Regions4 at
UN Climate COP31
Antalya, Turkey | 9-20 November 2026
Regions Delivering for Climate Action
Climate COP31 must mark a shift from ambition to implementation. As climate impacts intensify, the credibility of global climate action increasingly depends on whether commitments can be translated into results across territories, and that is where regions come in.
At COP31 in Antalya, the leadership of regions will take centre stage, showing how their action on the ground is turning global climate commitments into results for people and territories. For more than 20 years, Regions4 has connected global commitments with the realities and solutions of territories. States, regions and provinces translate national and international commitments into policies, investments and practical solutions, coordinating delivery across sectors and levels of government.
Regions4 will showcase how regions are advancing climate action across four interconnected areas: territorial implementation, adaptation and resilience, climate finance, and climate-nature action. Marking ten years of RegionsAdapt, our programme at COP31 will bring a decade of regional evidence and experience to global conversations, highlighting the critical role of subnational governments in turning ambition into measurable results and ensuring that climate finance and action reach the territories where implementation happens.
Highlights
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A key opportunity to restore credibility in global climate governance by closing the gap between commitments and implementation.
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Building on 10 years of RegionsAdapt, Regions4 will showcase how regions are advancing long-term, transformational adaptation and resilience.
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Strengthening multilevel governance to ensure regional priorities and contributions shape climate action and strengthen cooperation across all levels of government.
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Climate finance must reach where climate action happens, unlocking more direct and accessible funding for subnational implementation.
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Putting nature at the heart of climate action will be critical for building resilient territories. Regions4 will promote more integrated approaches that connect climate, biodiversity and sustainable development.
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Regions4 COP31 Position Paper
COP31 must represent a decisive shift from ambition to implementation. Growing fragmentation, polarisation and declining trust in multilateral cooperation stand in sharp contrast to the increasingly severe climate impacts communities are experiencing.
Delivering on climate and biodiversity commitments depends more than ever on governance systems that connect global commitments with implementation. States, provinces and regions are at the forefront of implementation and are the drivers of change.
Regions4 Key Launches at COP31
RegionsAdapt 2026 Anniversary Report
Our flagship anniversary report, tracing lessons learned from ten years of regional climate leadership, sharing real adaptation journeys from 10 regions, and a call to action for what must come next.
RegionsAdapt: A Decade of Leadership
Our tenth-anniversary social media campaign throughout the year, culminating with an impact video premiering at COP31.
Bridging the Adaptation Gap: Subnational Implementation of National Adaptation Plans
A new policy brief on what actually makes or breaks a region’s ability to deliver a national adaptation plan, drawing on case studies from São Paulo, Paris Region, Gauteng and Lombardy.
Case Study Series: Delivering NAPs on the Ground
A three-part case study series exploring how subnational governments engage with NAPs -from Gauteng’s legal mandate to São Paulo’s municipal model and Lombardy’s strong planning capacity.
Join our initiatives at COP31
Subnational Investment Forum
Moving from climate commitments to action requires investment at scale. The Finance Investment Forum will bring together subnational governments, investors, financial institutions and climate leaders to explore opportunities for financing regional climate action and developing stronger pipelines of investable projects. The forum will highlight partnerships and innovative financial mechanisms that can unlock investment in mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
Date and time: Monday 9 November, 9:00 – 11:00 and 18:00 – 20:00
Programme:
– 9:00 – 9:30: Opening Plenary (Theatre Space)
– 9:30 – 9:45: Transition to breakout rooms
– 9:45 – 11:00: Two parallel breakout roundtables:
– Roundtable #1: Building Investible Project Pipelines
– Roundtable #2: Financing Electrification from the Ground Up
– 18:00 – 20:00: High-Level Moment and Networking Reception (Theatre Space)
Location: COP31 Blue Zone
Organiser: Under2 Coalition Secretariat (Climate Group), with Regions4 and the Sustainable Finance Observatory as partners for Roundtable #1
RegionsAdapt 10-Year Anniversary Event & Session
Ten years after its launch at COP21 alongside the Paris Agreement, RegionsAdapt has helped strengthen regional leadership on climate adaptation through peer learning, collaboration and advocacy. This high-level event will take stock of what a decade of regional action has taught us and explore what is needed to accelerate adaptation implementation in the decade ahead. The discussion will bring together regional leaders, international partners, and financial and technical institutions to reflect on lessons learned and identify pathways to strengthen partnerships, finance and multilevel cooperation.
Date and Time: Tuesday 10th November, 18:00 – 21:00
Location: Old Town
Organiser: Regions4
By invitation only.
FASTR closed-door roundtable
This closed-door session will look at connecting selected regions and partners as part of the joint initiative Finance Accelerator for States and Regions (FASTR), with Under2 Coalition and the Sustainable Finance Observatory (SFO), to look at ways to channel finance to relevant subnational bankable projects.
Date and Time: Wednesday 11th November, 11:00 – 12:00
Location: Resilience Hub (Blue Zone)
Organiser: Regions4
By invitation only.
Roundtable: Bridging National Adaptation Planning and Local Delivery: Financing Local Adaptation Implementation
As countries move from adaptation planning towards implementation, ensuring that finance reaches the regions and communities where climate impacts are most acute is critical. This roundtable will explore how national adaptation plans, national climate finance systems and multilevel governance can better integrate subnational priorities and create stronger pathways for territorial investment. The discussion will highlight emerging financing and governance models and explore how national governments, subnational governments, development finance institutions and international partners can work together to scale locally led adaptation.
Date and Time: Thursday 12th November, 10:00 – 11:00
Location: Regional Climate Foundations Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Organiser: Regions4 in partnership with NAP Implementation Alliance & European Climate Foundation (ECF)
Investing in Resilience: From Subnational Action to Local Delivery for the Most Vulnerable
This event will explore how investing in systemic, growth-oriented approaches to resilience can strengthen local implementation and support communities most vulnerable to climate hazards. Anchored in multilevel governance, robust data and stronger links between policy and investment, the discussion will highlight how subnational leadership can help turn resilience strategies into practical action on the ground.
Date and Time: Friday 13th November, 11:30-13:00
Location: Side Event Room Green (Blue Zone)
Organiser: Regions4, World Resources Institute (lead), CDP Worldwide, and Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA)
Transformative Climate Adaptation: How Can We Mobilise the Necessary Finance?
Climate risks are escalating faster than current adaptation efforts, and many promising solutions never move beyond the pilot stage for lack of finance. This session will showcase innovative, transformative and replicable adaptation projects, featuring new solutions, technologies and intervention models that generate territorial, social and economic impact. It will look at how to overcome the barriers that keep these initiatives from being financed, exploring public and private instruments and new approaches to turn them into bankable projects. The discussion will also highlight how partnerships between territories, financial institutions, knowledge centres and the private sector can accelerate innovation, mobilise resources and bring impactful adaptation projects to life.
Date and Time: Monday 9th November, 16:00 – 17:00
Location: Spanish Pavilion
Organisers: Basque Country with the support of Regions4
The Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency (LGMA) Press Conference
The LGMA press conference will highlight how regional and local governments are driving climate delivery through multilevel collaboration. The session will provide an opportunity to showcase the contribution of subnational governments to the COP31 agenda and the implementation of the CHAMP initiative and LGMA Constituency Joint COP31 Position.
Date and Time: Monday 9th November, time TBC
Location: Press Room, Blue Zone
Organisers: The Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency (LGMA)
Just Energy Transition Era in KwaZulu-Natal: The Pipeline Is Promising
Date and time: Wednesday 11th November, 10:00–11:00
Location: South Africa Pavilion
Organisers: Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), KwaZulu-Natal, with the support of Regions4
Delivering Climate Action: Subnational Leadership, Practical Solutions and Economic Opportunities
Date and time: Wednesday 11th November, 14:30–15:30
Location: LGMA Pavilion (to be confirmed)
Organisers: Quebec with the support of Regions4
From Climate Risk to Resilience: Accelerating Adaptation to Extreme Weather Events
Date and time: Wednesday 11th November, 17:30 – 18:30
Location: South Africa Pavilion
Organisers: Gauteng Department of Environment with the support of Regions4
Navigating Water Extremes: A Multilevel Governance Approach to Climate Resilience
Climate change is intensifying droughts, floods and other water-related hazards, exposing communities, ecosystems and economies to increasingly complex risks. This session will showcase how regional governments can connect climate science, territorial planning, disaster risk reduction and integrated water management to strengthen resilience across river basins, mountain systems and metropolitan areas. Drawing on experiences from Lombardy and other subnational governments, the discussion will explore replicable approaches to addressing both water scarcity and extreme rainfall, while advancing stronger access to international climate finance for territorial action.
Date and Time: Thursday 12th November, 9:15 – 10:15
Location: Italian Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Organisers: Lombardy Region with the support of Regions4
Miser sur une coopération climatique à l’échelle humaine, comment les États fédérés font avancer l’action climatique
Date and Time: Thursday 12th November, 14:15 – 15:15
Location: Pavillon francophonie (Blue Zone)
Organisers: Quebec with the support of Regions4
In French only.
From Ambition to Implementation: Subnational Leadership for 35×35
Date and time: Thursday 12th November, time to be confirmed
Location: Canada Pavilion
Organisers: Government of Quebec, co-organised by the Under2 Coalition with the support of Regions4
Du Plan à l’Investissement : Opérationnaliser l’Action Climatique Territoriale au Maroc
Date and time: Friday 13th November, 14:00 – 15:30
Location: Moroccan Pavilion
Organisers: ARM and Moroccan CHAMP partners with the support of Regions4
In French only.
