Climate KIC joins 100 European cities and regions in call for stronger EU decision-making role
Climate KIC has joined local and regional leaders from over 100 cities, towns, regions, and networks across Europe in calling for a new era in EU governance, in a joint letter sent to EU decision-makers.
Initiated by the cities of Malmö and Freiburg, in their roles as Presidents of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (Global and European, respectively), the letter sends a joint message by signatories representing over 47 million citizens and over 1,8 million employees.
Local governments implement nearly 70% of European Green Deal legislation and manage 60% of climate-related public spending. They are pivotal in driving change on the ground and must be empowered to co-create European policy — not left on the sidelines and to after-the-fact consultation.
For this reason, the letter calls for institutional mechanisms that integrate feedback from the ground to create more effective, responsive legislation. It urges the European Commission, Council, and Parliament to establish structured, permanent dialogue with local and regional governments — starting from agenda-setting and policy co-design, all the way through to implementation.
Check the full list of signatories and read the full letter in the link below.