A Global Covenant of Mayors training on setting emissions reductions targets, led by Dr. Eleonora La Vullo of the European Union’s Joint Research Centre, was recently held for Malaysian cities in Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia). Part of a series of training modules, the first day of module three outlined how local action could contribute to achieving the country's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Climate Agreement.

Up to 40 participants from 15 Malaysian cities took part in the training. Each city was encouraged to set an emissions reduction target of at least 45 percent, in line with the Malaysian NDC. Datuk Mahadi, Deputy Mayor of the City Kuala Lumpur, a GCoM member city in Malaysia, shared that Kuala Lumpur has set an ambition emission reduction target of 70 percent by 2030.

Similar plans devised and implemented in the European cities of Zagreb (Croatia) and Donostia - San Sebastian (Spain) were presented as best practice examples. The speakers, Miljenko Sedlar and Jon Gastanares, shared their climate action plans, which take a variety of issues into account, such as flooding and sustainable energy. The examples of the two European cities were used to guide participants step-by-step through the process of developing a climate adaptation plan.

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