The involvement of local and regional authorities in the transition towards a green economy"

Transcription

1 The involvement of local and regional authorities in the transition towards a green economy" Wolfgang Teubner ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability European Secretariat

2 How sustainable is a green economy? Society (Individual needs, quality of life and well-being) Distribution Processes (inclusive) output extraction Economic Processes Resources and Ecosystem Services (Common goods) waste/emission Transformation Processes (smart) Extraction Processes and Pollution Limited/Boundaries (efficient)

3 How sustainable is a green economy? Growth + Efficiency = Maximisation of Output for Consumption leading to Rebound Effects Sufficiency + Efficiency = Optimisation of Output

4 Regional Competitiveness for attracting investment The competing city region Urban/regional investments for Infrastructure (Tax-)subsidies Cheap land Benefits for the region? Economic resilience?

5 Regional value chains for economic resilience The productive city region Regional Resources Participation Inclusion Transparency and Control Economic Resilience

6 What can local and regional authorities do? Support the greening of existing economic activities: support training and capacity building activities support EMAS certification create clusters of knowledge, support and exchange regulate and control

7 What can local and regional authorities do? Stimulate innovation and markets through sustainable public procurement: introduce appropriate criteria in their tenders use new procedures for the procurement of innovation act as a leading example for enterprises and citizens

8 What can local and regional authorities do? Support and facilitate the development of sustainable economic development strategies: develop clusters based on local and regional strengths including education, research and enterprises support the development of identity and branding support the development of sustainable local and regional value chains including new models of investment

9 Examples of Regional Value Chains Agriculture and Food Sustainable Tourism Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Waste/Recycling business

10 Economic opportunities - Food Local and regional food markets Urban and peri-urban farming Distribution chains and Cooperatives and other forms networks ICLEI

11 Economic opportunities - Food Regionalwert AG Freiburg app. 500 Shareholders Capital 2,0 Mio Investing in food value chain Farming Processing Delivery, Shops, Markets

12 Regional added value analysis Overall Status quo of Electricity ca. 48 Mio. financial resources spent on fossil fuels Transport ca. 117 Mio. Status quo in electricity and heating sector Renewable energy in numbers: Investments: ca. 223 Mio. Savings and revenues: ca. 375 Mio. Costs: ca. 360 Mio. Regional added value: ca. 133 Mio. Source: IfaS Heating ca. 74 Mio. ICLEI

13 Exploitation of available renewable energy potential Source: IfaS ICLEI

14 Catalogue of energy measures Sun Area: Solar energy potential of Osnabrück s roofs Information about the solar potantials are based on a project called Sun Area coordinated by the University of Osnabrück Citizens can see the adequacy of their own roofs for solar applications for free in the internet Osnabrück can decrease its electricity demand up to 20% Citizens do not have to apply for (expensive) energy consultancy services Up to 1,5 billion investment-volume could be generated roofs can produce around MWh electricity and can save t CO 2

15 The Neilston Community Wind Farm The Neilston community wind farm grew out of a 20-year vision to regenerate and develop the village of Neilston in Scotland. Partnership between a wind power developer and a local community trust Trust owns more than a quarter of the four wind turbines constructed within the boundaries of the village. It has been ensured that the local population is actively engaged and supportive of the wind farm. Revenues from the wind farm are spent according to the community s needs

16 Regiosonne Freiburg ICLEI

17 Regiosonne Freiburg ICLEI

18 Citizen Energy Contracting - EcoWatt Staudinger Comprehensive School, Freiburg 1st citizen energy contracting in Germany ECO-Watt collected Euro from teachers, parents and citizens of Freiburg and invested the capital into energy saving technologies (electricity 20%, heating 30% and water 36%) 8 year contract with City of Freiburg Energy and water cost savings within this period went to ECO-Watt

19 Citizen Energy Contracting multiple beneficiaries Shareholders profited from an interest rate of 6% Part of the savings ( ) were shared with the school for its own (re-)investment Energy savings of up to 200,000 kwh per year 5.4 million kwh of heat reduction (without CHP or envelope renovation) Reduction of CO 2 emissions by about 300 t/a City of Freiburg had the total economic advantage of about 1 million Euro without any investment

20 Citizen Energy Contracting multiple beneficiaries All measures were small and performed by regional small and medium enterprises More than half of the investment went into labour Further information:

21 Local Tax Incentives Kanton Basel The Basel initiative "Energiekanton 2000 developed an incentive tax to save energy (approved by the City Council with a large majority already in 1998). Consumers pay between 0,03 and 0,06 SFR for every kwh of electricity as a charge to the Stromsparfonds Basel (charge increases with consumption). Once a year, every households receives 72 SFR Since everyone gets the same amount, those that saved energy have a positive balance

22 Local Tax Incentives Positive Effects Sufficiency, and quick replacement of old devices with energy efficient ones are promoted The bonus reward system provides privileges to those companies that are offering many working places Between 30 GWh and 100 GWh per year have been saved More information:

23 Additional Benefits Activated Citizens from consumers to investors and prosumers Contribution to a sustainable and resilient economy Better perspectives for a bottom-up inclusive EU

24 Together is better Join ICLEI! Thank you for your attention!