Thu
Dec
22
The CHAMP Final online conference "European Climate Champions" is over!
You can find all materials and the recorded Live stream here on the website.
We are happy to still receive your feedback!
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European Climate Champions
You can find all materials and the recorded Live stream here on the website.
We are happy to still receive your feedback!
Thu
Dec
15
European Climate Champions Conference: Tell us how you liked it!
The European Climate Champions is turning to an end. We have had interesting two days with a lot of material, speeches and discussions, and it's surely right to say that the CHAMP project got an ending that it deserved.For many of us and at least for the organisers this has been the first online event of such a big scale. We have enjoyed this a lot and are sure that online conferences will become more and more common as we get used to them and the technique. For this reason, we'd like to hear your thoughts how it worked out!
What did you think was the best part? What could still be improved?
What was in your opinion the most interesting speech, presentation or video at the European Climate Champions?
We are happy to say that all the material will stay available on the site and it's worth and also the presentations from the live stream will be added to the site soon. We hope you enjoyed the conference!
Photo: Kaj-Michael Lang. "Behind the scenes" at the European Climate Champions
Thu
Dec
15
From model projects to mainstream
Rather often we hear from local authorities that there are too much initiatives and not enough coordination and continuity. This is what the Integrated Management for Sustainability is standing for: Coordination and continuity - not only on local level by supporting local and regional authorities to implement this integrated management approach, but also on European level by establishing the European Partnership.
All these initiatives are useful and they need a management system to be implemented as well as guidance and training programmes. The European Partnership will offer right this:
- A management system which proofs to be logical and practical and at the same time flexible to allow the integration of existing management tools
- Guidelines which are meaningful and profound and at the same time adaptable to the circumstances of all European countries
- A training structure which combines the European state of the art and national peculiarities and is able to support local and regional authorities by solving their individual challanges
- The European Partnership will further develop a standard for IMS and assure the quality of the management system itself but also of the IMS trainers and training. And it will lobby for mainstreaming IMS and for establishing tangible benefits and advantages for local and regional authorities with an IMS implemented.
A peaceful and relaxing Christmas time and very best wishes for the New Year,
Marion Hammerl and the CHAMP Team
Thu
Dec
15
A Nice Package
CHAMP is offering cities and municipalities an extensive Capacity Development Package to support their capacity development to combat climate change through an integrated management system. Integration of various policies and structures in the administration is needed to respond to climate change. Furthermore, different stakeholders need to be involved in order to implement measures successfully. Have a look at the online Package here!
According to the experience of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, Finnish cities have found the training based on the Package very useful. The approach is concrete and responds very well to the needs of the cities. Cities mention that they got new ideas and a deeper understanding of issues related to climate change. The Package also tackles important phases of any planning and decision making like political commitment. Hear more about the Finnish experiences on a video here!
Thu
Dec
15
Cooperation is municipal therapy – Notions from the Live Stream session
The IUME process is one initiative that is building tangible basis and possibilities for cities to learn from each others. As Mr. AtKisson said in yesterday’s panel discussion “If you cannot measure sustainable development, it will remain just a nice word.”
Ms. Mühlmann from ICLEI reminded that integration and cooperation are the key to success and that there is also a key set of indicators in the Capacity Development Package on www.localmanagement.eu which functions as e-platform for the European Partnership for Integrated Sustainability Management.
Ms. Maliszewska from the Sendzimir Foundation emphasized the need for continuous capacity development on two levels: individual and institutional. She also saw that IMS can have a role as being practical tool in developing good governance.Several comment speeches noted that good governance and sustainability management are challenging goals for cities but the networks have important role as supporters in the process. Mr. Hooli from UBC summarized the experiences from implementing IMS by referring to a civil servant who had stated in IMS workshop that “Cooperation is municipal therapy”.
Photo: Lauri Hooli from UBC.
Thu
Dec
15
Get out of the trap! Legalize it!
Now, we observe that many local administrators, personally and because of deeper insight and understanding, would like to innovate their work-place and procedures by introducing instruments like IMS. And not at least during the CHAMP e-conference 'Climate Champions', we could observe a general agreement of many diffeent actors in Europe that IMS is perhaps the most promising solution for a sustainability oriented public management for European cities, towns and regions, independent from geographical location or size. But will the EU's integrated approach and local integrated management 'fly' just by being the best-in-class instrument for managing local sustainability and climate change response? Will local governments in Europe rearrange their public management procedures towards an 'integrated approach' following the IMS example just by voluntary move? The European EMAS does so, but the main argument is 'competition', which is a valid argument for private organisations, businesses, of course. But for public administration that is used to deal with and inside a clear legal framework? We are IMS enthusiastics - and we have our doubts. The doubt lives on the fact that IMS is simply not required. There is a trap that we observe. It is the 'waiting for the other-trap'.
Local administrators would like to change, but don't get mandate by their politicians and CEO's. Politicians and CEO's refer to missing legal requirements and reject any voluntary spending for a transition (independent from any future gains). National governments are not really interested in developing a legal obligation (which would actually mean to change local constitution), as they expect municipal associations to oppose due to the 'old dragon phenomenon'. They refer to other European countries that do have no such obligation in their legislation. Who could then move? The European Commission. But: In 2005, the European Commission presented their idea of an obligation for integrated environmental plans for the, then, 460 European cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Immediately, Member states and National local government associations rejected this idea. It was, however, not for the contents, but for the principle. Member states saw problems with the subsidiarity principles, municipal associations, by default, opposed any new instrument - in their understand equal to: burden - obligatory to local governments. The old dragon waves ...
Meanwhile, we hear some administrators say: the city networks should lobby a legal requirement? Well, we do so for quite long time, actually. But with the 'waiting for the other-trap', there is no entry point, no example, and lobbying from the outside only. We are committed to carry IMS forward: by means of the European Partnership for Integrated Sustainability Management, dissemination, advocacy work. But this will help little, if not public administrations themselves move and push their politicians and Councils, Councils move and push their national associations, national associations move and push their national governments, and the national governments take a different view on cooperating with the European Commission for a new mode of multi-level integrated sustainability governance.
Holger Robrecht
Thu
Dec
15
Tailor-made IMS approaches for German cities
One good example for this successful cooperation is the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate with the city of Speyer. During the CHAMP project Speyer has started its integrated sustainability management system. Actually they are elaborating the indicator set for their Baseline Review. There is a ppt available about the local development of Speyer in the cities solution section.
Another German example using IMS fighting Climate Change is the City of Nordhausen in Thuringa. Stakeholder Integration and public participation are crucial for the local responsibles. Therefore they organised in cooperation with ICLEI, two stakeholder fora and a public information event. Further information you get here.
An interesting source for further information on local sustainability in German is the webportal nachhaltigkeitkommunal.eu.
Do you know any other good examples of German cities being active fighting climate change and fostering a sustainable future?
Thu
Dec
15
Implementing sustainable development in Polish cities
The polish cities need urgently a shift in the attitude towards climate change, both in terms of adaptation and mitigation actions, states Karolina Maliszewska, Board member of Sendzimir Foundation- I personally think that IMS is a real innovative process that the polish cities should take into account for becoming more sustainable.Ms. Maliszewska also recognizes that implementing sustainable development is a very important thing but at the same time is a very complex issue that should be dealt with the right tools. That's why the Sendzimir Foundation has decided to be part of the CHAMP European Partnership: cities gain support and a stimulus from being part of a network.
The Capacity Development Package set up in CHAMP may address perfectly the complexity of the topic: its practicality is a support for Polish cities and bring strong benefits.
Thu
Dec
15
IMS - Voluntary Instrument or obligatory for all local authorities?
Why an environmental management system or - even more appropieate - a sustainability management system should not be obligatory for all local and regional authorities, as well as sound financial management is legally requested?
Since many years, environmental organisations like ours are observing, that voluntary instruments (doesn´t matter if for public bodies or companies) do not have the expected effects. By now, only a very limited number of organisations is engaged and motivated to develop truly towards sustainable development. And additional to their efforts - which are very much appreciated - they need to pay for certifications which underline that they are acting in a responsible way.
