Climate Action

The Paris Agreement and the Role of Regional Actors

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Presented by Dina Silina (European Commission, DG Climate Action, Adaptation unit) at

the 12th ENCORE Conference of the Regions of Europe "Regions Taking action – Alliances on Climate

Change and Green Economy"

Carinthia, 23 September 2016.

Climate Action

The latest climate science

IPPC 5th Assessment Report – Key findings: • Warming of the climate system is unequivocal

• Human influence on the climate system is clear

• Each of the last three decades has been

successively warmer at the Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since 1850

• Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will

cause further warming and changes in all components of the climate system.

• Limiting climate change would require substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which, together with adaptation, can limit climate change risks.

Climate Action Source: IPCC 5th Assessment Report

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Source: IPCC 5th Assessment Report

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A historic Agreement

• A new chapter in international climate governance and action

• A win for multilateralism and all level action (international, national, regional and local)

• A strong signal to policy makers, investors and businesses

• Great example of EU unity and leadership

Climate Action

The Paris Agreement

• Legally binding, universal agreement

• Long-term goals

• 5-year ambition cycle

• Transparency and accountability

• Balanced and linked provisions cover mitigation adaptation and support

• Enhanced role of regions, cities and local authorities

• Support for developing countries 7

Climate Action

An ambitious Agreement

• A long-term goal for mitigation and adaptation: • to hold temperature increases below 20 C, and pursue efforts to

limit to 1.50 C • To enhance capacity, climate resilience and reduce climate

vulnerability. • Global emissions to peak as soon as possible, net zero

emissions in the second half of the Century • Legally binding obligations to maintain successive

mitigation targets and to pursue domestic mitigation measures – over 187 countries have submitted their plans

• A global stocktake every five years starting in 2018 with increased ambition over time

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Role of regions, cities and local authorities

• Enhanced role of regions and cities, and other non-state actors in addressing climate change:

• They are invited to: • scale up their efforts and support actions to reduce

emissions; • build resilience and decrease vulnerability to the adverse

effects of climate change; • uphold and promote regional and international

cooperation.

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Impact of the 189 INDCs on global emissions (GtC02e, total excluding sinks) and percent change

in emission intensity per unit of GDP

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Source: POLES – JRC Model

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"Today we celebrate, tomorrow we have to act" Commissioner Cañete, 12 December 2012

Next steps: • Remaining signatures, ratification processes

• Crucial implementing details to be worked out

in coming years

• Stepping-up pre-2020 action (including work with Regional and Local governments)

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Demonstrating and encouraging multi-stakeholder action

Global Climate Action Agenda

Value of carbon Transport

Energy efficiency Renewables

Adaptation: policy frameworks; implementation

Global Climate Action Agenda moving ahead

High Level Champions

Sub-national initiatives: • Integrated Covenant of

Mayors for Climate & Energy • Africa Renewable Energy

Initiative, • Mission Innovation, • Climate and Clean Air

Coalition, • G7 Climate Risk Insurance

Initiative

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2030 Climate and Energy Framework

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Delivering a low-carbon economy across all sectors

• Reform of the Emissions Trading System

• Proposal on Effort Sharing Regulation 2021-2030 (COM(2016)482):

• Binding annual GHG emissions reductions by Member States (breaks down the EU target for non-ETS sector of -30% by 2030 into Member States targets)

• Covers almost 60 % of EU greenhouse gas emissions

• Includes buildings, transport, agriculture (non-CO2), waste, F-gases, other smaller sectors outside ETS

• Proposal on inclusion of GHG emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) into 2030 climate and energy framework (COM/2016/479)

• European Strategy for low-emission mobility (COM/2016/244)

Mitigation

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Adaptation

• Paris Agreement: balanced and linked approach to adaptation

• EU Adaptation Strategy: promoting a resilient Europe

• Support EU member states', regional and local level action

• Mainstreaming into relevant policies and funds: 20% EU budget for climate action

• Research and innovative approaches towards better informed policy –making

• 2017 progress report - assess implementation progress

• 2018 possible review of strategy

• Reflection on the new vision/opportunities created by the Paris Agreement

• Speeding up implementation of adaptation action

• Focus on key sectors (DRR, Cities, Water…) building on EU added value

• Engaging the private sector and business in adaptation

2013 EU Adaptation Strategy

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EU supporting cities and regions in the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy (1)

• Mainstreaming of climate action into EU policies and funds:

• ESIF 2014-2020 total envelope €454.4 billion, 25% climate action, 533 programmes (national, regional, territorial cooperation, rural…).

