European Committee of the Regions’ ENVE Commission meets in Espoo to discuss the future of EU climate policy
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, in cooperation with the City of Espoo, will host the European Committee of the Regions’ Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) on 26-27 September. During the two-day event in Espoo, the Commission will examine the future prospects for EU climate policy.
The ENVE Commission is responsible for coordinating the European Committee of the Regions’ work in fields related to the European Green Deal, which include the environment, biodiversity, circular economy, zero pollution, climate change, energy, and space policies.
– Bringing the ENVE Commission meeting to Finland will give our region’s climate work and actors significant international visibility and an opportunity to increase our influence in the EU, says Regional Mayor Tuija Telén.
Inputs for the next Commission and the UN climate conference
At its meeting in Espoo, the ENVE Commission will discuss an opinion prepared by Markku Markkula, President of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Board and Vice-Chair of the Committee of the Regions, on the necessary actions for EU climate policy and carbon neutrality objectives in the next Commission’s work programme.
After the opening remarks by Mr Kai Mykkänen, Minister of Climate and the Environment of Finland, the debate will focus on the future of the EU green policies and on the role and opportunities offered to cities and regions. Participants in the debate include Executive Director of the European Environment Agency Ms Leena Ylä-Mononen, as well as Co-Chair of the UNEP International Resource Panel and former EU commissioner for environment Mr Janez Potočnik.
The meeting will also include recommendations from municipalities and regions for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) organised in Baku in November.
The green transition will not happen without regional innovation
The second day conference, titled “Green Deal Going Local”, will focus on the role of regional innovation in promoting the green transition. The conference will open with keynote messages by Mr Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw and Chair of the ENVE commission of the European Committee of the Regions, followed by Ms Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, Minister of Local and Regional Government of Finland.
The regional innovation in climate work will be presented through examples of climate and environmental policies that have generated new economic developments and improved the quality of life of local and regional communities. The panel discussion, moderated by Ms Ulla Heinonen, Director of Green Growth at the Confederation of Finnish Industries, will include participants such as Ms Pia Tynys, Senior Expert for Climate Work at the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, Mr Antti Arasto, Director of the Energy and Hydrogen Research Area at VTT and Mr Jukka Mäkelä, Mayor of Espoo.
During the two-day event, over 100 members of the European Committee of the Regions, key policy makers, mayors and leading climate experts from across Europe are expected in Espoo.
The event will be streamed live on the European Committee of the Regions’ website:
European Committee of the Regions
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is the voice of regions and cities in the European Union (EU). It represents local and regional authorities across the European Union and advises on new laws that have an impact on regions and cities (70% of all EU legislation).
The CoR is a political assembly composed of 329 members and 329 alternates from all EU countries (grouped by political party and headed by the President) who have been elected at local or regional level (for example as Mayors or Presidents of a region). The President of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region (Chair of the Board), Mr Markku Markkula, is currently the Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions.
For more information, please contact:
Ida Honkanen
International Adviser
ida.honkanen@uudenmaanliitto.fi
Helsinki Smart Region, implementation of strategy for smart specialisation, international visits
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