italy - Networking the Covenant of Mayors
Transcript
italy - Networking the Covenant of Mayors
Feedback from the ground on the Covenant of Mayors implementation in Italy June 2013 Prepared by Climate Alliance Italy Contact: Maurizio Zara, m.zara[a]climatealliance.it CONTENTS National context ........................................................................................................ 3 Italian Covenant of Mayors Dialogue Platform ...................................................... 3 The Platform’s strategy ..................................................................................................................... 3 Meetings, workshops and activities so far ..................................................................................... 3 Upcoming activities until the end of the project ............................................................................ 4 Events where the Covenant and the National Club have been presented .................................. 4 The Covenant in Italy: Evaluation of the questionnaires and experiences gained in the framework of theCovenant Club ................................................................... 6 Perception of the Covenant by politicians / by civil servants ...................................................... 6 Barriers and drivers for cities to join the Covenant ...................................................................... 6 General Recommendations concerning Covenant implementation in the country ................... 6 Feedback from Covenant Actors ............................................................................ 7 Abbreviations: CoM: Covenant of Mayors CoMO: Covenant of Mayors Office SEAP: Sustainable Energy Action Plan BEI: Baseline Emissions Inventory LAs: Local Authorities The sole responsibility for the content of this report lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EACI nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. Feedback from the ground on the Covenant of Mayors implementation in Italy – 2 NATIONAL CONTEXT In Italy the Covenant of Mayors continues to be a highly visible initiative in every part of the country. To date 2308 cities and towns have signed, 1445 SEAPs have been presented and 498 have been approved. Of the presently 127 coordinators of the Covenant of Mayors 81 are Italian most of them Provinces and there are 15 supporters. The situation is hence very favourable as far as the signing is concerned and the main thrust of activity is to sustain the members of the Covenant and the Supporting Structures to guarantee that the former meet their commitments. If at the beginning perhaps there was not always a clear awareness among Italian local governments as to the nature of the commitment when they joined the Covenant of Mayors, today the duties and opportunities of the Covenant are certainly clearer and known to the cities and towns. Given the large number of adhesions to the Covenant a number of interesting initiatives have originated on the part of some Regions and Provinces to support in a decisive manner the Covenant. Among them are the Foundation Cariplo in Lombardia, the Provinces of Milano, Rome and Sassari, the Region of Abruzzo and Emilia Romagna. The instrument of the SEAP has by now proven necessary as well as useful and some characteristics have become common heritage of all the SEAPs presented. Others remain critical points where the local governments need to be nudged and convinced, in particular the involvement of the stakeholders and the participation of citizens, the continuous monitoring of the energy consumptions and the private/public collaborations (with ESCOs) particularly in the field of energy efficiency. ITALIAN COVENANT OF MAYORS DIALOGUE PLATFORM The Platform’s strategy The decision of Climate Alliance Italy, as explained before, was to start from an existing collaboration between supporters and not of the Covenant of Mayors called “Climate Table” and to intensify the work as an Italian Covenant of Mayors Dialogue Platform. The strategy concentrates on the 15 supporters of the Covenant of Mayors in Italy, all of whom networks of local authorities, and seeks to involve the coordinators (mostly Provinces). This seems a valid effort that is being integrated by similar efforts, for example the first conference of Italian coordinators of the Covenant in May 2013 in Pescara, organized by the Region of Abruzzi. The platform has concentrated on adaptation to climate change, energy efficiency and financial strategies in the implementation of SEAPs as substantive issues. The most active partners of the Platform are together with Climate Alliance Italy the National Coordination of Local Agenda 21 and Kyoto Club. Other actors are AICCRE and Associazione Nazionale dei Comuni Virtuosi as well as INU, ANCI and UPI. The last three have not yet adhered formally. Meetings, workshops and activities so far Date 23/06/2011 Place Rome 26/01/2012 Rome Meeting/Workshop Presentazione Progetto al Tavolo del Clima Workshop: Per un contributo alla Strategia Nazionale di Adattamento al Cambiamento Climatico Type of Meeting Covenant Key Actors’ Meeting Covenant Key Actors’ Meeting Feedback from the ground on the Covenant of Mayors implementation in Italy – 3 26/05/2012 Florence 02/11/2012 Città di Castello 22/11/2012 Rome 17/05/2013 Florence 24/05/2013 Rome Il Patto dei Sindaci: i Piani di Azione per l’Energia Sostenibile ed oltre Premio A+COM – I edizione Attuare i Piani d’Azione per l’Energia Sostenibile – Strumenti di finanza innovativa Verso la Strategia Nazionale di Adattamento Responsabilità di Governo e competenze dei territori Workshop: Patto dei Sindaci e Smart Cities, rigenerare le città e riqualificare gli edifici Patto dei Sindaci – PAES di eccellenza. Strategie finanziarie e politiche nazionali per l’implementazione Workshop for local