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Covenant of Mayors

The Covenant of Mayors initiative aims to engage and support cities and towns to commit to reaching the EU climate mitigation and adaptation targets. Signatory cities pledge action to support implementation of the EU 40% greenhouse gas-reduction target by 2030 and the adoption of a joint approach to tackling mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

The Covenant of Mayors was launched in 2008 in Europe with the ambition to gather local governments voluntarily committed to achieving and exceeding the EU climate and energy targets. In 2014, Mayors Adapt – the Covenant of Mayors Initiative on Climate Change Adaptation – was set up by the European Commission as one of the actions of the EU Adaptation Strategy to engage cities in taking action to adapt to climate change. The European Commission merged the two initiatives in 2015 in an effort to promote an integrated approach to climate and energy action. In June 2016, the Covenant of Mayors joined forces with another city initiative, the Compact of Mayors. The resulting “Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy” is the world's largest movement for local climate and energy actions. In future, the third pillar of the initiative – energy poverty – will be further developed and strengthened.

The Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy aims to increase support for local activities, provide a platform for greater engagement and networking by cities, and raise public awareness about adaptation and mitigation and the measures needed.

To help bring this about, this initiative by the European Commission offers signatories:

  • practical support through dedicated helpdesks;
  • innovative ways to network and collaborate, exchange experiences and build capacity through regular events, city twinning activities, webinars or online discussions;
  • guidance material and tools, including the Urban Adaptation Support Tool and guidance on financing local energy and climate action;
  • quick access to excellence know-how, good practices and lessons learned through inspiring case studies;
  • a flexible reference framework for action, adaptable to local needs;
  • facilitated self-assessment and peer-to-peer exchange through common reporting and monitoring template;
  • credible commitments through progress review by the Joint Research Center of the European Commission;
  • enhanced cooperation and support from national and subnational authorities;
  • high international recognition and visibility for the local authority’s climate and energy action;
  • an opportunity to contribute to shaping the EU’s climate and energy policy, e.g. through the Covenant political board.

For additional information please visit the Covenant of Mayors website.

For more resources (tools, guidance, publications, case studies, etc.), visit the Cities and towns section in Climate-ADAPT.