Mayors’ Pledge to Make “Drastic” CO2 Emissions Cuts Highlight of EU Sustainable Energy Week

The mayors of some 400 European cities have pledged to make “drastic” cuts in CO2 emissions by 2020 during EU Sustainable Energy Week 2009, reports the International Institute for Sustainable Development. Centered at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, the five-day conference has attracted more than 6,000 registered participants and visitors. One hundred forty six associated events are taking place in 52 cities.

The signing of the “Covenant of Mayors” is one highlight of the EU’s campaign to address and raise public awareness of climate change and energy security across the 27-nation bloc. Recent events have heightened recognition of the degree to which the EU relies on imported natural gas and oil to keep the lights on and the wheels of industry and commerce turning. As demonstrated by its recent disputes in the Ukraine and Georgia, Russia has effectively once again nationalized the energy sector and shown a growing tendency to exploit the fact that it’s the EU’s largest supplier of natural gas.

Taking Action, Recognizing Achievement

The climate change action covenant calls for EU mayors to enact sustainable energy action plans that include a series of emission reduction targets and obligations within 12 months. Progress is to be monitored closely by external assessments and the submission of status reports on a regular basis.

This commitment by EU’s leading cities to cut CO2 emissions is indicative of the consensus that is emerging at the local level to reduce pollution and improve energy efficiency. The EU’s Sustainable Energy Week is a timely opportunity to focus attention on these critical issues and to give European stakeholders the opportunity to showcase potential solutions,” EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs stated on his blog.

“Europe needs to maintain its leading role in the battle against global warming and continue to reduce energy consumption and its dependence on energy imports. In order to achieve these objectives it is necessary to show a good example to transform political ideas into real projects. Therefore pioneering examples are necessary. It is great to see people, private and public bodies joining their ideas and contributing towards sustaining our planet.”

Sustainable Energy Europe Awards

Another highlight of EU Sustainable Energy Week is the announcement of winners of the Sustainable Energy Europe Awards 2009. Some 251 organizations were involved in this year’s competition, which recognizes outstanding and innovative programs and actions by Sustainable Energy campaign partners. Winners across a range of categories were chosen from a short-list of 25 nominees and announced Tuesday, February 10.

Nominees in the “Sustainable Communities” category included the Municipality of Krakow’s “Waste Management Program,” the City of Goteborg’s “Sustainable transport system becomes a reality,” and Consorzio Produttori Agricoli Acque Minerale Umbre’s “Energy production using local wood and agricultural biomass renewable resources for land sustainable development.”

“Our sustainable energy goals will require difficult choices. We have to be ready to make bold decisions today in order to achieve progress tomorrow. Not only politicians, but each of us have to take a minute and think how we can contribute towards that. Even small things can make difference. Therefore I hope that the Sustainable Energy Week will be a good occasion to exchange views and good practices that afterwards could be implemented in our daily lives. Let us use this week to show that we have the spirit, ingenuity and enterprise to succeed,” Piebalgs writes.

You can view live and saved webcasts of EUSEW events in Brussels and around the EU by following this link.

Andrew Burger
Andrew Burger
A product of the New York City public school system, Andrew Burger went on to study geology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, work in the wholesale money and capital markets for a major Japanese bank and earn an MBA in finance.

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