Covenant of Mayors A commitment towards Europe’s energy and climate policy Meeting of the AER working group on energy and climate change, Brussels, 12 April 2011 Marie Bullet - Covenant of Mayors’ Office

Mayors voluntarily commit to… …go beyond Europe’s energy objectives for 2020 by reducing the CO2 emissions in their territories by at least 20% through the implementation of sustainable energy action plans

2418 signatories inhabitants involved

Steps STEP 1: Signature of the Covenant of Mayors Creation of adequate administrative structures Baseline Emission Inventory & SEAP development with stakeholders and citizens STEP 2: SEAP & SEAP template submission Implementation of your SEAP Monitoring and reporting STEP 3: Regular submission of implementation reports (every 2 years) 1 st year 3 rd year & beyond

A credible Covenant Failure to comply = suspension 32 local authorities suspended in 2010

Sustainable energy action plan (SEAP)

Online catalogue of SEAPs on

Total impact of Covenant 132m tonnes/CO2 savings every year = 78m fewer cars on the road every year = 22 coal fired power plants redundant 126m people affected daily = ¼ of all Europeans Job creation on the local level e.g. new jobs in Barcelona (ES), Purmerend (NL), London (UK), Vila Nova de Gaia (PT)

Platform Covenant of Mayors associations & networks of local authorities regions local authorities EU institutions banks Local and regional energy agencies NGOs

SUPPORT FROM EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS

Covenant – European Union

Support from EU energy policy The EU Climate & Energy Package (2008) objectives by 2020 Energy strategy Energy efficiency action plan ‘Covenant of Mayors has become a key element of the EU sustainable energy policy’ (Gϋnther Öttinger, European Commissioner for Energy)

Support from EU cohesion policy Amendment to ERDF regulation (May 2009) 4% of national ERDF allocation can go to energy efficiency and renewable energy in housing, potential of €8bn in total Regulation on financial engineering amended in June 2010:increase use of innovative financial structures for energy efficiency

Financial support Energy saving companies (ESCOs): finance transition European Regional Development fund: access to funding ELENA: develop investment programmes European Investment bank: access to loans European Economic Programme for Recovery: access to funding Intelligent Energy Europe: project funding JESSICA: project funding URBACT & Interreg: project funding

SUPPORT FROM COMO & JRC

Covenant of Mayors office Promotes the initiative in the EU and beyond Provides administrative and technical support to signatories Monitors the implementation by signatories and supporting structures Facilitates exchange of experiences and networking Liaises with other EU initiatives and actors

Share experiences Covenant events bring mayors together Covenant workshops facilitate in-depth discussions New contacts established

Further information Questions: Practical and technical: Territorial coordinators:

SUPPORT FROM COORDINATORS AND SUPPORTERS

Territorial coordinators Who? Public administrations, national ministries, regions, provinces, counties, Mentor cities What? Promote the Covenant and provide strategic guidance, financial and technical support to Covenant Municipalities lacking the skills and resources to set up an action plan. Why?  Endorsement and recognition from the European Commission  Large visibility on a European scale  Experience sharing with other counterparts  Sharing of expertise and exchange on scientific and technical tools  Raise opportunities for access to European funding and better channel and allocate European funds.  Consolidation of territorial development and strengthening of local and regional governance.

80 Territorial Coordinators Junta de Andalucía (ES) Region Zealand (DK) Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar (DE) Region of Abruzzo (IT) Region of Crete (EL) Region of Murcia (ES) Region of Tuscany (IT) …..

Region of Andalusia (ES) Junta de Andalucía, 8 provinces of the regions, the Andalusian Federation of municipalities and Provinces (FAMP) and 500 municipalities over 771 engaged in the Covenant (24% of all EU signatories). Covenant in line with the climate strategy of the Region, which is coordinating the implementation of the Covenant in Andalusia. Signature of a cooperation agreement in July Repartition of roles to ensure the effective promotion of the Covenant, the development and co-financing of the baseline emission inventory and SEAP, and the communication and information flow outside Andalusia..

Region of Abruzzo (IT) €35m from the Structural Funds (EDRF) for implementing the Covenant of Mayors Cooperation between region, provinces, municipalities. - protocol set up: Abruzzo region coordinates the work of the provinces - steering committee set up Funding divided according to number of inhabitants and allocated to the provinces and municipalities for implementing Covenant actions: - photovoltaic installations - energy-efficient heating systems - thermal regulations

Supporters Supporters are Networks and Associations of local and regional authorities Role: - Promote the Covenant to their members. - Facilitate exchange of information, eg. Events. - Monitor progress of the members.

60 Supporters European Federation of Regions and Agencies for Energy and Environment Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities Union of Italian Provinces Association of North East Councils AICCRE …..

THANK YOU!