THE PACT OF ISLANDS THE ISLE-PACT & the SMILEGOV Projects. A Sustainable Energy Future for Islands

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2 THE PACT OF ISLANDS THE ISLE-PACT & the SMILEGOV Projects A Sustainable Energy Future for Islands European Overseas Roundtable European Parliament 28 June 2013 Panos Coroyannakis ISLE-PACT Project Manager info@islepact.eu

3 Pact of Islands An initiative parallel to the Covenant of Mayors A political engagement Commitment to exceed the targets of the EU climate change package recognising specificities of islands Fragile ecosystems Structural handicaps loss of population High tourism fluctuation in energy demand scarcity of water Open for signatures at the end of June

4 The link between biodiversity, climate change and energy Energy use is today the major contributor to global CO2 emissions and global warming The effects of global warming on biodiversity are well known Reducing or greening energy use is one of the major tools to mitigate climate change Islands should set an example of sustainable energy systems as they have the most fragile eco-systems and are the first ones to suffer the effects of global warming Development of sustainable energy systems is in the heart of environmental sustainability

5 Islands Sustainable Energy Action Plans To improve knowledge about the energy supply and demand. To establish the regional and local sustainable energy policies. Where they are today Where they have to be in 2020 to achieve targets How do they get there To develop ISEAPs needed to achieve environmental targets & policy objectives. An ISEAP is also a tool to promote environmental sustainability and territorial cohesion 5

6 Where are we today 64 Island authorities have signed the Pact of Islands The regions of Western Isles, Gotland, Hiiumaa, Saaremaa, Öland and Crete The autonomous governments (regions) of Sardinia, Azores and Madeira 18 Greek island municipalities in the Aegean 13 Cyprus communities 5 Malta local councils All 7 cabildos of the Canary Islands Samsø from Denmark The Region of Sicily and 8 Aeolian islands More islands are in the process of joining 59 Island SEAPS have been completed & 56 submitted to the European Commission 99 projects have been identified & 53 analysed for bankability 6

7 Impact of the project 53 Bankable projects identified and ready for financing If these projects are implemented by 2020 Over 18 million tons of CO2 emissions reductions per year Comparison of CO2 emissions reductions to the emissions of three comparable size member states. CO2 emissions in 2010 [ton/year] (source EEA) Reduction of CO2 of ISEAPs in 2020 compared with some member states in 2010 Belgium 132,459,000 15% Denmark 61,065,000 31% Portugal 70,599,000 27% 7

8 Where do we go from here The planning & investment horizon goes to 2020 On 19 January 2012 a Written Declaration has been adopted by the European Parliament recognising the Pact of Islands as an EU official EU initiative and asking the European Commission for continued support. On 1 April the majority of the ISLE-PACT Partners started SMILEGOV. SMILEGOV is an IEE co-funded project. It has a duration of 30 months and is aiming at dealing with governance issues, expanding the PoI signatories, providing technical support and building capacity to both existing and new signatories with the view to identifying and implementing more Bankable Projects on the way to achieving the objectives

9 The main challenges & SMILEGOV The ISLE-PACT project ended on 30 November 2012 There are 53 identified bankable projects that are waiting for the next step in the process: financing. There is a great need for capacity building There is a need to improve multilevel governance and learn how the different levels of authority can work together in order to achieve results There is a need to monitor ISEAP implementation & emissions and report to the Commission every 2 years (PoI obligation) The SMILEGOV project will allow European islands to continue working together towards the goals till the end of 2015

10 The SMILEGOV project objectives Create clusters of Islands working together to achieve a better understanding of the workings of multi-level governance: effective co-operation between different government levels (Local vs. Regional vs. National) The decision making processes within the various levels of government Socioeconomic, territorial and environmental parameters that influence sustainability in practice 10

11 The SMILEGOV project objectives Develop capacity within island authorities to develop and implement Islands Sustainable Energy Action Plans and green projects with the view to meet or exceed CO2 reduction targets within the EU objectives Expand the number of signatories to the Pact of Islands and create a strong group of island authorities with a strong voice within the EU institutions 11

12 SMART ISLANDS The Smart Island Concept An Association of islands working together to promote: Smart eco-tourism Smart islands energy systems and smart grids Smart ecosystem & biodiversity preservation methods Smart islands transport (both land & marine) Smart water systems & desalination from RES Smart municipal waste treatment & recycling Smart local investment schemes Smart universities & technology networks etc. etc. etc. 12

13 In conclusion The Pact of Islands is not a project, it is a process It shows that islands can be at the forefront of the fight against climate change, and at the same time create growth, employment and prosperity during difficult economic times. THANK YOU For more info info@smilegov.eu