​Upon the initiative of Cllr. Andrew Cooper, the COR plenary adopted an amendment of the EA Group on the European Commission work programme 2017 that calls on the European Commission to work with the CoR to develop the concept of Regionally and Locally Determined Contributions to encourage action at the local and regional level to achieve targets agreed at COP21 in Paris.

At COP21 in Paris the nations of the world came together to commit to keeping global temperatures below a 2 degree increase and work towards achieving a 1.5 degree increase. At the same time they agreed targets for carbon emissions reduction at the national level these were called the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The problem is that the NDCs agreed fall short of what is required  to deliver the carbon savings we need to deliver a 2 degree of less rise in temperature. So we need more action to ensure we achieve the reductions in emissions necessary said the EA Group political coordinator in the ENVE commission.

Establishing Locally Determined Contributions (LDCs) and/or Regionally Determined Contributions (RDCs) could be an important step in bridging the emissions gap. Actions at the local and regional level can make an important contribution towards reducing emissions through policies to promote public transport and electric vehicles. Planning policies to ensure higher energy performance standards in buildings or even reforestation projects. All these areas and more fall under the competencies of many Local and Regional Authorities in the EU.