This article was published under the 2015-2020 European Committee of the Regions mandate.
The Covenant of Mayors, the mainstream European initiative involving local and regional authorities in the fight against climate change and developing a more sustainable energy future for our cities, is a voluntary commitment by signatories to meet and exceed the EU 20% CO2 reduction objective through increased energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources.
Our member Andres Jaadla (EE) is a “Covenant of Mayor ambassador” and thus a climate ambassador, committing to promote local and regional climate action and represent the collaboration between the Committee of the Regions and the Covenant of Mayors at major national and international events. Jaadla has been representing the Covenant of Mayors at different summits over the last months, while also delivering a Committee of the Regions report on EU environmental law.
A fresh start for the European economy has been the first priority of the European Committee of the Regions from the start of this mandate. Creating jobs and sustainable growth in cities and regions is the most direct way for CoR Members to show how the EU contributes to a better quality of life for citizens. The integrated approach of the “Smart Cities” is widely recognised as one of the most effective ways for politicians to deliver.November
COP22 in Marrakech. Andres Jaadla invited cities and regions from other countries such as China to be part of the global Covenant of Mayors for a better climate, thereby promoting this European initiative globally.
October
On 27 October in Yerevan, Armenia Andres JAADLA took part in the New Covenant of Mayors For Climate and Energy event with focus on prospects and benefits for Eastern Partnership Countries.
September
EU-Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee. Local authorities play an important role in implementing the Energy Union and the Paris COP 21 commitments. Jaadla illustrated this by speaking about his city of Rakvere and the Estonian experience with energy efficiency in the housing sector at the 7th meeting of the EU-Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee.
General Assembly of UNECE Housing and Land Management. Jaadla discusses smart and sustainable cities at the 77th General Session of the Committee of UNECE Housing and Land Management with Housing Europe in Geneva in the Palace of Nations.
July
MedCOP Climate 2016. In this month he also represented the Committee of the Regions at the MedCOP Climate 2016 Mediterranean Climate Conference in Tangier, Morocco. Andres Jaadla: “Good governance does not only mean enhanced cooperation between different levels of power. We must emphasize horizontal governance and impulse closer collaboration between departments within the same administration, from energy to environment, civil protection and health”
Bratislave summit. Jaadla also discussed how cities have been innovating by using European investments to become smart & more energy-efficient cities at the. Full video here. He also spoke with American economist Jeremy Rifkin about the Committee of the Regions’ Climate & Energy activities and the development of his city of Rakvere as a smart city.
June
European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns. Andres Jaadla continued his commitment to environmental causes attending the 8th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns in Bilbao. The event was hosted by the President of the Basque Country Iñigo Urkullu who is also an ALDE CoR member.
June
The Committee of the Regions staged a ceremonial launch of a new support network ‘Covenant Ambassadors’ to underline the importance of local and regional authorities in implementing the objectives of the Energy Union and the commitments taken at the Paris COP. The Forum will outline objectives and future activities, showcase best practices and policy recommendations of this group’s members including our member Andres Jaadla and present tools available to these climate and energy ambassadors for their promotional work.
Jaadla organised a Committee of the Regions local event, “EU environment law and INSPIRE: improving reporting and compliance” and argued that eGov tools can improve EU environmental law implementation. His opinion included a set of concrete proposals such as to automatize and digitalise reporting tools, to establish guidance documents and ‘implementation scorecards”. Jaadla’s opinion highlights specific good examples in environmental monitoring and reporting such as WISE, an EU data collection and information service on water.
Andres JAADLA
Ambassador