authorities and Covenant key actors’ meeting Workshop for local authorities, experts with Fish Bowl discussion Workshop for local authorities and experts Workshop for local authorities and Covenant key actors’ meeting Conference for local authorities and Covenant key actors’ meeting Premio A+CoM – II edizione Upcoming activities until the end of the project 0405/07/2013 0708/11/2013 Pisa Green City Energy Pisa Bologna Net-working the Covenant of Mayors for the implementation of the Sustainable Energy Action Plans Workshop for local authorities and experts Conference for Covenant Supporters and Coordinators , local authorities and Covenant key actors. Events where the Covenant and the National Club have been presented date 03/10/2011 place Dobbiaco/Toblach Dissemination Activity 20/10/2011 Città di Castello 11/11/2011 Rimini, EcomondoKeyenergy Rome Local Energy Day – Mettere in rete gli attori per uno sviluppo sostenibile Scenari 100% rinnovabili 09/02/2012 Il Patto dei Sindaci dopo Durban – La lotta al cambiamento climatico tra accordi globali e azione locale Meeting with the 6 Mayors of the Puster Valley in preparation of NET-COM club Local Energy Day – Networking the Stakeholders for a sustainable development Scenarios for 100% Renewables Conference on the CoM after Durban with the Participation of the Minister of Environment, Corrado Clini Feedback from the ground on the Covenant of Mayors implementation in Italy – 4 18/05/2012 Perugia Green Days / Il Patto dei Sindaci: obiettivi ed opportunità per gli Enti locali 07/09/2012 Rome Il Patto dei Sindaci nei comuni medio-piccoli: obiettivi ed opportunità per una migliore aggregazione territoriale 30/09/2012 Perugia 20/10/2012 Rome Klimahouse Perugia / Dall’adesione alla redazione dei PAES: buone pratiche nel settore della BIOENERGIA a supporto del Patto dei Sindaci in Umbria Sustainability International Forum / La società post fossile. 15/11/2012 Rome 07/05/2013 Pescara 10/05/2013 Gubbio Organized by the City of Perugia with the participation of the Minister of Environment of the Region of Umbria and the Environmental Commissioner of the Province of Perugia At the Congress Centre of the Fair of Rome in occasion of ZeroEmission. Organized by Kyoto Club, member of the National Platform, addressing small and medium-sized communities and the perspectives of joint energy planning and implementation Organized by the Ministry of Environment with the participation of the Minister of Environment of the Region of Umbria Verso la maturità sociale I comuni per un’Europa efficiente nell’uso delle risorse Primo incontro dei coordinatori territoriali del Patto dei Sindaci in Italia – La multi-level governance del Covenant of Mayors: esperienze, potenzialità e sfide European Solar Days Feedback from the ground on the Covenant of Mayors implementation in Italy – 5 THE COVENANT IN ITALY: EVALUATION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPERIENCES GAINED IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THECOVENANT CLUB Perception of the Covenant by politicians / by civil servants The perception of the Covenant of Mayors in Italy continues to be very positive. One out of four cities and towns in this country have adhered to the Covenant and among them all the big cities. There are many positive examples and good practices of participation, of implementation, of financial strategies and important actions. The impression is that the awareness as to the added value of elaborating and implementing a SEAP has grown and the quality of theses documents has increased, as we can say from our experience of looking at 77 SEAPs that were candidates for our award A+CoM. There is a wide-spread willingness, even eagerness on the part of local politicians to implement the SEAPs and this holds increasingly true for the technicians and civil servants in the administration. What they miss is a bigger attention on the part of the higher levels of government assisting and supporting local governments. Barriers and drivers for cities to join the Covenant The barriers are, as we said before, very low for joining because for the political leadership the idea to get into direct contact with the European Union is very attractive. It remains also true that the main effort has to be to guarantee high quality SEAPs once the cities and towns have joined, to raise the consciousness on the necessity to monitor the energy consumption over time and create a close feedback between implementation of the actions and updating of the SEAP so that it remains a working instrument over time and not a one time product. Climate Alliance and Kyoto Club continue in the context of NET-CoM and beyond their activity of promoting high quality SEAPs with the award A+CoM, which saw in 2013 its second edition, concentrating on the points above as well as the participation and sharing of the SEAPs objectives with the stakeholders in the territory. Once the monitoring template is in place, A+CoM will also give an award for implementation. General Recommendations concerning Covenant implementation in the country Given the dimensions of the large majority of Italian towns and villages that have adhered to the Covenant (96% are under 50.000 inhabitants) it becomes ever more urgent to support them not only in the elaboration of the SEAP - which has been done admirably by a number of Italian Covenant coordinators and supporters - but also in its implementation. Here the Province of Milano and the foundation Cariplo are doing exemplary work. The former has obtained financial resources from the EIB for the retrofitting of municipal buildings and is supporting the local governments in drawing up calls for ESCOs, the latter is supporting the small cities in applying for funds from ELENA. Unfortunately until now the national Italian government in general and the ministry of the Environment in