 Dear colleagues, please take your seats, so that we can start our evening session. And we will start directly with our very interesting debate with Commissioner Sinkevicius and the Mayor of Turku, the Vice President of Aikli. So dear Commissioner, dear Vice President, ladies and gentlemen, we gather today to discuss the most pressing issues of our time, the climate and the biodiversity emergencies. Right now, leaders are at the Convention on Biological Diversity, the COP 15, where we hope they will agree the 2030 biodiversity targets. And this week, our Committee gave its formal backing to the Edinburgh Declaration that I have the honour of signing today. I would like to thank Vice President Arne and Aikli for continuing to work so closely with us and representing sub-national governments in their international talks. I would like to proceed now to the signing of the Declaration of the Edinburgh Process. Protecting biodiversity is a matter of protecting our health, our economies and our climate. The Edinburgh Declaration is clear, sub-national governments, cities and local authorities play key roles in conserving, restoring and reducing threats to biodiversity. We will make a similar call for the COP 26 Declaration in Glasgow. Regional and regional governments deliver 70% of climate change reduction measures and up to 90% of climate adaptation action. The sub-national level of government must finally be given a formal seat in the UN's climate talk negotiations. So I call on Executive Vice President Timmermans, as the EU's negotiator, to ensure the regional and local dimension is included in the COP 26 conclusions. To ignore the fundamental role and contribution of the world's local and regional governments, we'll hold back our ability to deliver the climate action we need and we will continue to fail our young people and our planet. Dear Commissioner, our committee and the European Commission continues to work together in areas such as the implementation of the EU biodiversity strategy, the zero pollution action plan and the Green City Accord. This is why our committee has also launched its own campaign, Green Deal Going Local, which sets 10 actions for local leaders to deliver, one of which is its three for life initiative. And I'm pleased today, I'm very pleased today, that we agree to further cooperate in this area, contributing to your proposal for 3 billion trip ledges by 2030. I call on all our members and every local leader in Europe to join us. This is our commitment because we need action now for a safer, more resilient and greener future for our children, who are asking us to secure a future to their planet. So Commissioner, welcome and the floor is yours. Commissioner, we have a problem with the sound. We cannot hear you even though before, during the testing, we could hear you. In order to save some time for the Commissioner to, the Commissioner's team to find the solution, let me now give the floor to Mina Arve, the Mayor of Turku and Vice President of Aikli. The floor is yours, Mayor. Okay, maybe you can hear me now. Yes, we can hear you. Go ahead. Mr. President, honourable members of the Committee of the Regents, fellow mayors, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Mina Arve, I'm Mayor of Turku in Finland, and I'm happy to address you as the Vice President of Aikli Local Governments for Sustainability. Aikli is the global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable development. We influence sustainability policy on all levels. The climate emergency is the biggest global challenge with the local and planetary dimensions, the likes of which the world has yet to face. Local people are looking for smooth implementation and rapid yet safe transition. Cities and regions are the heart of this change. For example, my city, Turku, in Finland is implementing an ambitious climate plan and promoting circular economy. We are closing the emission gap for 1.5 degree warming. By now, we have already halved our greenhouse gas emissions from the level of 1990s. And during the same time, our economy on the area has grown. By 2029, Turku will be officially 800 years old and one of the first carbon neutral areas in the world. Circular economy has offered us opportunities to preserve biodiversity, promote social equity and support local economic development. Circular economy innovations have created new jobs which actually have helped us to be resilient to COVID-19 crises as well. We are implementing the circular cities declaration managed by IKLEI. Like we in Turku, cities and local governments in Europe and other parts of the world are eager to lead a just and inclusive transition. Heading towards the Glasgow COP26, we have an excellent opportunity to advance the European Green Deal and co-create Green Deal approaches on all levels from local to global. The Mannheim message, adopted at the 9th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns in autumn 2020, calls for local green deals. Local and national plans need to be aligned to accelerate action and solutions for the green recovery. Cities and their leaders need to become true partners in a multi-level governance system. They must be enabled to contribute the shaping of the legal, fiscal and financial frameworks that rule the implementation of their ambitious local strategies. Only on this path, we will be able to move fast from plans and strategies to real action. In this period, we join the local governments and municipal authority constituency and encourage all parties to ensure COP26 in Glasgow embraces multi-level collaboration as the new normal in the second phase of the Paris Agreement. The European Green Deal can indeed serve as an exemplary framework for a global alliance of sub-national and local governments for the green recovery through local green deals. Ikele is your willing partner to create the necessary changes. Together, we can deliver progress on UN Sustainable Development Calls and Paris Agreement. In the end of the day, it's what we achieve. