Vibrant,

resilientcities

Developing city resilience: why and how? p.4

The economic impact of the energy transition p.7

Local authorities and UN climate negotiations p.8

EnergyCities

www.energy-cities.eu

INFONo. 43 Spring 2015

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Editorial

Co-powering a prosperous energy future

The first landmark achievement of the Juncker Commission has been the Energy Union proposal, a name with strong symbolic weight, as it carries the hope of breathing new life into the EU integration project. What better way to guarantee popular support for this mammoth plan than to link it to local, energy-enabled development? As the Kyoto period is set to give way to a new, Paris Protocol era, what

better opportunity to focus on the social and economic gains of local climate action!

We are not tired of saying it: the impact of decentralised energy policies reaches far beyond environmental gains. A study recently published by Energy Cities documents the economic impact of the local energy transition with compelling figures and case studies (see p.7).

Energy efficiency projects for example are highly job-intensive as they rely on a large set of skills, be it in the construction sector, preparation of action plans and energy audits; financial development of proposals; in research and development or equipment manufacturing. Local invest-ments in energy efficiency reduce costs while making the regions more attractive to economic players. Likewise, the deployment of renewable or recovered energy sources generates new revenues for local authorities and land-owners, also creating new business opportunities.

I could list more arguments, but I will leave it to the fol-lowing pages of this Energy Cities INFO issue to convince you further of the social and economic case of a locally driven energy future. The efforts of our network in the past 25 years have succeeded in moving local authorities up the EU agenda. We will relentlessly advocate a new governance model where cities are considered genuine partners in the Energy Union and where EU legislation, programmes and funding instruments support them in serving the general interest of European citizens.

Eckart Wrzner, Mayor of Heidelberg, Germany,and President of Energy Cities

Energy Cities | Bureau Bruxelles1, Square de MeesB - 1000 BrusselsTl. : +32 2 213 83 54

Energy Cities | Secrtariat2, chemin de PalenteF - 25000 BesanonTl. : +33 381 65 36 80Fax : +33 381 50 73 51

www.energy-cities.eu

If you wish to receive this magazine once a year for free, please e-mail: www.energy-cities.eu/miriam

Director of publication: Miriam Eisermann

Contributors to this issue: the Energy Cities staff and members of the network, coordinated by Floriane Bernardot, Alix Bolle and Miriam Eisermann

Translation: Nathalie Fauchadour

Graphic design: www.tuttiquanti.net

Print office: SIMONGRAPHIC (ImprimVert)

Printed on recycled paper N ISSN: 1256-6098 Print run: 2000 copies

Cover: Tutti Quanti / Shutterstock

@energycities

Regenerative urban development (by World Future Council) ......... p.3

Future-proof cities: Is resilience the key? .................................................. p.4-6

Barcelona sets up a Fab Lab network ............................................................... p.5

Energy transition, a true vitamin cocktail for the local economy! .................................................................................................. p.7

Local authorities and the COP21: challenges and expectations ................................................................................. p.8-9

Decentralisation, devolution...Revolution ............................................... p.10-11

The European Unions energy policy put to test ................................ p.12-13

Twin cities and other forms of urban cooperation ................................ p.14

Publications: Energy Cities recommendations ........................................ p.15

2050 Local Energy Roadmaps ................................................................................ p.16

The trendy word: Divestment................................................................................. p.16

CONTENTS

A taste of the localenergy job bonanza!In Belgium, the Region of Brussels foresees the creation of

4,300 jobs by 2020 through the activities of its sustainable construction alliance.

In Copenhagen, the green sector represents

18,000 businesses and 25,000 jobs. In the Ile-de-France Region, figures dated in a 2008 report

112,000 eco-activity jobs and turnover of

EUR 17 bn.In Paris, Porto, Madrid and Turin, public transport operators are the top

5 biggest employers.

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Guest article

When waste isnt waste:

How a city can regenerate its resourcesModern cities are defined by their concentration of economic activity and intense social interaction. Despite greater efficiencies thanks to dense living space, they also tend to have voracious appetites for energy, water, food and other resources.

Regenerative urban development addresses the relationship between cities and their hinterlands that supply them with these vital resources. Cities should embrace the central role they play in re-enriching the landscapes they depend on and enhancing the capacity of ecosystems to generate goods and services. The case of resource upcyclingin Kalundborg

The town of Kalundborg, Denmark, demonstrates the benefits of regene-ration by treating waste as a resource rather than a nuisance. The munici-pality and 20 local businesses benefit

from using each others by-products that would otherwise be discarded.

