporteurs for a key opinion on strengthening water resilience in EU regions and cities. 

The action plan signed by ENVE chair Kostas Bakoyannis and DG CLIMA Deputy Director-General Jan Dusík proposes to promote the development of local and regional climate policies and plans aligned with EU climate targets and embedded in National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). The plan also sets the goal of improving access to EU funding for local and regional authorities in the field of climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience.

The action plan further includes actions to strengthen cooperation and subnational climate diplomacy at the international climate conferences, starting with this year's COP30, and in the frame of bottom-up initiatives, such as the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, the Mission on Adaptation, the Cities Mission and the European Climate Pact.

ENVE commission chair Kostas Bakoyannis (EL/EPP), member of Athens City Council said: "The Action Plan with DG CLIMA marks an important step forward in reinforcing our shared efforts to keep climate action high on the EU agenda and to accelerate implementation on the ground. In the current geopolitical situation, it is even more important to do our part: environment, climate change and energy are strongly connected with some of the root causes of ongoing and potential conflicts. Moreover, this month Europe has been gripped in the first prolonged heatwave of the season – a direct signal of the intensifying climate crisis. The message is clear: climate action must come together with building better water resilience."

Local and regional perspective on water resilience

Water resilience has become a critical issue in Europe. The European Commission's Water Resilience Strategy that was published on 4 June outlines key objectives like restoring the water cycle, promoting a water-smart economy, and ensuring clean water access for all.

Considering that the water resilience is among the key priorities of the European Committee of the Regions' current mandate, CoR President Kata Tüttő and First Vice-President Juanma Moreno were appointed co-rapporteurs for an opinion that will examine the Water Resilience Strategy from local and regional perspective. The topic will also figure high on the agenda of next week's CoR plenary session with the intervention of Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy.

CoR President Kata Tüttő said: "Everybody across our territories is affected by water issues: by having too much or not enough water. The CoR made water resilience a core part of its political priorities for 2025-2030 mandate. Water resilience is crucial for EU competitiveness and key to deliver on climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, pollution reduction, food security, the circular economy and public health. It must therefore be integrated into all other relevant EU policy initiatives. The EU has set up ambitious water legislation so far, and we welcome that the strategy focuses on implementation. If we want to succeed in the latter, it is where cities and regions need to be truly involved. Simplification will certainly be helpful but cannot harm the polluter pays principle, at the expense of our communities.”

The ENVE commission also adopted two draft opinions on the Fit for 55 energy targets and on nature credits and held a first exchange of views on the upcoming opinion on the European Climate Adaptation Plan.

Quotes from the rapporteurs:

Rastislav Trnka (SK/EPP), president of Košice Self-governing Region, rapporteur of an opinion on Designing nature credits: A framework to promote biodiversity and ecosystem services: “Nature credits are an opportunity to engage those who have so far stood aside — local and regional governments, investors and industry — in the protection of biodiversity. If regions are given the tools and trust, they can become active players in achieving the EU’s climate and environmental goals.”

Joško Klisović (HR/PES), President of Zagreb City Assembly and rapporteur of an opinion on State of the Energy Union: getting prepared for a smooth implementation of energy transition in line with Fit for 55 targets: “Cities and regions are the engines of Europe’s green transition, but they need the tools and trust to deliver. This opinion calls for a joined-up approach tackling energy poverty, renewables, efficiency and climate resilience, while addressing barriers like complex permitting, regulatory fragmentation and the skills gap. By empowering local and regional authorities with knowledge, funding and strong governance, we can make the transition fair, effective and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, leaving no community behind.”

Matteo Lepore (IT/PES), Mayor of Bologna and rapporteur of an opinion on Climate adaptation in cities and regions: building the European Climate Adaptation Plan: "Climate adaptation happens in our cities and regions, alongside our efforts to limit climate change as much as possible. We recently hosted the ENVE study visit to the Mediterranean Forum of the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change in Bologna, which gave us the opportunity to learn about concrete examples of adaptation activities across Europe. The future EU adaptation action plan needs to build on our experience from the ground, to provide real solutions fit for different local and regional contexts."

Contact:

Lauri Ouvinen
Tel. +32473536887
lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu