The 3rd Covenant of Mayors conference in Belarus will be held in Polotsk on April 25-26, the organisers informed BELTA.
The main issues for discussion will be financial mechanisms that can be used by cities participating in the Covenant of Mayors. Opportunities for obtaining additional funding arise because, after joining the initiative, cities develop Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. The plans may include measures in various sectors of urban economy, from transport to building insulation.
"Special attention at the conference will be paid to improving energy efficiency in multi-apartment residential buildings, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the waste management sector, adapting to climate change, and green infrastructure in cities. Innovative experience in mitigating the consequences of climate change and adapting it at the local level in Belarus and Europe will also be presented," the organisers noted.
The programme includes not only presentations and panel discussions but also visits to demonstration sites on energy efficiency and historical sites.
The conference is held within the framework of the project "Support to the Covenant of Mayors initiative in Belarus," which is funded by the European Union. Currently, 45 Belarusian cities and over 8.8 thousand cities from other European countries have joined the initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Polotsk was the first to sign the agreement in Belarus.
The event is organised by the Polotsk District Executive Committee, the Department for Energy Efficiency of the State Committee for Standardization, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, NGO "Ecopartnership," the "Interakcia" Foundation, and the GEF/UNDP "Green Cities" project.