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Mayor. I would like to give the floor now to Commissioner Zinkevisius to see if the sound is back. Yes, can you hear me? Yes, go ahead. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. So yes, honourable members, good afternoon. Thank you, President Tsitsikostas and the Committee of the Regents for this invitation. It's always a pleasure to join you because you are important allies in reaching out to the people of Europe. Fluts in Belgium and Germany and wildfires in Greece and France remind us on the need to urgently tackle the climate crisis. And that's why I'll be talking today about the European Green Deal and what it means on the ground, the local perspective of its implementation. And I should stress straight away that the need for the European Green Deal is as strong as it was before COVID-19. The Green Deal is designed to deliver a transformative recovery. We need to ensure that we don't go back to what used to be business as usual and move towards more sustainable patterns of production and consumption. Here is where the Recovery and Resilience Facility comes in. With this instrument we aim to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and make European economies and societies more resilient and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions. The RRF makes more than 700 billion euros in loans and grants available to support reforms and investments carried on by member states. Through the European Green Deal we are encouraging all sectors, businesses, public authorities and citizens to participate in the transition to ensure its success. There are many targets inside the Green Deal and they cannot be delivered by European Quota in Brussels alone. To take one example we need a major effort from Europe's regions and multidiscipalities to help deliver a 55% cut in emissions by 2030. Challenging areas to decarbonize, like buildings, need local solutions. And they need programs supported by national and EU funding like RRF. The Commission will always remain a willing partner, but there is a lot you can do on your own. Cities are major economic players, their procurement decision can promote clean, integrated and inclusive public transport services. Cities can also lead in sustainable urban mobility planning so that we can tackle the poor air quality that still causes more than 400,000 premature mortalities every year. Strong commitment from public authorities is crucial for the climate neutral and just transition. You are close to citizens, you know their needs and views and you can help create a social consensus for climate action, environmental protection and sustainability. With the European Climate Act we have a way to bring everybody together. I mentioned the 55% proposal. We call it fit for 55% and it's our plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by that amount by the end of the decade. It's a very comprehensive package and it includes a tightening of the EU's emissions trading system, the increased use of renewable energy, greater energy efficiency, a faster rollout of low emission transport modes and infrastructure and fuels to support them and alignment of taxation policies with the European Green Deal objectives, measures to prevent carbon leakage and tools to preserve and grow our natural carbon sinks. The proposal is also an engagement to biodiversity, circular economy and air quality. Negotiations with the co-legislators have begun. We are determined to maintain their ambition and coherence and we are counting on your support. The recent spike in global energy prices reinforces the need for greater shares of renewable energy and more efficient use of energy. We have presented proposal to achieve this in the fit for 55 package. In December we will also present a major new proposal to improve the energy performance of buildings that should double the rate of renovation with major economic benefits for EU households. A new social climate fund was proposed to provide dedicated funding to member states to help citizens finance investments in energy efficiency, new heating and cooling systems and cleaner mobility. The fund will provide over 72 billion euros of funding to member states for the period of 2025-2032 based on a targeted amendment to the multi-annual financial framework. With a proposal to draw on matching member state funding, the fund would mobilize 144 billion euros for a socially fair transition. Our regions are extremely important, but problems like climate change and biodiversity laws demand to be addressed