Observations on Sustainable Energy Action Planning

Dominic Sims

16th July 2013

Overview

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• Review the components of a SEAP

• SEAP assessment Criteria

• Discuss sample SEAPs

• Observations and comments

What is a SEAP?

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• 2008 EC formed the Covenant of Mayors

• Main focus was (is) supporting 20% CO2 emissions reduction by 2020

• Sustainable Energy Action Plan was introduced to implement this

• SEAP planning guidelines published in 2010

• 4,866 signatory cities

Key components of a SEAP

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• A Baseline Emissions Inventory (BEI) using the CoM template

Key components of a SEAP (cont)

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• A plan that uses the BEI to identify reduction actions and outlines how actions will be implemented

Covenant Assessment Criteria

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• Political approval

• Specific CO2 targets

• Inclusion of a BEI

• List of actions

• Compliance with the Template

• Complete data

Current SEAPs

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• 2,964 SEAPS currently with CoM• 1,494 Accepted

• CoM staffing supports only cursory review

• Progress reporting and updates are the responsibility of the cities

• Huge variety of submission formats and qualities• Specific SEAPs• Policy information document• Reference document

• Efficacy...?

STEP UP and Enhanced SEAPs

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• Organisations and Stakeholder identification and engagement

• Identification of energy technologies and projects

• Addressing economic issues

• Integration of multiple objectives beyond CO2 reduction

• Realistic and Achievable

SEAP Review

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• Looked at many, chose 9 SEAPs

• Compared scope and formats looking for compliance to CoM guidelines

• Also looking for ideas that might contribute to ‘Enhanced SEAP’ processes

• Followed up supporting documents

• Strengths / Weaknesses

• Ideas for Glasgow

SEAP Review

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• Pre 2010 Guidance• London (Feb 2010)• Freiburg (2007)

• Post 2010 Guidance• Liverpool• Bath• Birmingham• Stockholm• Northern Ireland• Cork• Manchester

• CAVEAT – without going inside the respective councils and discussing...

General Observations

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• Emissions data is rarely provided in the CoM template (only Birmingham and Cork)

• Political leadership / ownership of SEAP reflected in subsequent policy documents

• Detailed finances rarely discussed

Criteria / Observations

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• Approved by an official body (in principle the municipal council)

• Freiburg – town business plan is based on being green

• London strong support shown in follow on policy, mayoral

participation in committees, etc.

• Birmingham and Manchester have provided SEAP updates

• Baseline Emission Inventory (BEI)

• Some form of inventory needs to be provided, but format might need to be reviewed

• LEGGI

• C40 proposal on GHG accounting for cities

• Cities to build to full carbon accounting (Manchester)

Criteria / Observations

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• Include a set of actions in the key sectors of activity.

• Level of detail that should be provided ?

• Accountability for performance

• Organisation and Stakeholders

• Means of engaging and showing political commitment key• London - Mayors Electricity summit / working group. London

heat map

• Stockholm is a good example of public engagement• Establishment of dedicated working teams for the SEAP, with

governance reporting to senior leadership

Criteria / Observations

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• Wider policy goals

• What is the role of the SEAP? CoM says its CO2 reduction...• Should SEAP set other goals, or acknowledge and work with

other goals via wider council policy?

• Integration with high level council policy

• London – SEAP seems dead, with ‘Energy Future’ in place

• Freiburg seems to run a stand alone ‘Environmental Policy’• Manchester Core Strategy references the SEAP and includes

SEAP policy

• Alignment with regional/national/EC policies and schemes

• London and Manchester both do this well

Criteria / Observations

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• Energy and Technology

• All propose actions for energy efficiency / use reduction

• Key seems to be leverage / facilitate national programs

• Develop key local projects

• Economics

• Few SEAPs to date go into this level of detail

• Is it part of the SEAP remit to do project feasibility / funding?

• Stockholm indicates SEAP to inform budget planning

• Birmingham implies same, then steers towards PPP/PFI

• Latest city budget bodes ill

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Source: Sustainable Glasgow Report 2010

Conclusions

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• Policy proposal, policy or a program feasibility study?

• Current guidance is good • will produce a robust SEAP• But...

• Sustained political commitment is key

• Sustainable Energy needs to be a central policy plank

• Reflected in core strategy and whole of council engagement with stakeholders