Summit of Regions on Climate Change
World Summit of Regions posters
© Région Bretagne
- from: 29.10.2008
- to: 30.10.2008
- In: Saint-Malo, Palais du Grand Large
Within the framework of the "Energy-Climate" dossier, a priority of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the regions intend to demonstrate their central role in fighting global warming.
On 29 and 30 October 2008, at the initiative of the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4S), the Brittany Region, an nrg4s member, is holding the first-ever World Summit of Regions on Climate Change in Saint-Malo in conjunction with the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR). On 15 September, representatives from 75 regions of 50 different countries were already registered for this event.
One of the Summit's main aims is to deepen cooperation with supra-national organisations in the fight against climate change. The European Commission is involved through its Directorates-General for Regional Policy, Development, Environment and External Relations, as is the Committee of the Regions, whose president is attending. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as well as the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs are supporting this initiative. A key UNDP programme for regional initiatives, aimed at creating and implementing territorial climate plans, should also be launched on this occasion.
Besides just taking stock of scientific aspects, the Saint-Malo Summit aims to examine field experience that could be shared and transferred with a view to fostering North/South solidarity. Brittany and the network's other members thus wish to show how regions can specially bring "added value" to fighting global warming. They plan to take part in key European and international debates, at a time when the EU's "Energy-Climate" package is being finalised, and discussions are gaining pace ahead of the Copenhagen Conference in 2009 to pave the way for the post-Kyoto period.
The nrg4SD network
Created following the Johannesburg Summit 2002, the nrg4SD network now brings together over 35 members from 16 countries. With the membership of four regional networks (CPMR/Europe, Northern Forum/Polar regions, OLAGI/Latin America and ABEMA/Brazil), the network's influence extends far beyond these. Co-chaired by the Basque Country (Spain) and the South-African region of Western Cape, nrg4sd enables regions to make their voice heard on the international stage, and highlights their central role in fighting climate change. Accredited with UN observer status, nrg4sd participates in the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of UNEP.
- Updated: 18.12.2008
