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New
web tool for local climate policy
Ecofys
has launched a new web tool that helps local authorities discuss and
develop climate policies. The tool is designed as an online table,
which a local authority can use to indicate its ambition within several
different climate policy themes. The tool will generate reports of
the current situation and the desired outcome, which will then form
the basis of a local policy plan. The tool can be found on www.climatemenu.com.
The
European Climate Menu
At the Rio Conference in 1992 the important role of local and regional
authorities in addressing climate issues was recognised. Although
in recent years climate issues have received more and more attention,
local authorities still find materialising climate policy a challenge.
This barrier is certainly related to the fact that climate policy
requires an integrated approach over various policy areas. Dutch
government agency Novem asked Ecofys and PricewaterhouseCoopers
to develop a tool that would address these difficulties. This request
resulted in the so-called climate menu. The climate menu is a table
of targets for local authorities. The targets are defined according
to three levels of ambition and cover 8 themes, ranging from transport
to agriculture. Based on the widespread adoption of the climate
menu in the Netherlands the EU decided to have a European version
developed by Ecofys, as part of the Altener programme.
Best practise project database
A project website was launched in 2003 as a means to share information
between the project participants. Ecofys has now added functions
to the website that provide local authorities with tangible tools
to facilitate the policy development process. The online menu table
is coupled to a best practise project database. In the database
projects are listed by theme and ambition level. One of the listed
projects covers the theme “New Housing” and involves
bioclimatic apartment blocks. In this project the Spanish municipality
of Sitges built blocks of flats with low energy requirements and
using low environmental impact materials while maintaining an acceptable
market price for the apartments. These and other examples will aid
local authorities not only to formulate but also implement their
policy plans. For more information please visit www.climatemenu.com.
Note for the editorial staff:
Ecofys
Ecofys is the co-ordinator of the European Climate Menu project,
which is initiated by the Altener programme of the EU.
Ecofys (www.ecofys.com) is a leading company in the field of renewable
energy and energy efficiency. More than 150 employees in six countries
deliver integrated sustainable energy solutions. Ecofys is part
of the Econcern group (www.e-concern.com), with the mission "a
sustainable energy supply for everyone".
For more information please contact:
Ellen Hendrix
Marketing Manager Ecofys
T: 030 - 280 83 19
F: 030 - 280 83 01
E: e.hendrix@ecofys.com
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