Policy Recommendations for Advancing Climate Leadership

The REMARKABLE Climate Leaders project has issued two policy briefs aimed at empowering local leadership to accelerate climate neutrality across Europe by 2050. The briefs emphasize the need for strong local leadership, collaborative governance, and strategic frameworks to transform EU climate goals into effective community-level actions.

A set of policy recommendations #1: A guidebook for EU policy makers

This guidebook focuses on empowering local leaders to address challenges and drive sustainable change within their communities. Key recommendations include:

• Training and Development: The Climate Leadership Programme (CLP) trains leaders in setting strategic climate goals, community engagement, and policy implementation.
• Action-Oriented Tools: Climate Neutrality Roadmaps offer step-by-step guidance for leaders to implement climate plans effectively.
• Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Emphasizing inclusive approaches, the guidebook underscores the importance of diverse stakeholder collaboration in achieving climate goals.
• Support Networks: Initiatives like the REMARKABLE Leaders Circle encourage peer support and continuous learning, enhancing local leaders’ capacity to inspire and sustain climate action.

The guidebook integrates insights from the REMARKABLE Climate Leaders Podcast, which highlights successful strategies across Europe, including community engagement, resilience, and evidence-based decision-making. These case studies showcase how leaders can inspire impactful local changes.

A set of policy recommendations #2: Strengthening local leadership across Europe

The second policy recommendation addresses the practical needs of local authorities, focusing on capacity building, resource allocation, and effective collaboration. Highlights include:

• Capacity Building: Through workshops and programs, local leaders receive technical support, strategic guidance, and leadership training to manage climate projects effectively.
• Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Regional initiatives, such as the “Elus pour Agir” network in France, encourage peer-learning and knowledge exchange, fostering a collaborative approach to climate action.
• Funding and Resource Access: Resources like the One-Stop Shop in Slovenia help municipalities streamline funding access and project implementation. EU support through grants and financial programs, alongside innovative private funding models, is critical for sustaining local climate projects.

This policy recommendation also presents findings from ethnographic research, which highlights the importance of local champions (“fire souls”) and a supportive environment that bridges local actions with higher-level policies. It recommends that EU policymakers strengthen support frameworks and align local initiatives with national and EU objectives.

Conclusion

Together, these policy recommendations provide a cohesive strategy for empowering local leadership across Europe to drive climate action. By equipping leaders with tools, training, and collaborative networks, REMARKABLE underscores the critical role of local initiatives in achieving Europe’s ambitious climate targets. These resources position local leaders as key agents of change, essential to a sustainable and climate-neutral future.