Kalundborgs symbiotic web begins with its coal-fired power station, whose cooling water is channelled to pro-duce ideal conditions for the local fish farm. Ash is used in the construction and cement industries. Excess lime is sold as fertiliser for far-mland. Various wastes are thus turned into new products in this circular pro-duction system.

Efficient resource use creates a loca-tional advantage, making it financially attractive to stay in the region despite lower labour costs elsewhere. When plasterboard manufacturer Gyproc wanted to relocate to be closer to gypsum mines, cooperation with the local power station which produces gypsum as a by-product made it economically viable for Gyproc and the jobs it created to remain.

Besides economic and social bene-fits, symbiosis also leads to ecolo-gical improvements. Capitalising on the steam by-product of the power station has led to reductions in oil consumption of 20,000 tonnes and water consumption by 25% per year in the system. A decrease in waste discharge also reduces environmental pollution to the region.

Policies for regenerativeurban development

Kalundborg is just one example of how regenerative cities can drive local development. In order to replicate and scale up these successes, we need long-term planning and holistic policy frameworks rather than short-term patchwork solutions. Cities are active agents that can have a positive impact on their environments. With high concentrations of human and financial capital, they are already proving to be leaders in tackling the pressing chal-lenges of our time.

Efficient resource use creates a locational advantage

The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of policy-making. Together with civil society actors, parliamentarians, governments and businesses, the Council addresses challenges to our com-mon future and provides decision makers with effective policy solu-tions.

www.worldfuturecouncil.org

Author: Fiona Woo, Policy Officer Climate and Energy, World Future Council

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According to the World Health Organisation, resilient and empowered communities respond proactively to new or adverse situa-tions, prepare for economic, social and environmental change and cope better with crisis and hardship. At a time when crisis and hardship have probably become the most fre-quently used words in our daily news, community resilience seems to be the bright light at the end of the tunnel.

A resilient community produces the food, energy, water, things and incomes it needs locally (John Robb, American author and entre-preneur). It results in self-sufficiency,and therefore in greater inde-pendence concerning a citys needs. Sounds familiar? That is because the idea of resilience is closely lin-ked to the decentralised energy transition Energy Cities is advoca-ting. But what does the concept of resilience mean when applied to cities? What does a resilient city look like in terms of economy, governance and financing?

Aiming for self-sufficiency For a city, becoming resilient implies being able to provide for itself: encouraging local food production, making use of local energy sources, but also offering jobs, maintaining a high quality of life and developing social activities to keep the city vibrant.

Bristol is considered the most energy and waste-efficient major city in the UK... and it is also the fastest growing. As part of the Rockefeller Foundations 100 resilient cities initiative, Bristol will develop a resilience plan. Mayor George Ferguson explains why his city strives for stronger autonomy: We go begging to government for the resources we need. Government will answer our immediate needs but not our needs for 2030 or 2040.Urban agriculture is one way of achie-ving food independence. In Toronto, Canada, the municipality has created a dedicated department to support urban growers. They identify avai-lable spaces and clean up former indus-trial sites to turn them into agricultural

land. The law imposes the creation of at least one community garden per dis-trict. Encouraging food self-sufficiency makes sense for different reasons. In the event of disruption to supplies, people in the worlds major cities would starve within three days. Not to men-tion the ecological footprint: in Europe, food travels on average 3,000km to reach consumers plates. Amongst other benefits, it is a source of employ-ment and revenue for the city, as pro-duction and consumption (buying) hap-pen in the same place. The same pat-tern applies to energy supply, as the small Spanish island of El Hierro can testify. El Hierro is about to become the worlds first energy-independent island, even though its entire energy supply once relied on a single fossil-fuelled power plant. Tomas Padron, who used to work at the power plant, remembers: Everybody thought it was a crazy idea.

www.100resilientcities.org www.theguardian.com/cities/series/resilient-cities

Future-proof cities: Is resilience the key?

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Developing new forms of governance Fostering resilience is a community matter. French journalist and docu-mentary filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin states: On the ground, those projects that are performing the best are led by motivated citizens and supported by municipalities that listen to them.

A few years ago, Christchurch, New Zealand, experienced a series of earth-quakes that caused extensive damage to the citys infrastructure. Despite being in deep shock, the city decided to turn this tragedy into an opportunity:

rebuilding the city together. Mayor Lianne Dalziel wants to empower community organisations in the process of building a new Christchurch. Citizens have their say in new urban plans: some would like to build a central eco-friendly business dis-trict, while

others imagine a city of smaller villages where central services are located within walking distance. As Mayor Dalziel writes, Resilience is not about government (central or local) doing things for communities, businesses, or organisations; it is about enabling those groups to do things for them-selves. Building a resilient city starts at the grassroots level, so that bottom-up meets top-down halfway.

