The 2022 edition of the Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum – Energy Efficiency Finance MarketPlace took place on 18 October 2022 in Brussels. It gathered over 400 participants – with more than 250 attendees onsite – who learnt about successful and concrete initiatives on innovative energy planning, adaptation solutions in European cities and regions, mobilising investments into energy efficiency and renewable energy in the public sector and boosting energy efficiency investment in residential and commercial buildings.
The event was jointly organised by the European Commission’s Directorates-General for Energy and Climate Action, and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), in close collaboration with the Covenant of Mayors initiative.
CoM IF EEFMP 2022 presented the key role of cities and regions in the clean energy transition and climate adaptation by showcasing successful and pioneer initiatives in dedicated sessions, encouraging peer-to-peer learning and replication across Europe.
Mr Dirk Beckers – Director of CINEA – welcomed the participants and highlighted the need to accelerate investments into sustainable energy and climate adaptation in cities and regions, particularly in these times of energy crisis. Following Mr Beckers’ opening words, Ms Clara de la Torre (Deputy Director General of DG Clima) highlighted the role of the EU’s Missions on Adaptation to Climate Change and on Climate Neutral and Smart cities to support communities in transition. Mr Matthew Baldwin (Deputy Director General of DG Energy) presented the different measures set out under the RePowerEU, which aims at reducing the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels, and the role of cities and regions to achieve its goals. Ms Tanya Histrova, Mayor of Gabrovo in Bulgaria and Covenant of Mayors Ambassador, called for decision-makers to provide the tools and instruments to support cities and regions, anchored in well-designed multi-level governance structures. Finally, Mr Thomas Östros, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, reaffirmed the commitment of the EIB to support the green transition in Europe, for instance through the ELENA initiative.
15 projects and initiatives. Three thematic strands
15 successful projects - financed through programmes such as Horizon 2020, LIFE Clean Energy Transition, LIFE Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and ELENA - were presented by practitioners to their peers. Those projects showcased their results in the areas of innovative energy planning and climate change adaptation solutions in European cities and regions, in mobilising investments into energy efficiency and renewable energy in the public sector and in boosting energy efficiency investment in residential and commercial buildings. The projects and initiatives were grouped under three different strands: Cities and Regions driving change: innovative energy planning and climate change adaptation solutions; Public sector mobilizing sustainable energy investments; and Emerging approaches to boost energy efficiency investments in residential and commercial buildings.
Networking opportunities
Networking throughout the event was ensured thanks to a set of nine institutional stands which allowed for lively interactions.
More information
If you missed any of the sessions or if you would like to revise some of their content – all the presentations and recordings are available below.
Opening – online recording
Cities and Regions driving change: innovative energy planning and climate change adaptation solutions
- DECARB CITY PIPES 2050 - Transition roadmaps to energy efficient, zero-carbon urban heating & cooling – presentation – online recording
- PROSPECT+ - Capacity building for local and regional authorities on innovative finance for sustainable energy and climate plans – presentation – online recording
- LIFE PACT - Integrated approach to urban climate adaptation in Leuven, by engaging citizens in Nature Based Solutions – presentation – online recording
- VENETO ADAPT - Enhance capacity of Veneto cities to respond to climate change (hydro-geological risk) by a multi governance approach – presentation – online recording
- ATELIER - Does size really matter? Replicating smart city solution in small and mid-sized cities – presentation – online recording
Public sector mobilizing sustainable energy investments
- PRODESA - Bundling sustainable energy projects by municipalities in the Athens Metropolitan Area – presentation – online recording
- BAPAURA – Energy services in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes – presentation – online recording
- INDDHEAT - District heating and district cooling investment programme in the North-Denmark Region – presentation – online recording
- EU CITY FACILITY - Support to cities and municipalities in mobilising sustainable energy investments – presentation – online recording
- CITIZEE - Scaling up public funding for the energy efficiency of buildings by attracting citizen investments – presentation – online recording
Emerging approaches to boost energy efficiency investments in residential and commercial buildings
- DOMUS - Platform to boost energy efficiency investments in homes and commercial buildings – presentation – online recording
- PROPEL - Scaling up the energy efficiency finance market – presentation – online recording
- SAVE THE HOMES - One-stop-shops to stimulate home renovation demand in Valencia and Rotterdam – presentation – online recording
- PRORETRO - Supporting home owners in their energy renovation projects in five German cities and regions – presentation – online recording
- COMACT - Renovation of multi-family buildings mitigating energy poverty in Central and Eastern Europe and in former Soviet Union republics – presentation – online recording
Closing – online recording