Five reasons why local government should influence climate change plans
Ahead of the UN climate talks in Paris in 2015, Annabelle Jaeger, a member of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regional council and the EU’s Committee of the Regions, asserts in the Guardian that local government should shape international climate change agreements. Citing UNDP estimates stating that more than 70% of climate change reduction measures and up to 90% of climate change adaptation measures are implemented by local government, she maintains that local authorities are ultimately responsible for making policy a reality. She argues this for 5 reasons: the buck stops here, local leaders are more innovative and ambitious, no one is better placed to get the public on board, strong local leadership can mobilise communities, and the need to think local, act global.