Climate action features prominently in the public sector, be it within traditional urban planning priorities or in the sphere of infrastructure investments made by public enterprises or the governments. Public sector leaders and managers identify that climate interventions generate multiple, related benefits such as sustainable mobility and reduced pollution, while also highlighting knowledge gaps and a limited means to measure progress as challenges in integrating climate adaptation and mitigation actions. As the impacts of climate change worsen and citizens press for sustainability, forward-looking leaders understand the need to take action now.
Problems
• Significant infrastructure upgrade needs because of much more frequent climate events, to protect lives, property, and production capacity
• Increasingly green-leaning voters from whom it is important to feel good about themselves and the city/region they live in, when it comes to sustainable life and green investments
• Patchwork of different green financing sources, grants, and loans, with different and specific eligibility requirements against which projects often do not fit
• No metrics and data available against which carbon emission reductions or progress in climate resilience of the territory can be measured and promoted
Objectives
• Modeling and building infrastructure adjustments (roads, riverbanks, irrigation, public spaces) in a way that improves their climate resilience and enhances comfort and safety
• Introducing climate resilience and carbon footprint assessment into decision-making processes and training the administration to work accordingly
• Ensure compliance with new and upcoming EU regulations, even ahead of their incorporation into national regulatory frameworks
• Preparing infrastructure projects and policy measures in line with financial means and available grants and concessional loans, to maximize scope of investment
• Establishing initial contact with representatives of international financial institutions
• Enabling alternative procurement frameworks to speed up the subsequent implementation of planned infrastructure projects and complete them within 2-3 years
Key Regulation
• EC “Fit for 55” regulatory package (July 2021)
• EU Climate Law (April 2021)
• Revised EU energy efficiency directive (July 2021)
• Standard requirements for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans and Green City Action Plans
• EU Energy performance of buildings directive (ongoing revision to be completed in Q4 2021)
Concept
• Initial quick assessment on compatibility of existing urban infrastructure with climate change projections and likely climate events and identification of critical risks
• Initial quick assessment on aggregate carbon footprint of the territory and key excess emission sources
• Definition of minimum regulatory requirements and cost of compliance vs cost of non-compliance
• Strategic discussions with management and public authorities to align them on priorities and infrastructure performance objectives, ensuring regulatory compliance through ongoing expert inputs
• Preparation of a set of proposed policy measures and infrastructure projects alongside their estimated cost calculation and financing options (loans/grants)
• Organizing initial validation meetings with funding agencies and banks to initiate financing talks
• Initial engagement with private investors and partners to explore market options and procurement prerequisites (specifications, cost benchmarks), alongside a PR event/conference