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Italian Coordination Committee of the Covenant of Mayors

Italian Coordination Committee of the Covenant of Mayors

Meeting of the National Delegation at the 2026 European Covenant of Mayors Ceremony

From Commitment to Implementation: Strengthening Multilevel Governance for Local Climate and Energy Action in Italy

Multilevel governance, scientific data and territorial resilience: ISPRA’s strategic role in the Covenant of Mayors Coordination Committee for the Climate Transition

ISPRA participated in the proceedings of the Italian Coordination Committee of the Covenant of Mayors, established in 2021 by ENEA, which serves as its national coordinator, together with RENAEL and the European Covenant of Mayors Office (CoMO).

On the occasion of the presentation of the national Coordination Committee’s Position Paper, ISPRA’s Director General emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation between different levels of government and enhancing the role of scientific knowledge and environmental data in supporting local climate policies.

  • Italian Coordination Committee of the Covenant of Mayors
  • 2026-10-15T00:00:00+02:00
  • 2026-10-15T23:59:59+02:00
  • Meeting of the National Delegation at the 2026 European Covenant of Mayors Ceremony From Commitment to Implementation: Strengthening Multilevel Governance for Local Climate and Energy Action in Italy Multilevel governance, scientific data and territorial resilience: ISPRA’s strategic role in the Covenant of Mayors Coordination Committee for the Climate Transition ISPRA participated in the proceedings of the Italian Coordination Committee of the Covenant of Mayors , established in 2021 by ENEA, which serves as its national coordinator, together with RENAEL and the European Covenant of Mayors Office (CoMO). On the occasion of the presentation of the national Coordination Committee’s Position Paper , ISPRA’s Director General emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation between different levels of government and enhancing the role of scientific knowledge and environmental data in supporting local climate policies.
  • When Oct 15, 2026 (Europe/Berlin / UTC200)
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Italy has historically been home to one of the largest, most active and dynamic Covenant of Mayors communities in Europe, with more than 5,000 participating municipalities and an extensive, well-established network of territorial Coordinators and Supporters. However, the detailed analyses conducted by our Coordination Committee clearly highlight an undeniable reality: today’s real challenge is no longer simply to secure formal commitments, but to make decisive progress towards the effective implementation, operational management and rigorous monitoring of Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs).

We are experiencing a complex period in which the impacts of climate change are no longer theoretical projections or distant scenarios. They are a tangible and immediate reality affecting our territories, cities, infrastructure and ecosystems on a daily basis. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, urban heatwaves, floods and prolonged droughts require us to take immediate, structured and no longer postponable action.

Practical experience on the ground demonstrates that the Covenant of Mayors can have a greater impact when local initiatives and ambitions are supported by strong institutional coordination, consistent regional policies and ongoing alignment with national political and strategic planning frameworks. These achievements are valuable examples of effective action and provide a solid operational foundation that should be strengthened, systematised and replicated nationwide.

To achieve a qualitative leap forward, we must develop and consolidate multilevel governance underpinned by a scientific and knowledge infrastructure that informs local public decision-making.

In this context, ISPRA and the National System for Environmental Protection recognise their strong institutional responsibility to place science and public information assets at the service of decision-making. Our commitment is to provide accredited methodologies, robust scientific data, harmonised knowledge frameworks and practical tools.

  • Climate change mitigation: As part of its institutional activities in the field of climate change mitigation, ISPRA is the sole body responsible for compiling and continuously updating the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and developing projections of future emissions. This wealth of information and methodological expertise is essential at national level for assessing targets and determining the policies to be implemented. It is also indispensable for compiling local emissions inventories, ensuring science-based reporting and defining transparent targets in SECAPs. To this end, ISPRA is also committed to continuing to publish all the data it produces, both at national level — including, for example, the emission factors characteristic of Italy’s energy mix — and at territorial level, through the disaggregation of national emissions data.

  • Climate change adaptation: ISPRA provides scientific and technical support to the National Observatory on Climate Change Adaptation, contributing to the work of the Committee, its working groups and the Secretariat. ISPRA also develops, maintains and manages the National Climate Change Adaptation Platform, CLIMADAT. The platform aims to facilitate information exchange on climate change adaptation between central government, local authorities and all stakeholders, including citizens. Its overarching purpose is to inform and raise public awareness by making data, indicators, case studies and practical tools available, while promoting and supporting local authorities in their decision-making and planning processes related to climate change adaptation. CLIMADAT is currently undergoing a major update and restructuring of its content to make navigation more effective for its different user groups — public administrators, technical professionals and citizens — and to further develop the platform as a service-oriented tool.

The purpose of these activities is to provide practical support to local authorities as they work towards climate neutrality, energy efficiency and climate change adaptation by 2050.

Since 2021, the work undertaken has delivered tangible results. But how should we move forward?

The Position Paper developed by the national Coordination Committee, which will be officially presented today, clearly identifies two essential strategic pillars:

  • Multilevel governance, as an essential instrument for ensuring consistency and coordination between European, national and local objectives;

  • Digital platforms providing reliable, harmonised and up-to-date information to support the planning, implementation and monitoring of SECAPs.

In this context, ISPRA stands ready to contribute through scientific rigour, transparency and a strong commitment to public service.