Speaking at the conference on green public administration in the context of good democratic governance on April 26 in Strasbourg, Congress spokesperson Cemal Bas (Türkiye, EPP/CCE) underlined the key role of local and regional authorities in tackling climate change and environmental concerns.  According to him, "it is our actions in town halls, in public places and in the heart of our communities that have the greatest impact on our natural environment. It is at the local level that the consequences of environmental pollution and climate change become most visible."

Referring to Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori's statement in his opening speech at the conference that "the key to greening local governance is to ensure that sub-national authorities have the competences, means and freedom to act", Cemal Bas recalled that there can be no good local and regional governance without raising awareness among local authorities about environmental protection. With this in mind, the Congress proposes to establish an additional protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government. This protocol would provide a basis for existing expertise and financial resources and for raising awareness and integrating environmental and climate issues into the decisions and actions of local and regional authorities.

Spokesperson Cemal Bas also said that given the devastating natural effects of climate change, but also its interdependence with human rights, the issue of greening local and  regional administrations and territories should be at the very heart of the mission of the Council of Europe and the Congress. Cemal Bas recalled that a compilation of good practices  and recommendations on different ways to defend the environment  and work for more sustainable development is contained in the Human Rights Handbook for Local and Regional Elected Representatives.