A municipality sharing this point of view is Barcelona, Spain. Considered one of the smartest cities in the world, Barcelona however does not forget that smartness is as much about empowering citizens as making use of technology. One of the big ongoing

projects the municipality is part of is the Fab City project (coordinated by the IAAC, Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia), which consists of creating a local network of Fab Labs.

Resilience is not about government (central or local) doing things for communities, businesses, or organisations; it is about enabling those groups to do things for themselves.

Fab Labs to make the neighbourhoods people-centred and productive

A Fabrication Laboratory is a small-scale workshop offering digital fabrication. Tomas Diez, one of the initiators of the Fab Lab Barcelona, explains: These laboratories are open, collaborative spaces that dont prioritise financial profit or academic excellence. Instead, they aim to resolve local problems with available tools, drawing on an interna-tional knowledge network. There are already three Fab

Labs in the city, with a fourth to come soon. Some entirely rely on public funds while others (such as the Fab Lab Barcelona) are financed through a mix of public and private money. The city council expects to open at least 12 labs in the next few years through the Fab City project. Manel Sanrom, Chief Information Officer for Barcelona City Council, says: Our ultimate goal is that every district of Barcelona should have at least one Fab [Lab], in line with the vision of people-centred and productive neigh-bourhoods in Barcelona, where production progresses from a centralised, standar-dised model in a globalised planet to a distribution model where it is the citizens themselves that co-create their own environment and manage their own consump-tion in a sustainable and intelligent way.

www.fablabbcn.org http://ateneusdefabricacio.barcelona.cat/en

The Fab Lab Barcelona - www.fablabbcn.org

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Developing newfinancing approaches The budget cuts recently experienced by European cities have led local players to get creative also in terms of funding solutions. Local authorities themselves are proving innovative.

Joint procurement between cities is on a roll. End of March, on the occasion of a pre-COP21 meeting in Paris, about thirty mayors from European capitals and big cities adopted a declaration aiming at engaging in joint public pro-curement (notably for clean vehicles and dump trucks). Two other cities in France, Brest and Dijon, opted for joint procurement when they decided to create their tram systems. This allowed the municipalities to obtain a 25% reduction when purchasing their trams: they saved almost 36 million! More and more cities are also offering citizens the possibility to have a say on their citys budget. Participatory bud-geting already exists in Paris. Citizens can submit their project ideas for their neighbourhood or the whole city. Co-development meetings are orga-nised throughout the application period. Then, city departments evaluate pro-jects according to criteria such as gene-ral interest, the citys competences and the investment budget. Parisians can thus decide on the allocation of up to 5% of their citys total investment bud-get half a billion euros!

The recently-launched Citizenergy ini-tiative, a European crowdfunding plat-form1 for renewable energy, aims to boost citizen engagement and invest-ment in renewable energy. The crowd-

funding platforms Lumo (France), Abundance (UK) and Greencrowding (Germany) have already joined. The overall objective is to allow citizens to (financially) get involved in local pro-jects. That does not mean local autho-rities should not get on board too. According to a report by IDDRI2, citi-zens initiatives can be reinforced by a local authoritys support, as it increases confidence and guarantees continuity, possibly helps with the financial deve-lopment, ensures the link with local policies.

We do see how fostering communi-ty resilience can help cities become more independent, support their local development and improve their citizens quality of life. Achieving the energy transition is one key to resilience. Ultimately, resilience itself is one key to future-proof cities, which are providing for themselves while building mutually beneficial relationships with the outside.

https://budgetparticipatif.paris.fr http://citizenergy.ateknea.com

1 See Energy Cities INFO N. 42 (2014) on www.energy-cities.eu > Resources

2 www.iddri.org/Publications/Collections/ Idees-pour-le-debat/WP0114_NP%20AR_ projets%20citoyens.pdf

Bristol, Christchurch, Paris, Dijon, Brest, Ettlingen and Barcelonas local energy agen-cy are members of the Energy Cities network. Learn more about their energy and climate activities at

www.energy-cities.eu > Resources

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In its study Economic impact of the energy transition at local level, Energy Cities identified mechanisms through which energy transition measures stimulate the local economy.

Local authorities will find different approaches to assess and describe the economic and social benefits of their energy and climate policies.

The study is based on six case studies: five European local authorities (Brussels Capital, Copenhagen, Hanover, Kirklees and Paris Ile-de-France) and one US local authority (Nolan County). The analyses cover several areas: energy retrofitting of buildings, energy efficiency, renewable energy, cleantech, mobility, water treatment and waste management.

