"Climate change is already having an impact on our lives as confirmed by episodes of heat waves and forest fires hitting the news headlines. The transport and building sectors are two key sectors that we need to address to successfully battle climate change. This requires systemic multilevel approach, accelerating the renewal of energy systems to be totally renewable, investment in transportation especially in electric vehicles, and embracing the potential of EU Missions." Markku Markkula, Chair of the Espoo City Board and President of the Helsinki Region made these remarks during an online event showcasing best practices and success stories in the building and transport sectors to support decarbonisation of cities across Europe.
Markkula, a former President of the European Committee of the Regions and member of the CoR’s Green Deal Going Local Working Group said that the Working Group has highlighted the importance of these two sectors as priorities of the European Green Deal. Markkula added the local and regional authorities can be the most effective level of governance to fight climate change. In this regard he called for effective multi-level governance which embraces not only the European, national and local and regional levels but also all key actors at the local level. "We need effective public-private partnerships, citizens' engagement, place based innovation, smart specializations and strategies to reach targets. We need regional road maps but also roadmaps for cities. When we talk about the Green Deal Going Local we mean concrete action plans, what to do and who will do what – a real collaborative approach."
Speaking on investment in transportation systems especially electric vehicles, Markkula recalled that a quarter of Green House Gas Emission in the EU originated from transport. He called for cost-effective public transport and said that decarbonisation of public transport and access to rail must be a cornerstone of urban planning. Sharing a good practice from the city of Espoo, Markkula recalled how the public bus transport was being shifted to carbon-neutral busses. In this regard he called for direct funding for cities and regions to facilitate the green transition.
With respect to buildings, Markkula said that these account to 40% of energy consumed within the EU. He said that energy needs to affordable as this has economic and environment consequences. "Investing in building sector requires innovation and improvement and hence why we need to invest heavily together with the private sector to accelerate the systemic renewal of energy systems to be totally renewable."
Markkula, who served as Rapporteur for the CoR opinion on the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change has called on local and regional authorities to use public procurement to accelerate demand for innovative and sustainable products and services. He also called for reduction in red tape and simplifying access to EU funding as well as to end direct and indirect subsidies to fossil fuels.
The event was co-organised by the EU Covenant of Mayors, the UK Mission to the EU and smartEn.