During a high-level meeting organized by the UNDP and R20 last Wednesday, the President of the Assembly of European Regions underlined the importance of public-private partnerships in the struggle against climate change and invited its partners to deliver an ‘action-tank’

Montreal, Quebec (CDN), 16 September 2010.

Within the framework of the World Energy Congress held in Montreal, Michèle SABBAN, AER President, brought up the steps to be taken by the regions in the world in order to truly fight against climate change. Along with Linda ADAMS, Secretary of State of the State of California and many business leaders such as GE Energy, the President of the broadest network of Regions in Europe stressed that public-private partnerships are to play an increasing role in the conversion of societies to the effects of climate change. “We have created a link between the largest stakeholders in this battle against climate change: business and regional/federal governments” emphasised Ms. SABBAN, “it is through them that innovation emerges today”.

During an event organised at the Biosphère in Montreal by the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP) and the R20, the breakthroughs of the future organisation federating the efforts of local authorities for the diffusion of carbon free technologies were presented together with the precise steps of the future calendar. “These events and meetings constitute important steps towards a new approach of international action”, commented Ms SABBAN in her speech. “We have heard a lot about the role of think-thanks in the elaboration of national and international public policies. Today, due to the emergency of the environmental situation, we certainly have to think and debate, but most of all we need to act. That’s why we would like to establish an ‘action-tank’ that is a rapid, efficient and fair intervention tool for sustainable development projects”. Thanks to the regions in the world, the shift between a negotiation based approach to an action based one might be around the corner.

The Assembly of European Regions (AER – aer.eu) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together more than 270 regions from 33 countries and 16 interregional organisations, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional co-operation.

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