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GRIFFON Axelle
In Energy, Impact community Climate, Latest

Training Academy

Enegy Transition - News

Discover the main findings

On 21 October 2022, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) organised a training event for elected political representatives working in climate adaptation and mitigation, with an emphasis on sustainable finance. The sessions included a keynote speech from a scientist, presentations of case studies, interactive exercises and discussions. The objective was to familiarise local and regional elected officials with the concept of sustainable finance from a scientific, regulatory and technical perspective.
 
A summary of the training work, including key concepts, speaker and panel content, and key findings, can be found here.
 
This edition of the training academy represents the seventh in the series organised by CEMR/PLATFORMA, which was initially inspired by the Urban Agenda for the EU. 

BORDELOT Federica
In Climate, Climate, Energy, Energy, Housing, Housing, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Latest, Publications

Smarter building rules in Europe

Housing - News

EPBD revision: Local flexibility and long-term planning key to success, say CEMR and Housing Europe

Read position paper

EPBD revision: Local flexibility and long-term planning key to success, say CEMR and Housing Europe 

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and Housing Europe have joined forces to publish a set of recommendations on the European Commission’s proposal to recast the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). While both organisations fully support the ambition to decarbonise buildings across the EU, they warn that the proposal must better reflect the realities on the ground. 

Local and regional governments, as well as providers of public, social, and cooperative housing, are critical actors in delivering the EU’s climate objectives. But a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. 

The joint position paper outlines three key recommendations: 

  1. Respect local differences through subsidiarity and adaptability 
    The EPBD must allow member states and local authorities to tailor building codes to their own context. Setting EU-level definitions for zero-emission buildings without a clear methodology risks creating uncertainty and undermining national efforts. Other areas, such as fire safety and asbestos removal, should remain the competence of national or local governments. 
  1. Provide a stable and realistic framework for renovations 
    Renovating buildings is a long-term process that requires careful planning. The proposed EPBD introduces tight deadlines and shifting labelling systems, making it nearly impossible for local authorities and property owners to comply effectively. CEMR and Housing Europe argue for a more predictable timeline that reflects labour shortages, market dynamics, and tenant affordability. 
  1. Support zero-emission construction with energy system flexibility 
    While new buildings must meet high standards, member states should retain the freedom to choose their energy sources. That includes not only on-site renewables, but also low-carbon energy from the grid, waste heat, and energy recovery, all in line with the EU waste hierarchy. 

Ultimately, the success of the EPBD will depend on how well it enables local and regional actors to deliver results. CEMR and Housing Europe are clear: the path to climate-neutral buildings must be ambitious but flexible, fair and grounded in local realities. 

Read the full policy paper here  

For more information, contact: 

GAUDRON Marine
In Energy, Latest, Local finances, Local finances, Publications

Sustainable local finances in Europe

Sustainable local finances - News 2022

CEMR releases landmark study on local finances in European countries

Discover the online tool

People depend on quality local public services and infrastructure every day. Reliable buses, insulated public housing, good schools or clean energy: all of these and more depend on healthy and sustainable local public finances to be developed and maintained.

That’s why the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is releasing a fully-fledged online report and tool entitled Local Finances and the Green Transition in Europe. This one-of-a-kind study provides data and analysis on the trends in local and regional finances in 40 European countries over the past 10 years. The study offers a bird’s eye view of both changes in subnational finances and the remarkable diversity of national situations.

“This report is essential reading for policymakers, politicians and academics. Only by understanding local public finances and unlocking futher investments can we achieve the sustainable and resilient societies our people and planet need”, said CEMR Secretary General, Fabrizio Rossi, who added: “If this report shows one thing, it is that well-funded municipalities, counties and regions are essential to taking care of our people and realising the environmental transition“. 