And the other 90 % of public bodies and companies which are just doing the legally requested - or often even not that? Why they do not need to pay the costs for the environmental and social impacts they produce because of short term benefit orientation?
This is an "illegal competition", said Jochen Seitz, CEO of PUMA company. PUMA recently published as first company an Ecological Profit and Loss Account - internalizing the costs for use of water, land use, waste and CO² emissions.
Only in 2010, the costs for these environmental aspects was more than 120 million euros - nearby 50% of the benefits of the company. Jochen Seitz underlines that all companies should be legally obliged to publish a Environmental Profit and Loss Account. First it would allow transparancy and it would be the basis for sound regulation measures such as taxes for the overuse of natural resources.
This would be an important step to favor responsible companies - as well as public administrations - and to punish all those which are benefitting now from unsustainable and unresponsible behaviour.
Best, Marion Hammerl
Thu
Dec
15
The challenge of climate change can only be solved with cooperation
In her interview, Birgit Georgi from the European Environment Agency emphasized the role of cities in achieving the goals of the EU 2020 strategy. However, she also stated that climate change is a problem we cannot solve on one level of government. The local level neither the European level can not solve this challenge alone but all levels of government are needed.After this, Pamela Mühlmann from ICLEI introduced the European Partnership for Integrated Sustainability Management, which is working to mainstream integrated management to build more sustainable cities and regions. The European Partnership aims to form a bridge between European policies and local authorities. It focuses in increasing the capacities of local authorities
At the moment the European Partnership is still an open network, so if your organisation is interested, please contact us! You can find more information on the in the Introducing the European Partnership section.
Thu
Dec
15
EU LIFE Programme
CHAMP and Integrated Management for Sustainable Development is supported by the European Commission within the LIFE-Programme.
Of course, there is potential for improvement regarding the management of the LIFE-Programme and the supported projects as well as other EU programmes. But so far, LIFE is the only financial instrument to support nature and environmental projects in the European Union.
Yes - also other programmes are supporting increasingly sustainability projects, but LIFE allows the implementation of model initiatives and - of special importance - to really look for the "European Added Value".
The current LIFE Programme will end by Dec. 2013 and the continuation of LIFE is still not sure! DG Environment is fighting for the continuation of LIFE and we all should support this.
Yesterday, the European commission published the proposal for the new LIFE 2014 - 2020: A LIFE Programme for the Environment and Climate Action with a budget of3,2 billion Euro.
Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "The LIFE Programme is key to designing better environmental policy. It is available to support all those people and organisations who are working to make sure that legislation results in better outcomes for the environment in Europe. We are reforming the programme to deliver greater impact by mobilising support in an integrated way from other funding sources."
Thu
Dec
15
Why participate in European projects, such as CHAMP?
CHAMP gathers many European networks working on sustainability and IMS, and very experienced ones as well, and they can support cities providing best practices and trainings.
In this sense, cooperation at international level between networks and therefore their cities is key for a sustainable growth in our countries: this is also a key issue that is being discussed now in the second day of the CHAMP online conference. Please take a look at the live conference on line and don't hesitate to ask questions, the speakers are there to give you ideas and to answer your questions!
You can find more information in the section European Cooperation.
Thu
Dec
15
Live stream today at 11-13 (CET+1)
Today our topic is European cooperation for mainstreaming the integrated approach to fight climate change and you can find the detailed programme under the Live Stream site.
Thu
Dec
15
Support for Assessment for Eastern European Countries
Besides contacting all Environmental Ministries, competent bodies and other relevant organisations in Central and Eastern European countries, we developed more intense contacts with Sendzimir Foundation in Poland and Fundatia de Perfectionare Profesionala in Administratia Publica in Rumania. Lake Constance Foundation supports these future "IMS National Hubs" by the realization of information workshops and first trainings for local authorities and the adaptation and translation of basic training material.
Furthermore, Lake Constance Foundation supports also REC (Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe) in the training of 25 municipalities from Balkan region towards sustainable development.
