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International Climate Alliance Conference news
The Climate Alliance Conference programme is now out! Be sure to register by 8 September. We look forward to seeing you from 20 to 23 September in Essen, the 2017 European Green Capital! New Climate Alliance members
We heartily welcome ten new Climate Alliance members: from Austria the municipalities of Liezen, Prägraten A.G. and Taxenbach, from Belgium the municipality of Roeselare as well as from Germany the cities of Andernach, Beckum, Dingolfing, Walldorf, the municipalities of Ostseebad Heringsdorf and Hohe Elbgeest. We’re happy to have you in the network! 2018 Climate Star Competition – Diversity in local climate action
For the eighth time, Climate Alliance is calling upon all members to apply for a Climate Star! With the motto “Diversity in local climate action”, we are again on the search for Europe's best climate action initiatives! Projects to be submitted for a Climate Star may deal with a range of topics including energy, mobility, sustainable food, green procurement, climate justice and climate change adaptation. Submitted projects should demonstrate how Climate Alliance local authorities are living up to their commitment to reduce CO2 emissions, protect tropical rainforests and support indigenous peoples. Local authorities themselves or municipal networks are encouraged to apply by 11 August 2017. The award ceremony will be held in Schloss Grafenegg on invitation of the Federal State of Lower Austria in spring 2018. Climate Alliance position on adaptation to climate change
Climate Alliance presented its work on adaptation to climate change during the fourth Open European Day as part of the session “Mainstreaming adaptation and changing working routines”. The position presented calls for stronger collaboration between various levels of government, further capacity building for local authorities, the embedding of adaptation action into international climate treaties and better access of the local level to financing instruments such as Horizon 2020, Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and LIFE. The document was developed by the Climate Alliance Working Group on Climate Change Adaptation. Engagement of cities key to successful energy transition
Municipal representatives of five city networks met on 22 June 2017 with Members of the European Parliament to drive home the importance of local level involvement in EU energy and climate policy. Known as the Urban 5, these networks point to the local level’s power to provide jobs, its proximity to the people and its swift ability to deliver change as essential components for energy transition success. The Urban 5, comprised of Climate Alliance, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), Energy Cities, EUROCITIES, and ICLEI outlined their position in a joint policy statement. The paper targets EU policy makers as they negotiate the Clean Energy Package and EU budget, calling for a governance framework that empowers local governments to contribute to the energy transition. New chairs take helm of Working Group on Financing
On 20 June, the Climate Alliance Working Group on Financing met in Brussels to discuss the latest in EU policy on climate and energy financing, Climate Alliance’s work in the field, and how best to take advantage of funding opportunities. A total of 14 city representatives from across Europe took part. The meeting was the Working Group’s first under the leadership of new chairs Donald van den Akker of the Dutch Klimaatverbond and Ronald van Meygaarden of the City of Geldermalsen (NL).
Ten years of the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
13 September 2017 in Bonn, Germany The “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, adopted by the UN in September 2007, will soon celebrate its tenth anniversary. In conjunction with the ILO Convention No. 169, it is an important instrument in the fight for the rights of indigenous peoples and a milestone in their long-term efforts to raise international awareness of their plight. Climate Alliance will celebrate this anniversary together with INFOE and indigenous guests at the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn. Eriberto Gualinga, of Sarayaku’s Kichwa people, will present the report “Learning from the South - the importance of partnerships" with the Climate Alliance. International Climate Alliance Conference and General Assembly
20 - 23 September 2017 in Essen, Germany The 2017 International Climate Alliance Conference, hosted by the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the City of Essen, is taking place in Europe’s 2017 Green Capital – a 'city in transformation'. Highlighting examples of successful municipal transformation supported by strong partnerships, effective tools, and the right financing, this event will engage participants via workshops, special in-situ sessions and ample space for exchange and input. GRETA conference: Geothermal in the Alpine Space
7 November 2017 in Salzburg, Austria The conference, hosted by Climate Alliance and the GRETA project partners, will give insight to the opportunities and challenges of near-surface geothermal energy illustrated by best practice examples. The event is geared towards municipal representatives and renewable energy experts. Participation is free of charge, but e-mail registration is necessary (contact Magdalena Bottig, magdalena.bottig@geologie.ac.at).
Art competition celebrates 15 years of the ZOOM campaign
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the ZOOM – Kids on the Move! campaign, Climate Alliance is holding a creative competition: children are invited to design their own version of a campaign logo and to add their own ideas for climate action. In the last 15 years, 25 million Green Footprints have been collected by nearly two million children in 35 countries. In 2017, tens of thousands of children in kindergartens and schools will once again be on the move in climate-friendly ways – on foot, by bike or scooter, bus or train – and collect Green Footprints to help protect the global climate. In November, Climate Alliance will hand over the Green Footprints collected as well as the most creative results of the art competition to politicians during the 23rd UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn. City Cycling campaign goes international
This year is City Cycling’s tenth year running – and, from now on, municipalities worldwide are invited to also join: Two Brazilian municipalities, Pomerode und Brusque-Fundema, have already gotten in on the campaign for 2017. The Climate Alliance campaign encourages local politicians and residents of participating cities to cover as many kilometres as possible by bike during a three-week period. City Cycling sees the most active local parliaments and municipalities as well as the best teams and cyclists within the municipalities themselves compete to win. The campaign takes place annually between 1 May and 30 September to promote climate action and cycling. Campaign: A good life is simple ... and by bike even better!
