2004: CLIMATE AND ENERGY MAP OF THE CITY

The Sustainable Energy Action Plan of

Girona: Projecting a Sustainable CitySergi Nussab, Albert Llausàsb, Jordi Figuerasd Margarida Castañera, Josep Vilab, Miquel Rigolac, Sadurní Morerac, Pere Teixidord

a: Environment and Land Analysis and Planning Research Group, Institute of the Environment of the University of Girona (IMA-UdG); b: Environment and Geographic Information Technologies Research Group, IMA-UdG; c: Environmental and Chemical Engineering Lab, IMA-UdG; d: Municipality of Girona // e-mail: sergi.nuss@udg.edu ; http://www.udg.edu/tabid/5895/Default.aspx

1996: GIRONA SIGNS THE AALBORG CHART (70.526 inhabitants)

2000: GIRONA STARTS ITS LOCAL AGENDA 21(73.637 inh.)

2004: GIRONA APPROVES ITS LOCAL ACTION PLAN (83.531 inh.)

CLIMATE AND ENERGY OBJECTIVES:� To promote Integrated Waste Management� To work for Climate Change Prevention and Atmosphere Protection� To engage a New Energy Culture� To favor sustainable mobility� To stimulate sustainable resources consumption and green procurement For the Monitoring of the process and results, the city created the MUNICIPAL SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT COUNCIL which evaluates on a yearly basis the sustainable development of the city according to a 45 SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS SYSTEM

LAKS: 2001 GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY (75.256 inhabitants)Measurement of total and per capita GHG emissions for the oldest complete series: 2001 ���� Total Energy Use: 1.911.893 MWh 25,4MWh per capita� Total GHG emissions: 591.894 tCO2eq ����7,9 tCO2eq per capita� Only 2% of energy use and 5% of GHG come from Government Operations� 24% of total energy use from Local Production; 2%of this Renewable.Data Sources: DESGEL (Local Energy Diagnose and GHG Simulation Program), SIE (Municipal Energy Information System) indirect measurements (e.g transport) and other registers of the Municipal Authorities, applied to the ICLEI-Europe Climate Accountability System.

POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL PROCESS PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

: Renewable energy � electricity from waste incineration, elec. From sewage biogas, elec. from photovoltaic panels (2), elec. From hydroelectric plants (2), sanitary hot water (2)

: Efficient Public Lighting: Pedestrian / Inverted Priority / <30 Km/h Areas: Cycling Paths

2007: ADOPTION OF AN ENERGY POLICY (92.186 inh.)�Target of 37% GHG emission increase for 2012 versus 1990 (the target follows the commitments of the Spanish and Catalan Governments)� Creation of the Energy Area and Energy Officer by the Sustainability Department� Energy Action Plan 2008-2011; Objective: to reduce 450 tons CO2 per year

LAKS: 2020 SCENARIO ���� PER CAPITA TARGETSAccording to Covenant of Mayors Methodology LAKS established the ‘20-20-20’ targets to per capita measurements of energy use and GHG emissions. Comparing GHG per capita for Catalonia and Girona and using the measured series for Catalonia 1990-2001 an extrapolation was done for the determination of the 2020 target for the city. In 2020 versus 2001 GHG must reduce from 8 to 5 tCO2eq/inh.yearThe same method was used to set the energy use target: from 25 to 16 MWh/inh.year

Next, a 2020 population scenario and business as usual GHG and energy demand trends were set in order to determine the distance between probable projections and targets: TREND SCENARIO: Population: 105.358; GHG: 10 tCOeq/Inh.; Energy: 33 MWh/inh. 20% Renewable En. was calculated after the new energy use scenario: 360.000MWh

2009: EU LIFE PROJECT “LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR

KYOTO GOALS” (LAKS) + COVENANT OF MAYORS (96.188 inh)� Partners: Reggio Emilia and Padova (Italy), Bydgoszcz (Poland).� Girona and the IMA-UdG sign a cooperation agreement for technical assistance � OBJECTIVES OF LAKS:

1. Local contribution to the EC Energy and Climate Package and the Covenant of Mayors: - 20% decrease in GHG emissions in 2020 versus 1990.- 20% decrease in energy use, by efficiency increase, in 2020 vs 1990.- 20% share or renewables in energy use by 2020.

2. Facilitation of tools and means to ease GHG emission targets in municipal policies3. Develop a method to assess univocally the impact of policy measures on emissions.4. Increase local authorities transparency and accountability on GHG emissions

� STEPS:� Review of tools and methods of environmental management and accountability� Test and comparison of methods and definition of a common GHG inventory method: “Climate Accountability System” (CAS) � With the support of ICLEI-Europe.� CAS Implementation + writing and approval of Mitigation and Adaptation Plan� Evaluation of results and dissemination (academia and stakeholders)

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2008: THE CRISIS STRIKES SPAIN

Trends of Energy and

CO2 reduction according

to SEAP deployment

2011: CLIMATE AND ENERGY MAP OF THE CITY (97.802 inh.)In 2011 the energy and climate infrastructure of the city is clearly superior to 2004. Two schools run on wood chip heating and one on geothermy; 12 schools and sports facilities include thermal solar for SHW, circa 800 MWh/year of PV electricty, a public bicycle service is operating, 41% of traffic lights have LED technology, and efficient street lighting has reduced 24% energy use compared to 2007. The city has attracted 8.000.000€ in sustainble energy.

LAKS: 2020 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACTION PLAN (SEAP)The following step was to identify, plan and quote actions for the achievment of the targets in place; writing the Sustainable Energy Action Plan.The selected procedure prioritized actions with clearly measurable effects on CO2 and energy reduction and in renewable energy increase; based on existing local experience, legislation, studies and international references. According to the SEAP in 2020 43% of energy use in Girona will be locally produced and 21% will come from renewable sources. Absolute energy use will be 150.000MWh less than in 2001. GHG emissions will drop to 4,7 tCO2eq/inh, even below expected target.

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� Evaluation of results and dissemination (academia and stakeholders)

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONSPlanning the process to a sustainble energy city is a big effort in two particular arenas. On one side, the current impact ofmunicipal government operations on GHG in barely 5% of total emissions. Then, most of the “hard” action depends on private sector involvement: housing retrofitting and transport mode change in special. On the other, necessary operations like combined heat and power production or railway (tram, light rail) public transport systems require huge investments, not at all at the reach of a Municipality like Girona. In conclusion, most of Girona’s SEAP feasibility is dependant on external actors. Additionaly, factors as the current economic crisis downgrade social and political interest on sustainability. The recent change of government reflects this, introducing new uncertainty on the SEAPs development possibilities.

2011: LOCAL ELECTION ���� CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT

to SEAP deployment