Programme: Horizon 2020
Project acronym: IMPLEMENT - Improving Local Energy and climate policy through quality management and certification
Project duration: 01.02.2018 - 30.04.2022
Project budget: 1.389.615 €
Project partners: 7 partners from 6 EU countries; lead partner: BOND BETER LEEFMILIEU VLAANDEREN (Belgium)

Link to the Brochure

The project IMPLEMENT- Improving Local Energy and climate policy through quality management and certification has been funded under Horizon 2020 programme with a budget of almost 1.4 million euros with activities undertaken for 51 months. By introducing the quality management and certification system European Energy Award (eea) in Belgium, Croatia, Greece and Poland, the project aims at setting up the necessary structures to carry out the programme in municipalities in the new target regions.

During the project, 30 pilot municipalities have further developed and implemented their climate and energy strategy by using the eea standards and the associated criteria catalogue with a detailed set of recommendable measures. Accredited eea advisors have guided and monitored the continuous progress while certification will ensure that municipalities implement their climate and energy plans to high-quality standards. The municipality’s experiences and successes will pave the way for more municipalities in the target regions to join the eea.

4 main objectives have been addressed through this project:

Roll out the European Energy Award quality management system and certification scheme in four EU member states

The partners will introduce and roll out a successful international quality management programme for local climate policy implementation, in 12 regions in four countries. Also, national eea offices and steering committees involving stakeholders from different governance levels, have been set up.

Capacity Building: empower municipalities to implement climate strategies based on integrated energy and climate plans

An interdepartmental energy team from each municipality has prepared an energy policy programme (30 in total), which outlines a set of binding activities, responsibilities, budgets, and deadlines for the subsequent years.

Measurable energy, CO₂ and costs savings as well as increasing production and consumption of renewable energy in 30 pilot municipalities

During the project period, 30 pilot municipalities have received external guidance in putting their energy policies into practice. Municipalities assess and plan activities in 6 areas of activity: Development & spatial planning, municipal buildings & facilities, supply & disposal, mobility, internal organisation and communication & cooperation.

Certification of municipalities ensuring quality standards and positive recognition

As part of the eea process, the work done by the energy teams has been moderated and reviewed by accredited eea advisors. At the end of the project, all achievements were assessed by an external eea-auditor. These audits lead to certifications and depending on the success rate, the European Energy Award will be granted.