This year, the bicycle has turned 200 years old! Worldwide, it is the most widely used means of transport. Bicycle friendly cities typically offer their residents a better quality. Cycling is timeless and stands for sustainable mobility, fitness and a good life. The bicycle itself stands for transformation of mobility and for conscious consumption. If you want to promote transformation in your city, take a look at the free campaign materials the “Good Life is Simple” campaign has to offer and get inspired! Nuremberg saves energy with EDI-Net
The city of Nuremberg wants to save a significant portion of the 40 million euros in energy costs it spends annually on the city’s some 1700 municipal buildings. To do this, it will rely on support from the City of Leicester (UK), the Region of Catalonia and Climate Alliance within the framework of EDI-Net – an EU project on energy data innovation networks. By making use of smart metering to analyse and communicate electricity, gas and water data, local authorities can identify significant savings opportunities. These opportunities can lead to reductions in energy and water consumption by anywhere from 5 to 15 percent. EDI-Net is currently open to further local authorities interested in improving their water and energy use (contact Wolfgang Hofstetter, w.hofstetter@climatealliance.org).
The Sustainable Development Goals and indigenous peoples’ rights
This June during the European Development Days in Brussels, a debate about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for indigenous peoples showcased some of Climate Alliance's main positions. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim from the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad gave a passionate speech about the role of indigenous peoples in implementing the SDGs with the help of their traditional knowledge and ways of life. Joan Carling, representative of Indigenous Peoples Major Group, called for more recognition and respect of indigenous land, and highlighted the importance of mapping indigenous territories in order to ensure their protection. She also underlined the role of new tools such as the indigenous navigator, allowing indigenous people to monitor the level of recognition and implementation of their rights. Green Climate Fund supports indigenous peoples in the Amazon
The Green Climate Fund has begun paying out money for the first project it approved in Peru’s Amazon, providing dual benefits by safeguarding the ‘planet’s lungs’ and bolstering the resilience of indigenous peoples. This 9.1 million US dollar climate finance initiative will help indigenous communities in the northern Peruvian province of Datem del Marañón manage their wetland resources in ways that avoid deforestation and the large-scale release of greenhouse gases stored in local peatlands. The planet’s peatlands, most of which are found in South America, are a key piece in the climate conundrum. While they cover only three to five percent of Earth’s surface, they are estimated to hold more than 30 percent of the planet’s carbon stocks.
Climate Alliance tackles energy retrofits on the neighbourhood level
Energy retrofits of the building stock lead to significant energy and CO2 savings. Climate Alliance is addressing this topic with the EU project CAN - Climate Active Neighbourhoods, focusing on deprived residential areas in need of renovation. The project’s preliminary results from Belgium, Germany, Great Britain and the Netherlands are promising. Read more in the CAN newsletter and find out how the cooperation between local authorities, multipliers and neighbourhood initiatives is coming along. Handling water scarcity
Just 60 kilometres outside of London lies the only 50 year old city of Milton Keynes. Milton Keynes is growing rapidly. As this growth is increasing the pressure on its water supply, the city is developing a robust long-term water resources strategy. Read more about the Milton Keynes’ approach in the latest POWER newsletter – Climate Alliance’s EU project on water management – and discover further interesting facts around the topics of water, urban development, infrastructure and climate justice.
5th Assises of Decentralised Cooperation
10 and 11 July 2017 in Brussels The European Commission Communication entitled “Empowering Local Authorities in partner countries for enhanced governance and more effective development outcomes” recognises local authorities as genuine actors of development cooperation and, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, as key in reaching towards good governance and sustainable development. As in previous editions, the European Committee of Regions is very keen to cooperate with you for the organisation of the fifth Assises and would be grateful to receive any proposals, input and suggestions. Energy Info Days 2017
23 – 25 October 2017 in Brussels This year, the Energy Information Days will present new funding opportunities and innovative schemes offered by Horizon 2020’s Work Programme 2018-2020. Applying for funding is a competitive process and only the best project proposals will be selected. Get tips on how to succeed. UN Climate Change Conference
6 – 17 November 2017 in Bonn The 2017 UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) will take place from 6 to 17 November at the World Conference Centre in Bonn, the seat of the Climate Change Secretariat. The Conference will be convened under the Presidency of Fiji. Stay tuned for more information on Climate Alliance’s activities there. 2017 Information Day
8 – 9 November 2017 in Brussels During this Information Day and brokerage event, participants will get tips about applying for funding under the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020, Challenge “Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency & Raw Materials”. Come and get one step closer to getting your climate action funded. |
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Climate Alliance of European Cities with Indigenous Rainforest Peoples / Alianza del Clima e.V.