• Series of Mainstreaming Fact Sheets: http://ec.europa.eu/clima/publications/index_en.htm#Mainstreaming

Some examples: Regional Programme Nord-Pas de Calais 2014-2020 • Allocates € 196.5 mn or 23.2% of its support to

climate adaptation (e.g. development of blue and green corridors, integration of biodiversity in urban areas, new urban models to prevent urban heat islands etc.)

Operational Programme Rheinland-Pfalz 2014-2020 • Allocates € 40.4 mn or 21.7% of its support to

climate mitigation (e.g. innovation-oriented approaches to establish new products with high potential to reduce CO2-emissions etc.)

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EU supporting cities and regions in the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy (2)

• HORIZON 2020: 35% of the budget for climate-related projects

o Search for open calls: https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/search/search_topics.html

• LIFE fund: €3.5 bn (about €800 m for climate action projects) in

2014-2020. Yearly Calls for proposals (open each Spring)

o Including integrated projects implementing climate action plans or

strategies on a large territorial scale (e.g. regional, multi-regional)

o Best practices brochure: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/climatechangeadaptation.pdf

o Natural Capital Financing Facility (NCFF) with EIB: leverages private funding for ecosystem based approaches

o Private Finance for Energy Efficiency (PF4EE)

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Climate Action

EU supporting cities and regions in the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy (3)

• Supporting macro-regional approach to climate change (Four EU level macro regional strategies: Danube, Baltic Sea, Alpine, Adriatic and Ionian)

• Providing tools and guidance, such as Climate-ADAPT.

• The Covenant of Mayors on Climate and Energy initiative

• Smart Specialisation Strategies promoting regional innovation - S3PEnergy

• Working with national governments to strengthen national climate frameworks (including multi-level governance)

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Climate Action

The new Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy

• A unique multi-level governance model, engaging national, regional and local authorities;

• Brings together >6900 signatories covering 214 million inhabitants; Almost 180 Covenant Territorial Coordinators (Regions and provinces)

• Ambition: Reduce CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030; Enhance resilience by adapting to the impacts of climate change; Increased local and regional cooperation to access secure, sustainable and affordable energy.

• Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy brings together >7100 cites, covering > 600 million inhabitants;

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Innovative governance structure via the Covenant Territorial Coordinators (CTC)

Regions and provinces acting as Covenant Territorial Coordinators (CTCs) to provide:

• Technical and strategic assistance to municipalities lacking the necessary resources to prepare a SEAP

• Financial support and opportunities to the municipalities for the development and implementation of their SEAP

• Support and coordination to promote accession to the Covenant among municipalities in their territory

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CoM EU-28

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9/9/2016

Three countries show the highest share of signatories under a CTC:

• Spain • Belgium • Italy

Local authorities up to 50k inhabitants generally require support from government bodies at higher territorial levels

Involvement of CTCs by country

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CTC CoM-related activities

Province of Barcelona (ES)

200 signatories, 189 submitted SEAPs Technical support on inventories calculation and SEAP elaboration Financial support via ELENA technical assistance: 190 feasibility studies for

energy efficiency in buildings, public lighting, renewable energies and legal studies (122.5 million euros of investments)

Coordination of low cost actions: "Euronet 50/50" project on energy savings in school buildings

Province of Limburg (BE)

44 signatories: 11 signatories <10 000 inhabitants 31 signatories from 10 000 to 50 000 inhabitants

Scientific study to define the concept of climate neutrality Technical support in data collection for inventories and for actions' impact

estimations "ESCOLIMBURG2020" project: partnership between the Province, an energy grid

operator and a consultant. Aim: making the municipal and provincial buildings more energy-efficient and integrating renewable energy sources

Regione Abruzzo (IT)

305 signatories: 278 signatories <10 000 inhabitants

Support for the SEAP elaboration from 2007-2013 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Programme

20.7 million euros from ERDF for implementing one action in each municipality: high demonstrative effect

Partner of the project "Alterenergy" for municipalities <10 000 inhabitants. Aim: improving their capacity to plan and manage integrated actions of energy saving and the production of energy from renewable sources

Case studies

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Key Take-away's

Paris Agreement – a great success! Now - focus on implementation.

Paris Agreement calls cities and regions to scale up their efforts to reduce emissions, build resilience and promote regional and international cooperation.

Cities and regions can play a key role in the low-carbon and climate resilient transition with positive impact on local economy, as also recognised in GCAA.

The European Union is supporting cities and regions in the transition in many ways, including by providing guidance and finance for co-ordinated climate action at all levels.

Dedicated initiatives, such as the Covenant of Mayors, can be instrumental in unleashing regional and city potential

Climate Action

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