Revealing figures and trends as observed over the last decade

The study reveals for instance that despite making up 25% of all public spending, local and regional governments finance 54% of all public investment. This reflects the leading role of municipalities and regions in investing in areas such as energy efficient housing, smarter public transport and local environmental protection. The climate and energy transition will only happen by working with local and regional governments.

Also noteworthy is that subnational government debt is at a manageable level in the 36 countries where comparative data was available. In fact, local debt is low and stable, a mere 4.8% of GDP on average. By way of comparison, general government debt increased by the middle of the decade to 67% of GDP (and to 81% in 2020).

While browsing through the online study, you will also come across a special section on the impact of the EU’s €720-billion post-COVID recovery plan on local and regional governments. This chapter looks in particular at the implications for the green transition and territorial cohesion.

The data shows clearly that the share of green transition among the main RRF spending areas is higher in the decentralised countries. Stronger local and regional governments can support more recovery and resilience programmes and actions.

A dynamic and interactive online tool

“Local Finances and the Green Transition in Europe” is available as an interactive online tool  as well as in PDF  format. The online tool contains:

The study is currently only available in English. The French version is under development.

The study was launched on 10 November 2022 at the occasion of a seminar bringing together representatives of many of CEMR’s member associations, the OECD, KDZ and the study’s co-author Gábor Péteri.

For more information:

GRIFFON Axelle
In Energy, Impact community Climate, Latest

Training Academy

Meeting - News section

Local leaders explore how to mobilise sustainable finance at local and regional level

More than forty local and regional leaders gathered on Friday (21 October) to learn more about sustainable finances during CEMR’s training academy.

Terms like “sustainable finance” or “Taxonomy” are part of the everyday Brussels jargon and are now trickling down to the local and regional levels. After the Paris Agreement in 2015, the European Commission launched an ambitious Sustainable Finance action plan for financing sustainable growth in 2018. At the heart of it is the EU Taxonomy, a classification instrument which attempts to define “sustainable” economic activities. In addition, private and public enterprises like municipal utilities will have to disclose environmental, social and governance information (so-called ESG factors) and report on the Taxonomy alignment.

The training provided territorial leaders basic scientific knowledge about the concept of sustainable finance. It explained the EU’s sustainable finance framework, focusing on the EU Taxonomyand explored the role of local and regional governments in mobilising climate finance. The participants also shared best practices and funding opportunities for projects and sustainable financial products.

In addition to a panel on the regulatory architecture of sustainable finance, participants had the opportunity to discover the OECD subnational climate finance hub which offers local and regional governments insightful data and a self-assessment tool. Finally, representatives from the European Investment Bank and MuniFin, a Finish municipal credit institution, showcased projects which were enabled by sustainable financial products like energy efficiency renovations of 622 houses in the French region of Picardie.

According to the OECD Subnational Government Climate Finance Hub, local and regional governments accounted for 63% of total climate –significant public expenditure in 2019. However, the local and regional elected representatives stressed the need to take more into consideration the limited technical, administrative capacities in municipalities and regional administrations. A clear and understandable regulatory framework as well as more technical assistance by experts would be necessary to implement sustainable projects to fully align public investments with the Paris Agreement.

You are interested in the subject and in Brussels? Join us on 10 November for our event: Local Finances in Europe – Unlocking investments for sustainable and resilient societies. Our study on Local Public Finances and the Green Transition will be launched, followed by a high-level policy debate on the EU economic governance framework. Register here!

GRIFFON Axelle
In Energy, Impact community Climate, Local Insights

Reduce Energy Consumption

Municipal partnerships - News 2022

Three game-changing recommendations to reduce energy consumption in cities

How can municipalities achieve significant energy savings? The Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia (Belgium) outlines a set of actions to tackle the energy crisis.

The recommendations, all available on the Union’s web section dedicated to energy, include measures for street lighting, public swimming pools and the use of computer equipment.

