The 18th session in the long-running Breakfast at Sustainability's series explored how cities and citizens can be engaged in the run up to the international climate negotiations (COP21) in Paris.

Many agree that the battle on climate change will be won or lost in cities yet only two countries (Canada and Mexico) are currently referring to local governments in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) despite expressing full support in the same manner as the European Union.

This B@S session opened with a powerful presentation by Lutz Ribbe, President of the Sustainable Development Observatory at the EESC, who emphasised how the current financial pledges to climate change action are still minor compared to the money spent on subsidising fossil fuels. Maryke Van Staden from the ICLEI World Secretariat illustrated the global cities’ climate action towards Paris.

Good practice examples from Arendal and Bergen in Norway again showed that while national governments are negotiating, local governments are already delivering. After the presentations an interactive panel comprised of key stakeholders from the sub-national level and civil society discussed the topic further.

For more information, download the presentations.