The Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy brings together local and regional authorities who voluntarily commit to implementing the EU’s climate and energy objectives on their territory.
The initiative was launched by the European Commission in 2008 and now counts over 11,000 signatories representing 341 million citizens. Since 2015, signatories pledge to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030 and to adopt an integrated approach to tackling mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Since 2022, an additional commitment on tackling energy poverty is also part of the covenant.
The Covenant of Mayors is an opportunity for local governments to demonstrate that they are climate leaders, often pledging to move further and faster than the national level in tackling climate change. It also positions them as direct partners with the EU in this ambition, boosting the case for multi-level governance and cities having a seat at the table wherever climate policy is discussed. This makes a lot of sense, given that the majority of carbon emissions come from cities, as do the innovative approaches and ambition that can help us tackle it.
Signatory cities report their emissions and other climate-related information annually, such as the hazards that they face and the steps they have taken, so that we can have a better understanding of where we stand with regard to climate change across Europe. The system is fully transparent, and all the data is available here.
Being part of the Covenant of Mayors also offers cities ways to enhance their climate work. Twinning visits held through the projects have paired many cities facing complimentary issues to mentor and guide each other, finding solutions together. A policy support team work with selected signatory cities to help them develop solutions to climate challenges, such as drought or engaging local people on the topic.
Best practices from the cities are also collected every year and shared so that good ideas can spread between cities more easily. Campaigns like the current City Heat Detox help to shift policy, share ideas, and raise awareness around issues that are key to cities’ success.
Tools for your city
City case studies
From Grenoble’s sweeping suite of actions to reduce energy use within the administration in response to the energy crisis, to Murcia’s use of nature to prevent flooding by providing sustainable urban drainage, the Covenant of Mayors has developed over 100 case studies to share cities’ successes. Each case study is produced in English and the first language of the relevant country. They succinctly present the challenge and solution, as well as key info like cost and financing, to help other cities quickly adopt relevant measures.
Discover them all in a searchable database here.
Heat detox campaign
With its heat detox campaign, the Covenant of Mayors draws on funky visuals and compelling stories to spell out the analogy between unhealthy heat and an unhealthy diet. Many cities all over Europe still have to rely on unsustainable energy sources like oil and gas to heat buildings and homes. But plenty of alternatives exist, whether it’s insulating homes or using excess heat from industrial processes to warm people up. This campaign lets cities share their stories of weaning themselves of fossil fuels so that they can heat residents without overheating the planet.
You can follow the campaign, contribute and get your hands on the materials here.
Climate adaptation podcast
The Covenant of Mayors Podcast featured long-form interviews on subjects ranging from climate justice to geo-spacial data engineering with experts and cities involved in the Covenant of Mayors ‘Policy Support Facility,’ a support programme to help cities defend their populations from the hazards posed by climate change. Episodes are just under an hour long, and allow for a deep-dive into the challenges and great ideas coming from cities, right from the mouths of the people getting their hands dirty on the ground. Click the link for a full episode list.
Cities energy saving sprint
The Cities Energy Saving Sprint toolkit provides guidance on emergency energy-saving measures for local authorities, helping them adapt infrastructures and services to reduce energy consumption. It focuses on four main areas: heating, lighting, mobility, and communication.
Learn more about it or see the full resource here.
Insights on adaptation to climate change
This resource provides guidance for cities that are seeking to adapt to the effects of climate change. It covers the topics of disaster risk reduction, nature regeneration, just resilience and wellbeing, and financing. The document was produced by the European Covenant of Mayors, following a two-year pilot programme launched under the 2021 EU Adaptation Strategy to assist local and regional authorities across Europe in implementing climate adaptation measures.
Discover this resource here.
Finance dashboard
The finance dashboard provides a searchable guide to financial and technical support options available to local authorities and organisations for climate and energy projects. It covers EU funding programmes, technical assistance, advisory services, and innovative financing schemes such as green bonds and citizen cooperatives. Each entry includes details on eligibility, funding types, co-funding requirements, and inspiring examples, making it easier for municipalities to identify and access the right resources to drive their sustainable energy and climate action plans.
View the dashboard here.
Eurocities is part of the Covenant of Mayors Office, a group of networks of local and regional authorities responsible for the daily administration of the initiative, together with Energy Cities, Climate Alliance, the European Federation of Agencies and Regions for Energy and the Environment (FEDARENE), and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).
