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EU local and regional authorities contributing to the
Mid-term review of Europe 2020
Assessment of the Resource Efficient Europe flagship initiative
Three years after its launch, the Committee of the Regions will take stock of the Resource Efficient Europe flagship initiative at a conference to be held on 2-3 September 2013 in Vilnius. This conference will be the sixth in a series of 7 CoR events and monitoring initiatives on the mid-term review of Europe 2020 in 2014. More news on this conference may be found on the CoR's website[1].
By participating in this survey, you will:
- ensure that your views are taken into account in the debate held during the conference;
- contribute to the 4th CoR Monitoring Report on Europe 2020, to be published in October 2013;
- contribute to the CoR's consultative activity in this area over the coming months;
- contribute to the mid-term review of Europe 2020 in 2014.
If you wish to participate in this survey, Please complete this questionnaire in any eu language, using the spaces provided, and return it in text format to:
by 28 June 2013
For more information on this survey and for details of how to join the
Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform, go to:
http://portal.cor.europa.eu/europe2020/
The questionnaire is available on this website in all official languages of the EU
You can find more information on Resource Efficient Europe, as seen from the local and regional authorities' viewpoint, in the Committee of the Regions' publication Delivering on the Europe 2020 Strategy Handbook for Local and Regional Authorities[2]. General information on Europe 2020 may be found on the strategy's official website[3].
Contributor information[4]
Name of sender: / Energy CitiesContact details:
(address, telephone, email) / 1, square de Meeûs
BE-1000 Brussels
Tel. : +32 (0)2213 83 54
On behalf of:
(name of local or regional authority) / ......
Type of organisation / City/Town/Municipality Region
County/Province Association of local and/or regional authorities
Other (please specify)
Country: / Belgium
Member of the EUROPE 2020 Monitoring Platform: / Yes No
Covenant of Mayors signatory: / Yes No
Covenant of Mayors Territorial Coordinator / Yes No
Policy challenges and responses at regional and local level
BOX 1 – Resource Efficient Europe: basic informationResource efficiency means using the Earth's limited resources — metals, minerals, fuels, water, land, timber, fertile soil, clean air and biodiversity — in a sustainable manner. Increasing resource efficiency can secure growth and jobs by stimulating technological innovation, boosting employment in the fast developing 'green technology' sector and opening up new export markets. It can also benefit consumers through more sustainable products.
The Resource Efficient Europe Flagship Initiative was adopted in 2010, as an integral part of the Europe 2020 strategy under the sustainable growth pillar, to "help decouple economic growth from the use of resources, support the shift towards a low carbon economy, increase the use of renewable energy sources, modernise our transport sector and promote energy efficiency"[5]. It sets out a framework to help ensure that long-term strategies in areas such as climate change, energy, transport, industry, raw materials, agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity, water and waste management, land use and regional development all deliver results in the area of resource efficiency[6] in order to:
- boost economic performance while reducing resource use;
- identify and create new opportunities for economic growth and greater innovation and boost the EU's competitiveness;
- ensure the security of supply of essential resources;
- fight against climate change and limit the environmental impact of resource use.
The Flagship Initiative was outlined in four long-term roadmaps with a 2050 horizon, respectively on climate[7], energy[8], transport[9] and resource-efficiency[10], issued in 2011, and a number of other policy initiatives with a 2020 perspective[11], covering the following aspects:
· Promoting sustainable consumption and production by setting “appropriate” price signals, providing consumers with relevant environmental information, establishing minimum environmental performance standards and putting in place incentives to reward efficient businesses;
· Turning waste into resources through more targeted recycling and re-use, separate collection and energy recovery, with landfilling to be virtually eliminated;
· Supporting more research and innovation focusing on resource efficiency goals;
· Phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies, getting prices right and shifting from taxation of labour to environmental taxation;
· Better valuation of natural capital and ecosystem services by public authorities and businesses;
· Halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services;
· Promoting better management of water resources;
· Improving air quality standards;
· Better management of land-use, soils and marine waters.
The Committee of the Regions adopted its opinion on "A resource-efficient Europe – flagship initiative under the Europe 2020 Strategy"[12] in October 2011.
A European Resource Efficiency Platform (EREP)[13] has been set by the European Commission in order to provide high-level guidance to the European Commission, Member States, local and regional authorities, and private actors on the transition process towards a more resource-efficient economy.
In December 2012, the EREP issued its "Manifesto for A Resource-Efficient Europe"[14], identifying the following actions:
1. Encouraging innovation and accelerating public and private investment in resource-efficient technologies, systems and skills, as well as SMEs;
2. Implementing, applying and adopting smart regulation, standards and codes of conduct that a) create a level playing-field, b) reward front-runners and c) accelerate the transition, and d) take into account the social and international implications of our actions.
