We are witnessing an era when urbanisation is rapidly changing the world, and cities are becoming hubs of innovation, sustainable development, and progress. The development of urban landscapes creates the need to adopt and implement coordinated strategies to address pressing issues of our time, such as climate change, energy efficiency, and sustainable development. The Covenant of Mayors is one of the most active initiatives that connects responsibility, cooperation, and faith in the future of each of us.

What is the Covenant of Mayors? 

The Covenant of Mayors was initiated by the European Union and implemented by the European Commission in 2008. The initiative is based on the vision of responsible citizenship, where local authorities and their citizens play a leading role in the global climate change fight. The Covenant of Mayors pioneered a bottom-up approach to energy and climate action, but it quickly exceeded all expectations. 

The participants have committed to developing and implementing Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans, which identify specific measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, and strengthen resilience to climate change. An important role is assigned to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030. In addition, priority is given to renewable energy sources, promotion of energy-efficient technologies, and implementation of sustainable urban planning practices to minimize energy consumption and carbon emissions. 

In 2015, the Global Covenant of Mayors was launched. The experience gained in Europe and beyond has helped to create a multi-level model of cooperation and a context-specific framework for action. The Global Covenant of Mayors has grown to become the largest global alliance on climate in urban landscapes. More than 12,500 cities and local governments represent the interests of more than 1 billion citizens who are committed to mitigating climate change. The Alliance members come from 6 continents and 144 countries. Successful implementation of the Covenant of Mayors’ strategies is projected to reduce global emissions by 4.1 GtCO2 in 2050, equivalent to 80 percent of the annual emissions of the United States.

What is the place of Ukraine in the Covenant of Mayors?

As part of the Covenant of Mayors East (CoM East) project, Ukraine has joined a cohort of proactive countries that promote the unification of local, regional, and national authorities in the Eastern Partnership countries. The joint activities are based on the desire to develop regional policies based on the principles of sustainable energy, strengthening energy security, and supporting the global movement to combat climate change. The Covenant of Mayors East (CoM East) was launched in September 2011. The first phase of the project covered 11 countries in the Eastern Partnership and Central Asia regions and continued from 2011 to 2015.  Starting in October 2015, local governments committed to reduce CO2 (and possibly other greenhouse gas) emissions by at least 40%, increase resilience to climate change, and ensure reliable access to sustainable and affordable energy by 2030. For the Eastern Partnership countries, the goal of reducing CO2 emissions was set at a minimum of 30%. The second phase of the project involved 6 countries in the Eastern Partnership region and was implemented from 2016 to 2020. 303 cities participated in the Covenant of Mayors. 

By 2024, 339 Ukrainian cities have joined the Global Covenant of Mayors and are continuing to implement the changes needed to prevent climate change, and promote energy efficiency and sustainable development. 

The difficult path to a sustainable future continues. Cooperation inspires us to new achievements and projects. UniCities is proud to be able to follow the example of the best and move in the same direction with them!