Human rights and the environment news
World Environment Day 2026 - Council of Europe Congress Spokesperson: Local and national authorities must work together on innovative solutions - now
“Following record-breaking May temperatures, it is very clear that we need a step-change in climate action, with local, regional and national governments working together on innovative new solutions to the climate crisis,” stated Meropi Ydraiou (Greece, EPP/CCE), Spokesperson on the Environment...
United Nations High-Level Political Forum 2025: Cities and regions leading the way in global solutions
As the 2030 deadline of the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development draws near, the annual High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is currently convening in New York to assess implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speaking at the UN session “Transformation from the...
Congress President calls for multilevel governance approach to mitigate plastic pollution
Ahead of World Environment Day (5 June), Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has made the following statement: "This year’s World Environment Day includes a welcome call for all of us to play a part in tackling plastic pollution. The...
In a worsening climate context, the Congress addresses the issue of water management
Global warming and poorly thought-out urban planning are affecting more and more Europeans. This affects countries in the South of the continent in particular, with a lack of access to quality drinking water and water for agricultural and industrial needs. On 26 March 2025, during its 48th...
Meropi-Spyridoula Ydraiou: “In the face of the environmental emergency, local authorities must be better equipped to fight”
While local elected representatives are generally aware of the importance of their role in protecting the environment, it is vital that they have the legal and administrative powers to realise their environmental objectives: supplementing the European Charter of Local Self-Government with a...
Balkan Cities Summit: Congress Spokesperson urges municipalities to prioritise green infrastructure
“Cities are the heart of economic and social development, and play a vital role in creating sustainable urban environments,” stressed Meropi-Spyridoula Ydraiou (Greece, EPP/CCE), Congress Spokesperson on the Environment and Climate Change, at the B40 Balkan Cities Network Summit in Sofia...
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction: Urgent action needed to increase local and regional risk-preparedness
On the occasion of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (13 October), the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Marc Cools, has made the following statement: “In the current times of climate change, local and regional politicians must look into any disaster risks...
Congress President calls for concerted action at all levels of governance to tackle the environmental crisis
To mark World Environment Day on 5 June 2024, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, made the following statement: “Not a day goes by without local and regional elected representatives taking a decision relating to the environment. In...
Local authorities and the environmental crisis
The thematic debate held at the Chamber of Local Authorities session on 27 March showed the need for better coordination between the different levels of governance and support for local elected representatives to respond more quickly and effectively to the triple environmental crisis of...
Congress Representatives stress youth contribution to environmental issues at the Lisbon Forum
On 16 and 17 October 2023, Congress Representative Belinda Gottardi (SOC/G/PD, Chamber of Local Authorities), and Catarina Semedo de Oliveira, Congress Youth delegate for Portugal participated in the 29th Lisbon Forum. This year’s Forum focused on “Human Rights, Environment and Economic Crimes:...
World Environment Day: "Local and regional authorities are accountable to their citizens for combating climate change"
"Human activities and a lack of individual and collective awareness are undoubtedly the cause of climate change. The only possible response is political action at all levels of governance to tackle this triple global crisis of pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity", declared Cemal...
Local and regional authorities must integrate an environmental dimension into all their policies
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. ...
Harald Sonderegger at Cyprus Forum Cities: “Building more sustainable cities and regions means including local and regional authorities in policy formulation and finding new ways to engage citizens”
Speaking in the panel discussion at the opening of the Cyprus Forum Cities in Limassol on 7 April 2023, Congress Vice-President Harald Sonderegger (Austria, EPP/CCE) stressed the importance of building more resilient and sustainable communities, able to overcome the crucial challenges that are...
Regions as driving change in environmental protection
More and more regions in Europe are putting in place “regional strategies for the environment,” as became clear during a debate on the theme held on Wednesday 22 March by the Chamber of Regions of the Congress. While some measures are part of national or European plans, others are based on...
Congress promotes dialogue on environmental challenges and human rights at local level in Georgia
“The continuous engagement and consultation of local authorities by the central level is essential in responding to environmental challenges”, stated Rafael Benitez, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, at a workshop on human rights and the environment at the local level,...
Towards a new Urban Charter of the Congress: How to build participative, inclusive and sustainable cities and towns
In recent years, urban life has undergone a series of rapid transformations linked to the accelerated climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic, the worsening of social divide and the introduction of new technologies. In addition, democracy issues and citizen involvement came into focus and new...
Environment : The Congress calls for the drafting of an Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government
Given worsening climate change, environmental challenges are increasingly being viewed from the angle of human rights – the right to life, health or private and family life – and international law. In a report adopted today, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe...
Climate strategies must involve local and regional authorities
Congress Spokesperson on Environment and Climate Change, Cemal Baş (Türkiye, EPP/CCE), participated in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)’s meeting of the Network of Contact Parliamentarians for a healthy environment in Izmir, Türkiye on 23 September 2022. "It is clear...
The right to a healthy environment, a universal human right and an emergency for all levels of governance
Following the resolution just adopted by the United Nations General Assembly declaring access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a universal human right, Congress spokesperson on human rights Harald Bergmann (Netherlands, ILDG), welcomed this historic decision. "This recognition...
Climate change: "Local authorities must be included in the legislative process and given the necessary competences," says Bernd Vöhringer
The Council of Europe Congress participated in the event "Local and regional authorities in post-crisis Europe: prospects for a sustainable and resilient future", organised by the Central European Initiative (CEI), in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 7-8 June. The president of the Council of Europe Congress...