Five takeaways from OwnYourSECAP project

After nearly three years of collaboration, we have explored diverse approaches and developed tools that help municipalities implement their climate and energy actions in a more systematic and inclusive way. There is no one-size-fits-all solution – each municipality differs in size, political will, competencies, capacity, and motivation. However, working with a clear methodology has delivered tangible results, even in cases where municipalities initially claimed they could not act due to lack of funding.

As with any project, a key focus toward the end is ensuring the sustainability of results. What is the added value? Will municipalities continue to use the methods? Can other municipalities benefit from the outcomes?

We believe there are several valuable results, and here are our Top 5 takeaways from OwnYourSECAP that any municipality can use, adapt, and replicate.

#5 SECAP inventory

Many municipalities already have their SECAPs. However, in many cases, these plans end up sitting on a shelf, rarely used or revisited. OwnYourSECAP developed a simple Excel-based tool designed for municipal employees, technicians, and consultants to help take stock of planned SECAP measures.

The tool uses straightforward criteria to assess the clarity and readiness of actions across the five main SECAP sectors: municipal infrastructure, housing, mobility, energy production, and climate adaptation.

The outcome is a list of measures, each scored based on their readiness. The higher the score, the more ready the action is for implementation. The main benefit of this tool is that it allows municipalities to revisit their SECAP, assess the measures, and take practical next steps toward implementation.

For municipalities without an existing SECAP, the tool also includes a set of pre-defined measures that can be planned and implemented independently of a formal action plan. Tool available here.

#4 Developing action plan for each SECAP measure and monitoring it

The level of detail in SECAP measures varies significantly among municipalities – from comprehensive descriptions to minimal information. Often, the measures serve more as a framework for action in a specific area, leaving many smaller, practical steps to be planned and implemented later.

To support implementation, OwnYourSECAP developed a simple template for structuring each measure. It helps municipalities break down actions into clear sub-steps, define key milestones, and assign responsibilities. Taking the time to prepare such a short action plan increases the likelihood that the measure will be implemented – or at least properly discussed and consciously postponed. The discussion itself, involving all key stakeholders, is a crucial part of the process. The template provides a structured format for facilitating this dialogue.

Once an action is planned, in progress, or completed, it’s essential to monitor it. Since municipalities are typically working on multiple actions, OwnYourSECAP also created the SECAP Journal – a simple, Excel-based tool ready for immediate use. The journal serves as a register where anyone in the municipality can see all energy and climate-related actions planned, ongoing, or completed each year. Explore the SECAP Journal here.

#3 Monitoring climate adaptation in municipalities

Today, monitoring the energy consumption of refurbished public buildings is standard practice – there’s no debate about its necessity. In contrast, monitoring climate and climate adaptation efforts is still in its early stages, particularly in small and medium-sized municipalities. Yet such monitoring is essential – not only for local decision-making but also to meet regional and national reporting needs.

OwnYourSECAP has compiled a set of tools to support municipalities in addressing and tracking climate adaptation. Learn more here.

One key OwnYourSECAP resource is the Climate Module, integrated into an online platform designed for municipalities. This user-friendly tool enables local governments to start collecting and tracking data on adaptation measures – not just to monitor their effectiveness but also to better understand local priorities and vulnerabilities.

The module helps municipalities identify sector-specific risks such as coastal erosion, flooding, or economic losses in agriculture due to prolonged drought and extreme heat. Find out how to access and use the Climate Module here.

#2 Introducing energy management

Article 5 of the revised Energy efficiency directive 2023/1791 states that “Member States shall ensure that the total final energy consumption of all public bodies combined is reduced by at least 1,9 % each year, when compared to 2021.”

This target directly affects municipalities. To meet it, the introduction of an energy management system is an ideal solution, as it enables continuous monitoring and systematic reduction of energy consumption with minimal investment. So far, more than 20 European municipalities have been certified under the ISO 50001 standard, while many others (more than 40) have implemented the system without formal

certification. It has been proven that energy management systems can lead to annual energy savings of 3–8%.

The OwnYourSECAP consortium has worked extensively on this topic and gathered valuable experience. See available materials here.

#1 Climate-mainstreaming in municipal budgets and/or investment plans

One of the most effective ways to ensure municipalities truly own their SECAPs is through climate mainstreaming. This approach allows different departments to be constructively involved by evaluating planned investments and budgets against climate criteria.

Each investment project is assessed to determine whether it has a positive, partly positive, neutral, or negative impact on climate goals. As a result, municipalities not only realise they are already contributing to climate action – but also learn how to improve those efforts. For instance, climate adaptation measures can be integrated into infrastructure projects like road construction.

Results show that, on average, 40–60% of municipal investments are climate-positive.

OwnYourSECAP has developed a simple five-step algorithm to help municipalities gradually introduce climate mainstreaming. This process increases awareness and engagement across departments and ensures that climate considerations are permanently embedded in overall municipal planning – both for budgets and investments. The algorithm and other materials related to this subject are available here.

For more information, contact  

Marika Rošā and Anda Jēkabsone, Ekodoma (Coordinator) 
Noliktavas street 3-3, Riga LV1010, Latvia​ 
marika@ekodoma.lv and anda.jekabsone@ekodoma.lv  

​Project website www.ownyoursecap.eu