One example is that of Hanover (Germany), which created the proKlima fund in 1998 to finance climate protection action. Energy Cities reports the results of the input-output analysis carried out by the Pestel Institute to measure the impact of proKlima on the regional and national economies as well as the leverage effect of subsidies. The adjacent graph is a foretaste!

This work is, however, just the first step of a reflection Energy Cities would like to continue further in 2015 with a small team of network members and economic experts. Let us know if you are interested to be part of it!

The study is available in French and in English on request (free of charge for Energy Cities mem-bers).

Christiane Maurer, Project Manager at Energy Cities www.energy-cities.eu/christiane

Members in the spotlight

Aberdeen in transition: From European oil capital to European green capital?

When talking about assessing econo-mic impacts, Aberdeen in the UK has a lot to say. The economy of this Scottish seaport has been entirely reliant on the oil industry since the late 1970s. With oil prices having fallen dra-matically last summer, the city is expe-riencing its worst crisis in 40 years. To cope with this situation, Aberdeen has undertaken a Journey Towards 2050, notably by developing a (Covenant of Mayors) Sustainable Energy Action Plan which commits the city to redu-cing its CO2 emissions by 42% by 2020 (baseline year 2008). Aberdeen wishes to manage its energy transition by involving local players with the ulti-mate goal of positioning itself as a thriving post-oil economy.

Aberdeen has been a member of Energy Cities since 2011 and hosted Energy Cities 2015 Annual Conference.

Learn more about its Journey Towards 2050 on www.energy-cities.eu > Resources.

Energy transition,a true vitamin cocktailfor the local economy!

SuBSIDIeS

2.6million euros in 2010

expenDITure COMMITTeD

ThrOugh ThIS FunD

33million euros

TerrITOrIAL DISTrIBuTIOn

OF expenDITure

76%goes to the local economy

VALue ADDeD generATeD

By The MOney SpenTBy BeneFICIArIeS

46.7million euros

for 2010

CreATIOn OF

757full-time jobs per year,

mainly at thenational level (57%)

The proKlimafund of the cityof Hanover(Germany)

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2015 PARIS CLIMATE DEALWhat

is at stake? The Paris agreement aims at structuring

global climate cooperation over the long term so that global temperature increases are

limited to below 2C. Until the Paris confe-rence in December, negotiations on emissions

reduction objectives will be held between the 195 involved States. The agree-

ment will take effect only in 2020.

What does Energy Cities expect from this summit?Spreading the energy transition at local level needs negotiators who build on existing processes supporting local action. They should include the fol-lowing elements both in the final agreement and in future policies:1. Invite countries and regions to pro-

vide financing platforms in order to develop local players capacity to act,

2. Support decentralised coopera-tion on the energy transition between territories.

Making collective climate action truly operational: the Covenant of Mayors Over 6,200 cities use the Covenant as a decision-making tool. It gives them the framework to design long-term roadmaps in line with EU objectives with all players at local level and with support from regional and provincial levels opera-ting as Covenant Coordinators. Is there a better example of multi-level governance of climate and energy policies?

www.eumayors.eu

The best COP21 allies: Cities

In order to break with the traditional energy and climate approach, cities should be enabled to become on-the-ground facilitators. Pioneering cities of the

energy transition have become genuine laboratories of decentralised, inclusive and decarbonised energy

practices.

Discover the project Post Carbon Cities of Tomorrow:

www.pocacito.eu

Welcome to Paris!

The UN Summit will be hosted by France, giving the 28-country EU bloc a particular reason to wish

for a successful outcome.

Clia Blauel, Deputy Mayor of Parisin charge of the Environment

Can Paris be a model for other cities worldwide?COP21 is an opportunity to remind people that Paris is taking strong, ambitious action to fight climate change, notably via its Climate and Energy plan. Thermal retrofit-ting of housing, alternative mobility to cars, sustainable food supply, the development of RES... Many actions have been initiated in recent years, yet still much remains to be done.

What are the ingredients for a post-carbon city?Political courage, innovation, imagination and the participation of all stakehol-ders are of pivotal importance for creating the cities and society of the 21st century. This is the mindset I would like to instil in the actions of Paris in 2015 so as to be ready to host COP21 in the best conditions and influence the Paris agreement positively.

COP21 =

Conference of the Partiesto the UNFCCC, 21st session

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Marta Felip, Mayor of Figueres, Spain @MartaFelip

In my opi-nion, COP21 negotiators have to be aware of two conditions necessary to the energy transition. Firstly, all actors need

to fully understand the energy issue. While many policy-makers and citizens have already taken the plunge and are working on a new energy model, the message has yet to reach many more people! In order to trigger transforma-tive action, it is essential to promote greater policy awareness by the gene-ral public about the energy transition.

