Dear readers,
First of all, we would like to wish you a great 2018, full of professional and personal fulfillment!As you may know, CITYnvest is coming to an end.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank you for being part of the community that has followed the project development since its start, back in 2015.
Before saying goodbye, we take this chance to present you the final project outcomes collected in brand-new reports now available on the CITYnvest website.
As usual, we also summarised for you some key events that took place in the last months.
Enjoy reading!
The CITYnvest team
1. Highlights
Additional guidance for local governments, a booklet for policy makers and press kit for media contacts
You can find on the CITYnvest website:
Are you a local authority representative? Have a look at:
1. Comparison of Innovative Financing Models
The report reviews innovative financing and operational models for large-scale retrofits and explains possible mechanisms and instruments that could be used by local authorities to carry out renovation of their building stock. The report showcases the characteristics of the most effective initiatives that are currently being developed in Europe, as well as the challenges and risks inherent to each of the models.
2. Our step by step guide
This guide includes links to all the tools and supporting documents developed in the frame of the CITYnvest project. The guidance sets the key steps to follow and for each step identifies the CITYnvest tools that could be used.
3. How to launch ambitious energy retrofitting projects in your region?
This guide presents the major outcomes of CITYnvest pilot regions and describes the added value of a one-stop-shop, taking stock of the RenoWatt experience in CITYnvest.
4. Toolkit One Stop Shop
The toolkit clearly explains how to start an energy retrofitting project and identifies the main challenges and success factors, based on RenoWatt’s experience in Pilot Region Liège. The toolkit aims to share RenoWatt's best practices and to facilitate replication of the model elsewhere in Europe and on a larger scale. It addresses practical issues and offers step-by-step guidance for private and public actors.
Are you a policy maker at EU, national or local level? Have a look at:
5. Booklet with 5 key policy recommendations
The twelve-page report is full of advice and ideas on how to go about improving access to finance for energy efficiency building renovations at local level. The booklet is available in English, French, Bulgarian, Dutch, German, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Romanian and Spanish.
This booklet was handed over to members of the European Parliament, the European Council and European Commission in the frame of the CITYnvest Final Conference on 4-5- December 2017.
Are you a press officer? Have a look at:
6. CITYnvest press kit
This document is meant for media contacts in the main pilot regions and in their countries (Belgium. Spain and Bulgaria). It summarises the project profile and all the press releases produced by project partners in the course of the project.
The press kit is also available in English for general media purposes.
You can also visit the CITYnvest website page dedicated to key project results.
2. CITYnvest news
Note on Eurostat, analysis from Renowatt
Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Commission, has published on 19 September 2017 an updated guidance note on the recording of energy performance contracts (EPCs) in government accounts.
We include here an informal note published by RenoWatt as analysis of the impact of Eurostat note on local authorities’ investments in energy performance contracts (EPCs) for energy efficiency building renovations.
CITYnvest past events
The big event! Check the results.
4-5 December 2017, Brussels (Belgium), CITYnvest Final Conference, organized by CEMR and Climate Alliance with the support of all CITYnvest partners, in collaboration with the Covenant of Mayors.
100 participants attended the event over the two days. Representatives from EU Commission, from the European Parliament, Committee of the Regions, and the EU Council (Estonian Presidency) attended the conference.
On twitter: Did you miss the event? Check the event hashtag #financelocalEE – we were the 2nd most tweeted # of the day (in Belgium!).
More than 50 Twitter accounts used the hashtag #financelocalEE
200 tweets were made with the hashtag #financelocalEE
Over 120 000 Twitter users saw a tweet with the hashtag #financelocalEE
More information?
Conference report, press release, pictures and presentations can be found here.
… and more events: Between September and December 2017, the following CITYnvest events took place:
19 October 2017, Webinar, CITYnvest follow-up in Italy organized by Climate Alliance
This webinar, conducted in Italian presented how Project Development Assistance (PDA) under Horizon 2020 can be used by local authorities as a means to implement innovative financing schemes for energy efficiency building renovation.
More than 70 participants attended the webinar.
Webinar information and presentations available here.
