Regions 202020 Inspiration Guide - European Perspective

In March 2007 the European Union's leaders endorsed an integrated approach to climate and energy policy that aims to combat climate change and increase the EU’s energy security while strengthening its competitiveness. They committed Europe to transforming itself into a highly energy-efficient, low carbon economy. To kick-start this process, the EU Heads of State and Government set a series of demanding climate and energy targets to be met by 2020, known as the "20-20-20" targets.

The UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009 did not come to an agreement that met the aims and objectives of the European Union in combating climate change. However, this was the first conference to bring together so many Heads of State, activists, journalists and other stakeholders to participate in the discussions, indicating that many countries and citizens from all over the world are aware of the potential threats that may arise from climate change.

After Copenhagen, the European Union (EU) continued to maintain its very ambitious targets to combat climate change, to increase energy security and to strengthen its competitiveness by 2020 and beyond.

Since the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on the 1 December 2009, Member States speak with one voice to present the EU Energy Action Plan. On the national side, EU Member States promote new technology innovations and enhance the power of their National Energy Agencies.

The EU has also offered to increase its emissions reduction to 30% by 2020, on condition that other major emitting countries in the developed and developing world’s commit to do their fair share under a future global climate agreement. This agreement should take effect at the start of 2013 when the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period will come to an end.

However, despite a global, European or national policy framework, none of these targets will be reached without actions at the regional and local level. The role of the regions with their own legislative bodies becomes even more important so long as there is no further global agreement after the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. So now is the time to start initiating energy saving projects in order to realize the vision of a green future.

Next, this section of the Inspiration Guide describes the European Union (EU) legislative background and how, in cooperation with the EU, its Member States and with financial support from EU regional policy financing (Structural Funds), regions can act as facilitators, motivate local stakeholders and take part in joint actions. It is possible to get support for existing regional activities that may have even more ambitious goals than those of the overall European plan. Depending on the regions’ potential there will be many different ways to become a Sustainable Energy Region. Reflecting this variation, regions can learn a lot by sharing their knowledge with each other. In the longer term, there will be many common benefits such as more growth, more jobs and greater environmental protection if more regions start to invest in the Eco-Economy over the next few years.