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 2-3September 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 detailsof how to join the

Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform, go to:

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 thelocal 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: / Patrizia Lombardo
Contact details:
(address, telephone, email) / Viale Trento 69 – Cagliari
Tel. + 390706062271

On behalf of:
(name of local or regional authority) / Region of Sardinia
Type of organisation / City/Town/MunicipalityRegion
County/Province Association of local and/or regional authorities
Other (please specify)
Country: / ITALY
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 information
Resource 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 EuropeFlagship 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 alldeliver 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-termroadmaps 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 moreefficient 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.
Given that being an island places Sardinia at a disadvantage, investment is needed in the transport sector: air and sea links between Sardinia and mainland Italy and internal links (rail and coastal short-sea shipping), use of biofuels. Energy efficiency is a key factor for boosting the construction sector (modernising and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings).
2)Which of the aims of the Resource Efficient Europeflagship 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.
Moving to a low-carbon economy to encourage new jobs in green sectors, given the emergency employment situation in Sardinia. Ensuring security of gas supply in the region as a transition fuel in the movefrom fossil to renewable sources.
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.
Being an island means that local consumption and production with low emissions have to be given preference. The waste system in Sardinia is well managed, with high levels of differentiated collection and recycling of materials, closing chains directly in the region, for reasons also related to the costs of transport to the mainland.
4)The Resource Efficient Europe flagship initiative recognises and promotes the interdependency of environmental, economic and social policies.
Have the policies adopted byyour city/region(as stated in your answer to question 3),been interlinked as part of an integrated framework? If yes, please describe in brief, highlightingtheir mutual interlinks and potential synergies.
The region of Sardinia has tried to adopt policies in line with EU initiatives. In particular, signing the Covenant of Mayors as a regional coordination and support structure has served to guide local policies as well towards tangible measures for achieving the 20-20-20 goals by 2020 and promoting green public procurement, where Sardinia is at the cutting edge in Italy and on the European stage. Moreover, through the ISLE-PACT project, together with all the major islands in the European Union it has developed an I-SEAP – a Sustainable Energy Action Plan for the island as a whole that has served as a useful reference for drawing up emissions inventories for SEAPs developed by municipalities that have subscribed to the Smart City –"A"-labelled Municipalitiesregional initiative.
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 Highlyfeasible Fairly feasible Not feasible
20% RES Highly feasible Fairly feasible Not feasible
20% EE Highly feasible Fairly feasible Not feasible
Please explain.
If theI-SEAPis implemented and the GALSI project completed – European infrastructure that can convey methane (currently unavailable) to Sardinia as a fossil fuel facilitating the shiftto 100% renewable sources in the future, it will be possible to reach and even exceed the 20-20-20 objectives as described in the I-SEAP.
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 expandingthe 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.
Very much so. With an inventory approach (water footprint, waste footprint, etc.) baselines can be established and real improvements monitored. The social dimension, which is always overlooked, should also be included.
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.
Transport is the key sector in urban areas, and more effective policies and measures are needed to limit emissions and shift requirements for mobility of goods and people to low-carbon systems.
In the food sector, too, water and energy consumption must be reduced and shifted to 100% renewables (as regards energy).

How is the Resource Efficient Europe relevant to your city or region?

8)Which of the policies of the Roadmap to Resource Efficient Europe (presented in Box 1) are most relevant to your specific local/regional situation?.
Multiple answers possible.
Promoting sustainable consumption and production
Turning waste into resources
Supporting more research and innovation in the area of resource efficiency
Phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies, getting prices right
Better valuation of natural capital and ecosystem services
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
Please explain.
Following the relentless onslaught of deindustrialisation, Sardinia must work towards a light economy with the ecosystem approach at its centre. Its natural and environmental resources are unique but insufficientlyexploited and ill-protected.
9)Which of the actions under the EuropeanResource Efficiencyflagship initiative, as identified in the EREP's manifesto(set out in Box 1), are the most difficult to achieve in your city/region?
Multiple answers possible.
Innovation and investment
Regulation
Subsidies
Products and services
Policy integration
Targets for policy goals
Please explain.
Innovation and investments in protecting ecosystems and specific features are needed to protect Sardinia's natural heritage. Products and services are currently thin on the ground in the region and there is a lot of room for developing production of niche regional specialities and services that are present elsewhere (such as an efficient rail network). Integrating policies with European policies for smart, fair and inclusive growth is a must.
10)Overall, what are the strong and weak pointsof theResource Efficient EuropeFlagship Initiative, as seen from your regional/local standpoint?
It is a good programme overall, which we would like to try and implement in Sardinia as well.
11)Would you recommend any specific changes to the Resource Efficient Europe Flagship Initiative, in the context of the mid-term review of the Europe 2020 strategy in 2014?
Please explain
Not at the moment.