3. Abolishing environmentally harmful subsidies and shifting the tax burden away from jobs to encourage resource-efficiency;
4. Creating better market conditions for products and services that have lower impacts across their life-cycles, and that are durable, repairable and recyclable, inspiring sustainable life-styles by informing and incentivising consumers;
5. Integrating wider policy areas, such as in the fields of transport, food, water and construction.
6. Adopting policy goals to achieve a resource-efficient economy and society by 2020, setting targets that give a clear direction and indicators to measure progress relating to the use of land, materials, water and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as biodiversity.
1) What are the main challenges currently facing your region/city in terms of (i) the more efficien²t use of resources, (ii) the shift towards a low carbon economy, (iii) energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources, (iv) the modernisation of the transport sector, (v) the change in producers' and consumers' behaviour (see Box 1)?
Multiple answers possible.
more efficient use of resources
shift towards a low carbon economy
energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources
modernisation of the transport sector
change in producers' and consumers' behaviour
Please explain.
All of the above mentioned actions are equally challenging to implement but undoubtedly crucial in enabling stakeholders to act differently and put behind non-sustainable practices that only lead us to energy, climate and possibly economic and social dead-ends. Energy Cities has developed 30 practical proposals to accelerate the energy transition of cities and towns. They are built upon 5 strategic pillars that represent a source of inspiration for tackling the challenges listed above:
- Empowering local actors so as to give local and regional authorities the power to decide on energy issues and to act accordingly;
- Knowing our territories’ resources and flows for a more efficient use of the local potential (e.g. natural resources, wasted heat, synergies between players, etc.);
- Rethinking finance in general to ensure local and regional authorities have the means to achieve their objectives;
- Inventing a new local governance to involve all local players in sustainable policies;
- Using urban planning as a way to reduce energy use especially from the mobility and building sectors.
2) Which of the aims of the Resource Efficient Europe flagship initiative (listed in Box 1) are most relevant in view of the challenges currently facing your city/region?
Multiple answers possible.
Boost economic performance while reducing resource use
Identify and create new opportunities at local level for economic growth and greater innovation and boost the EU's competitiveness
Ensure the security of supply of essential resources
Fight against climate change and limit the environmental impacts of resource use
Please explain.
......
3) The CoR opinion[15] on Resource Efficient Europe focuses on i) low-carbon, resource-efficient transport and energy systems; ii) sustainable consumption and production; iii) zero-waste economy; iv) efficient use of raw materials (minerals, forests and biomass); v) biodiversity, ecosystem services and land use.
Has your city/region adopted policies in the following fields of resource efficiency? Which actions has it applied (innovation/investments, regulations, modifying subsidies, others as identified by EREP in box 1)?
Multiple answers possible.
low-carbon, resource-efficient transport
low-carbon, resource efficient energy systems
sustainable consumption and production
zero-waste economy
efficient use of raw materials (minerals, forests and biomass)
biodiversity, ecosystem services and land use
Please explain.
Local and regional authorities, as consumer and service provider, as planner and developer, as advisor and role model, as producer and supplier, are key allies of the European Union’s resource efficiency agenda.
Energy Cities firmly supports the CoR opinion on Resource Efficient Europe: our practice shows that local and regional authorities are committed to resource efficient actions as demonstrated by the Covenant of Mayors’ success, an initiative expecting better recognition and stronger support for implementing sustainable climate and energy policies.
4) The Resource Efficient Europe flagship initiative recognises and promotes the interdependency of environmental, economic and social policies.
Have the policies adopted by your city/region (as stated in your answer to question 3), been interlinked as part of an integrated framework? If yes, please describe in brief, highlighting their mutual interlinks and potential synergies.
Local and regional authorities are engaging in “resource efficiency” policies, particularly in the field of energy as demonstrated by the success of the Covenant of Mayors, not merely for the global challenge of fighting climate change but because it makes sense at local level.
Sustainable energy policies are the drivers for:
- New job opportunities at local level (e.g. in the building sector that need to be renovated urgently);
- Social welfare with actions addressing energy poverty;
- More liveable cities and an improved quality of life (e.g. sustainable mobility, air quality).
It is this vision that Energy Cities is aiming to achieve by developing the concept of Low energy cities with high quality of life for all.
5) The Resource Efficient Europe Flagship Initiative contributes to the process of reaching the headline targets set under the sustainable growth pillar of the Europe 2020 Strategy for energy and climate change:
· Greenhouse gas emissions 20% lower than 1990 (or even 30% if the conditions are right)
· 20% of energy from renewables
· 20% increase in energy efficiency
To what extent are these targets feasible based on your local situation?
20% GHG Highly feasible Fairly feasible Not feasible
20% RES Highly feasible Fairly feasible Not feasible
20% EE Highly feasible Fairly feasible Not feasible
Please explain.
National frameworks are essential in working towards sustainable objectives: for instance, when Denmark decides to become 100% RES by 2050, local authorities have a clear vision of their future and invest accordingly. Thus, EU policies are not always the only motivation for actions at the national level, but they do give a further incentive for governments to reach the EU headline targets.