Secondly, we need resources that faci-litate the work. In our city, through the IMAGINE project, we have designed an energy vision and a roadmap clearly shaping our future energy model. To implement local energy poli-cies, funding is needed. In addition, Spanish energy legislation has to be radically changed if cities want to become real energy actors with the ability to produce green energy using local renewable resources. Inspiration for that comes through cross-border cooperation and international exchanges...

Councillor Peter Marland, Leader of the Council, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom@Pete_Marland

It has been over 20 years since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. At that time I was an 11-year-old child and recall the urgency felt

in the need to tackle climate change. In the years since that historic event, the world has changed dramatically, but the need for action remains stronger than ever. As a Smart City and the fastest growing city in the UK, Milton Keynes involvement in international colla-boration projects such as the Covenant of Mayors and IMAGINE 2050 show how local areas can work together on global issues and bring about documented, evidenced change.

The time to act is now. Strong, colla-borative leadership at Paris 2015 can restore faith in global governance. Showing the ability to co-operate for the greater good would also highlight that, despite differences and chal-lenges, change is possible.

Bo Frank, Mayor of Vxj, Sweden

For decades we have seen that if global emissions of greenhouse gases are to be reduced, it is the mayors who must act. While nations are

struggling to agree on the distribution of emission reductions between each other, it is the mayors who take action and show real results.

Mayors must take personal responsibi-lity for ensuring a transition from fossil energy to renewable energy in their own communities, coopera-ting with other local actors. That is why I have launched the Vxj Declaration during our Earth Week in March, where Vxj is pres-sing for national policies to support local energy and climate work.

However, we still depend on the inter-national community to complete our energy transition. A strong binding glo-bal agreement is needed in order to support local authorities, the nations and ultimately the world, in making the energy transition.

Download the Vxj Declaration: www.energy-cities.eu/IMG/pdf/vaxjo_declaration_2015_eng.pdf

Members in the spotlight

EUROPEAN MAyORS MESSAGE TO THE PARIS NEGOTIATORS

Resourcesthat facilitate the work

Strong, collaborative leadership at Paris 2015 can restore faith

A strong binding global agreement is needed

2015 PARIS CLIMATE DEAL

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Wind of change blowing in the UK

Devo met and devo max were two keywords appearing very often in the UK media in 2014, calling for a devolution of national competencies to metropolitan areas alongside the maximum devolution to be granted to Scotland in the wake of the inde-pendence referendum. Among other things, this shift of power from central government to cities and regions is tou-ted as a way to unleash metro growth. Jargon aside, this movement notably calls for public spending and tax raising powers for the UKs local authorities.

On the energy front, such a decentra-lised approach could bring countless

benefits to UK citizens. In Scotland for example, the subnational

government has put its land use planning competency to

good use as the region now enjoys the largest proportion of renewable energy development in the UK! A growing number of the countrys NGOs and think tanks are thus calling for active participation by local

councils in the energy sector.

According to the IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research)*, cities

are Britains new powerhouses. The think tank advocates they should play a greater role in the supply market, currently dominated by six multi-national corporations (British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON UK, npower, Scottish Power and SSE). In a context of growing distrust towards these Big Six energy com-panies, UK citizens are even more incli-ned to welcome their local authorities new role of energy suppliers. As they are directly accountable to their citi-zens, local mayors also take the politi-cally charged issue of fuel poverty very seriously. Not only can they help their residents access lower energy tariffs through collective bargaining with sup-pliers, but some city councils in the UK are also looking at opportunities to

create their own energy services com-panies, as has been done in Bristol. The IPPR report also shows that, on top of lower energy bills, locally-engineered micro-generation can deliver local jobs and skills development opportunities, while creating new revenue streams for cash-strapped local governments.

Besides engaging in the supply mar-kets, cities are championing large scale energy efficiency solutions and empowering citizens to take ownership of the energy transition. Local councils can indeed provide tailored support to their communities for the deployment of sustainable energy projects, acting as catalysts of the energy transition as they are best placed to address the expectations of local households and businesses. Point taken, dear Prime minister?

See Energy Cities Proposals Take local control of energy supply and Eradicate local fuel poverty at www.energy-cities.eu/energytransition

* www.ippr.org

Decentralisation, devolution... Revolution! In the course of the past few decades, new players have entered the energy manage-ment arena, in what could be characterised as a new era of community power. Every-where across Europe and beyond, local authorities have been playing a key role, not only as protagonists but also as facilitators of a new energy model.

