Climate protection in Europe

Transcription

1 National Conference Los Angeles April 2012 Session: International Context for Climate Action Plans S496 Climate protection in Europe Francesco Musco, PhD, University Iuav Venice, School of Urban and Regional Planning -

2 One night when en route from Singapore to London, as we crossed the great Eurasian landmass, I looked out of the cabin window at a city illuminated below. Its network of lights stretched from horizon to horizon, and the lights burned so bright with so much energy as to alarm me. From the heights of feet, the atmosphere seemed so thin and fragile the breathable part of it lay feet below our aircraft. I asked the airline steward where we where. She gave me the name of a city I didn t know. With a jolt I realized that the world is full of such cities, whose fossil-fuel driven lights cause our planet to blaze into the night sky Tom Flannery, The Weather Makers

3 State of Art Global emissions of CO 2 started to rise since the pre-industrial period with a total increase of 70% in period Regarding the more relevant effects it is possible to notice an average increase of temperature of 0,2 C each 10 years and even if total emissions would be stabilized, the temperature will continue to increase 0,1 C every 10 years (IPCC, 2007) A high dissipation energy system energy related with obsolete production systems with a low component of renewability CO 2 CH 4 N 2 O

4 State of Art: European energy consumes and emissions climate affecting 75% European citizens live in urban areas. Final and intermediate consumption of energy and linked emission of greenhouse gases have in urban areas 80% of global. The civil sector absorb 35-40% of total energy in the continent: 70% for heating. The most part of building stock requires primary energy superior at 160 kwh/m 2 (Energy class G). Networks loss energy to move energy Urban structures energy inefficiency plays a very negative effect in terms of economic pressures on families and enterprises. National legislation are promoting energy efficiency in private and public buildings.

5 Terminology Climate Plans Climate Protection Plans Climate Adaptation Plans Climate Mitigation Plans Sustainable Energy Action Plans

6 The Strategy (January 2007) The EU and its Member States have confirmed their target to limit the global average temperature increase to 2 Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels, the point beyond which the impact of climatic change is believed to increase dramatically. In line with the strategic analysis of the EU's energy policy, the Commission recommends taking the following measures on energy: Mitigation perspective improving the EU's energy efficiency by 20 % by 2020; increasing the share of renewable energy to 20 % by 2020; developing an environmentally safe carbon geological storage policy.

7 The Covenant of Mayors After the adoption, in 2008, of the EU Climate and Energy Package, the European Commission launched the Covenant of Mayors to endorse and support the efforts deployed by local authorities in the implementation of sustainable energy policies. Indeed, local governments play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of climate change, all the more so when considering that 80% of energy consumption and CO 2 emissions is associated with urban activity. Items Total Signatories 3,763 Inhabitants involved 160,012,478 Covenant Coordinators 100 Covenant Supporters 67 Sustainable Energy Action Plans submitted Sustainable Energy Action Plans accepted Signatories suspended 30 Source: EU (2011)

8 The Covenant of Mayors: steps of implementation main phases STEP 1: Signature of the Covenant of Mayors Creation of adequate administrative structures Baseline Emission Inventory & SEAP development STEP 2 : Sustainable Energy Action Plan submission Implementation of your Sustainable Energy Action Plan Monitoring progress STEP 3 : Regular submission of implementation reports

9 The Covenant of Mayors: steps of implementation (1) STEP 1: Signature of the Covenant of Mayors Creation of adequate administrative structures Baseline Emission Inventory & SEAP development 1 A Baseline Emission Inventory (BEI) is a quantification of the amount of CO 2 emitted due to energy consumption in the territory of a Covenant signatory within a given period of time the recommended base year being A Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) is the STEP 1

10 The Covenant of Mayors: steps of implementation (2) STEP 2 : SEAP submission Implementation of your Sustainable Energy Action Plan Monitoring progress Your SEAP must be approved by the municipal council and uploaded in your national language (or in English) using the on-line submission After submission, the consistency of your data will be checked by the Joint Research Centre of European Union (JRC). Once your SEAP template has been reviewed, highlights of the information provided will be published on the Covenant of Mayors website A monitoring system have to be defined STEP 2

11 The Covenant of Mayors: steps of implementation (3) STEP 3 : Regular submission of implementation reports Every two years after having submitted the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP), you have to report on your SEAP implementation. These implementation reports aim to check the compliance of the interim results with the foreseen objectives in terms of measures implemented and CO 2 emission reductions. STEP 3

12 The Covenant of Mayors: a success In terms of signatories the EU initiative is a very successful initiative. Especially in the Southern Europe (where less policies in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability have been implemented in the past). Northern countries have a more efficient public policies system that succeed to integrate in the ordinary planning system a sustainable approach (in terms of resources use, tools, practices). Country Italy 1843 Spain 1002 France 140 Portugal 71 Germany 65 Sweden 50 United Kingdom 33 INNOVATIVE IN THE GOVERNANCE RELATIONSHIP: EU CITIES Source: EU (2011) Signatories

13 The Covenant of Mayors Different actors Signatories Essentially cities Coordinators This role is covered by an intermediate level of government provinces and counties according national legislations Supporters Local governments or different public bodies taking part in the programs without commitments

14 White Paper on Adaption (July 2009) White Paper sets out a framework to reduce the EU s vulnerability to the impact of climate change. It builds on the wideranging consultation launched in 2007 by the Green Paper on Adapting to Climate Change in Europe and further research efforts that identified action to be taken in the short-term. The framework is designed to evolve as further evidence becomes available. It will complement action by Member States and support wider international efforts to adapt to climate change, particularly in developing countries. Adaption perspective The white paper is accompanied by three sectoral papers on 1) agriculture, 2) health, and 3) water, coasts and marine issues.

15 Source: EEA (2011)

16 Source: European Spatial Planning Observatory Network (2011)

17 . Source: EU (2011)

18 Climate plans (etc. ) According the NAS National Adaptation Strategies the different countries have invited their local authorities (cities) to define local plans (voluntary) In the European context the situation in quite heterogeneous in terms of resulting initiatives. The main European cities have defined local adaptations initiatives (not necessarily plans): London, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris Venice

19 Conclusions Europe is in a very innovative phase of climate policies involving city level and planning competences: -According a mitigation perspective, the success of the Covenant of Mayors program demonstrate the central role of EU to address local policies (of common and public interest) directly, without the intermediate role of the single countries; -In terms of adaptation policies there is a very strong effort providing indications but the absence of a specific EU tool: cities are providing self initiatives; -The connection with ordinary planning tools in many case is still weak, demanded to the local voluntary innovation

20 Thanks Francesco Musco, PhD, Assistant professor Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning University Iuav of Venice Italy