COVENANT SUPPORTERS

Implementation Report 2023

KEY FIGURES
RAISING AWARENESS

How are Supporters promoting the Covenant?

Informing members and/or local authorities about the CoM 80%

Amplifying the message using own communication tools 56%

Organising events, workshops, webinars and promoting events 51%

Disseminating capacity building & technical materials 32%

Awareness raising needs

71% 66%
Mitigation Adaptation

How are Supporters participating in Covenant activities?

60% 51%
78% Contributing to Covenant surveys
Energy poverty Just transition
66% Participating in events organised by the Covenant
31% Informing about the challenges faced by signatories
14%
Announcing events on the Covenant website

CAPACITY BUILDING

Capacity building support

Supporting signatories' activities 76 %

Informing signatories about potential synergies
76 %
Helping mobilise financial support 75 %

Organising capacity-building events and workshops 61 %

Capacity building needs*
Providing/developing technical guidelines 41 %

Knowledge sharing support 77% 77%

Including the Covenant in the agenda of events Energy efficiency Renewable energy
47 %

44 % Supporting peer-review & mentoring

42 % Creating opportunities among signatories 73% 61%

12 % No specific action was carried out last year Financing Local energy planning

*top 4 answers

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 FUNDING

Knowledge of funding at national or

Types of funding sources
regional level to finance CoM-related
actions

Yes
No 15 % 51%

I don’t know
19 % 37% 37 %
66 %

17%
12% 3%
7%

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MULTI-LEVEL GOVERNANCE AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Collaboration between Covenant Supporters, Coordinators, Ministries or others

Acting as an intermediaries between signatories and stakeholders 68 %

Developing joint activities with other stakeholders 51 %

Contributing to the preparation/implementation of national policies 37 %

Providing feedback on the implementation of own commitments 34 %

CLIMATE NEUTRAL EUROPE

55 % GHG CLIMATE NEUTRALITY

REDUCTION BY 2030 BY 2050

Support needed by Signatories to achieve the targets

Information about funding and financing opportunities

75 %
73 % Capacity-building activities

47 % Knowledge sharing

46 % More information and/or awareness

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 REVISION OF THE NATIONAL ENERGY AND CLIMATE PLANS

Has your national competent authority Is your organisation collaborating with

established a permanent mechanism for the national authorities in the revision of
Multilevel Climate and Energy Dialogues the National Energy and Climate Plan
or consultation on the NECP? (NECP)?

Yes 14 %
31 %
Partly 39 % Yes
20 %
No No
69 %
I don’t know
27 %

What is the mechanism used by your national competent authority in the drafting of the
NECP to consult local and regional authorities?

LRAs involved through written comments or an online questionnaire 36 %

LRAs involved through workshops, seminars, roundtables, interviews, etc 20 %
LRAs involved in meetings to identify, discussed and set new goal 14 %

LRAs contributed to the national strategy with regional/local plans 14 %

Informal meetings 12 %

Other 8%

None 7%

(multiples answers were possible; 41% answered “I don’t know/ Not applicable”)

At which stage of the NECP preparation process is the MCED or consultation carried out?

Early stage Mid-way Advanced stage

(47% answered “I don’t know/ Not applicable”)

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 GOOD PRACTICES

Covenant Supporters have actively championed the Covenant of Mayors, significantly

contributing to the promotion of climate action and sustainable energy. These efforts,
ranging from signatories’ support and awareness campaigns to capacity-building workshops
and collaboration platforms, underscore a collective commitment to addressing climate
change challenges and fostering a greener, more energy-efficient future.

VVSG has been supporting the local governments for the Místní akční skupina Podbrněnsko, spolek, organised
realisation of the 'Local Energy and Climate Pact' of the two local days for climate and helped signatories
regional government of Flanders, where signing the gathering data for their SECAPs.
Covenant is one of the engagements and developed a
new tool development of a new tool 'inspiration map Tartu Regional Energy Agency organised several
renovation policy'. consultations for municipalities on energy and climate
planning promoting the Covenant of Mayors and SECAP
Parc Naturel de Gaume developed an online network methodology, as well as in the framework of the non-
with all their signatories, organised live workshops to formal club "Union of Smart cities Estonia", in which they
meet and learn as well as promoted and explained the are one of the leaders. A knowledge centre for renovation
Covenant in signatories events. of buildings for citizens, and climate impact assessments
of municipalities’ action plan activities are also examples
North-West Croatia Regional Energy and Climate
of other activities.
Agency (REGEA) supports and promotes the Covenant of
Mayors and SECAPs in communications with
The Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities
municipalities, providing support in implementing actions
contributed to the event “Empowering Cities: Accelerating
and encouraging those municipalities without SECAPs to
the Green Energy Transition”, jointly organised by the
join the Covenant of Mayors and develop their own Action
Covenant of Mayors and the city ofTallinn EU Green
plans. Moreover, organised capacity building events
Capital 2023.
welcoming cities from across Croatia to participate and
provided assistance to municipalities in better planning
their measures.

