My initiative to get the concept of Locally Determined Contributions adopted as a new global tool to address climate change has taken some important steps forward.
To recap briefly. The targets established in the COP21 Paris Climate Agreement were agreed by National Governments and so were described as Nationally Determined Contributions. We know they fell well short of what was required to keep global temperature rises below 2 degrees C (and a stretch target of 1.5 degrees C). The idea behind Locally Determined Contributions (and Regionally Determoned Contributions) is to record and encourage action by Local and Regional Authorities that may not otherwise be taken into account when assessing progress on reducing carbon emissions. The idea is that if we measure it then we encourage carbon mitigation plans and action. To this end in my role as a member of the EU Committee of the Regions I have promoted the concept of LDCs/RDCs in an Opinion I am leading on the EUs Environmental Implementation Review. The idea being that if it as adopted by an EU institution then the idea gains more credibility and traction.
There have been 2 important developments. Another Committee of the Regions Opinion on Climate Finance and Governance being led by Italian Member Marco Dus has adopted the principle of Locally Determined Contributions and now for the first time the concept has been taken up in the European Parliament. French MEP Gilles Pargeneaux has included in his Opinion on 'The Role of Regions and Cities in the implementation of the Climate Change Agreement' a call for,
"the creation of a system of Locally Determined Contributions to be implemented in direct and complementary to Nationally Determined Contributions"
So now 2 EU Institutions have this idea on their agendas. I am keen that this becomes a key outcome of the International Climate Change Talks, COP23 in Bonn in November. If it is adopted there then Locally Determined Contributions goes global and everywhere from Kirklees to Kamkatcha will have a framework to act locally to reduce emissons. If this occurs then Brexit or no Brexit, Councils in the UK will have an international treaty empowering them to produce plans to address climate change. Exciting times!
Previous posts on Locally Determined Contributions
http://greeningkirklees.blogspot.be/2016/12/eu-committee-of-regions-eu-commission.html
There have been 2 important developments. Another Committee of the Regions Opinion on Climate Finance and Governance being led by Italian Member Marco Dus has adopted the principle of Locally Determined Contributions and now for the first time the concept has been taken up in the European Parliament. French MEP Gilles Pargeneaux has included in his Opinion on 'The Role of Regions and Cities in the implementation of the Climate Change Agreement' a call for,
"the creation of a system of Locally Determined Contributions to be implemented in direct and complementary to Nationally Determined Contributions"
So now 2 EU Institutions have this idea on their agendas. I am keen that this becomes a key outcome of the International Climate Change Talks, COP23 in Bonn in November. If it is adopted there then Locally Determined Contributions goes global and everywhere from Kirklees to Kamkatcha will have a framework to act locally to reduce emissons. If this occurs then Brexit or no Brexit, Councils in the UK will have an international treaty empowering them to produce plans to address climate change. Exciting times!
Previous posts on Locally Determined Contributions
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