31 UBC member cities have already joined

With signing the agreement to become a supporting structure, UBC committed itself to encourage and support its member cities to join the Covenant of Mayors and implement Sustainable Energy Action Plans for a more sustainable future.

The EU is leading the global fight against climate change, and has made it a top priority. Its ambitious targets are expressed in the EU Climate Action and Energy Package, which commits Member States to decrease their CO₂ emissions by at least 20% by 2020.

The Covenant of Mayors is the first and most ambitious European Commission initiative directly targeting the local level and their citizens to take the lead in the fight against climate change.

All signatories make a voluntary commitment to go beyond EU objectives in terms of reduction in CO2 emissions. Since its launch in 2008, the initiative has grown to include more than 1900 towns and cities.

Why should cities join?

The signatories make a clear public statement that they are committed to CO₂ reduction and working with climate change issues. They can share their own expertise and benefit from other examples, as well as publicise their achievements to a broad public and on the EU level. The European Commission has committed to support local authorities involved in the Covenant of Mayors with offering assistance through the Covenant of Mayors Office. They provide clear technical guidelines and templates for implementation as well as support with media work. Last, but not least, the European Commission has committed to mobilizing financial facilities and political support at EU level.

Union of the Baltic Cities as a supporting structure

In June 2010 UBC president Mr Per Bødker Andersen signed the agreement for the organisation to become the so-called supporting structure for the Covenant of Mayors. This means that UBC is promoting the initiative among its members and is also a contact for the Covenant of Mayors Office.

UBC EnvCom is part of a project application by Energie-Cités for the Intelligent Energy for Europe call, and will through that, hopefully, also get some additional resources for concretely supporting our member cities who will or have signed the CoM. More information about this will be received by end of 2010. A good opportunity to join the Covenant of Mayors is offered at the Solutions local, together - conference in Turku on 31 January - 2 February 2011 where a signatory ceremony is also offered.