21-22 November 2017, Murcia (Spain), CITYnvest last Steering Committee
CITYnvest partners met in Murcia, hosted by INFO Murcia. Partners discussed last report due by the end of the Project, finalization of main deliverables. In particular, focus was given to the organization of the Final Conference in Brussels on 4-5 December 2017. Thanks again to INFO Murcia for its extremely warming welcome!
27 November 2017, Rotterdam (The Netherlands), CITYnvest workshop organized by Climate Alliance
Workshop objectives were mainly 1) to identify ways local authorities can work together with EU financial institutions in the Netherlands and 2) to identify and discuss with key stakeholders along the value chain barriers and opportunities for the implementation of innovative financing models for energy and climate action at the local level in the Netherlands.
In total, 13 participants attended the workshop. Concrete solutions were given for overcoming the lack of concrete implementation of building renovation projects in the Netherlands.
Workshop information available here.
Article news available here.
CITYnvest related-past events
CITYnvest partners have participated in a series of events representing CITYnvest:
16 October 2017, Webinar on the application of the cooperative model (REScoop).
This webinar was organized by the Covenant of Mayors Office. CITYnvest partner REScoop presented how the model can be used by local authorities to finance energy and climate projects in their municipalities. City of Ghent, member of the CITYnvest advisory board, explained how the model is being used in Ghent. You can access here the recording.
6 November 2017, Brussels (Belgium), Les programmes européens sur l’efficacité énergétique
Stakeholders, including the RenoWatt one-stop-shop in the CITYnvest pilot region Liege, provided an overview of the various opportunities the EU offers for energy retrofits. This conference organized by Brulocalis was aimed at public centres providing social services for citizens, inter-municipal associations, regional and local actors. CITYnvest partner involved: GRE Liège.
Report of the meeting available on BRULOCALIS webiste (available in FR version).
11 December 2017, Paris (France), One Planet Summit
Under the aegis of the President of the French Republic, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the World Bank Group. Two years after the Paris Agreement, stock was taken of the practical actions carried out for our planet. The RenoWatt project, from CITYnvest Pilot Region Liège, was presented as an example among the effective and innovative solutions in the fight against climate change.
Press Release available here.
3. External news
17 January 2018, Brussels (Belgium), European Parliament- Plenary Vote on Clean Energy package
The European Parliament voted on 16th January on the Clean Energy Package including proposal on renewable, energy efficiency directive, energy efficiency of buildings, governance and Electricity market and consumers.
The European Parliament Plenary rejected on 16 January the proposal of 3% binding renovation rate for public buildings.
Concerning this Energy Efficiency Directive, the European Parliament voted for a binding EU target of minimum 35 % in 2030, and for yearly savings quota of at least 1.5 % as well as some flexibilities for the Member States.
On the Governance Regulation file, a “Carbon budget” proposal was introduced for the first time as part of the Parliament’s report on the governance of the Energy Union, which was voted on in plenary yesterday. The proposal will set out exactly what can still be emitted into our atmosphere if we are to comply with the 1.5 and 2 degrees limits set out in Paris and achieve a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.
A dedicate article on CEMR website.
23-25 October 2017, Brussels (Belgium), Energy Info Days 2017- EASME
The Horizon 2020 Energy Info Days presented the new funding opportunities and innovative schemes offered by Horizon 2020’s Work Programme in 2018-2020. Applying for funding is a competitive process, and only the best project proposals will be selected. If you would like to know more about the type of projects we will be looking for, you can listen to the recordings form the event and download presentations.
All presentations are available here.
6-17 November 2017, Bonn (Germany), Outcomes and Highlights of the 2017 UN Climate Conference
The UN Climate Change Conference 2017 conference, officially referred as COP 23/ CMP 13/ CMA 1-2, took place in Bonn, Germany, hosted by the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and presided over by Fiji.
Outcomes and Highlights of the 2017 UN Climate Conference:
- The COP23 President and the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary outlined some highlights from the 2017 UN climate conference as a result of the negotiations; the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action and the myriad of High-Level and other events.
