As recovery packages are developed at EU and national levels, local and regional authorities are urging for a systemic change, putting Climate Action at the core of the COVID 19 Recovery.
Illustration : Image by Jasmin Sessler from Pixabay
In an Open Letter published on May 5th, members of the Covenant of Mayors – Europe Board are calling upon EU decision-makers to turn the current crisis into an opportunity for the acceleration of the energy transition towards climate neutrality.
This open letter addresses the extraordinary situation of local communities, cities and regions, being at the frontline of the response to the COVID-19 Crisis. Even though they are taking unprecedented and extraordinary measures impacting citizen’s everyday life, with important social and economic impacts, local actors are not losing sight of the Climate Emergency. The climate and energy transition, already underway at the local and regional level, will have to be supported through the Recovery packages designed at the national and EU levels. The health crisis we are going through now shouldn’t delay the urgent need to take action, and should instead be taken as an opportunity to shape a systemic change towards the transformation to a climate-neutral society. In this letter, the Covenant of Mayors – Europe Board identifies several successful mechanisms to do so.