Your voice matters. The European Climate Pact and the Committee of the Regions (CoR) are coming together to support you and your community to shape the future of climate action where you live.
What are European Climate Pact Going Local Talks?
Through the Going Local Talks, you’ll join your community, local authorities and CoR Climate Pact Ambassadors to explore the issues that matter most to you. We’ll discuss:
- Turning climate policy into action on the ground
- Building adaptation, preparedness and resilience
- The social and economic dimension of the green transition
These events are your chance to share best practices, perspectives and ideas with local authorities and the public. Take part and become part of the conversation, giving vital feedback and support for the future of EU climate policy.
How can I join the Pact Going Local Talks?
You can find details on each Pact Going Local Talk below and on the events page. We invite you to get involved and help influence local decisions on climate action.
Shaping tomorrow, together with the European Climate Pact – Event series overview
This report brings together national summaries from the Shaping Tomorrow event series, a Climate Pact and Committee of the Regions joint action as part of European Cities and Regions Week 2025, showcasing local climate actions across six EU countries. It highlights citizen engagement, diverse approaches, and key themes in advancing climate resilience and sustainability at the local level.
Zagreb, Croatia
25 November 2025
President of the City Assembly of Zagreb Joško Klisović welcomes you to this this event, which will bring together public authority representatives, citizens and local stakeholders. Sessions will look at how cities can adapt to extreme weather and strengthen their resilience to climate change.
Miercurea Ciuc, Romania
17 November 2025
Csaba Borboly, President of the Harghita County Council, and Adrian Ovidiu Teban, Mayor of Cugir City, are organising this event for citizens, public institutions and stakeholders from across Harghita county. It will focus on water resilience in mountain areas under climate change and contribute to a new roadmap of solutions.
Rakvere, Estonia
10 November 2025
Andres Jaadla, Member of Rakvere City Council, is bringing together local leaders and citizens to discuss the new European Climate Adaptation Plan. The event will highlight how cities can strengthen resilience through local action and investment.
Maribor, Slovenia
4 November 2025
Vlasta Krmelj, Mayor of the Municipality of Selnica ob Dravi, will host a roundtable with local political representatives from the Podravje region. The discussion will focus on adaptation, preparedness and resilience at the municipal level, and how to actively involve citizens.
Athens, Greece
22 October 2025
Kostas Bakoyannis, Municipal Councillor of Athens, is hosting this event for public authorities, experts, civil society and citizens to explore how cities can strengthen resilience and preparedness in the face of climate-related crises.
Łódź, Poland
2 October 2025
Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź, invites you to join local and regional authorities, policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders to examine the environmental impact of the clothing industry. The summit will focus on how Poland’s textile sector can reduce waste and pollution and move towards a more sustainable future.
Autun, France
21 May 2025
Vincent Chauvet – Mayor of Autun, member of the European Committee of the Regions and Climate Pact Ambassador – chaired a Going Local Talk on sustainable consumption and practical solutions for a circular economy, organised with the European Climate Pact and the Grand Autunois-Morvan local council community.
Event summary
On 21 May 2025, a Climate Pact Going Local Talk entitled ‘Sustainable consumption in the Grand Autunois-Morvan is possible’ took place in Autun. It gathered around 70 participants, including elected officials, municipal and community staff, associations and students.
The session explored sustainable consumption solutions and the initiatives already under way in the area. The programme opened withtwo welcome speeches before moving into a series of activities and discussions at various stands, and concluded with a conference hosted by Climate Pact Ambassador Kastriot Gjoni.
Participants discovered practical approaches such as eco-friendly home practices, fair access to regionally produced food and youth-led climate debates, while highlighting the Territorial Climate-Air-Energy Plan’s focus on circular economy and sustainable food systems.
Speakers emphasised the need for multi-level governance, stronger links between local and EU efforts, cross-sector collaboration and the sharing of best practices across regions.
Key recommendations included improving the visibility of EU support, strengthening climate governance, fostering inter-municipal cooperation, using regional COPs as platforms for dialogue and increasing science-based forest management.
Find out more about the event here.
