Find out what are the results of the survey done during the summer 2020 for the collection of the views on the future of the Covenant of Mayors initiative in Europe with the participation of local and regional authorities
Illustration : Taormina, Sicily. Pixabay
Our office conducted an online survey during summer 2020 aimed at collecting local and regional authorities’ views and suggestions on the future of the Covenant initiative in Europe.
The outcome will be used to reposition the initiative in its new (policy, social, economic) context and transform it so that it best support climate transition and empowers local authorities in the recovery process.
In 2020, the Covenant of Mayors – Europe is reaching an important milestone linked to its 2020 targets, but also a decisive turning point. It is time to set a new course for the initiative in a new political landscape and a challenging post-COVID-19 recovery phase.
The results of the survey are now available! We seize the opportunity to thank all the respondents, your participation is key to make the Covenant of Mayors movement as tailored to your needs as possible.
91% of the respondents are in favour of making climate neutrality a long-term target for cities/regions in the Covenant of Mayors – Europe.
62% of the respondents would be in favour of scaling up the Covenant of Mayors’ adaptation commitment, 58% of them by making adaptation targets compulsory.
74% of the participants declare that they have already taken actions to reduce emissions in ‘non-energy-related sectors’, and a large majority of respondents (80%) support the idea to enlarge the scope of the Covenant of Mayors to even more ‘non-energy related sectors’, either as a mandatory or optional reporting requirement (37% each).
97% of the respondents are in favour of promoting multiplayers’ commitments (e.g. citizens, businesses) in the Covenant, either in a ‘soft’ or a ‘stronger’ way (46% and 51% respectively).
More than half of the respondents have already declared a climate emergency and/or made climate policy a priority; 35% are considering doing so.
A very large majority of respondents (96% in total) declares being in favour of further emphasizing the climate emergency in the framework of the Covenant of Mayors – Europe, either in a ‘soft’ or ‘stronger’ way (40% and 56% respectively). However, this varies depending on the country.