at scale. In fact, they both need action on global scale. The two big international conferences coming up on climate in Glasgow and biodiversity in Cumming will test the world's commitment to change the status quo. We are leading with our own internal policies and encouraging others to follow that lead. Of the 191 parties to the Paris Agreement, more than 110 parties have so far submitted a new or updated national action plan, but the emission reductions they have planned by 2034 far short of the ambition we need to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees. The fit for 55 package proves that commissions, determination to respond with speed and intensity and the international finance we offer is further proof. We have mobilized 21.9 billion euros for public funding in the EU to support climate action in developing countries. In 2019, a 7% increase over the year before. President Fandelion recently announced a doubling of external assistance for biodiversity to help the most vulnerable countries. The president also indicated her desire to step up climate finance for partner countries in others, if others such as the US and China do the same. 11 years ago, the world agreed on a global framework for biodiversity, with targets to be met by 2020. We set a vision to live in harmony with nature by 2050, but we collectively failed to implement these targets and we failed to stop biodiversity loss. And we cannot afford another fail. We need to stop the extinction of species. Our goal to hold biodiversity loss and restore nature, this must go hand in hand with climate action because nature is climate strongest ally. In Cummink, we need to agree on an ambitious post 2020 global framework. And the first draft is a good start, but we should work on making it stronger, clearer and more precise. Regional authorities indeed have a crucial role in the implementation of these global goals. We need action on the ground for this, the Scottish government launched the Edinburgh process for engaging local and sub national authorities. And I'm very happy with the strong engagement from the committee of the regions in this global process and with the opinion of on biodiversity and regions beyond 2020 adopted by the committee of the regions last year. Thank you very much for this engagement. This committee has always been an important partner on our environmental policy. We share a long and fruitful history of cooperation and I look forward to the many joint actions that are under development for this coming year. The enhanced cooperation we agreed in April is already taking shape. We have a list of impressive pragmatic actions and ideas and this will ensure that the implementation of the Green Deal is done properly on the ground. Our cooperation touches upon many areas and I would like to single out in particular protecting and restoring nature and biodiversity, building a circular economy and eliminating pollution. On that note, I'm already happy to announce that stakeholders can now apply to become members of the Zero Pollution Stakeholder platform, a joint initiative between the committee and the commission to be launched later this year as part of our enhanced cooperation. So please spread the word. And I would like to particularly mention the initiative of the committee of the regions on reforestation, planned by planting the first tree for life by June 2022. I'm pleased to inform you that we are sending a joint letter together with President Sisi Kostas, encouraging to participate in this initiative, which follows the use by adverse strategy and the proposal to plant 3 billion additional trees by 2030. Let me stop here. Thank you for your attention, ladies and gentlemen, as I'm here to listen to your views and contributions. I'm of course very happy to open the floor and I will be very glad to continue our regular dialogue as we did last year. Thank you. Thank you very much, Commissioner. Let us start our debate now. However, I want to let know, all of you, that we have a time constraint. We have a lot of speakers. So I would like for you to make very short statements, please, and questions. I will start with the EPP and Ms. Zdanovska. You have the floor. Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, the European Union has always played a leading role in the activities of the climate and through the Green Light, it was assumed that Europe will be the first climate-neutral continent in the world. This achievement of this ambitious goal is necessary for cooperation, cities and regions, which will be the foundation for the invasion of the Green Light. This, after the degradation of the environment and ambitious climate goals, is our government's goal to impose responsibility for the green transformation. It can be said only then, when the local and regional authorities become the partner of world and domestic leaders. However, not only within the framework of the necessity to use our small parents for climate goals, but above all within the framework of co-projecting of activities and solutions. This is also a sign of the Committee of the Regions for COP26. We believe that we, as the economy responsible for the local green transformation, should participate in shaping accepted climate obligations. Our ambivalence activity within