The Covenant of Mayors is a European movement involving local authorities that commit to reducing CO2 emissions by at least 20% by 2020. Signatories undertake to prepare an emissions inventory and sustainable energy action plan within a year of signing. Coordinators like regions and national authorities provide strategic and technical support to help signatories meet their commitments. The Covenant is endorsed by the European Commission and benefits from institutional support as it helps meet EU climate and energy goals through local action.

2.  The Covenant of Mayors is the mainstream
European movement involving local and regional
authorities, voluntarily committing to increasing
energy efficiency and use of renewable energy
sources on their territories. By their
commitment, Covenant signatories aim to meet
and exceed the European Union 20% CO2
reduction objective by 2020.

3.  After the adoption, in 2008, of the EU
Climate and Energy Package, the European
Commission launched the Covenant of Mayors
to endorse and support the efforts deployed
by local authorities in the implementation of
sustainable energy policies. Indeed, local
governments play a crucial role in mitigating
the effects of climate change, all the more
so when considering that 80% of energy
consumption and CO2 emissions is associated
with urban activity.

4.  For its unique characteristics - being the only
movement of its kind mobilising local and
regional actors around the fulfilment of EU
objectives - the Covenant of Mayors has been
portrayed by European institutions as an
exceptional model of multi-level governance.

5.  In order to translate their political
commitment into concrete measures and
projects, Covenant signatories notably
undertake to prepare a Baseline Emission
Inventory and submit, within the year
following their signature, a Sustainable
Energy Action Plan outlining the key actions
they plan to undertake.

6.  Beyond energy savings, the results of signatories’
actions are manifold: creation of skilled and stable
jobs, not subject to delocalisation; healthier
environment and quality of life; enhanced economic
competitiveness and greater energy independence.
These actions serve as examples for others to
follow, notably through referring to the
“Benchmarks of Excellence”, a database of best
practices submitted by Covenant signatories. The
Catalogue of Sustainable Energy Action Plans is
another such unique source of inspiration, as it
shows at a glance the ambitious objectives set by
other signatories and the key measures they have
identified to reach them.

7.  In signatories’ countries
While an increasing number of municipalities
are showing the political will to sign up to
the Covenant, they do not always have the
financial and technical resources to live up
to their commitments. For this reason, a
special status within the Covenant has been
granted to public administrations and
networks which are in a position to assist
signatories in fulfilling their ambitious goals.

8.  Covenant Coordinators - including provinces,
regions and national authorities – provide
strategic guidance, financial and technical
support to signatories.
 Network of local authorities, known as Covenant
Supporters, commit to maximize the impact of
the initiative through promotional activities,
liaison with their members and experience-
sharing platforms.

9.  From the Covenant of Mayors Office
Promotional, technical and administrative assistance is
provided on a daily basis to Covenant signatories,
Covenant Coordinators Covenant Coordinators The
European Commission defines “Covenant Coordinators”
as those public administrations which provide strategic
guidance, financial and technical support to
municipalities signing up to the Covenant of Mayors but
lacking necessary skills and/or resources to fulfil their
requirements. The Commission distinguishes between
Territorial Coordinators, which are sub-national
decentralized authorities - including provinces, regions
and public groupings of municipalities - and National
Coordinators, which are national public bodies -
including national energy agencies and ministry of
energy. and Covenant Supporters by the Covenant of
Mayors Office (CoMO), managed by a consortium of
networks representing local and regional authorities.

10.  From the Joint Research Centre
In cooperation with the CoMO, the Joint
Research Centre of the European Commission
assists signatories with scientific and technical
questions, mostly related to emission
inventories and action plans.
 Signatories are guided through the process
thanks to a number of tools and methodologies
which have been developed in coordination
with the CoMO.

11.  From the EU institutions
Alongside the European Commission, the
Covenant benefits from full institutional
support, including from the Committee of the
Regions, which supported the initiative since its
inception; the European Parliament, where the
two first signing ceremonies were held; and the
European Investment Bank, which assists local
authorities in unlocking their investment
potentials.