Regional Energy Agency North engage with local

authorities to disseminate information about the
Covenant of Mayors initiative and encourage their active
involvement. An example was an event organised within
EUCityCalc project, to promote co-creation with
stakeholders in expert working groups, sharing key
aspects of SECAPs and the importance of regular SECAP
reporting, as well as identifying the most important
mitigation actions to foster sustainable development in
participating cities.

SWEDES promoted the Covenant of Mayors on different

events dedicated to the mitigation of climate change.
The Association of Finnish Local and Regional
Cyprus Energy Agency, who recently became Covenant
Authorities organised a Covenant of Mayors workshop
Territorial Coordinator, secured RRF funding for
on sustainable energy bringing together the national
developing joint SECAPs in all the small local authorities
Covenant community. This was an opportunity to provide
in Cyprus. Moreover, hosted a peer review (May 2023)
information on EU funding for cities and municipalities.
under Interreg Europe programme related with the ‘Fast-
Moreover, published case study articles presenting best
tracking of Renewable Energy Communities in the Cypriot
practices and lessons learnt on how municipalities have
context’
been using funding to implement their own strategies.
Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech
Agence du climat de l'Eurométropole de Strasbourg
Republic (SMOCR) organised a webinar to share
communicated and promoted events organised by the
information and best practices related with the Covenant
Covenant of Mayors.
of Mayors which enabled interconnection of different
stakeholders and representatives: the European
Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Energie Environnement
Commission, the Czech Ministry of Environment and the
provided signatories with data to elaborate baseline
Czech local representatives including CoM Signatories
emissions inventory and monitor emissions and energy
consumption/production in the SECAPs.
Association of Local Energy Managers (SEMMO)
informed members about the initiative, encouraging them
to join the Covenant of Mayors.

