Let’s plan for the planet!

Planning for the Planet

Green Deal implementation is meant to be the next central challenge across the EU. The Planet is still warming, and climate neutrality remain the main objective of the century. The challenge is huge and the energy transition is a key part of the solution.

During the 25 September 2024 roundtable, the panellists dived into the solutions that European, regional and local actors are providing to bolster a Just Transition in Eastern European Countries. In particular, they delved into the multiple benefits and essential role of energy efficiency in this regard.

The main angle of approach focused on an essential tool to policy-makers in designing a better future for all: planning.

Therefore, the multiple high-level regional and local panellists showcased their feedback, experience and good practices in terms of planning the Just Transition and rollout of Energy Efficiency on their territories.

Especially, in the frame of the Regio1st and CEESEEU-DIGIT European projects, partners are looking at innovative and better solutions to sustainable planning in Eastern Europe.

Agenda and speakers

Introduction – 5’

Tour de table – 55’

• Roman Kekec, Director assistant of LEASP (Energy Agency of Slovenia)
• Danijela Vrtarić, Director assistant of MENEA (Energy Agency of North Croatia) 
• Elis Vollmer, Project officer of Tartu Regional Energy Agency (Estonia)

Discussion – 55’

Conclusion and wrap-up – 5’

About the projects

Regio1st

The project raises awareness about the Energy Efficiency First principle (EE1st) among regional governments and their agencies and supports them to make related decisions in their planning. It does so through the provision of appropriate guidance to regional authorities to embed the EE1st principle in their decisions and in the implementation of their energy plans departing from six participant regions and expanding to over 100 regions in the EU. It establishes a community of practice for EE1st in cooperation with the Covenant of Mayors to ensure political commitment of regional authorities and strengthens the enforcement of the Multilevel Climate and Energy Dialogue provision, with particular focus on ownership and acceptance of the principle from stakeholders at all levels.

More information here.

CEESEU DIGIT

The project aims at developing a new type of regional energy and climate plans (ECAPs) in six target areas of Central and Eastern Europe, while addressing the lack of awareness, capacity, and resources of CEE municipalities in developing Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs). The project also pays special attention to vulnerable social groups and those affected by energy poverty, and aims to promote a just energy transition through the dissemination of information and knowledge sharing between partner organizations. Overall, the CEESEU-DIGIT project is a significant step towards building the capacity of CEE municipalities to contribute towards meeting the EU’s climate goals through the development of SECAPs that consider the unique circumstances of the region.

More information here.