particular have taken no interest in the Covenant of Mayors. The importance of empowering the local level to be able to act in favour of the Covenant commitments as a driver for overcoming the present crisis in this country is being underestimated. More precisely: it is not perceived at all. Feedback from the ground on the Covenant of Mayors implementation in Italy – 6 FEEDBACK FROM COVENANT ACTORS Non-Signatory Context Why isn’t the city a Covenant signatory yet? Barriers faced (negative aspects of the CoM) Drivers (positive aspects of the CoM) Narni A city of small/medium-sized dimensions (approximately 20.000 inhabitants) in Umbria with an important industrial sector and a potential for developing tourism and the service industry The city has decided to adhere but hasn’t done so yet formally. It is presently preparing the necessary information and is getting organized for the commitment. The difficulty to find the necessary funds for implementing the actions that should go into the SEAP, general scarcity of funds for planning and monitoring. Monitoring the energy consumptions of the administration and of the territory promotes an integrated development towards a sustainable future. Any recommendations to the CoM to get more attractive? A better connection to national and regional incentives. Contact person Alfonso Morelli, assessore ambiente alfonso.morelli[a]comune.narni.tr.it Non-Signatory Context Why isn’t the city a Covenant signatory yet? Barriers faced (negative aspects of the CoM) Drivers (positive aspects of the CoM) Any recommendations to the CoM to get more attractive? Contact person Perugia Perugia is the capital of the Region of Umbria in Central Italy. The town occupies an area of 450 quare km and has 160.000 inhabitants. The energy policy of Perugia has been elaborated in the Environmental Energy Plan, in force since 2005. Presently the update of this plan is about to be approved by the city council. Implementing this plan the city of Perugia is active since a long time promoting renewable energy, energy saving and increasing energy efficiency in various sectors. The city administration is considering adhering to the Covenant of Mayors. Until now the city of Perugia has not adhered to the Covenant because it retained it necessary to evaluate the dimensions of the interventions necessary to obtain the results it will commit itself to. This was done, updating the Energy Plan. There are no critical elements as to the aims and the methods of the project in evidence. It is being considered useful to confront ourselves with cities that have already adhered to the Covenant of Mayors and are further along on the road towards the goals set, because we consider it essential that the key persons in our administration understand well the efforts that must be made in order to meet the commitments undersigned. Give visibility to the cities and their experiences that have a high quota of emissions per inhabitant and therefore bigger problems to meet their goals in relation to others. Ing. Daniele Volpi – Energy manager; Tel. +39.075.577.22.85: d.volpi[a]comune.perugia.it Feedback from the ground on the Covenant of Mayors implementation in Italy – 7 Covenant Supporting Structure Context Why is the organisation a CoM Supporter? Activities organised so far as CoM Supporter Barriers faced (negative aspects) Drivers (positive aspects) Recommendations to the national and/or European level to favour the Covenant implementation. Recommendations to the CoM to get more attractive Contact person Borghi Autentici d’Italia (B.A.I.) B.A.I. is an association of approx. 200 small cities and towns spread out over the whole national territory (www.borghiautenticiditlia.it) The founding motive of the association is the valorisation of the lesser territories, create conditions for an economic development based on the principles of sustainability, promote the sense of community and of belonging to the territory. The actions with which the association involves the towns are based on the implementation of the so called “Strategic Projects”, one of them being “Intelligent Village”. This project promotes the efficient use of energy e its production from renewable resources with the goal creating energy autonomy in the territories. In this perspective the decision was taken to promote the Covenant of Mayors among the associated members and to support them in the elaboration of their SEAPs and the actions they foresee. Presentation and promotion of the Covenant of Mayors in meetings and events of the association. Participation in European projects like Meshartility (IEE) (www.meshartility.eu) and in this context technical assistance to 18 municipalities for the elaboration of their SEAP, hENCE (Europe for Citizens) and other projects at the regional level. Agreements with associations and enterprises as to energy efficiency. The lack of capacity with the punlich administrations to work internally in a synergic manner. The difficulty to have date on the actual energy consumptions from the utilities, the difficulty for small towns obtain and use financial resources for implementing energy efficiency measures and produce renewable energy. The good sensibility of the administrations and of the citizens, the decisive action of the European Commission and the CoM, the growing attention the citizens pay to energy questions. Activation of support programs and finances giving priority to cities and towns who have signed the Covenant. More attention by the national ministries involved. To try to have a more “friendly” image and to stay closer to the citizens, more information on the actions taken in the single countries in the context of the Covenant of Mayors and the ongoing European projects. Simone Taddei [email protected] – tel. 0524 587185 Feedback from the ground on the Covenant of Mayors implementation in Italy – 8