Energy measures for street and Christmas lighting

With an estimated cost of €79 million, the total consumption of municipal public lighting in Wallonia in 2021 amounted to 197 million kWh. The UVCW experts estimate that shutting off street lights for five hours every night would result in an overall saving of 44% of the total, that is to say €35 million of saving annually for the Walloon municipalities.

Tuning off Christmas lighting, however, would not necessarily achieve significant savings, explains the Union. By way of comparison, the city of Innsbruck, in Austria, estimates that Christmas lighting accounts for 0.0007% of total annual consumption. Nevertheless, despite the low energy impact, the city has decided to set an example by turning the lights off earlier in the evening and turning them on later in the morning.

Reducing swimming pool energy consumption

Referring to a practical guide published by the SPW on energy performance in Walloon swimming pools, the UVCW identifies potential savings to be made. These include better management of pool cooling and heating systems, especially given that public pools are open to swimmers only half of the time. By adopting such measures and others, energy savings may range from 5 to 15% of the total consumption.

Unplugging electronic devices

Keeping computers in standby mode does not result in massive savings, the UVCW shows. The game-changer, however, is whether computers are left powered on 24/7, or eight hours per day, five days a week. The difference in consumption is estimated at 453 %.

Pushed by an unfolding energy crisis, municipalities, cities and regions across Europe are deploying a wide range of actions to reduce energy consumption. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach across Europe, there is a common need to act. Only by acting simultaneously on the ground, in our streets and communities can we find a way out of this emerging crisis.

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva
In Climate, Energy, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Publications

Territorial leaders in action at the COP 27

Climate - News Section

10 key points to prevent the inexorable march toward utter climate disaster

Read full position paper

It’s now or never. We must gear up for climate action and advance the Sustainable Development Goals on the ground. This is the core message that PLAFTORMA and CEMR will bring to the COP27 taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

In a joint position, PLATFORMA and CEMR put forward 10 key points for delegates and representatives from the UN, the EU and national governments who will sit around the COP27 negotiation table. Among the important points raised in the position are the need for a supportive regulatory and governance framework to implement subnational climate action, and the need for sustainable subnational financing.

Read the position paper

For more information, contact:

GRIFFON Axelle
In Energy, Impact community Climate, Local Insights

Normandy – free jackets

Normandie - News 2022

A small town in Normandy offers fleece jackets to school children as the heating temperature lowers to 19 ºC

While French local governments step up efforts to combat the energy crisis amid skyrocketing prices, some municipalities have adopted energy restraint measures.
 
In Périers, a small town in the Manche department with a population of over 2,000 inhabitants, its mayor Gabriel Daube has decided to cut costs by turning down the heating to 19 degrees in all municipal buildings, including its school. To compensate, each of the 350 school children will be offered a fleece jacket.
 
With a total budget of €6000, this initiative should be seen as an investment, explains Gabriel Daube. Périers is indeed expected to reduce its energy bill by €20,000 this winter. Additionally, those jackets will be produced in France to contribute to the local economy and production industry while reducing the town’s energy consumption costs.
 
This initiative complements a series of other long-term measures to decrease the town’s environmental footprint and energy bill, including in the field of public lighting and thermal insulation.

GRIFFON Axelle
In Energy, Impact community Climate, Local Insights

Good Local Practices

Renewable Energy - News Section

Welcome to the Saerbeck climate cooperative: when locals invest in a renewable and independent energy future

With its 7000 inhabitants, Saerbeck is a small German town with a big environmental ambition: to become an energy self-sufficient “climate community” by 2030. This will be achieved by maximising energy generation from renewable sources such as sun, wind, water and biomass as is consumed in private households and commercial enterprises.

Saerbeck has, since 2009, aimed to become the state of North-Rhine-Westphalia’s model climate municipality of the future. The municipal “climate concept” has since become part of the vocabulary of Saerbeck’s citizens and indeed all inhabitants are encouraged to participate in this effort to locally and sustainably produce all of households’ and enterprises’ energy needs.