Putting People First: Communicating More Effectively to Drive Mobilisation
Date and time: Saturday 14th November 2026, 15:15–16:15
Location: Canada Pavilion
Organisers: Government of Quebec with the support of Regions4
Business-Government Dialogue to Drive the Green Transition and Climate Action
Companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, are at the front line of the green transition, but many lack the information, finance and support they need to act. This event brings businesses and regional governments together to discuss how public authorities can help companies decarbonise, adapt and unlock green investment. Regional leaders will share what works and how to replicate it.
Date and Time: Monday 16th November, 16:00 – 17:00
Location: Spanish Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Organisers: Regional Ministry of Environment and Sustainability of Andalusia with the support of Regions4
Multilevel Governance from State Strategy to Local Climate Action
Date and time: Thursday 19 November, time to be confirmed
Location: Brazil Pavilion, Global Mutirão Room (to be confirmed)
Organisers: Brazilian Association of State Environmental Entities (ABEMA) and the State of Rio Grande do Sul with the support of Regions4
Biomes, Climate, and Biodiversity: Subnational Solutions for a Resilient Brazil
Brazil’s six biomes each pose different challenges and opportunities for climate action and biodiversity. This panel brings together Brazilian states and partner organisations to share how they integrate both agendas through conservation, restoration, nature-based solutions and cooperation across levels of government. The discussion will show how multilevel governance can speed up delivery of Brazil’s NDC and the Paris Agreement.
Date and Time: Thursday 19th November, time to be confirmed
Location: Belém Auditorium
Organisers: Paraná State Secretariat for Sustainable Development (SEDEST/PR) with the support of Regions4
UN-Habitat Urban Ministerial
Cities and regions are where many climate commitments become reality. The Urban Ministerial will bring together national and subnational leaders to strengthen multilevel cooperation on climate-resilient and inclusive urban development. Discussions will focus on urban adaptation, resilience, finance, housing and integrated planning, with an emphasis on turning global commitments into practical action in communities.
Date and Time: To be Confirmed
Location: To be Confirmed
Organisers: UN-Habitat with the support of Regions4
Climate Champions – Event Opportunities
Regions4 will work with the Climate Champions and partners to highlight regional climate leadership, practical solutions and opportunities for collaboration through the COP31 Action Agenda.
Date and Time: To be Confirmed
Location: Zero Waste Pavilion
Organisers: Climate Champions with the support of Regions4
Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership Side Events
Mediterranean regions and other territories with Mediterranean climates are facing growing risks from drought, wildfire and extreme heat. Through the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership, regional governments across five continents are sharing knowledge, strengthening capacity and advancing practical approaches to climate resilience. COP31 will provide an opportunity to showcase this bioregional approach and explore how collaboration, investment and shared solutions can strengthen resilience for communities, ecosystems and economies.
Date and Time: To be Confirmed
Location: To be Confirmed
Organisers: Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP) with the support of Regions4
Celebrating 10 years of RegionsAdapt
Ten years after its launch, RegionsAdapt has evolved into a global movement, bringing together subnational governments to drive climate adaptation worldwide. As it marks this milestone on the road to COP31, the anniversary highlights a decade of regional leadership and the solutions already being delivered on the ground.
Regions4 climate initiatives
A global platform of 85+ States and regions leading on climate adaptation
RegionsAdapt is Regions4’s flagship initiative dedicated to empowering subnational governments worldwide to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It is also the platform where subnational governments can report on and track progress on climate adaptation, and showcase their action and ambition within the Regions Race to Resilience.
How to join: Visit the Join RegionsAdapt webpage to register your region and begin engaging with the initiative.
Supporting real change on the ground in Africa and connecting science and policy in Europe
Regions4 is also supporting its members in climate action projects: building resilience for EU regions in the Pathways2Resilience project, connecting science and policy for action in the MAIA project, and building capacity of Francophone African Regions through the COOP’R project.
How to join: Regional governments interested in learning more about these projects are invited to contact climate@regions4.org.
Media Resources
Are you a partner in Regions4 events? Do you want to amplify your announcements and regional stories? We invite you to visit and use our below resources.
Follow us
Trello Board with Resources
Press Releases/Articles / Resources
- LGMA Joint Positioning
- UNFCCC Observer Handbook for COP31
- COP31 Regions4 Press Toolkit
- Regions4 Outcomes Report (Coming after COP31)
Photo Gallery: here
Press/Communications Contact
- Brenda Tenório | btenorio@regions4.org
- Soraia Ribeiro | sribeiro@regions4.org
Join us!
All regions are welcome to join us
Contact us to know more
Héloïse Chicou, responsible
of this project:
Héloïse Chicou
Climate Action and Resilience Programme Manager
climate@regions4.org