Covenant of Mayors
Encyclopedia
The Covenant of Mayors is a European cooperation movement involving local and regional authorities. Signatories of the Covenant of Mayors voluntarily commit to increasing energy efficiency
and the use of renewable energy
sources on their territories. By their commitment, they support the European Union
20% reduction objective to be reached by 2020.
After the European Union climate and energy package was adopted in 2008, the European Commission
launched the Covenant of Mayors to endorse and support the efforts deployed by local authorities in the implementation of sustainable energy policies.
Cities, towns and other urban areas have a crucial role to play in mitigating climate change, as they consume three quarter of the energy produced in the European Union and are responsible for a similar share of emissions. Local authorities are also in a position to change citizens' behaviour and address climate and energy questions in a comprehensive manner, notably by conciliating public and private interests and by integrating sustainable energy
issues into overall local development goals.
To comply with the crucial necessity of mobilizing local stakeholders in the development of the Sustainable Energy Action Plans, signatories also undertake to:
Various technical and methodological supporting materials (including the "SEAP Guidebook" and template, reports on existing methodologies and tools, etc.) offer practical guidance and clear recommendations on the whole SEAP development process. Based on the practical experiences of local authorities and developed in close co-operation with the European Commission Joint Research Centre, this support package provides Covenant signatories with key principles and a clear step-by-step approach. All documents are downloadable on the www.eumayors.eu website library.
Covenant Coordinators are public authorities from different government levels (national, regional, provincial) which provide strategic guidance to signatories, as well as financial and technical support in the development and implementation of their Sustainable Energy Action Plans. The Commission distinguishes between "Territorial Coordinators", which are sub-national decentralized authorities - including provinces, regions and public groupings of municipalities -, and "National Coordinators", which include national public bodies - such as national energy agencies and ministries of energy.
Covenant Supporters are European, national and regional networks and associations of local authorities which leverage their lobbying, communication and networking activities to promote the Covenant of Mayors initiative and support the commitments of its signatories.
, Climate Alliance
, Eurocities
and FEDARENE
. Funded by the European Commission
, the CoMO is responsible for the overall coordination of the initiative.
has contributed to the development of financial facilities particularly targeting Covenant of Mayors signatories, among which the European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) facility, set up in cooperation with the European Investment Bank
, for large-scale projects, and ELENA-KfW which, established in partnership with the German Group KfW
, offers a complementary approach to mobilize sustainable investments of small and medium-sized municipalities.
Alongside the European Commission
, the Covenant benefits from full institutional support, including from the Committee of the Regions
, which has supported the initiative since its inception; the European Parliament
, where the two first signing ceremonies were held; and the European Investment Bank
, which assists local authorities in unlocking their investment potentials.
is responsible for providing technical and scientific support to the initiative. It works in close collaboration with the Covenant of Mayors Office to equip signatories with clear technical guidelines and templates in order to assist delivery of their Covenant of Mayors commitments, as well as to monitor implementation and results.
Efficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
and the use of renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
sources on their territories. By their commitment, they support the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
20% reduction objective to be reached by 2020.
After the European Union climate and energy package was adopted in 2008, the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
launched the Covenant of Mayors to endorse and support the efforts deployed by local authorities in the implementation of sustainable energy policies.
Covenant of Mayors Signatories
European local authorities of all sizes - from small villages to capitals and major metropolitan areas - are eligible to sign up as Covenant of Mayors Signatories.Cities, towns and other urban areas have a crucial role to play in mitigating climate change, as they consume three quarter of the energy produced in the European Union and are responsible for a similar share of emissions. Local authorities are also in a position to change citizens' behaviour and address climate and energy questions in a comprehensive manner, notably by conciliating public and private interests and by integrating sustainable energy
Sustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
issues into overall local development goals.
Formal undertakings
In order to meet the reduction targets they set themselves, signatories commit to a series of steps and accept to report and be monitored on their actions. Within predefined time frames, they formally undertake to fulfil the following:- Develop adequate administrative structures, including allocation of sufficient human resources, in order to undertake the necessary actions;
- Prepare a Baseline Emission Inventory;
- Submit a Sustainable Energy Action Plan within the year following the official adhesion to the Covenant of Mayors initiative, and including concrete measures leading to at least 20% reduction of emissions by 2020;
- Submit an implementation report at least every second year after submission of their Sustainable Energy Action Plan for evaluation, monitoring and verification purposes
To comply with the crucial necessity of mobilizing local stakeholders in the development of the Sustainable Energy Action Plans, signatories also undertake to:
- Share experience and know-how with other local authorities;
- Organise Local Energy Days to raise citizens awareness of sustainable development and energy efficiency;
- Attend or contribute to the Covenant of Mayors annual ceremony, thematic workshops and discussion group meetings;
- Spread the message of the Covenant in the appropriate fora and, in particular, encourage other mayors to join the Covenant.
Sustainable Energy Action Plans
To reach and try to exceed the European Union energy and climate objectives, Covenant of Mayors signatories commit to develop a Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP), within a year following their adhesion to the initiative. This action plan, approved by the municipal council, outlines the activities and measures foreseen by signatories in order to fulfil their commitments, with corresponding time frames and assigned responsibilities.Various technical and methodological supporting materials (including the "SEAP Guidebook" and template, reports on existing methodologies and tools, etc.) offer practical guidance and clear recommendations on the whole SEAP development process. Based on the practical experiences of local authorities and developed in close co-operation with the European Commission Joint Research Centre, this support package provides Covenant signatories with key principles and a clear step-by-step approach. All documents are downloadable on the www.eumayors.eu website library.
