COVENANT OF MAYORS – DEDICATED TO LOCAL ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY

Niš City Council decided to support the initiative Covenant of Mayors dedicated to the local energy sustainability. The Covenant of Mayors is an ambitious initiative of the European Commission that gives the lead to pioneering cities in Europe to mitigate climate change through the implementation of intelligent local sustainable energy policies that create stable local jobs and increase quality of life for the citizens and address crucial social issues. The European Union (EU) is leading the global fight against climate change, and has made it a top priority. Its ambitious targets are spelt out in the EU Climate Action and Energy Package, which commits Member States to curb their CO2 emissions by at least 20% by 2020. Signatories of the Covenant of Mayors contribute to these policy objectives through a formal commitment to go beyond this target through the implementation of their Sustainable Energy Action Plan. The formal commitment of signatories is translated into concrete measures and projects. Energy efficiency measures, renewable energy projects and other energy-related actions can be introduced in various activity areas of local and regional governments.

Energy Cities is leading, in cooperation with Climate Alliance, CEMR, Fedarene, Eurocities and Pracsis, the Covenant of Mayors Office and is an official Supporting Structure.The City of Niš has been a member of Energy Cities since 2003. Energy Cities is the European Association of local authorities inventing their energy future. The association created in 1990 represents now more than 1,000 towns and cities in 30 countries. From 2009 to 2011, Energy Cities is under the Presidency of the City of Heidelberg (DE.)

It is expected that Niš City Assembly will adopt the recommendation from Niš City Council on its next regular session.

Links: www.energy-cities.eu, www.eumayors.eu