Although this trend is spreading in various countries, the most emblema-tic examples can be found in Germany, where numerous local authorities and their citizens have reclaimed ownership of the local grids, previous-ly controlled by large corporate utili-ties. Through a process of re-munici-palisation, a large number of munici-pal utilities (Stadtwerke) has been created to tap into local renewables and improve energy efficiency. In Scandinavian countries, cities have also taken a great degree of control

over their energy sources. Elsewhere across the continent, the case for devolution and decentralised energy management is resonating loudly, with European neighbours keen to follow the German example.

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Litomice czech RepubLic

Following an in-depth territorial analysis, Litomice found that underground heat could be used for geothermal purposes. The city council thus decided to build a geothermal CHP plant set to produce 18.4 GWh of energy per year and to feed a district heating network.

Germany championing civicenergy

51% of renewable energy capacity is owned by citizens (40%) and farmers (11%)

More than 1,000 energy cooperatives created

Since 2007, about 170 municipalities have bought back the grid from private companies

munich aims for

100% green electricity by 2025. The Stadtwerke Mnchen has allocated a budget of

9 billion to this objective.

Amongst the ongoing projects: a hydroelectric plant that will power

4 000homes/year.

bRistoL uK

The 2015 European Green Capital will most probably be the first city in the UK to establish a municipal ener-gy company: Bristol Energy will provide green electricity to UK customers at more competitive and fairer tariffs.

DijonFRance

In 2009, as the city undertakes work for a tramway system, Dijon decides to develop a dis-trict heating network of about 150 GWh.This idea leads to the urban community taking control of hea-ting supply and distribution and taking ownership of the three existing networks.

At random: Threecities reclaiming their energy futures!

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incLuDe cities in eu eneRgy poLicies Albeit still timidly - local authorities are still mostly seen as instrumental in addressing energy efficiency priorities - they seem to be moving upward the EU agenda! Less than two hours after the official unveiling of its much-awaited Energy Union Strategy in February, European Commission Vice President Maro efovi took part in a high-level roundtable to get the views of various mayors from key European cities. The document notably points to the Commissions firm support to the Covenant of Mayors initiative. With the Commission paying greater attention to local govern-ments in certain areas, the recognition of local authorities as full partners of the EU institutions may prove a not-so-distant prospect.

set new investment pRioRities The Commission designed the Juncker Plan to kick-start the Unions economy. From an initial focus on large investment the plan is progressively prioritising energy efficiency, notably fol-lowing the call from Energy Commissioner Caete to put efficiency first. Besides, the experts of the Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group (EEFIG) advocate using the Juncker Plan to develop and aggregate energy efficiency projects, partly echoing Energy Cities position.

3

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tap into LocaL ResouRces Although the Commission acknowledges the potential of energy efficiency at the local level, it is not the case for local energy production. For instance, the Energy Union Strategy docu-ment merely cites indigenous renewables as contributing to energy security, not ela-borating much further on this point and instead putting all the focus on securing new import routes.

invoLve aLL actoRs True, the communication on the Energy Union stresses the role of citizens, communi-ties and cities in energy efficiency and energy demand. Yet it does not provide any recommendation to support the decentralisation of energy production.

Design FutuRe-pRooF cities By proposing to reinforce the Covenant of Mayors initia-tive, the EU reaffirms its support to mayors in developing long-term sustainable visions for their cities. Now, the EU needs to provide tools, notably finance streams, for communities to act on these visions.

EUROPE'S ENERGY TRANSITION

RECOMMENDATIONS TO GUIDE AND INSPIRE EU POLICY-MAKERS

THE BIG

2 35DESIGN FUTURE-PROOF CITIES with radically reduced

energy needs

4INVOLVE ALL ACTORS to foster social innovation1INCLUDE CITIES in EU energy policies and in international climate

negotiations

SET NEW INVESTMENT PRIORITIES to increase energy security

USE LOCAL RESOURCES to tap

the full efficiency potential

www.energy-cities.eu > Position papers

EU energy policy What progress since Energy Cities Big Five recommendations?

The ball is rolling.. .

Work in progress

Not convincing

Yes, but.. .

Almost there!

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European initiative to assist actors from the public sector working on energy efficiency and renewable energy actions at the local and regional levels

ManagEnergy @EU_ManagEnergy #Energy #efficiency among top priorities of new #EU Structural Funds 14-20 #REDay2013 #euopendays

A glimpseof EU policy...

in tweets!

We need your positive energy: eu Commission Vp efovi meets energy Cities mayorsone week after the official unveiling of the energy union project, vice president of the european commission maro efovi exchanged views with energy cities board of Directors.

After hearing the success sto-ries shared by the city mayors and representatives of Delft, Vxj, Dijon, heidelberg, helsinki, Bornova, riga and Bielsko-Biaa, efovi enthu-siastically reiterated the

european Commissions willing-ness to establish closer co-operation with cities, as they are the direct link to citizens.The best practices presented by energy Cities Board mem-bers included fuel switching in district heating networks, improved mobility services, citi-zen engagement, sustainable urban planning and energy effi-ciency in buildings. In a context where the eu is intensifying efforts to improve energy secu-rity and cut energy bills, the

city representatives reminded the Vice president of their key contribution to energy efficien-cy and decarbonisation goals.Immediately after the one-hour exchange, efovi left for the environment Council meeting.

Later in the day, he left a mes-sage on Twitter about his excellent meeting with Energy Cities mayors, key players at the local level for a successful Energy Union.

European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy

Miguel Arias Caete@MAC_europa EU showing the way: our ambitious and timely contribution to #COP21 just approved! EUs INDC: at least -40% by 2030

EU policy debating platform

European Commissioner for Regional Policy

Debating Europe @debatingeurope What role can #cities play in ensuring #energy security and efficiency? We asked @CorinaCretuEU

Co-President of the European Greens

Monica Frassoni@monicafrassoni @ClaudeTurmes says no #EnergyUnion without the #europeanparliament; without cities; without #climate Union

Executive Director of the International Energy Agency

Maria van der Hoeven@VanderHoeven_M #Energie in the EU has been a story of local successes but systemic failures; need to #getitright for #EnergyUnion

European Commissionerfor Energy Union

Maro efovi @MarosSefcovic We discussed #efficiencyfirst principle -> treat efficiency as an energy source in its own right WATCH: http://ow.ly/JXOQs

StollmeyerAlice @StollmeyerEUReminder: #electricity only ~25% of the energy we use. #Transport also ~25%. #Heat: ~50%! => #letstalkHEAT #EU2030

Tweeter onEU energy &climate policies

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this year, the un climate summit is an opportunity for cities to act on the international scene, by exchanging information and spreading know-how about low-carbon territories all over the world. global climate diplomacy can take inspiration from city diplomacy!

upscaling local practices As the Covenant of Mayors demons-trates, cities collaborate better than EU Member States do in tackling climate change. They successfully work together on defining their climate and energy issues and share their expe-rience in devising appropriate local solutions. Using common methods and frameworks, such as Sustainable Energy Action Plans, helps cities enhance urban planning and local policy. With the ongoing extension of the Covenant of Mayors to global scale, cooperation on local energy management will be reinforced between signato-ries.

www.eumayors.eu

1000 cities commit to decentralised cooperation In the Aberdeen Call, in the run-up to the COP21 in December, Energy Cities members declare their willingness to mentor cities from other continents wishing to engage in a process of community-based long-term urban planning.

What cities offer: Energy Cities members are proposing to actively engage in city twinning to mutually support their energy transition by providing expertise and know-how across the globe.

What cities want: EU development funding to make sure local actors are empowered to shift to a fully sustainable global energy system.

Members in the spotlight

Stronger united:

Twin cities and other forms of urban cooperation

twin-win with tanDem The TANDEM project led by Climate Alliance and Energy Cities provides French and German local authorities with an opportunity to make joint progress in the energy transition through exchange and cooperation programmes.

Several partnerships have already been set up since the Strasbourg kick-off meeting in September 2014.

Epernay-Ettlingen: Both cities will jointly buy and commission an Information Bus to raise citizens

awareness and inform them of the array of possibilities in the field of energy retrofitting in housing. A school and staff exchange pro-gramme will be arranged soon.

Grenoble-Essen: Both cities will cooperate on district heating-related issues (management, energy supply, CHP, network optimisation).

Other exciting partnerships are cur-rently under development.

www.ville-tandem.eu

Vxj, Sweden, offers the Serbian city of Ni support in drafting its local energy action plan

say nin hao to zero-carbon living China, the worlds top emitter of greenhouse gases, is increasingly being chosen for one-to-one partnerships on sustainable energy.

A few examples of Energy Cities members cooperating on energy with Chinese cities: Snderborg, Denmark Haiyan County: twinning to design and build a Denmark ZERO carbon street Malm, Sweden Tanshan: rein-forced partnership around the TangMa Training Project for Cities of Tomorrow

Bordeaux, France Wuhan: 15 years of cooperation with joint pro-jects on waste, air, energy efficiency and renewablesBristol, United Kingdom Guangzhou: promoting sustainability with the Guangzhou InternationalInnovation City

Energy Cities Booklet of Proposals (available in Chinese): www.energy-cities.eu/Twinning-town-a- springboard-for

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Publications

Energy Cities recommends... Financing sustainable energy: Findingyour way

Cities often find it challenging to find their way through the complex maze of eu funding streams, programmes and mechanisms. Two new tools should help. The european Commission and the european Investment Bank have jointly developed the Fi-compass platform, which provides advisory services on financial instruments under the european Structural and Investment Funds (eSIF) and microfinance under the programme for employment and Social Innovation (eaSI). Furthermore, the covenant of mayors Quick Reference guide on Financing Opportunities for Local Sustainable energy 2014-2020 should provide some initial food for thought!

www.fi-compass.eu www.eumayors.eu > Support > Funding instruments

Europes power: Re-energising a progressive climate and energy agenda IPPR, September 2014

As this report demonstrates, there is strong evidence that a target for reducing greenhouse gas pollution by 40% by 2030 would boost net employment, reduce fossil fuel imports and offer other co-benefits through improved air quality, for example while only marginally reducing the EUs GDP (EY 2014). The available evidence suggests that a target for deeper reductions in emissions of 50%, for example would have a greater net positive effect on the economy, offer a higher chance of effectively managing climate-change risks, and be cheaper than delaying cuts in emissions to a later date.

www.ippr.org/assets/media/publications/pdf/europes-power_Sep2014.pdf

URBAN RESILIENCE: LIFE+ projects and European policies European Commission, August 2014

Report on the 2014 LIFE+ platform meeting that focused on three thematic modules: resilient infrastructure and urban planning; waste management, recycling and re-use; and natural resource management and renewable energy production, with an emphasis on common methods and tools used in these different areas.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/news/newsarchive2014/august/

Regions and Cities: Where Policies and People Meet OECD Regional Outlook, 2014

For a better understanding of how cities work as engines for innova-tion, prosperity and growth, this second edition of the OECD Regional Outlook aims to help countries adapt policies to the specificities of where people live.

www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/urban-rural-and-regional-development/oecd-regional-outlook-2014_9789264201415-en

From Farm to Folk: public support for local and sustainably produced food Friends of the Earth

Europe, January 2015 This briefing sets out the results of an opinion poll conducted by TNS Opinion in 8 countries on behalf of Friends of the Earth Europe. Europeans were asked about their habits and views in relation to locally-produced food: Europeans seem to see a lot of benefits to buying locally-produced food, but obstacles to act accordingly remain.

https://www.foeeurope.org/local-food-briefing-full-opinion-poll-results-140115

LIFE Platform Meeting

Summary Report

URBAN RESILIENCELIFE+ projects and European policies

4-5 April 2014, Colombes, FR

REPORT

RE-ENERGISING A PROGRESSIVE CLIMATE AND ENERGY AGENDA

EUROPESP WEP

Institute for Public Policy Research

Joss Garman

September 2014 IPPR 2014

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Local Energy Roadmaps 2050

8 European pilot citiesshare their experience Munich (Germany), Odense (Denmark), Milton Keynes (United Kingdom), Lille (France), Figueres (Spain), Bistria (Romania), Dobrich (Bulgaria) and Modena (Italy) all proved ambitious and creative in the framework of the IMAGINE low energy cities project, coordinated by Energy Cities and supported by HafenCity University Hamburg. Those eight European cities developed their own Energy Roadmaps 2050, involving citizens and stakeholders with diverse and original means: sustainability puzzle, training sessions for energy managers, citizen fora, school awards, photo contests,...

The partner cities share their rich experience in the Low-Energy City Policy Handbook.

Tools and methods, full-text road-maps, case studies by HafenCity University (and more!) are available on the project website.

www.imaginelowenergycities.eu

The trendy word

(Fossil fuel) Divestment: Greening the world oneportfolio at a time Fossil fuel divestment is simple: if you want to protect the environment, move your money from carbon-intensive to climate-friendly assets! 350.org, which launched the initiative, urges inves-tors to make their financial portfolios carbon-free. Besides moral motives, there is an economic ratio-nale: divesting avoids money being lost that is locked in assets rendered worthless in a post- carbon economy (such as coal mines for instance).So far, $50 billion (i.e. more than 46 billion) have been divested by universities, religious institu-tions, trust funds or cities. Amusingly, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund which inherited over $860 million from the most famous oil tycoon in history has joined the movement.

http://gofossilfree.org

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ground-breaking examples backing our Proposals for the energy transition of cities and towns

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