Capacity building of local authorities in six European regions.
Cities play a key role in fighting against climate change. Local authorities have the power to
influence climate issues, however often lack the capacity to recognise challenges, opportunities
and deliver solution. This is particularly true for small- and medium sized local authorities which
face several challenges when it comes to energy planning and implementation.
Four years ago different authorities –regional development
agencies, regions, research institutes– from 6 EU regions
(Italy, Spain, Romania, Croatia, Hungary and Greece)
decided to empower local and regional authorities (policy
makers and public officers) of each region involved
to shape sustainable energy plans coherent with the
European climate and energy policies. The initiative
received funding from the HORIZON 2020 Programme,
which is the most important financial instrument to
support research and innovation in the European Union.
TARGETED CAPACITY BUILDING OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES
The main idea was to involve local municipalities and
regional authorities in a sound transnational exchange and
capacity building activities. The transnational exchange
programme was designed to enable policy makers
and public officers involved to learn from each other's
experiences and adapt effective responses to the major
energy challenges. Based on the transnational exchange a
capacity building programme was elaborated, consisting of
capacity building workshops, consultations and series of
thematic webinars aiming at defining a Sustainable Energy
& Climate Action Plan (SECAP) or updating the existing ones.
In the framework of the programme several tools were
elaborated in order to improve local authorities' energy
planning skills. First of all, local authorities need to be able to
access data, as well as to develop skills in order to analyse
and assess data. It is also important to be able to identify
relevant and necessary actions and forecast the future.
The SECAPs include baseline CO2 emission data. The
Baseline Emission Inventory (BEI) quantifies the amount
of CO2 (and CO2 equivalent) emitted due to energy
consumption in the territory of the local authority. It
allows the identification of the principal sources of CO2
emissions and their respective reduction potentials. During
the work a data collection template and BEI calculation
tool was developed in order to facilitate the collection
of the required activity data and the calculation of the
figures for the estimation of the energy consumption and
the triggered emissions. The methodological approach
includes the completion of specific tables, which are
linked with the SECAP template, so as to facilitate the
development of the BEI.
Additionally collaborative and interactive "SECAP walkthrough"
webinars were organised dedicated to the
BEI, ways of tackling the challenges, as well as to the
identification of the specific mitigation actions. These
were supplemented with local workshops. The regionspecific
content was developed by the partners, as local
challenges are most likely to be solved by implementing
to most suitable actions within the local context taking
into consideration the local needs. All related materials
are available on the EMPOWERING learning platform:
https://empowering2020.eu/
Dr. Christos Tourkolias: Expert in Energy
Policy Analysis, CRES, Greece "Local energy planning is a vital process
for analysing and evaluating the current
conditions (local energy demand, supply
and RES resources), defining of the key mitigation
actions and monitoring their implementation.
All these while informing and involving citizens,
addressing energy poverty and boosting sustainable
entrepreneurship.
Municipal authorities should use this process and
make a difference towards reducing carbon emissions
and mitigating energy demand, with immedate
benefit to their citizens' welfare."
Get and exchange first-hand experience from the
participating regions and local authorities and
benefit from the results! Join us during the Policy
Conference of EUSEW 2019 or the EMPOWERING Final
Conference:
POLICY CONFERENCE OF EUSEW 2019
Brussels, BELGIUM
Résidence Palace, Maelbeek
Wednesday, 19 June 2019, 11:00 – 12:30
LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS DRIVERS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
EMPOWERING FINAL CONFERENCE
Miskolc, HUNGARY
Castle of Diósgyőr
Tuesday, 25 June 2019, 9:00-15:30
TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE – EMPOWERING LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES