2. Why the Covenant of Mayors? 75% of European population live in urban areas 80% of energy consumption and CO 2 emissions come from cities 1.9% is the growth rate of energy use in cities (vs 1.6% globally) Mayors have the power to act!

4. Annual Covenant of Mayors ceremony 10 th February 2009 Hemicycle of the European Parliament, Brussels

5. Among the Covenant Signatories are... Växjö (SE) Budapest (HU) Paris (FR) Riga (LV)

6. What Covenant Signatories commit to ? Go beyond EU energy and climate objectives: more than 20% CO 2 reduction by 2020 Prepare a Baseline Emissions Inventory Prepare a Sustainable Energy Action Plan [SEAP] Implement their Action Plan and report periodically on progress Involve citizens and other stakeholders Encourage other cities to join Mayors act voluntarily and take the lead !

7. Commitments by the Covenant Signatories

8. STEP 1: Creating adequate administrative structures Adapt the city structures Allocate sufficient human resources in order to undertake the necessary actions

9. STEP 2: CO 2 inventory Determine the baseline for the CO 2 reduction target: at least 20% reduction of CO 2 emissions by 2020 Baseline year: to be defined by the signatory (>1990) Guidelines based on practical experiences of cities, developed in co-operation with Joint Research Centre

10. STEP 3: Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) Submission within 1 year after signing Document formally approved by City Council Concrete measures leading to 20% reduction of CO 2 emissions by 2020 Scope: public and private sector actions Free choice of methodology but: - SEAP template to be used by all signatories -

11. Who supports the Covenant cities?

12. The European Commission Ensures political recognition and visibility of cities Negotiates support for smaller cities Mobilises finance Co-operation with EIB IEE II: Grants available for sustainable energy communities

13. The Covenant of Mayors Office Provides guidance and support Monitors the implementation of Action Plans Facilitates liaison among Covenant cities Supports signatories in organising local energy days Promotes Covenant cities at European level

14. Supporting Structures WHY? To assist local authorities lacking skills & resources to fulfil Covenant requirements WHO? Regions, counties, provinces, agglomerations Networks of local authorities HOW? Provide guidance and support for the SEAPs Disseminate concepts of the Covenant Monitor implementation of the Action Plan Liaise with the European Commission

15. Benchmarks of Excellence WHY? To valorise and replicate sustainable energy model initiatives WHO? Methods and tools promoted by public or public equivalent bodies Endorsed by Mayors of Covenant cities Evaluated and approved by the European Commission HOW? Share experience and present the model initiative Facilitate transfer of knowledge Disseminate information Help implement similar approaches

16. Why should your city join? Because you Receive full support from the EU institutions, Covenant of Mayors Office, Supporting Structures, Benchmarks of Excellence Get access to financial resources dedicated to Covenant cities Exchange experiences with other mayors facing the same challenge Obtain visibility and recognition for your actions all around Europe Be among those who joined this European movement! Because you want to make sure that your citizens do not miss this train!!!

17. Thanks to the commitment of hundreds of Covenant signatories, millions tons of CO 2 can be saved.

18. CONTACT www.eumayors.eu @-mail: info@eumayors.eu press@eumayors.eu Available in the following languages: BG CS DA DE EL EN ES ET FI FR HU IT LT LV MT NL PL PT RO SK SL SV NO Catalan