the framework of the climate pact or the understanding of the Burmese is important, but it will not be able to urgently speed up the necessary changes. I hope that COP26 in Glesgow will be a breakthrough. I would like us to, in the next plenary session, be able to make a list of the climatic steps to address the change in history and in terms of the government. But I am at the same time aware that this is a very difficult task. We need strong support of the UN institutions, which are planning a negotiation effort for COP26. However, we, the government, have to intensify our actions in order to convince the decision-makers that the government is necessary and even the most important element of green transformation, which should be a permanent partner of the climate solutions. We must strengthen the position of local and regional leaders. We would be able to take more effective actions. Please, please. Thank you very much. Thank you. Mr. Trinka, from the EPP, you have the floor, please. Thank you. Mr. Commissioner, dear colleagues, I am deeply convinced that the changes in the implementation of green agreements to a large extent depends on the case itself. I would like to briefly explain why I will come up with the initiative of our region. As we know, regions and cities realize the majority of concerns in the region. Their success is only so if they are developed with regard to local changes. However, the second aspect is the success of the implementation of the climate and the support of the citizens. Citizens who do not understand the importance of the climate crisis do not want to achieve the goals they have set. Why are we trying to do it on our own? When we try to make certain changes, they show that our citizens believe in their regional and local responsibilities as a national government. That is why we are the ones who have the best opportunities to achieve the support of the citizens for climate change. Our region has also recently created the first Slovak water bus, which we want to put on the road and highlight the benefits of such solutions to our citizens. Dear colleagues, I would like to challenge you to raise information from people together that we are not afraid to implement green innovations. I would like to say that the success of the green agreement lies in great measure on our shoulders. We need to experience enough and an example of support. Thank you, Bekne. Thank you very much, Ms. Tuto from the PS. Thank you very much for the floor, dear commissioner. I will not repeat what has been said. I think all of us can enforce that. Bringing together the global green deal, climate targets, biodiversity goals and sustainable development goals, it's all important. We as committee of the regions try to provide as much, and we always tell what we can give as cities and committee of the regions. We gathered all the best practices we have. We always share examples, form-city alliances. But you also have to know, I think it's also been said, bringing our citizens with us, that's not an easy thing. So you need us, you need mayors to bring citizens because too many changes happening at the same time. A lot of goals, we are pushing for very, very strong goals, but we cannot go in the same pace. Somebody is slower and somebody is quicker, and you need to understand this. Bringing good examples, like from Budapest being deputy mayor, we've been working on our strategies at the same time, biodiversity, setting up a new sustainable energy and climate action plan. Because when looking at adaptation, there are a lot of times two ways, and finding the nature-based solution is very important. Bringing one good initiative, I think it's like one of kind we found out in Budapest, giving values to our biomass, our trees, new ways of counting values of trees. We not count the value, how the cost of growing it up, but what it can provide. So we give value to the trees by the capacity, it binds dust, the size of the shade it can cast, the amount of CO2 it absorbs, and also the water it can evaporate. And it can give a different value, and so this can put biodiversity in cities, absolutely besides all other economic issues. So please count on mayors and bring mayors to the table. Thank you. Thank you very much for respecting the time as well. Mr. Chauvet, please, from Renew Europe. Thank you very much. As mayor, as local elected, we have to systematically explain why we have to, for example, limit the use of outdoor heating, especially outdoor heating in bars and restaurants, and even in breakfasts in Brussels. I have not seen very far from here that we continue to heat terraces, which is an absolute ecological aberration. So we must have a real commitment, a real understanding of citizens, and I share the opinion of those who say that there is a real danger to what the extremely ambitious climate policy of our continent is not understood, and that this misunderstanding becomes a contestation of the very idea of the European project. It is for this that among the arguments that we must put forward, the financial argument is not always the first or the most important, and by the way, the answers that are effective from an environmental point of view and from an economic point of view. But we must put forward this question of the quality of life, not