Brussels, 22/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On the sidelines of Rio+20, the United Nations sustainable development conference, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Committee of the Regions (CoR) signed a memorandum of intent, signalling a new phase of cooperation between the two, placing cities and regions at the heart of the action on protecting the environment. Cities are responsible for consuming some 75% of the world's natural resources.
The memorandum prioritises five areas: multilevel environmental governance; green economy and resource efficiency; climate change mitigation and adaptation; biodiversity and ecosystems management; and decentralised cooperation for development. The aim is to give greater responsibility to local and regional authorities. CoR President Mercedes Bresso said: “It is time to call for a stronger institutional set-up in the global governance of the natural resources of our planet. And it is time to invest in cities and regions as government actors capable of driving growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.” She called on cities and regions throughout the world to join together and share best practice in urban sustainable development. (MD/transl.rt)