Covenant Coordinators and Supporters
Covenant Signatories do not always possess the adequate tools and resources to prepare a Baseline Emission Inventory, draft the related Sustainable Energy Action Plan and finance the actions featured in the latter. In light of this, provinces, regions, networks and groupings of municipalities have a crucial role to play in helping signatories honour their commitments.Covenant Coordinators are public authorities from different government levels (national, regional, provincial) which provide strategic guidance to signatories, as well as financial and technical support in the development and implementation of their Sustainable Energy Action Plans. The Commission distinguishes between "Territorial Coordinators", which are sub-national decentralized authorities - including provinces, regions and public groupings of municipalities -, and "National Coordinators", which include national public bodies - such as national energy agencies and ministries of energy.
Covenant Supporters are European, national and regional networks and associations of local authorities which leverage their lobbying, communication and networking activities to promote the Covenant of Mayors initiative and support the commitments of its signatories.
Covenant of Mayors Office
Promotional, technical and administrative assistance is provided on a daily basis to Covenant signatories and stakeholders by the Covenant of Mayors Office (CoMO), managed by a consortium of local and regional authorities' networks, led by Energy Cities and composed of CEMRCouncil of European Municipalities and Regions
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions is the largest organisation of local and regional governments in Europe. Its members are national associations of towns, municipalities and regions from 39 countries...
, Climate Alliance
Climate Alliance
Climate Alliance of European Cities with Indigenous Rainforest Peoples is a network of local authorities founded in the year 1990 and committed to the protection of the world's climate. The more than 1,500 member cities and municipalities from 18 European countries aim to reduce greenhouse gas...
, Eurocities
Eurocities
EUROCITIES is the network of major European cities.The EUROCITIES network was founded in 1986 by mayors from six large European cities:* Barcelona, Spain* Birmingham, United Kingdom* Frankfurt, Germany* Lyon, France* Milan, Italy* Rotterdam, Netherlands...
and FEDARENE
FEDARENE
FEDARENE is the premier European network of regional and local organisations which implement, co-ordinate and facilitate energy and environment policies...
. Funded by the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, the CoMO is responsible for the overall coordination of the initiative.
Institutions of the European Union
To support the elaboration and implementation the signatories' Sustainable Energy Action Plans, the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
has contributed to the development of financial facilities particularly targeting Covenant of Mayors signatories, among which the European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) facility, set up in cooperation with the European Investment Bank
European Investment Bank
The European Investment Bank is the European Union's long-term lending institution established in 1958 under the Treaty of Rome. A policy-driven bank, the EIB supports the EU’s priority objectives, especially European integration and the development of economically weak regions...
, for large-scale projects, and ELENA-KfW which, established in partnership with the German Group KfW
KFW
KFW may refer to:*Keith Fullerton Whitman , an American musician*KfW or Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, a German public-sector financial institution...
, offers a complementary approach to mobilize sustainable investments of small and medium-sized municipalities.
Alongside the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, the Covenant benefits from full institutional support, including from the Committee of the Regions
Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions is European Union's assembly of local and regional representatives that provides sub-national authorities with a direct voice within the EU's institutional framework....
, which has supported the initiative since its inception; the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, where the two first signing ceremonies were held; and the European Investment Bank
European Investment Bank
The European Investment Bank is the European Union's long-term lending institution established in 1958 under the Treaty of Rome. A policy-driven bank, the EIB supports the EU’s priority objectives, especially European integration and the development of economically weak regions...
, which assists local authorities in unlocking their investment potentials.
Joint Research Centre
The Joint Research Centre of the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
is responsible for providing technical and scientific support to the initiative. It works in close collaboration with the Covenant of Mayors Office to equip signatories with clear technical guidelines and templates in order to assist delivery of their Covenant of Mayors commitments, as well as to monitor implementation and results.
See also
- CIVITAS (European Union)CIVITAS (European Union)CIVITAS is an initiative of the European Union to implement sustainable, clean and efficient urban transport measures. The initiative is co-ordinated by cities.-History:...
- Climate Action
- Climate changeClimate changeClimate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
- Directorate-General for Energy (European Commission)Directorate-General for Energy (European Commission)The Directorate-General for Energy , also internally the abbreviation ENER is used, is a Directorate-General of the European Commission...
- EltisEltisELTIS is short for the 'European Local Transport Information Service'. This is a European portal for local transport news and events, transport measures, policies and practices implemented in cities and regions across Europe.- What is ELTIS :...
- Energy conservationEnergy conservationEnergy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources...
- Energy policyEnergy policyEnergy policy is the manner in which a given entity has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption...
- European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
- Framework Programmes for Research and Technological DevelopmentFramework Programmes for Research and Technological DevelopmentThe Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, also called Framework Programmes or abbreviated FP1 through FP8, are funding programmes created by the European Union in order to support and encourage research in the European Research Area...
- Intelligent Energy Europe
- InterregInterregInterreg is an initiative that aims to stimulate cooperation between regions in the European Union. It started in 1989, and is financed under the European Regional Development Fund...
- Joint Research Centre
- ManagEnergy
- Renewable energyRenewable energyRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
- Sustainable energySustainable energySustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...