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The Italian Experience of the Covenant of Mayors: A Territorial Evaluation

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  • Luigi Santopietro

    (Laboratory of Urban and Regional Systems Engineering (LISUT), School of Engineering, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Francesco Scorza

    (Laboratory of Urban and Regional Systems Engineering (LISUT), School of Engineering, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy)

Abstract

European climate policy, since the 1990s, has developed incrementally and supported programs, plans and actions for sustainable, clean and secure energy. Additionally, climate-change adaptation issues have been tackled through Mayors Adapt since 2016. The Covenant of Mayors (CoM), a volunteer movement of local administrators established in 2008, set a target of a 20% reduction in CO 2 emissions by 2020. The CoM has launched a new season on energy planning in Europe based on Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs), defining actions for selected intervention sectors. The aim of the work was to evaluate the state of the Italian CoM signatories, assessing the results achieved in terms of the Municipalities involved (CoM signatories), the SEAPs developed and the Monitoring Reports submitted. Specifically, the analysis of the Monitoring Reports data represents a relevant step needed in order to formulate some critical appraisals concerning the performance level of CoM adoption at a national scale, in terms of the commitment levels, goals achieved and actions completed or in progress. The paper also compares national figures with a regional detailed survey developed for the Basilicata Region. It represents a benchmark useful for interpreting the general results derived from the CoM official data and a marker for pointing out suggestions for improving the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) adoption procedures.

Suggested Citation

  • Luigi Santopietro & Francesco Scorza, 2021. "The Italian Experience of the Covenant of Mayors: A Territorial Evaluation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1289-:d:487415
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    2. Silvia Rivas & Ruben Urraca & Paolo Bertoldi, 2022. "Covenant of Mayors 2020 Achievements: A Two-Speed Climate Action Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.
    3. Rosalba D’Onofrio & Chiara Camaioni & Stefano Mugnoz, 2023. "Local Climate Adaptation and Governance: The Utility of Joint SECAP Plans for Networks of Small–Medium Italian Municipalities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    4. Timothy Daniel Brownlee & Chiara Camaioni & Stefano Magaudda & Stefano Mugnoz & Piera Pellegrino, 2021. "The INTERREG Italy-Croatia Joint_SECAP Project: A Collaborative Approach for Adaptation Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Margarida Casau & Diana C. M. Cancela & João C. O. Matias & Marta Ferreira Dias & Leonel J. R. Nunes, 2021. "Coal to Biomass Conversion as a Path to Sustainability: A Hypothetical Scenario at Pego Power Plant (Abrantes, Portugal)," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    6. Francesco Scorza & Giovanni Fortunato & Raffaella Carbone & Beniamino Murgante & Piergiuseppe Pontrandolfi, 2021. "Increasing Urban Walkability through Citizens’ Participation Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-29, May.
    7. Nikola Matak & Marko Mimica & Goran Krajačić, 2022. "Optimising the Cost of Reducing the CO 2 Emissions in Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.

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