The Catalan government’s Director-General for Environmental Quality and Climate Change, Mercè Rius, today signed a partnership declaration on collaborative climate action in Heidelberg (Germany) with the aim of advancing coordination and cooperation between all levels of government to achieve ambitious international climate goals. The open declaration invites governments to make a commitment in the run-up to the UN Climate Action Summit to be held in September. The Summit aims to achieve major movements in the real economy to support the agenda and achieve the objectives set out in the Paris Agreement as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Within the framework of the International Conference on Climate Action – ICCA2019, Rius participated in a conference on climate governance, representing Catalonia in the Under2 Coalition and highlighting the strategic position of the governments involved to accelerate climate action. Rius made particular mention of the Catalan Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and coordination between local and regional governments. During the session, participants discussed opportunities and approaches and gave examples of how action at the regional level can play an important role in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

 

ICCA-2019 was jointly organised by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the State of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Heidelberg.

Around 1,000 people responsible for climate action in cities, regions and states worldwide came together with experts and representatives of civil society to develop practical solutions for climate action and climate change adaptation and exchange experiences on climate action projects.