Covenant of Mayors going East. International Conference on the Covenant of Mayors. 21-22 October 2010 – Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi, the first capital city in the eastern neighbouring countries of the EU to sign the Covenant of Mayors, was hosting the International Conference on the Covenant of Mayors organised by the European Union on 21-22 October 2010. The Covenant of Mayors was launched in 2008 and consists of the formal commitment by City Councils to a 20% reduction of CO2 emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy actions. With the conference attracting more than 150 participants from over 45 cities of the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia region, cities from the region gave a strong sign that they want to take an active role in addressing the growing energy concerns that directly affect the lives of their citizens.
The conference included interventions from major signatory cities of the EU and the region such as Paris, Warsaw, Barcelona, Burgas and Lviv as well as other important actors under the Covenant of Mayors such as city networks and supporting structures. Furthermore, it included a panel with the participation of major International Financing Institutions such as the EIB, EBRD and World Bank.
The conference was organised by the European Union, with the support of the EU-funded INOGATE project "Support to Energy Market Integration and Sustainable Energy" (SEMISE), in the framework of the EU’s ongoing energy cooperation with countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. More support to cities participating in the Covenant of Mayors initiative will be provided by the EU through an upcoming project starting in early 2011.