Lecce, Italy
5 April 2025
The event was convened and chaired by Loredana Capone, President of the Regional Government of Puglia, member of the European Committee of the Regions and Climate Pact Ambassador. It explored the links between agriculture and climate action, bringing together members of the Pact Community in Puglia alongside key stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Event summary
On 5 April 2025, a Climate Pact Going Local Talk entitled ‘The future of agriculture in Puglia’ took place in Lecce, gathering more than 60 participants. Attendees included representatives from the European Parliament, Committee of the Regions, European Commission, the Regional Government of Puglia, local authorities, academia, agricultural associations and unions, and members of the Pact community. Convened by Loredana Capone, the Talk was organised with the support of the Climate Pact Secretariat and the Committee of the Regions, and focused on the agriculture and agri-food sectors.
The programme featured a panel discussion with regional and local politicians and experts in climate change and agriculture. This was followed by a series of interventions and reactions from Climate Pact Ambassadors, representatives of agricultural associations, agri-businesses and farmers, as well as the European Commission.
The event concluded by highlighting the need for stronger collaboration across regional and local governments in Puglia and throughout Italy. Speakers underlined the importance of bringing European policies closer to local and regional communities to strengthen understanding and facilitate dialogue with key stakeholders. They also highlighted opportunities to better integrate the agriculture sector into climate policy, particularly through adaptation, water management and disaster risk prevention.
Finally, the discussion emphasised the value of closer cooperation with the local and regional private sector by promoting sustainable business-models, and the importance of actively involving citizens and civil society through awareness-raising and participatory initiatives focused on responsible consumption, local production and public health.
Find out more about the event here.
Braga, Portugal
27 September 2024
During one of Portugal’s biggest sustainability events, Greenfest, Mayor of Braga Municipality and Committee of the Regions Climate Pact Ambassador Ricardo Rio is hosting a talk on sustainable mobility and the ways different actors in society can shape the future of sustainable transport.
Event summary:
On September 27, the “Connecting Braga to Europe for Climate – Local Action on Sustainable Mobility” event took place during the Greenfest (an annual sustainability festival in Portugal) at the University of Minho in Braga. The event aimed at boosting the visibility and impact of sustainable mobility initiatives in the city, aligning with EU climate and sustainability goals. A panel discussion, featuring experts in mobility, technology, and policy, examined how Braga’s efforts contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a sustainable urban future. Climate Pact Ambassador Luísa Barateiro moderated the discussion, with participation of Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga and Climate Pact Ambassador.
The event addressed key challenges and solutions for advancing sustainable and decarbonised mobility in Braga and other Portuguese municipalities, focusing on aligning with European goals. Speakers emphasised the importance of raising awareness, sharing local and national climate initiatives, and promoting citizen mobilisation, such as through the Portuguese network of sustainable cities. Structural policies for cross-border connections and proximity transport in the Minho region were highlighted. Speakers urged a shift towards public transportation and changing consumption habits to improve public health. Key takeaways included the need for stronger local action, better coordination between municipalities, and promoting remote work to reduce commuting, with challenges like limited national investment in rail noted as obstacles to progress.
Rakvere, Estonia
20 May 2024
Organised by Andres Jaadla, CoR Pact Ambassador and City Councillor, and hosted by the City Council of Rakvere, the talk will focus on adapting to climate change, preparedness, and resilience.
Event summary:
On 20 May 2024, the “Urban greening, water resilience, renovation of building - the case of Rakvere” event took place in Estonia. The hybrid-format event, organised within the European Climate Pact Going Local Talks series and supported by the Committee of Regions, the European Climate Pact, and the City Council of Rakvere, counted 17 in-person attendees and 157 online participants.
The Talk delivered key takeaways and recommendations for citizens, municipalities, and stakeholders, to contribute to the development of future climate policies in Estonia. Emphasis was given to inclusive communication and effective messaging to citizens, communities, and local and regional authorities regarding the Green Deal, the main goals of the EU Climate Pact, and the role of Climate Pact Ambassadors. This narrative should convey that going green is an opportunity, and clearly outline the necessary and desired changes within communities. Attendees also highlighted that local governments require more support from the state and the EU, and increased coordination amongst themselves, to increase the effectiveness of systemic changes. Attendees mentioned that younger generations, especially children, play a crucial role in driving environmental changes and can influence older generations to take climate action.