In the current 2020 framework, via the Covenant of Mayors, local authorities have demonstrated their capacity to implement energy savings projects and to tap their local potential in order to develop renewable energy sources. Doing so, Covenant Signatories are expected to exceed the EU target and reach 25% reduction of their CO2 emissions by 2020. Energy Cities considers that the 20% CO2 target is reachable and as leader of the consortium managing the secretariat of the initiative and as official Covenant Supporter is supporting Signatories in meeting and exceeding this target.
Regarding the 20% RES target, the situation is quite diverse between urban and rural areas. If many rural communities are adopting 100% RES strategies, urban areas face more difficulty to be ambitious on the RES sector despite a huge potential, very much untapped, with RES district heating and cooling systems. Hence the approach of the Covenant of Mayors being a commitment on the 20% CO2, using energy efficiency and RES.
Energy Cities considers that in the current administrative (i.e. lack of decentralization of energy management in many EU countries), legislative (e.g. lack of a European strategy for heat) and financial (e.g. lack of funding opportunities for development RES projects) framework, this target will not be reached in many cities and towns across Europe. However, the RES inputs made by local authorities in national and regional electricity and sometimes gas grids, have to be taken into account when evaluating the progress made in achieving the RES headline target.
With regard to the 20% EE target, a huge potential is lying in the deep renovation of the building stock. Local and regional authorities need to be supported with an adequate legislative and financial framework. In that sense, Energy Cities lobbied for a 3% building renovation target for all public buildings to be included in the Energy Efficiency Directive. In addition, on several occasions, Energy Cities asked for appropriate funding instruments (e.g. Cohesion Policy, EIB lending policy, IEE within Horizon 2020) that could support capacity building, technical assistance as well as non-technological innovation, which are key components of successful sustainable energy policies. An ambitious energy renovation of buildings is needed
6) The Covenant of Mayors[16]. – currently counting over 4,500 signatories - is a voluntary commitment by local and regional authorities to meet and exceed the EU 20% CO2 reduction objective through increased energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources.
Beyond energy and climate change, regions and cities have an important role to play in fostering resource efficiency. They can invest in green buildings, sustainable water and waste management, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting cleaner modes of transport and oversee the protection of ecosystems.
Do you consider this type of dissemination and networking platform to be a useful initiative? If yes, would your city/region be in favour of expanding the approach of the Covenant of Mayors framework to other key areas of the Resource Efficient Europe flagship initiative, such as biodiversity and land use, waste and water management or air pollution, provided that relevant EU targets are identified?
Biodiversity and land use
Waste management
Water management
Air pollution
Others
Please explain.
The Covenant of Mayors has indeed made proof of a highly successful dissemination and networking platform, but more importantly, of a successful bottom-up instrument for the EU to reach its 3x20 by using the enormous potential lying in local and regional authorities. The Covenant of Mayors’ success also stems from its multi-level governance and multi-stakeholders involvement approaches.
Energy Cities considers that replicating similar elements in other sectors, such as those mentioned above, does make sense as long as they respect the subsidiarity principle, are in line with local and regional authorities’ needs and are accompanied by technical and financial support. It is essential that the inclusion of a larger spectrum of action areas is supported by concrete goals and tailored actions so as to avoid fragmentation of efforts and maintain both the focus and the efficiency of Covenant activities.
7) The Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe (see Box 1) sets out the following milestones to be reached by 2020 for the three key sectors which are responsible for 70-80% of all environmental impact:
· Food - 20% reduction in the food chain’s resource inputs,
· Buildings – all new buildings to be nearly practically zero-energy and highly material efficient; 2% renovation rate per year for existing building stock; 70% of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste to be recycled.
· Mobility - an average 1% annual reduction in transport GHG emissions starting from 2012.
To what extent are these milestones appropriate to your local situation?
Food Highly appropriate Fairly appropriate Not appropriate
Buildings Highly appropriate Fairly appropriate Not appropriate
Mobility Highly appropriate Fairly appropriate Not appropriate
Please explain.
Regarding the Food chain target, local and regional authorities have a limited responsibility. They can lead by example by relying on locally produced food in their administration, especially schools, or by supporting local players in developing local distribution networks. Furthermore, as local authorities can decide upon spatial management in urban areas, they have the power to allocate peri-urban territories for agriculture purposes.
Regarding the Buildings renovation target, as mentioned before, Energy Cities is in favour of a 3% renovation target for the existing building stock and for all new buildings to be zero-energy. In this regard, we are also supporting the Renovate Europe Campaign.
With respect to the Mobility sector, Energy Cities considers that in addition to GHG emissions target, other indicators such as the share of soft modes of mobility should be introduced. Sustainable mobility in urban areas is synonymous with liveable city because it improves the air quality, reduces noise and road accidents, etc.
How is the Resource Efficient Europe relevant to your city or region?