All these activities are financial supported by the German Environmental Ministry and the German Federal Environmental Agency within the Programme to support the Assessment for Eastern European Countries and the LIFE Programme of the European Commission.
Marion Hammerl, Lake Constance Foundation
Thu
Dec
15
Trainings of Integrated Sustainability Management in Hungary
CHAMP encourages and supports local authorities to implement IMS (Integrated Management System) for sustainability in response to climate change effects. An extensive 5 steps training was carried out in four countries during the project period. The training method focused on how to respond more efficiently to climate change, and awareness raising about IMS. Integrated Management System is an answer to adapt to the climate change. How the CHAMP project could help for example Local Government of Fonyód in reaching the environmental objectives? "By learning, we learnt what kind of targets can be set and how to reach these targets. We know that targets must be continuohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifusly developed; it is not enough that we set the targets and only meet them; we have to try annually or bi-annually to review and further develop them. And maybe the main learning is that we can not stop, persistently we have to develop we have to set new targets and meet them. We would like to update our environmental management plan annually – biannually, and also that the members of the local council support us to implement new and new environmental programs."
The end of the training the participants received a certification within the Final Award Ceremony. The representatives of Fonyód can be seen on the picture.
If you would like to become a Climate Champion, please click to the project website or follow the on-line conference.
You can find out more about the Hungarian trainings in the section Reflecting the CHAMP trainings.
Thu
Dec
15
The importance of cooperation
An added value is the opportunity coming from CHAMP on an european partnership of cities, with training hubs becoming points of reference for training on IMS, providing tools that would enable cities to stand up alone and to use the most of their internal capacities.
Watch the video of Emanuele Burgin at the section Why is European Cooperation needed?
Thu
Dec
15
Transnational networks helping cities in climate change response
It's true that transnational city networks such as ICLEI, UBC, Energy Cities and Climate Alliance etc. working with climate issues can be of great help to their member cities. They can either use direct lobbying, financial incentives or direct consultation and collaborative efforts in an international setting.
In the CHAMP training series we have seen that peer support and capacity building offered by these networks is really of great value to the cities. What ways do you think this kind of city networks can help cities?
Read the keynote paper by Kristine Kern here and feel free to discuss it in the comment section of this post!
Thu
Dec
15
Welcome to the 2nd day of European Climate Champions!
Check out the content on that topic at the "European cooperation" pages
As yesterday you are able to comment and dicuss on the blog or get in touch with us straight.
The Live stream is on air from 11.00-13.00 (CET+1) and you are very welcome to ask questions in the chat.
We hope you enjoy today!
Wed
Dec
14
The Covenant of Mayors initiative: a good example from the Province of Modena
The Club is supported and managed by the Province of Modena, a CoM coordinator, with the technical support of the Agency for Energy and Sustainable Development in Modena.
They get together to discuss issues linked to energy and climate change, they work together sharing ideas and solutions, they travel to see european successfull and sustainable cities: don't you think that this could be easily replicated? We think so!
See here the interview from Stefano Vaccari from the Province of Modena.
Wed
Dec
14
Trees instead of presents
When you organise an online conference with the background of being climate-friendly and avoiding emissions, it also requires some new ideas when it comes to speaker present.
So when we came to that point, we almost went into the trap to just give a small present like always: something typical Finnish, design, small handicrafted items, wine, flowers....
There is nothing at all wrong with these, but isn´t there anything else? Something that makes more sense? Something that is also easy to carry for the speakers and nothing they would throw away...because they didn´t like the wine or have already 10 ties or scarfs?!
Luckily there are several initiatives and organisations who actually offer just this: another kind of spaeker present - trees !
For our speakers and panelists during the conference, we donated 50 trees to be planted in Nicaragua.
With this we contribute to the reforestation in Nicaragua and through this help to protect the climate.
The organisation who leads the project we donated the trees for and who facilitates th ewhole donation process is PrimaKLima weltweit
Perhaps it is an idea also for yout future events? We will definitely use this way to give presents in a climate-friednly way in the future as well!
