The
The Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is the largest global movement of local governments voluntarily committed to climate and energy action.
Launched in 2008 by the European Commission (European Union), the initiative empowers towns, cities, and regions to meet and exceed official European Union and global climate targets through localized strategies.
Signatory cities align their local policies under a shared vision of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. They focus on three main areas:
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Mitigation: Accelerating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for at least a 55% reduction by 2030.
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Adaptation: Increasing urban resilience to prepare for and withstand the unavoidable impacts of climate change (such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves).
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Energy Poverty: Alleviating financial vulnerability by ensuring secure, clean, and affordable energy access for all citizens.
What started as a European initiative has expanded into a massive, worldwide coalition:
The EU Covenant of Mayors manages the European branch, connecting thousands of local authorities representing hundreds of millions of citizens.
The **Global Covenant of Mayors ** (GCoM) was formed by merging the European movement with the international Compact of Mayors. It now units over 14,000 cities across 150 countries.
Technical and scientific assistance is provided by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. The movement continues to shape local climate policy through major international gatherings:
The European Covenant of Mayors