only of the purchasing power that we talk about a lot, but also of the increase of the quality of life, a safe air, a safe environment, clean and green cities, which can attract in our cities and villages men and businesses. But let's not forget that as local elected, we are trying to put in place various transitions, the ecological transition, the digital transition, the demographic transition, and that is why in our Havoc that we have adopted during the full summer, we have also asked that sufficient resources, including in human capital, are allowed for local collectivities, especially at the municipal level and in rural areas that sometimes have trouble attracting experts or specialists able to lead this transition. And I say it again in echo to my colleagues, we really want to be formally recognized as a representative of the process, to be at the table of negotiations and to make sure that we have, as for the Declaration of Edinburgh and as for other international initiatives, really our place. And that's why I would like in conclusion to ask this question to Mr. the Commissioner, what is according to you the secret recipe or the missing ingredient to make our production in Glasgow the success of COP 15 and the Declaration of Edinburgh. Thank you very much Mr. Chauvet. Mr. Stelbstra from the ECR Group, please. You have the floor. Thank you. The mondial assignment to stop the expansion of the greenhouse and to protect biodiversity cannot be independent of each other. And that's why an integral application is needed and there are tensions between companies, the science and the authorities of importance and at all levels of ice. And I think it's good to apply the Sustainable Development Goals namely 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13 that should form the core. Local initiatives and projects are the backbone of the energy transition to a circular economy in Europe. As a rapporteur within this committee about the action plan Circular Economy I have the impression that local and regional governments have a respect for experience but also opportunities and opportunities that help to bring a circular society closer together. If I look at my own region an energy region has won turf has won oil, has won gas but now we are dealing with a transition to an energy system where sun, wind and hydrogen play an important role. We set the concrete steps to become a fit for 55 province. We do this with our regional approach, regional energy strategy and we are the first hardies in the valley of Europe. That's why we work continuously from our industry and we work for example on the mobile infrastructure because green hydrogen has 30 hydrogen buses right now. I would like to give one example about circularity. This is a very innovative circular economy aimed at an effective way to stimulate innovation and knowledge sharing with the circular economy in our region. It connects students with companies, companies and social organisations who are looking for solutions for a linear problem. For example, students contribute to the project Drenthe Woon Circular, Drenthe Leef Circular and it is an ambitious plan to build 140 houses in circularity. Six companies can work together in this living lab to try, to learn and develop new ways of housing. These are examples of how regions, cities and villages can achieve good results but also how the transition and strengthening of the economy go hand in hand and that's why it is crucial for this transition. Thank you very much. Mr. Markauskas from the EA Group, please. You have the floor. I would like to remind you that the European Committee and the European Alliance Group are all very concerned about the climate crisis that we are facing in the region in the face of the climate of the climate crisis. As the minister said and the young people of the non-political government in the region in the face of the current situation and I will remind you that for the sake of the quality of the sector and the financial resources investment is impossible with non-politics for the economy and for the90s and for the Euro this is a possible way of the climate to look at the future in a positive direction. This is the fact that Thank you very much. Ms. Aras, please, from the Greens. Mr. Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, there is too much talk about the costs of climate protection and, unfortunately, too little about sustainability. Sustainability is not only forced offers, but also a payment of the business model with which you can earn money. Because if we want to play a role in the world market in the US and China, then we have to think and act sustainably. Climate protection is not cost-effective. The consequences of climate change are cost-effective, because no climate protection is cost-effective. We have seen this clearly this year, both in Germany and worldwide. Extremists take massive risks. They cause floods and forest fires. They cost people's lives, destroy crops and existences. They lead to economic damage in billions of dollars. Humanitarian costs are added to this. Not the war conflicts, but extreme weather causes more floods. The entire regions of the Earth's surface will disappear or be uninhabitable. What will these people do? Will there be hiking movements? Will this