This is the tag for all posts relating to climate change.

Because semantics matter: migrant, refugee, asylum seeker, lets use the right words

8 September, 2015 By Editor

Migrant vs. refugee: What’s the difference? (CNN) The difference between a migrant and a refugee marks a crucial distinction for European countries receiving new arrivals. Refugees, as defined under the 1951 Refugee Convention, are entitled to basic rights under international law, including the right not to be immediately deported and sent back into harm’s way. ... Read More

Regions can bring union and pragmatism to Europe

9 September, 2015 By Editor

AER President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli reacted to European Commission President’s speech: “Jean-Claude Juncker in his speech on the state of the union has stressed the need for more Europe in the Union and more Union in Europe. Regions within AER show unity in diversity, put into place bold and pragmatic actions in all policy ... Read More

Join the House of European Regions

18 September, 2015 By Editor

The AER Brussels office has recently moved into a new building at rue d’Arlon, 63, nextdoor to the European Institutions. Firmly anchored in both Brussels and Strasbourg with liaison offices in Romania and Ukraine, AER is proud to invite European regions in need of a Brussels representation to move into the House of European Regions. ... Read More

GMF hosts event on the importance of Subnational Diplomacy

7 October, 2015 By Editor

October 7, 2015, Washington, DC: The German Marshall Fund hosted the opening reception for the Washington, D.C. leg of Our Cities, Our Climate: A Bloomberg Philanthropies – U.S. Department of State Partnership on the evening of Wednesday, October 7, kicking off the U.S. Department of State’s three-day initiative. The opening reception brought together U.S. and international mayors ... Read More

Making regional diplomacy a reality

19 October, 2015 By Editor

AER President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli and H.R.H Prince Laurent of Belgium visited the Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk last week. The region is a key AER member in Eastern Europe and a partner for bridging with other regions from the area through the AER office that recently opened. The delegation met with high ranking officials ... Read More

Climate Change – What are the regions doing?

30 October, 2015 By Editor

Ahead of the all-important climate talks in Paris at the end of this year, many regions and cities are announcing they will do their share: climate pledges are popping up left, right and centre. EUobserver’s Regional Focus Magazine 2015 takes a look at some of the issues ahead of the Paris climate summit. AER is ... Read More

AER contributing to historic COP21 meeting

13 November, 2015 By Mathieu Mori

Once again AER will be present at a climate change milestone, the COP21 meeting to take place in Paris in December. Together with the German Marshall Fund and the National League of Cities, AER is organising a meeting at Paris Cityhall on 5 December afternoon in the framework of the Climate Summit for Local Leaders. ... Read More

Cities and Regions at COP21: Leading from the Front with Equity and Inclusion

20 November, 2015 By Editor

Saturday, December 5, 2015 3:00 – 5:00 pm Speakers Mayor Ralph Becker, Salt Lake City, Utah; Former President, National League of Cities Mayor Kasim Reed (MMF ’00), Atlanta, Georgia Dr. Hande Özsan Bozatli, President, Assembly of European Regions President of Assembly of European Regions Member Region (TBC) Clarence Anthony, Executive Director, National League of Cities, ... Read More

Energy transition: rural areas & the smart revolution

23 November, 2015 By Johanna Pacevicius

Melville Kendal, Chairman of the AER working group on energy and climate change was in Barcelona on 18 November on the occasion of the Smart City Expo World Congress to present the AER report “Rurality and regional development: Unlocking our territories’ economic and social potential”. The event, which gathers thousands of participants each year, featured ... Read More

COP21: Regions need to be included in climate talks

29 November, 2015 By Editor

Eva Hallström, Värmland (SE), AER member and rapporteur at the COP21 “It is a great privilege for me to attend one of the world’s most anticipated and topical events of the year; the stakes are as high as the expectations for the upcoming COP21 in Paris. Although much media attention and focus will be turned ... Read More

Bureau concludes talks on the refugee crisis

3 December, 2015 By Editor

Conclusions of the AER discussions on “Facing the migration and refugee challenges” Whereas: across Europe, both within and outside the EU, there is a wave of migration unprecedented since World War II, Whereas: the causes are primarily political with civil war in Syria and unrest in other countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan but ... Read More

Taking stock of regions @ COP21

9 December, 2015 By Mathieu Mori

At the occasion of the COP21 in Paris, AER was present to voice the concerns and solutions proposed by regions to face the world most pressing challenge. Eva Hallström from the region of Värmland (SE), rapporteur for AER on the COP21 and accredited to Le Bourget at the heart of the negotiations, is participating in ... Read More

Historic agreement in Paris

13 December, 2015 By Editor

AER warmly welcomes the global agreement signed Saturday in Paris between 195 countries and encourages all current and future leaders to meet these important commitments in a fast and fair implementation. For several years, the regions of Europe have shown their strong involvement in tackling the challenges of the climate change on the field. AER ... Read More

Welcome to Bodø (Nordland-NO)

4 January, 2016 By Editor

AER Committee 3 President and Mayor of Nordland, Ms Sonja Steen, welcomes AER members and stakeholders to Bodø (Nordland-NO) for the 2016 AER General Assembly (GA) form 22-24 June. It will be the first GA ever to take place in Norway. Bodø is the capital city of Nordland and counts 50.000 inhabitants (of the 242.000 in ... Read More

Dutch EU Presidency focuses on four of AER’s main policies

25 January, 2016 By Editor

An agenda in line with AER’s The Netherlands Presidency of the European Union (from January to June 2016) aims to promote prosperity, freedom and security in the EU during the next half year, by focusing on Migration, Innovation, Economy and Energy Policies. The Assembly of European Regions can provide a wealth of knowledge and experience ... Read More