The Covenant of Mayors
The Municipality of Busseto’s commitment in favour of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources
After the adoption of the European package on climate and energy in 2008, the European Commission launched the Covenant of Mayors to endorse and support the efforts made by local authorities in implementing policies in the sustainable energy field. In fact, local governments play a vital role in mitigating the effects resulting from climate change, especially if we consider that 80% of energy consumption and CO2 emissions is associated with urban activities.
The Covenant of Mayors is the main European movement involving local and regional authorities that have undertaken to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in their territories. Through their efforts, the signatories of the Pact aim to achieve and exceed the European goal of 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020.
For its unique characteristics – being the only movement of this kind to mobilise local and regional players to pursue the European objectives – the Covenant of Mayors is considered by European institutions an exceptional model of multilevel governance.
The Municipality of Busseto joined the Covenant of Mayors in September 2012.
Virtuous Municipalities
The City of Busseto has become part of the VMA – the Virtuous Municipalities Association. In January 2013, in fact, the Association’s management, active since 2005 and coordinated by Marco Boschini (councillor in Colorno, Parma) accepted the candidature submitted by the Municipality of Busseto. As stressed in the association’s statute, the municipalities participating: “consider that intervening in defence of the environment and improving the quality of life, and protecting community property, in the sense of natural, relational and non-transferable assets that belong to humanity, is possible, and that they want to take advantage of this opportunity no longer just as a slogan, aware that the challenge today is represented by the transition from a statement of principles to everyday practice.”
The statutory aims concern in particular a commitment to:
For further informations visit www.comunivirtuosi.org, Associazione Comuni Virtuosi – Sito Ufficiale.