The European Green Deal will be won or lost in Europe’s cities and regions as at least 70% of the relevant legislation must be implemented at local level. Many cities and regions have already embarked on the climate transition journey through the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, the Adaptation to Climate Change Mission, the Covenant of Mayors, the Intelligent Cities Challenge and many other European initiatives. They mobilise around 58% of climate-significant public expenditures, surpassing their central governments, and they have sole or shared responsibility (with national governments) for 68.3% of actions covered in the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of the member states. Local and regional governments are thus key in implementing policies and strategies to reach climate neutrality and in financing the climate-neutral and resilient transition.

Despite several examples of fruitful collaboration between local, regional, national decision-makers and the EU, the implementation of the European Green Deal will require enhanced partnerships between these levels. Inspiring examples and analysis of barriers will be shared to address three major needs for cities:

• Financing the climate action and resilience at the local and regional level: The session will discuss how to ensure more joined-up support for investments and better collaboration between the EU, national and regional funds across different funding programmes and actors
• Ensuring necessary local skills to support the transition: The session will cover how to develop and sustain adequate in-house skills and workforce to successfully do their part in the climate neutrality transition and adaptation to climate change
• Strengthened collaboration and cooperation between all levels of governments: The session will develop some concrete proposals on how to structure permanent and constructive dialogues between the EU, national, regional and local governments to ensure continuous multi-level political support, feedback loops, shared responsibility and better implementation and secure financial flows.