EU calls for more support for cities, regions to fulfil climate goals

The European Union (EU) said on Monday it must scale up investment and support the world's cities and regions in an effort that will make or break the climate promises made in Paris during COP21 in December 2015.

During the recent 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22) in Marrakech, the United Nations (UN) warned of the gap between National Determined Contributions (NDCs) -- governments' climate commitments -- and the objective to keep the global temperature rise well below 2.0 degrees Celsius.

Markku Markkula, president of the European Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of local and regional representatives, called for the achievements by cities and regions to cut greenhouse gases to be integrated into the NDCs as soon as possible.

During the climate talks in Marrakech, two initiatives were launched to increase cooperation between all levels of government and accelerate the delivery of climate measures: the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action and the 2050 Pathways Platform. Endit