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 GOOD PRACTICES

Energiaklub Climate Policy Institute shared KS, the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional
information, event invitations and tools relevant to Authorities, promoted the knowledge of Covenant of
Hungarian municipalities via its newletter for local Mayors as a supplement to national work on the topics
authorities and via its dedicated group. and to get more information about ongoing work within
the EU.
WWF Hungary organised the CEESEN Sustainable
Municipalities Conference in Budapest, with the Mazovia Energy Agency organised webinars and face to
participations of around 200 people and speakers from face workshops related with the Covenant, raising
Covenant of Mayors. The promotion of SECAPs was one of awareness on Climate Energy, addressing and supporting
the main priorities of the whole conference, offering basic SECAP development, and sharing best practices on green
and advanced level SECAP training series for small and solutions and promoting Covenant ideas and goals.
medium sized municipalities in Hungary. Moreover, it has translated to Polish the CEESEU-SECAP
Evaluation Tool and the Companion Guide to SECAP
LENERG Energy Agency promoted Covenant of Mayors Development in the CEE Region.
among municipalities, provided support in developing
and revising SECAPs for municipalities and support to fill The Association of Municipalities Polish Network
the database for the assessment of SECAPs "Energie Cités", organised a 2-day seminar in Jadwisin on
Sustainable urban and municipal development on the way
Tipperary Energy Agency fostered engagement with the to climate neutrality, addressing the successes and
senior management in the local authority during the barriers in the energy transition, sharing good practices
creation of their Climate Action Plan 2024-2030 to and presenting different initiatives funding opportunities
highlight the benefits of COM and activities that will and bringing together over 60 participants, CoM and non-
support the Climate Action Plan as well as discussing the CoM municipalities mayors and other representatives,
Covenant of Mayors at consultative forums with local national institutions and NGOs.
authorities.
AREANATejo co-organised an event/workshop/training
Anci Toscana has promoted the Covenant of Mayors session "Climate Action in Cities” and presented the role
initiative through project SOLE supporting the energy of the Regional OSS in the Energy Transition and
requalification of public buildings and presenting the fulfillment of the objectives of the SECAP. Moreover, has
Covenant in several local meetings resulting policy disseminated the Covenant of Mayors Session on
recommendations to make it easier for the public building overcoming the current challenges of the climate
stock to become energy efficient, shared among all transition, aimed at technicians from Municipalities,
municipalities as key elements to feature in their local Energy and Environment Agencies and other entities
SECAPs. responsible for drawing up the Sustainable Energy and
Climate Action Plan (SECAP).
AGIRE Energy Agency supports the Province of Mantova
in the diffusion of best practices and supply expertise at a Aldeias Históricas de Portugal has carried out a protocol
local level to implement activities and actions foreseen in signing with multiple signatories and created a working
their own SEAP / SECAP group with signatories, organised workshops and
technical visits related with SECAPs. Moreover, it has
Sweden Emilia Romagna Network presents the promoted the Covenant by including it in the agenda of
Covenant in its activities, explaining its mission, own events, working groups, committees, and other
objectives, and benefits, as well as promotes Covenant of relevant fora and by providing/developing technical
Mayors events and activities within its network. guidelines or adapt the (Covenant Europe). Regularly
informing the Covenant of Mayors - Europe Office of
AESS - Agenzia per l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Sostenibile challenges and needs faced by signatories was also part
conveyed the opportunity offered by the Emilia-Romagna of the work as Supporter.
Region and the Puglia Region, who have many signatories
of the Covenant to finance adhesion to the Covenant of OER - Energy Cities Romania organised a Covenant of
Mayors and develop the SECAP. With the municipalities of Mayor session during its Annual Conference addressing
Emilia-Romagna, AESS is also conveying the importance of the role of municipalities in updating the National
first-level monitoring. Moreover, AESS organised Integrated Energy and Climate Plan, the support
workshops to explain how to develop the SECAP. Community Energy Managers can provide at local level,
the importance of Local Long-Term Climate Neutrality
FMI, the in-house Energy Agency of 15 Municipalities in Strategies, as well as the challenges faced by cities when
the territory of Forlì-Cesena, has mobilised 13 it comes to climate changes, mitigation, resilience and
municipalities to become signatories and approve the adaptation and funding. Recommendations to accelerate
SECAP. Support was provided to signatories in their digitalisation of energy efficiency plans, increase data
participative paths, collecting data and supporting the collection and correctness, and the implementation of
SECAP development. Furthermore, FMI organised events multi-level dialogues for a proper exchange of
and public conferences about actions for the Mitigation information between stakeholders at several levels of
and Adaptation to Climate Changes. governance were some of the outcomes. Moreover, it has
organised and facilitated a workshop on Energy
Communities during the Green Cities Forum in Romania.

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 GOOD PRACTICES

Alba Local Energy Agency (ALEA) promoted the Moreover, Ihobe supports signatories in the review of the
Covenant in the framework of several EU projects in SECAPs, develop tools to calculate GHG emissions, climate
which ALEA is partner and has a dedicated resource risk, etc. and developed a strategy to support
library for CoM signatories/other municipalities on ALEA municipalities in facilitating climate action at the local
website. level on financing, capacity building, citizen
empowerment, etc.
ZZMO CITENERGO organised with other partners the the
Slovak National Covenant Platform Meeting in Bratislava Consell Comarcal del Bages by means of an aggregated
to discuss the “Preparation of cities and municipalities for Action Plan, promoted measures to adapt the
the new ESIF Programming period in the conditions of the compromises of 21 local governments to achieve 2030
ongoing climate and energy crisis”. This moment allow to objectives. Additionally, being signatory of the Covenant
address the preparation of low-carbon strategies and is a plus when a local government ask for financial
SECAPs, and funding opportunities on adaptation and support to "Diputació de Barcelona".
mitigation measures in the period of energy crisis.

Ihobe has developed the Guide ERREMINTA – GIDA: Association European Energy Award organised a policy
Supporting local administrations in their energy and session at the European Sustainable Energy Week,
climate transition, which includes the resources that both inviting the Covenant of Mayors as one of the speakers.
Ihobe and EVE, Supporters in the Basque Country make
available to local councils to promote the energy and
climate transition and the Covenant of Mayors. I was
followed by a campaign throughout the Basque Country
to present this guide to all municipalities, both at a
technical and political level to increase the number of
adhesion of municipalities to the Covenant of Mayors.

THIS REPORT IN FIGURES

This report is based on responses from 59 CoM Supporters from 18 countries

The respondents represent over 20.000 local and regional governments
The figures this report result from a Survey sent to all Covenant of Mayors Europe
Supporters

Published by the Covenant of Mayors – Europe Office in February 2024

© European Union 2024

This publication does not involve the European Commission in liability of any kind