be a humanitarian catastrophe? Will this also cost millions of dollars? Ladies and gentlemen, there has been a 1.5-degree transition from Paris since 2015. After that, much time has gone into the country and too little has happened. According to the latest UN climate protection report, we can no longer reach this goal. It is because we are setting the lever immediately. We really have to act seriously. With the FIFTIV package, we have to act quickly. We need to make quick political decisions and a quick implementation. Thank you very much. Ms. O'Neill, please, from the PS Group and from now on, we all have one minute, please. Mr. President, Mr. Commissioner, I see a major trend in urbanization as a global green deal, especially in the cities and their surroundings. Here we have to go forward as a European with air guides. As already mentioned, a manheim message European mayor with the call Local Green Deals is here for a good example or our own ADR campaign, Green Deal Going Local, which I actively support as a ambassador of the European Climate Act. But we also have to be creative in the region. Here, for example, in my region of Niedersachsen, the REACT EU means for the development of resilience to the active contribution of climate protection. And from the background of the European increased energy prices, I have one point very, very important. The European Union with the Green Deal proves that with energy efficiency and renewable energy a social, legal energy transition is possible without energy poverty. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Ms. Schouten, please. One minute. Thank you, Mr. President. In the last two weeks, we took part in the opening of a hydrogen fuel station, the start of a so-called climate plan at a garden center, where climate adaptation measures have been demonstrated. And I saw how the renovation of streets was used to bring a new type of street. For better drainage, everything to be prepared for climate change. These are just a few examples of where citizens and governments work together. But we cannot do this alone. The many causes of climate change are often the so-called Wicked Problems. We can approach this with empathic local leadership that is connected with its citizens and their interests through European institutions. And renovation is one of those Wicked Problems. We also welcome the approval of the European Commission on the Zero Pollution Action Plan. And in our response to this plan, we will pay more attention to the principle of the renovation and on a strong source of fuel. We see this as a very important source to support local leadership and the development of climate action. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. Ortil, please for one minute. Thank you. I would like to deeply understand the environment and the social and economic systems. Thanks to the satellite image, we have the opportunity to monitor various environments, and also to take more conscious decisions when it comes to environmental protection. My region, Wojusław Podkarpacki, cooperates with 22 regions on the Zero Pollution Action Plan. Together with the European Commission, the European Commission, we have created a collection of the best practices. The regions are already using them. Examples of these good practices confirm that, first of all, we have to use them for those politicians who are involved in the Zero Pollution Action Plan. The satellite images are not only for experts today, they are really visible from space. We have to use them. Thank you very much. Thank you. Mr. Hegedus, one minute. Mr. Yorgos Chatzimarkos, please. It is a very important climate change. We are inviting the Desmond Foundation of FIT for 55 to congratulate you on the completion of the team that will be present on the 26th of December, the meeting of the members in Glaskow. At this point, in order to have a public meeting and the right to vote on this political issue, there must be a proper review for the National Council of Europe and, by providing a report with 50 bills and 34 bills, I would like to say that the level of clarity of the National Council of Communities and the economy regarding climate change, mainly in the issues of energy, is very high. With a few words. In the United States of America for the National Council of Europe for the 2,400 member states of Europe, political agreements in the major but also the specialities of the nations and the clarity of the National Council as a special criterion for the implementation of policies. The National Council for us is every small and organized island to become a place of opportunity which was also the foundation in Rome. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. Frey, please. And this is our last intervention for one minute. Ladies and gentlemen, we are all called to support a maximum of climate change measures. Subnational governments can and must be involved in this. Today, Trasladen Württemberg started a joint initiative in 2015 with California for the COP21 the so-called Under-2 Coalition in life. Today, the� has 206 governments worldwide and 50% of the global pinch. In the COP26, Until 2050, it will reach net-zero emissions. The coalition will form a net-zero coalition with its new targets on the scientific requirements. It has also joined with the UN-Campaign Race to Zero to support all world-class actors. The campaign will be connected to our earth. The more states, regions and cities participate here, the more a real transformation is achieved. And if you are interested in the coup coalition, you can join us. And of course, thank you very much all for your intervention. They are very important. And I'm very happy to feel that energy in the room and eagerness to actually cooperate, work together in actually looking for best possible solutions to foster our Green Deal. As I told you in my introductory speech, your role is crucial because every day you are the ones that are closest to people, that people can relate to, ask questions and that people can feel that they have a direct impact on policies and changes in the closest surroundings. And I think this is what can motivate them well to actually be supportive, supportive of the Green Deal. Now, on a couple of your remarks that you mentioned, I will give maybe a bit more precise answers. So first of all, we thank the committee for the good cooperation on environmental policies. And we are open to enhancing cooperation further with the committee and in 2021, we undertook an enhanced cooperation with the G environment on four thematic areas, so zero pollution, circular economy, Green City Accord and biodiversity. And we prefer to focus our energy on this new cooperation. We decided that the structure of the cooperation will look like together with the committee and we recognize the important role that the local and regional authorities have in handling and executing most environmental strategies on the ground. Fit for 55 package was mentioned a few times. So first of all, in absolute terms, energy-related expenses for European households are expected to raise up until 2030. Building related heating expenses may increase by the equivalent of up to 1% of household incomes by 2030, poorer household will be impacted more. The inclusion of road fuels in the emissions trading system would raise prices by around 12 cents per liter with an increase for the average household of about 120 euros. And the green transition will not happen unless it's supported by all in society. It must be fear. And the climate policies risk putting extra pressure on vulnerable households, microinterprises and transport users in short run. The design of the policies in the Fit for 55 package therefore fairly spreads the costs of tackling and adapting to climate change. Carbon pricing offers tools to address distributional impacts by using the revenues to mitigate regressive impacts. The commission proposed a new social climate fund to provide dedicated funding to member states to help citizens finance investments in energy efficiency, new heating and cooling systems and cleaner mobility. The social climate fund would be financed by EU budget using 25% of the expected revenues from including buildings and road transport in the emissions trading system. And it will provide more than 72 billion of funding to member states for the period of 2025-2032. And if member states match the EU's funding the fund would mobilize 144 billion for a socially fear transition. So the commission will also present a major new proposal in December to improve the energy performance of buildings which in the longer term will of course reduce heating bills for households and provide more comfortable homes. The member states will also include measures international energy and climate plans to address energy poverty. And these plans will be updated in mid-2023 and should... I have a connection problem. Can the administration please inform me what the issue is here? Okay, let me give the floor so that we don't lose time. Hmm? The floor to Mina Arve, please. So thank you for your contribution and very important and impressive input for this discussion. I could maybe conclude my part with three points I have which I've learned also during the COVID pandemic. First of all, everything is possible. If there is a will, there is a way. Secondly, actions is everything what counts. Science is there for help. Cities are already acting. So now in COP26 there is also a possibility for national governments and global community to show that they are also willing to act. Thirdly, everyone has responsibility which is larger than individuals, larger than from one city, larger than from one country. Neither virus, COVID virus, neither climate, they don't recognize borders. So we need everyone on board. So in the end of the day it's about what we achieve not what we promise. Thank you. Is Commissioner Sinckevicius back? No. Okay. So I would like to thank our two guests, the mayor of Turku and Commissioner Sinckevicius for participating in this very interesting debate. I would like to thank all of you dear colleagues for participating actively in this debate in person and online. And I would like now to move to our next debate debate on natural disasters, responding to emergencies and building resilience in cities and regions, and I would like at this point to welcome the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janice Lenarchic, a good friend of the Committee of Regions and of the Regions and Cities all across Europe, and the great supporter of our work. Commissioner, welcome.