Regions4

Regions4 is the global voice of subnational governments (states, regions, provinces) in UN negotiations, European Union initiatives, and global discussions on climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development. Its mission is to empower regional governments by fostering strong connections within and outside the network, translating these relationships into impactful action.

Regions4 was established in 2002 at the World Summit in Johannesburg as nrg4SD and now brings together over 50 regions from 23 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

In the field of climate change, Regions4 developed the RegionsAdapt initiative, the first global initiative that supports the acceleration of climate adaptation by subnational governments. RegionsAdapt aims to inspire and support regional governments in assessing climate risks and vulnerabilities, taking concrete actions, collaborating, and reporting on climate adaptation. Launched at COP21,  RegionsAdapt now encompasses more than 80 signatory regions from five continents.

Through its work, RegionsAdapt emphasizes:

• Multilevel Governance: Promoting collaboration across various levels of government to enhance climate resilience.
• Climate Finance: Advocating for financial mechanisms that prioritize climate resilience at the subnational level.
• Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building: Facilitating global connections among states and regions to promote knowledge exchange and best practices in adaptation planning and action.
• Policy Advocacy: Amplifying regional government expertise at climate conferences to drive meaningful action.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Sharing adaptation progress through data analysis and annual reports.

RegionsAdapt has also recently focused its work on climate justice, just resilience, and the importance of linking climate and nature.