Energy means life. We use energy every day – to heat or cool our buildings, to run electrical appliances, to power our vehicles. Are we thinking about the impact of our energy behaviour? Does burning fossil fuels still make sense in this day and age? What does carbon neutral energy mean?

Energy security (sufficient energy, affordable energy), and the link between energy and climate change are key issues we are exploring with communities across Europe today.

The transition to a sustainable energy future has started: saving energy, using energy more efficiently, switching to renewable energy sources. Plan your community’s transition and address local sustainable energy action – join the movement.

From energy savings to energy adaptation – your choice has an impact

With around 80 percent of the European population living in urban areas today, this is where the energy transition has to take place. Make use of ICLEI’s tools, guidance and support provided to local governments:

• Sustainable NOW – your web portal for sustainable energy communities.
  
  
• LG Action - climate and energy mobilisation, information and advocacy.
  
  
• The Copenhagen City Climate Catalogue – a collection of community climate and energy targets and data – towards COP16.
  
  
• SMART SPP – using procurement to trigger innovation.
  
  
• Energy for Mayors – NEW! developing a toolkit for Supporting Structures.
  
  
• Local Accountability for Kyoto Goals (LAKs), supporting greenhouse gas inventories, and deciding where to go from there.
  
  
• Regions for Sustainable Change (RSC) partnership – focus on Burgenland.
  
  
• Renewable Energy Regions (‘EE Regionen’) – towards 100 percent energy autonomy using bio-energy and other local renewable energy sources.
  
  
• MAKE-IT-BE – focus on integrated bio-energy planning.
  
  
• SESAC - sustainable energy solutions implemented in advanced cities in this CONCERTO project.
  
  
• Local Renewables 2010 Conference – sustainable mobility in action.
  
  

Campaigns and Initiatives

• Guidance on Sustainable Energy Action Planning - ICLEI is a Supporting Structure to the Covenant of Mayors.
  
  
• Framework for local climate and energy action - Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign.
  
  
• The international Local Government Climate Roadmap.
  
  
• The Procura+ Sustainable Procurement Campaign, a framework supporting local government and public authority action.
  
  
• Local Renewables Initiative, the local generation and use of renewable energy

Join the action today

ICLEI Europe works with communities across the continent – with cities and towns that have different climates, different levels of experience and different interests. Yet they all have one thing in common: they are engaging in local energy action.

Sign up to our European climate and energy mailing list. Search for an interesting event and link to others.

More information

Go to our search or contact maryke.van.staden@iclei.org.