In 2010, the municipality acquired an ammunition depot abandoned by the German armed forces. It is being transformed into an energy park with a mix of powerful photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, biogas plants and other innovative projects.

Currently, the Bioenergy Park produces about 2.5 times more renewable electricity than Saerbeck consumes. The CO2 footprint has thus been halved, although work still needs to be done to decarbonise transport and heating.

Threefold benefits: financial, environmental and educational

In the spirit of “thinking globally, acting locally”, Saerbeck’s citizens can directly participate and invest in these local energy projects through a citizens’ cooperative. As of 2020, the cooperative has turned a profit and has even distributed a dividend to its citizen-investors.

So far, almost 400 local shareholders have invested in the cooperative. Ultimately this means twice the benefit for locals: besides the local economic gains, the town is making a great contribution to global climate protection and local energy independence.
​
All projects are accompanied by numerous educational projects: energy transition starts in the minds.  An experimental school at the Bioenergy Park shows students from all over the world how renewable energies work in reality and what they are good for.

BIZARRO Pedro
In Climate, Energy, EU Covenant of Mayors, Impact community Climate, Impact community Society, Latest, Projects and Programmes, Twinning

Peer learning programme on climate and energy

Covenant of Mayors - News

Apply for the Covenant of Mayors peer learning programme: The deadline extended to 15 April!

Cities and towns have until 15 April 2022 to apply for the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy’s peer learning programme. The programme offers Covenant of Mayors signatories across Europe the opportunity to increase their capacity and knowledge on climate and energy challenges through peer discussions tailored to their needs.
 
In 2021, the Covenant Office supported 45 cities, 6 coordinators, and 4 energy agencies. This year, the Covenant of Mayors offers four programmes to respond to local needs: twinning, expert missions, peer review and technical assistance.
 
Find out more
Peer Learning Programme 2022/2023
Recording of the info session
Selection criteria

BIZARRO Pedro
In Energy, Impact community Climate, Latest

​Sixth IPCC Report 

Climate - News

UN report: climate change’s impact worsening, multi-level action crucial to adopt

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the top UN body working on the issue, recently published the second part of its sixth assessment report on the impact of the changing climate on ecosystems and human populations across the world.
 
The report warns that the extent and magnitude of those impacts outpass previous estimates. The authors starkly observe that climate change is human-induced and “a threat to human well-being and planetary health.” At the same time, the IPCC notes that collaboration and planning across levels of government and including all elements of society are crucial to adapting to climate change.
 
It is now likely that global warming will reach or exceed 1.5°C in the near-term. The IPCC warns that if further global action on adaptation and mitigation is delayed, the brief window of opportunity to secure a liveable future will be missed. There is an urgent need for stronger action.
 
Multi-level action needed for climate adaptation and resilience
 
The IPCC stresses that we need multi-sectoral, inclusive and long-term planning to adapt to and attenuate climate change’s impact. Only by involving all levels of government and all segments of society can we hope to take effective action.
 
In this respect, CEMR is proud to be contributing to the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy an initiative which brings together cities to help them reach climate neutrality by 2050. The Covenant enables cities to develop and implement holistic local adaptation plans involving all local players. Participants can also share and learn best practices on how to prepare for climatic events such as heatwaves and floods.
 
The IPCC report also emphasises the notion of climate-resilient development, meaning a model of sustainable development that includes climate mitigation and adaptation. Achieving climate-resilient development will require international cooperation and governments at all levels working with communities, civil society, the private sector and traditionally marginalised groups.
 
Together, these different forms of cooperation tackle structural inequalities and mobilise sufficient financial resources. CEMR is committed to achieving these goals through its participation to different international coalitions and projects, notably PLATFORMA, the Green City Accord and UCLG.
 
The IPCC’s latest report makes for grim reading. The evidence is clear: time is running out. Stronger action, coordinated across levels of government, is needed if we are to overcome this greatest environmental challenge.

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