ICLEI Europe

Cities and regions recognise the ambitious policy reforms that have established the European Union as a global leader in the circular economy over the last decade. However, both material use and waste generation show no signs of a significant reduction in the EU: this indicates that the EU has not yet transitioned to a low material intensity and less wasteful circular economy.

Public Procurement must evolve from an administrative process into a strategic instrument to advance EU competitiveness, innovation, resilience, climate, circularity and social objectives. While the 2014 framework enables such use in principle, the Commissions evaluation and ICLEI Europes experience show that implementation remains limited: lowest-price awards dominate, strategic procedures are rarely used, sectoral…

ICLEI Europe welcomes the consultation to ensure that at least 55% (and not 50%) GHG emissions will be reduced by 2030 compared with 1990, as this is closer in line with the effort of the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.

ICLEI Europe welcomes the REDII Inception impact assessment. As the leading global network of 1,750 cities, towns and regions committed to building a sustainable future, representing more than 25 percent of the global urban population, and on behalf of our European members and the millions of citizens they represent, ICLEI Europe supports an increase of the 2030 climate target to at least 55% GHG emissions…

ICLEI Europe, as a network of local governments, welcomes the opportunity to reflect upon the 2014 EU Procurement Directives, and in particular their effectiveness in promoting strategic and sustainable public procurement (SPP). Our submission highlights both the impact achieved by SPP in the period 2016-24, and challenges associated with the current regulatory framework.

ICLEI Europe welcomes the Commissions initiative to develop a Right to Stay Strategy. The initiative comes at a crucial moment for Europe, as many territories face overlapping pressures: demographic decline, ageing, lack of economic opportunities, climate risks, environmental degradation, housing unaffordability, weak access to services, and declining trust in public institutions.

The scale and speed of transformation required to deliver on the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate and energy targets requires not only clear and certain regulatory frameworks, but also adequate financing and enabling measures to foster deep renovation in both the public and the private sector.

The European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) represents a key opportunity to align industrial policy with Europes territorial, green, demographic and digital transitions. ICLEI Europe- local governments for sustainability calls for a strong, place-based competitiveness agenda that positions cities and regions as key partners in Europes transformation.

ICLEI Europe recognises that energy efficiency is a key area for urgent action in the EU, to reach 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and achieve a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. Whilst supporting the proposed revisions to the EED overall, ICLEI counsels that amendments to the text are made to highlight the central role subnational governments play in delivering on-the-ground energy efficiency gains…

ICLEI Europe welcomes the European Commissions proposal to amend the European Climate Law by introducing a binding target of a 90% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. A robust and ambitious 2040 target will provide the long-term policy stability that cities and regions need to accelerate public investment and action towards climate neutrality and resilience, with and for all…

ICLEI Europe welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a Roadmap towards Nature Credits and to strengthen the governance of emerging nature markets. As the largest global network of local and regional governments committed to sustainable development, ICLEI Europe represents the interests of cities and regions across the continent, and we see a strong and proactive EU role as critical for ensuring that…

ICLEI highlights that local and regional governments are uniquely positioned to respond to interconnected and complex environmental, economic and social challenges such as housing. Considering that around 90% of today's buildings will still exist in 2050, European policies and investments in this field should focus on high-quality, sustainable, and energy-efficient housing that is affordable and supports inclusive…

ICLEI Europe welcomes the European Commissions initiative for a Housing Simplification Package (HSP) to reduce the administrative complexity, costs, delays, and uncertainty that can constrain housing delivery. From the perspective of cities and regions, simplification should not mean building more and faster at the expense of environmental, social and quality standards.

ICLEI Europe welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an integrated European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Framework. Building on decades of support for local and regional governments, ICLEI stresses the need for a bold, cross-cutting approach that safeguards communities and nature, secures prosperity, and boosts Europes competitiveness amid growing climate risks.

It is imperative that local governments have a say in the allocation of renewable energy acceleration zones. Given the very high number of local governments in Europe, and particularly in some Member States, such participation could be facilitated on the regional level by the relevant planning authorities with the input of local/regional energy agencies.

The revision of the Governance Regulation is a timely opportunity to strengthen delivery of the EUs climate and energy objectives by improving implementation, investment clarity and coordination across governance levels.

ICLEI Europe welcomes the Implementing Act and appreciates the transparent process that guided its development. However, to support effective and successful implementation, we would like to offer several key recommendations: - Survey/transport model in indicator SU.2 (Number of trips per month made by persons who have their usual residence in the geographical area, broken down by the following four travel modes…

In regard to the next Multiannual Financial Framework, ICLEI Europe highlights that for reforms and investments to deliver tangible results across all European territories, two conditions are essential: robust multilevel governance and territorially sensitive performance indicators. Without these, the EU risks misaligned priorities, weaker implementation, and growing territorial disparities.

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability welcomes the creation of a Social Climate Fund (the Fund) as a long-term instrument for a fairer Europe on the way to climate neutrality. It helps in responding to imbalances generated by the extension of the ETS to buildings and transport, which would affect in particular more vulnerable enterprises, households and individuals struggling with, inter alia, energy poverty.