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eClimail

en/5 of 17 December 2013



Contents


Climate Alliance news


New Climate Alliance members


We cordially welcome our new members. The following local authorities have joined Climate Alliance: from Austria the municipalities of Afiesl, Hellmonsödt, Kronstorf and Schönegg as well as from Italy the municipality of Chiaravalle. The city of Batumi is the first member of Climate Alliance in Georgia. Welcome!
Presently 1632 cities, municipalities and districts as well as 59 provinces, NGOs and further organisations in 23 countries are members of Climate Alliance.
List of members: www.climatealliance.org

SEAP_Alps Methodology at UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw


During the Warsaw UN Climate Change Conference (COP 19) the SEAP_Alps Methodology was presented in the workshop “Mechanisms supporting the monitoring of Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs)”. The session on 15 November 2013 in the EU Pavilion showcased examples on methods and tools for developing and monitoring SEAPs and Climate Plans as well as the support that they could bring for the municipal level. A particular focus of the SEAP_Alps methodology lies in the integration of measures to adapt to climate change.
www.seap-alps.eu

United in Energy Transition: local, national, European – and global?


During the UN Climate Summit in Warsaw at 22 November 2013 Climate Alliance debated in a joint event together with the Abruzzo Region and the Italian Kyoto Club partnerships between different government levels and with multiple stakeholders to reach ambitious climate commitments. Such partnerships have been created in Europe with the Covenant of Mayors and in several national and regional processes for energy transition.
www.stakeholderforum.org

The local authority vision for 2030 climate and energy policy


The current negotiations on the 2030 energy and climate framework offer a real opportunity for Europe to stand at the forefront of secure and clean energy supply, decentralised, but stable energy infrastructure, innovative cities and industry. Unfortunately, the discussions around the 2030 package have taken another course: low ambition, competitiveness of conventional energy and energy intensive industry – letting innovation aside. Following up the meeting between the Board Members of Climate Alliance and the Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, Climate Alliance presents a portfolio demonstrating via the member’s activities the high potential of local action on local green economy and job creation.
www.climatealliance.org

People’s windmill in Brussels - a strong signal for community power


Citizens and local governments are forming new initiatives to provide locally produced green energy for their communities. Some of them have set a target for using 100% renewable energy or aim at becoming energy autonomous. But further support for such policies is needed! Therefore Climate Alliance joined forces with a group of partners to show its commitment to a future with clean, renewable, community-owned energy and to call for more political support for community renewable projects.
Link to the video of the day
www.climatealliance.org

Twitter account for Climate Alliance

Climate Alliance recently launched a Twitter account. If you follow @ClimatAlliance you will get the latest news about projects, events and other activities.

Climate Alliance events


Conference „Town-twinning for climate protection - Georgia and Germany”


13 and 14 February 2014 in Batumi, Georgia

The conference in Batumi will provide Georgian and German municipalities the opportunity to share hands on experiences made in the elaboration and implementation of Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs), a central tool of the European initiative “Covenant of Mayors”. The conference thus provides a very good occasion for Georgian towns and cities to gather knowledge on municipal climate protection, holds the chance for personal exchange and for a long-term cooperation.
www.climatealliance.org

Climate Alliance International Annual Conference 2014


8 and 9 May 2014 in Luxembourg

Save the date: The next International Annual Conference and General Assembly of Climate Alliance will take place on 8 and 9 May 2014 in Luxembourg. The motto of the event is “Teaming up for Change - How to master the local transition”.

Project news


Covenant of Mayors - a third operation phase opening new horizons


The Covenant of Mayors initiative has become a strong ‘European brand’ for municipal action on sustainable energy, clearly over-achieving its original goal set. However the Covenant faces new operational and strategic challenges, partly created by its success. As part of the consortium managing the Covenant of Mayors Office, Climate Alliance, will shortly kick off its third operation phase on 14 January 2014. This new phase will be marked by new strategic cornerstones, such as: embedding the Covenant better in ongoing national and regional processes, improving and reinforcing the SEAP-related reporting / monitoring processes as well as optimising the Covenant support and communication processes (e.g. through benchmarking). More to follow soon!
www.climatealliance.org

160,000 children collected 2.2 Million “Green Footprints” for Warsaw


Since 2002 kids all over Europe are on the move together to save the One World's climate. This year 162,981 children in 13 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and Switzerland) ZOOMed in and collected 2,177,902 "Green Footprints" for example by using sustainable means of transport for their daily journeys, by saving energy in their schools and kindergartens, by buying exercise books from recycled paper, and by eating regional food. In Warsaw seven ZOOM participants from the School in Elk handed over the Green Footprints together with the children's concrete wishes and demands to the UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, asking her to pass these messages to the UN Climate Conference delegates.
www.zoom-kidsforclimate.eu

Cycle route planner Naviki now available in the whole of Europe


Climate Alliance is an IEE project partner in the European rollout of the Naviki cycle route planner and thus supports sustainable mobility. Towards the end of the project, the Naviki platform offers its tailor-made routing all across Europe in twelve languages – online or as a mobile app. For municipalities and other organisations, Naviki offers interesting evaluation and feedback features for the advancement of cycling and a better cycling infrastructure. Until 31 December 2013 interested municipalities may register for a twelve months free trial period.
www.naviki.org

