Covenant of Mayors for cities and regions

The Covenant Cities and Regions commit to:

• Go beyond EU policy objectives → more than 20% by 2020

• Justify their commitment with a Sustainable Energy Action Plan

• Publicise periodic reports to show progress and results

• Encourage other cities to join

• Involve citizens and other stakeholders

• Provide technical assistance and networking support

• Monitor implementation and results

• Provide political recognition and visibility directly to cities

• Negotiate contribution of third parties

• Negotiate support for smaller cities with territorial authorities

• Mobilise finance

The European Commission commits to:

Who does this involve?

European Cities

SupportingStructures

Financial Facility

Benchmarks ofExcellence

Technical andScientific Support

EuropeanInstitutions

COMO

Supporting Structures

→ WHO?

• Regions, counties, provinces, agglomerations, NUTS III areas, mentor cities

→ WHY?

• Assist those lacking skills & resources to fulfil Covenant requirements

→ WHAT?

• Provide guidance and support to municipalities preparing the SEAP

• Disseminate concepts of the Covenant

• Monitor implementation of the Action Plan

• Liaise with the European Commission

Benchmarks of Excellence

→ WHO?• Public - private body → model initiative in at least one city

• Evaluated by European Commission

• Endorsed by Mayor of participating city

→ WHAT?• Initiative → valuable sustainable energy development model

→ WHY?

• Share experience• Facilitate transfer of knowledge• Promote the Covenant

• Disseminate information • Present their initiative• Help implement similar approaches

• Local governments prepare the SEAP:

formal document needing a formal decision by City Council

how to reach targets by 2020

reduction of emissions calculated against baseline emission inventory

• No fixed methodology → flexible with no barriers

• Scope → public and private sector actions – not industrial policy!

• Guidelines and exchange of practice will be made available

Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP)

The Covenant in numbers – Current Status • 466 Cities have signed the Covenant

•COMO: Operational > Website launched: www.eumayors.eu > Helpdesk operational: info@eumayors.eu

• Technical Support by the JRC – Operational

• 6 Supporting Structures operational

• Benchmarks of excellence under negotiation

Thanks to the commitment of hundreds of Covenant signatories,

a rough estimate of 60 million tons of CO2

can be saved.

CONTACTpedro.ballesteros@ec.europa.eu

roman.doubrava@ec.europa.eu

+32 2 299 84 52

www.eumayors.eu info@eumayors.eu

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