In 2017, the City of Písek joined the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, which brings together hundreds of local and regional governments, is the world's largest climate and energy program for cities and towns. One of the Pact's commitments is to produce a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan within the next two years.
What is the Covenant of Mayors?
Thousands of local governments have voluntarily committed to the European Union's climate and energy goals as part of the EU Covenant of Mayors on Climate and Energy. In 2008, the Covenant of Mayors was established in Europe to bring together local governments who have voluntarily committed to meeting or exceeding the EU's climate and energy goals. This program not only pioneered the first progressive, bottom-up approach to climate and energy policies of its sort, but it has also far exceeded expectations. More than 7,000 local and regional governments from 57 countries are now part of the effort, which benefits from a worldwide multi-stakeholder movement as well as technical and methodological support from the offices engaged. The Global Covenant of Mayors initiative builds on the experience gained throughout Europe and abroad over the last eight years, as well as the original program's core success factors: its bottom-up approach, multi-level collaboration model, and context-based framework.
As of January 2019, the Pact has only 11 signatories in the Czech Republic so far: Brno, Chrudim, Hlinsko, Jeseník, Liberec, Litoměřice, Lkáň, Mezilesí, Ostrava, Prague, Písek. The number of signatories in the Czech Republic is very small, both in comparison with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Poland: 40 signatories, Hungary: 40 signatories, Bulgaria: 25 signatories, Romania: 73 signatories) and with countries with approximately the same population ( Belgium: 337 signatories, Portugal: 119 signatories).
What is SE(C)AP?
The Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) is an essential document that outlines how a Pact signatory will accomplish their 2020 commitment. It uses the Base Emissions Balance data to determine the most effective areas of action and possibilities for local governments to accomplish their CO2 reduction targets. It outlines specific reduction methods, as well as a timeline and allocated duties, to put the long-term strategy into action. Signatories commit to submitting their SEAPs within one year of joining the Covenant. Because changing conditions and continuous actions produce outcomes and experience, the SEAP should not be viewed as a static document. It may be desirable or required to update the plan on a frequent basis. Remember that any new development project that needs to be approved by the local authorities presents opportunity for emission reduction promises. The repercussions of failing to use this choice can be severe and long-lasting. This means that, even if the SEAP has not yet been completed or authorized, energy efficiency and emission reduction considerations should be considered for all new projects. This paper is also extended to climatic challenges in the case of Písek.
Co SECAP obsahuje?
- Baseline Emissions Inventory (BEI)
- Analysis of the current situation for the entire cadastral region of Psek (based on BEI)
- An examination of the sectors that the statutory city can influence through its operations, as well as other sectors that have a substantial impact on the city's CO2 emissions
- Emissions from total fuel and energy usage in the monitored region, electricity imported into the city, and heat from DH sources consumed in industries relevant to the SECAP sectors (according to the IPCC methodology)
- Action plan until 2030
Does SECAP follow up on other city activities?
The City of Písek's long-term visions are principally defined by the City of Písek's Strategic Plan, which states that the long-term development goal is:
"... to ensure the maintenance and improvement of the high quality of life in the town of Písek, which, in accordance with long-term sustainable development, reduces the negative impact of activities in the town, integrates economical and renewable energy sources, and is adapted to respond to climate change by appropriate adaptation measures, all in such a way that the city's inhabitants are involved, supported, and can participate in the resulting solutions."
The main target values for 2030 are:
- Reduce CO2 emissions by at least 41% from 2015 levels.
- Increase the share of RES output in local production from 5% to 22.5%.
- 5 green roof pilot projects on existing and new buildings are being implemented.
SECAP timeline ✔
2019/05 The tender was launched ✔
2019/10 The public was invited to see a working version of SECAP ✔
2019/10 Completion of the city's citizen and labor union idea collection ✔
2019/11 SECAP completion and submission for approval ✔
2019/11 The document was approved by the City Council ✔