- Long-term Finance – Countries welcomed progress but also urged greater efforts to deliver the agreed USD 100 Billion per year by 2020 for support to developing countries to take climate action
- Adaptation Fund Exceeds 2017 Target – The target for funding this year was $80 million, but funding announcements including by Germany and Italy has exceed this by over $13 million taking the total to $93.3 million
- Historic Breakthrough in Agriculture – there was an historic political breakthrough in respect to agriculture that may lead to a faster and more coordinated response by nations to address a sector that is the second biggest emitter after energy
- The Government of Norway, the multinational company Unilever and other partners announced a $400 million fund to support more efficient agriculture, smallholder farmers and sustainable forest management
- Gender Action Plan –The crucial role of women in combating climate change will be formally supported through the plan. This is important given that women tend to be especially vulnerable to climate change impacts and should not be excluded from decision-making regarding actions and solutions. The Plan aims to make women part of all climate change projects and decisions internationally and nationally
- Local Communities and Indigenous People’s Platform – A political and practical achievement that aims to support the full and equal role of indigenous people in climate action while recognizing the responsibility of governments to respect the rights of indigenous peoples in these decisions
- Launch of the Ocean Pathway Partnership – It aims, by 2020, to strengthen action and funding that links climate change action with healthy oceans including through the UN Climate Change process and via more explicit aims and ambitions in national climate action plans
- Launch of Network of Pacific Island Journalists - Ten award-winning media from Fiji, Samoa; Solomon Islands; Papua New Guinea; Tonga and Vanuatu, attending the conference with funding from the Government of Germany and support from the Deutsche Welle Academy and UN Climate Change, announced the formation of a new association aimed at strengthening climate media reporting across the Pacific
- InsuResilience Initiative announced a new Global Partnership and an additional $125 million from the Government of Germany to support its aim of providing affordable cover to 400 more million poor and vulnerable people by 2020
- Launch of Fiji Clearing House for Risk Transfer – A new online platform using artificial intelligence to help vulnerable countries find affordable insurance and solutions to avoid climate risk.
- The governments of Germany and the United Kingdom along with other partners announced $153 million to expand programs to fight climate change and deforestation in the Amazon
- The European Investment Bank formally announced $75 million for a new $405 million investment programme by the Water Authority of Fiji to strengthen resilience of water distribution and wastewater treatment for close to 300,000 people living in and around the capital Suva.
- America’s Pledge brings together private and public sector leaders to ensure the US remains a global leader in reducing emissions and delivers the country’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement
- The Green Climate Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced over $37 million of GCF grant financing to the $243 million Saïss Water Conservation Project to assist Morocco with more resilient agriculture
- Powering Past Coal Alliance brings together 25 countries, states and regions to accelerate the rapid phase-out of coal and support affected workers and communities to make the transition.
- The UN Development Programe, Germany, Spain and EU launched a EUR 42 million NDC Support Programme to assist countries deliver on the Paris Agreement
- The existing NDC Partnership announced the establishment of a new regional hub to support implementation of national climate action plans or NDCs in the Pacific
- 13 countries and the International Energy Agency announced EUR 30 million to the “IEA Clean Energy Transitions Programme” to support clean energy transitions around the world
- Launch of New Small Island Developing State (SIDS) Health initiative – The World Health Organization, in collaboration with the UN Climate Change secretariat and Fijian COP23 Presidency, announced a special initiative to protect people living in SIDS from the health impacts of climate change. Its goal is, by 2030, to triple the levels of international financial support to climate and health in those countries
- The Bonn-Fiji Commitment was made - a commitment to action adopted by over 300 local and regional leaders to deliver the Paris Agreement at all levels, supported with 20 initiatives including those focusing on Africa, islands, post-industrial cities and climate reporting standards.
Conclusive Remarks
A special thanks to all CITYnvest partners that have made great the project and its Newsletter!
You can subscribe to partners newsletter: CEMR newsletter, Climate Alliance newsletter, RESCoop newsletter
You can visit Partners website: CEMR, Climate Alliance, EnergInvest, INFO Murcia, GRE Liege, RESCoop, SEC