Zagreb, Croatia
10 May 2024
A linked conference will gather panellists to discuss urban strategies for climate resilience and renewable energy integration, innovations in renewable energy, and the future of the European Green Deal in the light of the European Parliament elections.
Event summary:
Two linked Climate Pact Going Local Talks took place in Zagreb, the first one a Citizens' Assembly Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy transition on 3 May 2024 followed by a Conference titled ‘Green transition drives European cities - Zagreb 2024' on 10 May 2024.
The Citizens' Assembly Dialogue brough together around 480 stakeholders/citizens (including experts from business, academic, media, and NGO sector) to discuss the city’s climate and energy policies. Two dialogue sessions took place, providing citizens a chance to give feedback on decarbonisation pathways and the future of the Green Deal. During the Assembly, citizens highlighted that urban development strategies, budget plans and sectoral plans must incorporate climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Concrete suggestions were given on other aspects such as the important role multi-stakeholder dialogue platforms at regional and local levels play for a just and inclusive transition, as these aim to ensure equal citizen representation. Citizens also talked about the need for regions and cities to have greater involvement in strategic climate policy development and to develop a green plan for themselves as a long-term framework that goes beyond one political mandate. Such plans should enhance energy security and resilience, with youth involvement and skill development for the green transition, while also fostering stronger partnerships between authorities and the research sector, cooperation with investment banks, and secure coherence of European, national, and local policies that affect the green transition. Finally, several pointed out to the need for a robust financial package in the next multiannual financial framework as a means to support local approaches.
The Conference on May 10 brought together mayors and their deputies from several European and Croatian cities, representatives of business and academia, and civil society in the presence of 176 citizens, and 416 online participants. The discussions concluded that multi-level governance mechanisms are crucial for fostering collaboration, with joint planning by regional and local authorities, promoting local solutions and integration of sustainability policies. Some noted that strong financial support, high recognition of the role of local authorities, youth engagement and partnerships for innovation in accelerating the energy transition. These components are crucial for improving the European Green Deal, which remains our best means to successfully implement the transition towards a more resilient, environmentally conscious, and competitive European economy. Joško Klisović, President of City Assembly, and EU Climate Pact Ambassador, will present the recommendations to the (new) European Parliament and European Commission after upcoming EU elections.
Zagreb, Croatia
3 May 2024
In collaboration with the City Assembly of Zagreb and the Energy Efficiency Agency of Croatia, CoR Pact Ambassador and President of the City Assembly Joško Klisović invites local stakeholders to explore the implications of the European Green Deal and engage citizens in shaping Zagreb’s energy and climate policies.
Milan, Italy
23 March 2024
In line with the #FairGreenDeal campaign and ahead of the 2024 European elections, CoR Pact Ambassador and Mobility Councillor of the Municipality of Milan Arianna Censi hosts an event on sustainable mobility and ecological transition in Milan.
Event summary:
On 23 March 2024, the Urban mobility and sustainable cities Climate Pact Going Local Talk took place in Milano, in the context of the #FairGreenDeal campaign, bringing together around 80 participants (including representatives of political parties, young politicians, local authorities, academia, students and civil society). The Talk, organised by the European Committee of the Regions and sponsored by the European Committee of the Regions' EU local dialogue, the European Climate Pact and C+ Milan Metropolitan City, focused on sustainable mobility and ecological transition.
The initiative included an interactive debate in the morning and a training session in the afternoon on how to effectively communicate Green Deal policies to citizens and how to engage them in the green and digital transition. Participants concluded that a Fair Green Deal 2.0 should make climate action tangible, emphasising the need to keep climate change on the top political agenda. There was an agreement on the importance of engaging citizens, particularly the indifferent majority, whose engagement is essential to gaining broader support for climate policies. Finally, participants highlighted that local governments should evolve and act as coordinators and facilitators, collaborating nationally and internationally and unifying their message on climate action.
Find out more about the event details.
For more ways to get involved in climate discussions with your community, decision-makers, and the general public, you can check out our upcoming events, subscribe to our newsletter, and explore our quick-start citizen engagement tools.