Subnational and non-state action in the EU

This research paper by the NewClimate Institute examines the role of subnational and non-state actors, such as cities, regions, and companies, in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the European Union.

• Subnational and non-state actors are playing an increasingly significant role in EU climate action. As of 2016, individual targets from these actors covered 40% of EU GHG emissions. By October 2020, subnational net-zero targets covered 36% of the total population of the EU. Furthermore, more than 130 international cooperative initiatives (ICIs) are active in the EU, focusing on GHG mitigation across all sectors with aspirational targets.
• While sub/non-state actors possess significant mitigation potential and a willingness to act, these GHG emission reductions cannot be isolated from national or EU-level ambitions. Realizing this potential requires coordination and enhanced collaboration between these actors and policymakers at the national and EU levels.
• There is limited available information regarding the overall progress of sub/non-state actors toward their goals. However, evidence suggests that individual European cities have made good progress toward their 2020 targets, and initiatives focused on indirect contributions to GHG reductions have delivered substantial outputs.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2020). Subnational and non-state action in the EU. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/subnational-and-non-state-action-in-the-eu

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Subnational and non-state action in the EU. 2020. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/subnational-and-non-state-action-in-the-eu.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Subnational and non-state action in the EU |date=14 December 2020 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/subnational-and-non-state-action-in-the-eu |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2020subnational, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Subnational and non-state action in the EU}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2020}, month = dec, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/subnational-and-non-state-action-in-the-eu}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }