EU conference: 500 cities pledge to reduce CO2 by more than 20%

IP/10/486

Brussels, 3 May 2010

EU conference: 500 cities pledge to reduce CO2 by more than 20%

More than 500 European mayors will commit tomorrow to cut CO2 emissions by more than 20% by 2020. By signing the Covenant of Mayors, they pledge to save energy, foster renewable energy and raise awareness among their citizens. They will sign the declaration in the presence of EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain. The Covenant of Mayors is a Commission initiative, supported both by the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions.

Günther Oettinger, Commissioner responsible for energy said: "The Covenant of Mayors has become a key element of the EU sustainable energy policy. Regions and cities are demonstrating that climate mitigation is one of the best economic recovery strategies. Investment into the reduction of CO2 emissions and energy efficiency creates jobs which by their nature cannot be delocalised."

At the Covenant of Mayors Ceremony in the European Parliament, more than 500 mayors will sign the declaration. The Declaration commits them to analyse how much CO2 they emit at the moment, outline how they will reach the goal and evaluate their actions. They also commit themselves to raise awareness among citizens and to share best practice. The city of Heidelberg for example has reduced its Co2 emissions by nearly 40% in public buildings through energy monitoring stations and the 'Energy Teams' in the city’s schools. The City of Riga utilises the methane gas produced in the city’s waste tip to produce electricity and Antwerp uses a refurbished industrial warehouse as showcases sustainable building and demonstration centre for citizens.

Local authorities have a key role in mitigating climate change. Over half of greenhouse gas emissions are created in and by cities. 80% of the population lives and works in cities, where up to 80% of energy is consumed.

Background:

The Covenant of Mayors is an annual conference that has been initiated by the European Commission in 2009. With more than 500 Mayors signing the declaration this year, the number of signatories will raise to more than 1600 signatories in 36 countries representing 120 million citizens.

The European Commission is supporting the initiative by organizing the conference, fostering best practice on the website and helping local authorities to finance their energy actions through programmes such as ELENA which provides funding of Euro 15 million in 2010.

More information on the Covenant of Mayors and the ceremony:

http://www.eumayors.eu/

Annex:

List of Mayors singing the declaration

Annex

Local Authorities Signing the Covenant of Mayors

Albania

SHKODER

Austria

LAXENBURG

WOLFURT

Belarus

POLOTSK

Belgium

HASSELT

ANTWERPEN

GENK

GENT

LEIEDAL KORTRIJK SIVRY

Bosnia and Herzegowina

SARAJEVO

Bulgaria

BALCHIK

VARNA

VARNA

Croatia

ZAGREB

DUGA RESA

JASTREBARSKO

KLANJEC

RIJEKA

VELIKA GORICA

ZAPRESIC

Cyprus

LARNACA

LEFKARA

PARALIMNI

Czech Republic

JESENÍK

Estonia

KURESSAARE

RAKVERE CITY GOVERNMENT

France

BREST MÉTROPOLE OCÉANE

CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC

COUDEKERQUE-BRANCHE

COULAINES

ECHIROLLES CEDEX

METZ

BAYONNE

CAEN

CHAMBERY

ECHIROLLES

GRANDE-SYNTHE

LA BASTIDONNE

L'HAŸ-LES-ROSES

SETE

SÈTE

Germany

BÖHL-IGGELHEIM

FÜRSTENFELDBRUCK

HAMBERGEN

LÖRRACH

MUNICH

OSTERHOLZ- SCHARMBECK

TELTOW

WILLICH

Greece

PATRAS

ACHARNES

AGIA VARVARA

AGIOI ANARGYROI

AGIOS DIMITRIOS

AGIOS STEFANOS

ANO LIOSIA

ASPROPYRGOS

THERMI

NEA VYSSA

PAIANIA

PALAIO FALIRO, ATHENS

PANORAMA

SERRES

SYKIES

YMITTOS

Italy

Latvia

JEKABPILS CITY COUNCIL

Lithuania

KAUNAS

PANEVEZYS

VILKAVIŠKIS REGION MUNICIPALITY

Macedonia

SKOPJE

Malta

BIRKIRKARA

QRENDI

SAN LAWRENZ

SANTA VENERA

SWIEQI

XEWKIJA

BALZAN

HAL-GHAXAQ

IKLIN

MARSASKALA

PEMBROKE

SAN GILJAN

SANTA LUCIJA

SLIEMA

TA' XBIEX

XAGHRA, GOZO

MDINA

KALKARA

SAN PAWL IL-BAHAR

Montenegro

PODGORICA

Netherlands

HEERHUGOWAARD

Norway

STAVANGER

Poland

LODZ

DZIERŻONIÓW

LUBIANKA

RACIECHOWICE

Portugal

BEJA

FERREIRA DO ALENTEJO

SANTIAGO DO CACÉM

SANTO AMADOR

Romania

CRAIOVA

GIURGIU

AVRIG

BISTRITA

RM. VALCEA

VASLUI

Slovakia

MOLDAVA NAD BODVOU

Spain

Sweden

BORÅS

FINSPÅNG

JOKKMOKK

VÄXJÖ

Ukraine

LUTSK

MOHYLIV-PODILSKY

United Kingdom

ABERDEEN

Supporting Structures signing the Covenant of Mayors

CLIMATE ALLIANCE

COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS

ENERGY-CITIES

EUROCITIES

FEDARENE

LOCAL AUTHORITIES NETWORK (BELGIUM)

UNION OF BULGARIAN BLACK SEA LOCAL AUTHORITIES (BULGARIA)

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN CROATIA

REGION SJÆLLAND (DENMARK)

VERBAND REGION RHEIN-NECKAR (GERMANY)

CITTASLOW INTERNATIONAL (ITALY)

REGION ABRUZZO (ITALY)

LOCAL COUNCILS' ASSOCIATION (MALTA)

BALEARIC ISLAND GOVERNMENT (SPAIN)