All eyes on Sharm el-Sheikh
The leaders of state and regional governments are working together on new and inventive initiatives to prevent the worst effects of climate change and to find ways to adapt to its effects. Between September and COP27 this November they will be speaking out on the issues that matter them and calling for greater international collaboration.
Members of the Under2 Coalition and Regions4 have been asked what their jurisdiction stands to lose if the Paris Agreement targets are not met. On these pages they will be outlining 'what's at state' if the world fails to recognise this for the crisis it is and does not take urgent action to tackle it.
A unifying call to action from across the world
Africa
Find out What's at State in Africa
- Western Cape, South Africa
Asia-Pacific
Find out What's at State in Asia-Pacific
- Maharashtra, India
- Chungnam, South Korea
- Chhattisgarh, India
Europe
Find out What's at State in Europe
- Åland, Finland
- Basque Country, Spain
- Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- La Rioja, Spain
- Scotland, UK
- Wales, UK
North America
Find out What's at State in North America
- British Columbia, Canada
- California, United States
- New York State, United States
- Québec, Canada
- Washington, United States
- Jerry Brown, Under2 Coalition Global Ambassador and Former Governor of California
Latin America
Find out What's at State in Latin America
- São Paulo, Brazil
- Campeche, Mexico
- Yucatán, Mexico
“We are currently seeing periods of heat on an unprecedented scale in both North America and Southern Europe. Huge forest fires are threatening human lives and entire regions. At the same time, the danger of floods caused by extreme precipitation is rapidly increasing elsewhere.
The COP26 in Glasgow will be decisive in determining whether the global community will finally succeed in stopping these threatening consequences of climate change.
Six years ago the Paris Agreement was an excellent starting point but now governments need to demonstrate how – and when – they are planning to meet their targets, and how they will include and collaborate with state and regional governments. The world cannot wait any longer!“
“We are currently seeing periods of heat on an unprecedented scale in both North America and Southern Europe. Huge forest fires are threatening human lives and entire regions. At the same time, the danger of floods caused by extreme precipitation is rapidly increasing elsewhere.
The COP26 in Glasgow will be decisive in determining whether the global community will finally succeed in stopping these threatening consequences of climate change.
Six years ago the Paris Agreement was an excellent starting point but now governments need to demonstrate how – and when – they are planning to meet their targets, and how they will include and collaborate with state and regional governments. The world cannot wait any longer!“
Regions4
Regions4 is the global voice of regional governments (states, regions and provinces) before UN negotiations, European Union initiatives and global discussions in the fields of climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development.
It was established in 2002 at the World Summit in Johannesburg as the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development – nrg4SD. In 2019, it became Regions4, and now represents 41 regional governments from 21 countries in 4 continents.
Race to Zero
The Under2 Coalition is officially partnered with the UNFCCC's Race to Zero campaign. All states and regions taking part in Net Zero Futures will be supported to join the Race to Zero, which is intended to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.
State and regional governments around the world are stepping up to tackle the climate crisis, delivering bold action as part of the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience, creating valuable partnerships and policies we can learn from. For this to be a transformative year of climate action we need to have state and regional governments at the decision making table, especially at COP26.
State and regional governments around the world are stepping up to tackle the climate crisis, delivering bold action as part of the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience, creating valuable partnerships and policies we can learn from. For this to be a transformative year of climate action we need to have state and regional governments at the decision making table, especially at COP26.
Race to Resilience
Regions4 is officially partnered with the UNFCCC's Race to Resilience. This global campaign – the sibling to Race to Zero – is aimed at catalysing a step-change in global ambition for climate resilience, putting people and nature first in pursuit of a resilient world where we don’t just survive climate shocks and stresses but thrive in spite of them. The campaign aims to catalyse action by non-state actors that builds the resilience of 4 billion people from vulnerable groups and communities to climate risks, by 2030.
Through a partnership of initiatives, the campaign focuses on helping frontline communities to build resilience and adapt to impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat, drought, flooding and sea-level rise.