Over the last decades the energy and environmental policy of the European Union (EU) has been concentrated on the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) deriving from the growing use of fossil fuels, by adhesion to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and through the approval of the Climate and Energy Package in 2008, which defines the strategic goals for the decrease of these substances by 2020. It is to be noted that, in the EU, a large amount of GHG has been released into the atmosphere from cities, also due to the increase in their energy demand. For this reason, the European Commission has shown great interest in the environmental sustainability of cities and it promoted, on 21 June 2011, the Smart Cities and Communities initiative for proposals addressing the deployment of integrated sustainable energy technologies (smart mobility, buildings, grid, etc.) in urban areas. These initiatives will provide valuable technology input to the Covenant of Mayors, as well as build on its Signatories’ Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAP), which is one of first initiatives concerning a GHG reduction of 20% by 2020 in cities. In this context this paper aims to analyse the different EU technologies and initiatives (CONCERTO, CIVITAS and Covenant of Mayors) and so address making the production and use of energy in urban areas more sustainable and efficient, focusing on the potential benefits forecast for some municipalities in the Apulian Province of Foggia, the first area in Southern Italy which has adhered to the Covenant of Mayors and elaborated a SEAP.
Environmental sustainable management of cities in the EU: political and technological solutions
SPADA, VALERIA;TRICASE, CATERINA;RANA, ROBERTO LEONARDO;LOMBARDI, MARIAROSARIA
2012-01-01
Abstract
Over the last decades the energy and environmental policy of the European Union (EU) has been concentrated on the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) deriving from the growing use of fossil fuels, by adhesion to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and through the approval of the Climate and Energy Package in 2008, which defines the strategic goals for the decrease of these substances by 2020. It is to be noted that, in the EU, a large amount of GHG has been released into the atmosphere from cities, also due to the increase in their energy demand. For this reason, the European Commission has shown great interest in the environmental sustainability of cities and it promoted, on 21 June 2011, the Smart Cities and Communities initiative for proposals addressing the deployment of integrated sustainable energy technologies (smart mobility, buildings, grid, etc.) in urban areas. These initiatives will provide valuable technology input to the Covenant of Mayors, as well as build on its Signatories’ Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAP), which is one of first initiatives concerning a GHG reduction of 20% by 2020 in cities. In this context this paper aims to analyse the different EU technologies and initiatives (CONCERTO, CIVITAS and Covenant of Mayors) and so address making the production and use of energy in urban areas more sustainable and efficient, focusing on the potential benefits forecast for some municipalities in the Apulian Province of Foggia, the first area in Southern Italy which has adhered to the Covenant of Mayors and elaborated a SEAP.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