Are your country's policies relevant to your city or region?

12)Does your country's 2013 (current) National Reform Programme[17] (NRP) for Europe 2020 adequately respond to your regional/local needs in the policy areas covered by the Resource Efficient Europeflagship initiative (e.g. environmental taxation, phasing-out environmentally harmful subsidies, pricing mechanisms)?
Yes No Don’t know
Please explain
The state should do more to address the difficulties facing islands because of their island nature and establish a policy of greater cohesion with one of its large islands. Little consultation and high taxation also create problems in terms ofsocial acceptability of choices. Unemployment is an endemic problem which is potentially explosive.
13)Would you suggest any changes in your country's National Reform Programme for 2014 in the area of resource efficiency?
Yes No Don’t know
Please explain
We are looking at what to suggest and would like to discuss this with the organisers at the Vilnius event.

Policy and funding issues

14)What sources of funding are used to finance your actions under the Resource Efficient Europeflagship initiative? In particular: what is the role of the EU Structural Funds and programmes (e.g. ELENA, LIFE, Intelligent Energy-Europe Programme, JESSICA) in funding actions related to Resource Efficient Europe? Are any other policy/financial instruments involved?
Multiple answers possible.
  • Structural Funds
ERDF
Cohesion Fund
ESF
  • Other EU funding programmes
ELENA
LIFE
Intelligent Energy-Europe Programme
JESSICA
Others: ......
  • Public Private Partnership
......
Please explain.
With a view to specifically pursuing the objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Sardinia has dedicated a considerable amount of financial resources to implementing measures for increasing energy efficiency and energy saving.
EUR 35 million from the ERDF 2007-13 OP, Axis III Energy were allocated toestablishing an urban development fund under the Jessica instrument for implementing the measures set out in Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAP).
15)Are any of the actions you have undertaken to implement the Resource Efficient Europeflagship initiative (as stated in your answer to question 6) carried out in partnership with different tiers of government? If yes, please state (a) which administrative levels are involved and (b) which practical arrangements are taken to manage these actions jointly.
YES, the Smart City project:
Tiers of government involved: regional authority, regional in-house companies and government agencies, provincial and municipal administrations;
Joint management mechanisms: agreements have been concluded between the regional authority and the in-house companies and agencies, while relations between the various tiers of regional, provincial and local government have been provided for in memorandums of understanding.
16)Do you consider that the existing EU policy framework has established sufficient links with local levelin order to achievethe targets of the Resource Efficient Europe flagship initiative? Do you have any suggestions in this respect?
The relationship between municipalities and the EU should be taken even further. One of the founding principles of the EU is subsidiarity, and the EU must therefore forge closer relations with the municipal institutions and be less bureaucratic.
17)The policy goals under Resource Efficient Europe require an integrated, multi-sectorial approach, however they are often more effective if relevant stakeholders are also involved.
Do you have a strategy for involving these various actors, such as the different institutions, economic operators (especially SMEs) and citizens? If yes, what kind of involvement have you pursued (e.g. information campaigns, dedicated events, assistance to citizens on resource efficiency investments, PPPs)?
Please explain.
The strategy that should be used in Sardinia is that piloted with the Sardinia CO2.0 programme, particularly the bottom-up approach, under Agenda 21, followed for the Smart City "A"-labelled Municipalities project, where through workshops on the ground, meetings with SMEs, through the support of the regional development agencyBIC Sardegna as well, a cross-sectoral platform was created that could also be used in your initiative.
18)Please add any further comments you wish to make on the issues covered in this questionnaire.
......
SHARE YOUR GOOD PRACTICE
As part of the preparations for the CoR conference to be held on 23September 2013 and to showcase good practices in areas covered by the Resource Efficient Europeflagship initiative (e.g. energy efficiency, renewable sources, buildings, transport and mobility, air quality, water and waste management, spatial planning and land use, biodiversity,agriculture), you are invited to submit examples of good practice from your local area.
Please complete the form available on our website:

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