Europe-China Eco-Cities Link Project has started


The Europe-China Eco-Cities Link Project has officially started during the EU-China Urbanisation Forum in Beijing on 21 November 2013 and was presented in the presence of the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang by President José Manuel Barroso. It is funded by the European Union and the technical assistance will be implemented by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), Grontmij, Eurocities and Climate Alliance. The aim of the EC-LINK project is to assist Chinese cities in their endeavour to meet the targets set in the 12th five year plan by providing technical assistance to Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, sharing experiences on sustainable urbanisation and other relevant policies between Europe and China.
www.climatealliance.org

Local authorities active for the Millennium Development Goals


The new brochure “Local authorities active for the Millennium Development Goals” provides an overview of the activities of local authorities, city networks and institutions within the scope of the “Municipalities and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)” project co-funded by the European Union. During the cooperation, severals issues were discussed and further actions and tools that can also be implemented in other municipalities were developed. Besides considering the MDGs, which should be achieved by 2015, the aim of the brochure is to share insight and contribute to the Post-2015 Development Agenda, highlighting the crucial role of the local level in this process.
www.cities-for-mdgs.eu

100% RES Communities


The first newsletter of the EU project "100% RES Communities" has been released. Inform yourself about the best road towards an energy supply solely with RES. Read about the criteria which a 100% renewable city or municipality should fulfil. Within the project 100%-RES-Communities project partners from ten countries, including Climate Alliance, support rural communities and regions in their ambitious targets for renewable energy. The project aims for experimenting and developing a model of joint Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs).
www.100-res-communities.eu

Amazon news


Ecuador: Protest against the shut down of the office of Pachamama


On 4 December 2013 the Ecuadorian Environment Ministry closed the office of the environmental organisation Fundación Pachamama in Quito. Pachamama has been working for more than 15 years on human rights and supports indigenous peoples in the Amazon region in defending their territories and rights. According to the authorities, the NGO has interfered into policy, which does not comply with its statutory objective and purpose. Due to this behaviour, the internal state security and public peace had been endangered. The government acts more and more animus against criticism versus oil extraction in the Amazon rainforest and the disregard of indigenous rights. Climate Alliance has signed an international call, which campaigns for Pachamama.
www.pachamama.org

Campaign for Yasuní-ITT starts in Ecuador


In Ecuador the collecting of signatures for a referendum against the exploitation of oil reserves in the east of the Yasuní National Park has started in October 2013. Activists of the Alliance Yasunidos - a wordplay of "Yasuní" and "Unidos" (united) - want to gather nationwide more than 600,000 signatures of supporters to prevent the oil drills. That is their respond to the decision of the government of President Rafael Correa, not to pursue the environmental protection initiative Yasuní ITT any more.
www.eltiempo.com.ec

Chevron could still lose its pollution case


Two years ago an Ecuadorian court has sentenced the US oil company Chevron to compensate a group of indigenous people and rural residents by 18 billion US dollars because of pollution in the Amazon region. Now the company has brought the former complainants to court in New York. They are accused by the oil company to have offered bribes and to be part of organised crime.
2011, the oil company had been found guilty for the environmental disaster in one part of the Ecuadorian Amazon region, which was caused in the seventies and eighties by the oil company Texaco. Chevron had acquired this company in 2001 and assumed the duties as legal successors. But now Chevron refuses to pay the compensation.
www.businessweek.com

European information


EU budget for 2014-2020 finally adopted


After two years of intensive negotiations, the Council adopted the regulation laying down the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020. The new EU Budget will allow Europe to invest up to EUR 960 billion in commitments and EUR 908.4 billion in payments and marks a major step forward in transforming Europe into a clean and competitive low-carbon economy. At least 20% of the entire budget will be spent on climate-related projects and policies. Many opportunities for climate and energy action are offered within the cohesion policy funding instruments Horizon 2020 and the LIFE climate programme.
www.climatealliance.org

Sustainable Energy Europe and ManagEnergy Awards 2014


A new edition of the award competitions in sustainable energy at the EU level is now open. The 2014 Sustainable Energy Europe and ManagEnergy awards will once again highlight public and private initiatives that are actively contributing to the EU’s 2020 energy and climate objectives. Are you keen to present your efforts and achievements in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy or clean transport? Does your project and organisation deserve recognition and increased visibility for its commitment and accomplishments in building a more sustainable Europe? Then we invite you to take part.
www.eusew.eu

World You Like - Portuguese project won competition


The European Commission's World You Like Challenge competition for the best solutions to climate change selected the Portuguese project Sown Biodiverse Pastures as the winner. The project not only increases the productivity of pastures but also helps to reduce CO2 emissions, soil erosion and wildfire risk. The Sown Biodiverse Pastures project involves more than 1,000 Portuguese farmers. Each farmer uses a specific mixture of up to 20 different seeds adapted to the local soil and climate conditions.
http://world-you-like.europa.eu/en

Contact information

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Contact

Angela Hanisch

Tel:  +49-69-71 71 39-12
Fax: +49-69-71 71 39-93

E-mail: a.hanisch@climatealliance.org
Internet: www.climatealliance.org

Imprint

Climate Alliance of European Cities with Indigenous Rainforest Peoples / Alianza del Clima e.V.


Galvanistr. 28
D-60486 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

Registered Association:
Amtsgericht Frankfurt am Main, No. 10149

President of the Executive Board:
Joachim Lorenz, Munich / Germany
Vice President of the Executive Board:
Diego Iván Escobar, Quito / Ecuador

Directors:
Thomas Brose and Ulrike Janssen