CoR Delegation Joins Local Leaders at COP31
Seven members of the Committee of the Regions are attending the 31st UN climate conference to press for local government roles in global climate policy.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in City Hall
A political delegation of seven Committee of the Regions members is attending COP31, the 31st UNFCCC Conference of the Parties, which began during the week of November 12, 2026. The delegation joined the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency to represent cities and regions in the negotiations.
Why it matters
The delegation is pushing for a formal role for local and regional authorities in climate decision-making, which affects how cities plan for emissions cuts and adaptation. Its participation reflects the growing weight of subnational governments in global climate action.
The delegation of seven members is the Committee of the Regions' formal political presence at the 31st UNFCCC conference. Whether its advocacy will translate into binding text on local roles remains unresolved as negotiations continue.
The players
Committee of the Regions (CoR)
The CoR is the European Union's advisory body representing local and regional governments in EU policymaking.
Regions4
Regions4 is a network of regional governments focused on climate and sustainability, co-leading the LGMA adaptation working group with the CoR.
Kostas Bakoyannis
Kostas Bakoyannis chairs the CoR's Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) and delivered a speech on the CoR's role within the LGMA Steering Committee.
Nuri Aslan
Nuri Aslan is the Acting Mayor of Istanbul, met by the CoR delegation at COP31.
The details
Members delivered messages through events, speeches, bilateral meetings and panel debates. The CoR and Regions4 co-lead the LGMA Working Group on adaptation, and events focused on locally led just transitions, grid modernisation and electrification. The delegation also met Istanbul's Acting Mayor Nuri Aslan and reiterated solidarity with Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and other democratically elected local leaders facing undue pressure.
Timeline
Week of November 9, 2026: COP31 opens and the CoR delegation arrives.
November 12, 2026: Resilient Cities Day is held at COP31.
November 13, 2026: Flash Report #2 is scheduled for publication, summarizing Resilient Cities Day.
Political Context
Local and regional governments have pressed for formal recognition in UNFCCC talks through the LGMA constituency for years. This delegation extends that effort by seeking explicit roles for cities in adaptation and just-transition commitments.
Local governments are seeking a formal voice in global climate rules that will shape the emissions targets, adaptation funding and infrastructure plans they must carry out. Residents in cities worldwide may see these commitments translated into local policy in the coming years.
The takeaway
Local governments are increasingly positioning themselves as essential actors in global climate action rather than passive implementers of national policy. Watching whether COP31 texts formally recognize their roles will show how much influence cities gain in international climate governance.
What happens next
Flash Report #2 is scheduled for publication on November 13, 2026, covering the key moments and messages from Resilient Cities Day.
Further reading
Explore more City Hall coverage of how local governments shape policy beyond their borders.
