The region of Flanders in Belgium has a long history with the Covenant of Mayors, as one of the territories in Europe with the most signatories. Three years ago, the Flemish government decided to capitalise on this already existing commitment and strengthen it. In recognising mayors’ power to mobilise communities and their capacity to turn abstract ambition into concrete action, they created a Local Pact. This Pact would further mobilise Flemish cities and towns in the fight against climate change, uniting up to 98% of its municipalities (294 out of 300).
We had a conversation with Gwendolyn Rutten, who currently serves as Vice-Minister-President of Flanders in charge of the Pact, as well as Mayor of Aarschot. From her double perspective working at both local and regional levels, she told us that the Pact, building on the Covenant initiative, is a good example of how a regional governments can work with the local level to mobilise everyone from the bottom-up.
Ahead of their big conference under the Belgian Presidency, “Translating the European Green Deal into local action”, Minister Rutten gives us some insights into Flanders’ Pact and invites us to come together to showcase the power of mayors in tackling climate change.
What motivated the Flanders Regional Government to initiate the Flemish Local Climate Pact (LEKP) and focus on a localised approach to address climate challenges?
Gwendolyn Rutten: A lot of citizens easily get absorbed by the apocalyptic idea that it’s all too late and that everything is lost. With this Pact we wanted to encourage people that it is not. But that it’s important to mobilise people and municipalities with actions they can easily implement. By doing so we are making a difference on the global climate impact. All these small initiatives lead to a world of change.
Of course there are already a lot of covenants, treaties and other official European documents to support different climate goals. But the true added value of the Flemish Local Climate Pact lies within the tangible measurements that are asked. No big words or vague ambitions, but tangible goals. Every town, small or big, is being encouraged to do their effort. Because it’s not only a job for governments or big cities to tackle. It’s a job for all of us. And the lower we keep the threshold to participate, the better it will work.
Energy community installing solar panels in a social housing district in Mechelen, Flanders
How has the LEKP built on the Covenant of Mayors and the already widespread engagement of Flemish municipalities in the initiative to reinforce climate action locally?
Gwendolyn Rutten: It builds upon the Covenant of Mayors, but at the same time is made more accessible for non-experts on climate change, for local representatives who are not submerged in climate rhetoric on a daily basis. The way the goals are formulated derives from this reality. For example: we’re not talking about carbon reduction, but we’re specifying each goal into a tangible action: plant one tree per inhabitant. On top of that the contract is not without obligation as it coheres with receiving subsidies from the Flemish government.
Could you elaborate on the collaborative efforts between the Flemish Regional Government, municipalities, and the VVSG (association of Flemish cities and municipalities, serving as Covenant Coordinator) in implementing the LEKP?
Gwendolyn Rutten: VVSG has been engaged in the organisation of supporting municipalities in practically participating in the Pact, as well as implementing the different actions on the ground. For example: the engaged cities must also report back to their city councils, for which they can get help from VVSG. In the end, this enterprise lives or dies with good collaborations on all levels of control.
How is the cooperation ensuring an inclusive approach to get cities and towns of all sizes and means on board?
Gwendolyn Rutten: Cities get challenged by one another to do better. Towns get inspired by other towns in their policy and approach on different local challenges. This national competition also drives policy makers to do better.
Because the goals are set on the number of inhabitants it’s manageable for big and small to engage. On top of that we started with support initiatives for local governments such as the fast team of technical and legal advice or the District Renovation Tool. The latter helps to identify relevant zones and possible strategies to renovate in certain neighbourhoods.
Lastly, the contract between the engaged towns and the Flemish government includes a mandatory annual report to obtain their goal by 2030. Funding is reevaluated accordingly.
The "Local Climate Pact Portal" that you set up tracks the municipalities’ actions and promotes transparency amongst them as well as with citizens. What has been the citizens’ response to the LEKP and how has it helped involve citizens in local transitions across Flanders?
Gwendolyn Rutten: I believe a lot of citizens can be the extra push for local action to happen. They can have innovative ideas on how to tackle the climate challenges but at the same time they can hold a mirror to their town officials.
We see that a lot of civil society partners as well as members of the local opposition have found their way in using the reports and numbers available. Often the discussion in the city councils finds their way into local press releases. Which of course is a good thing in keeping the goal alive.
Energy community in social housing district in Mechelen, Flanders
Could you give us an inspiring example of a Flemish municipalities using the LEKP’s tangible actions to further engage citizens in their transition?
Gwendolyn Rutten: LEKP-funding has allowed local government to create the use of so-called ‘housedoctors’ (renovation coaches). These experts can give citizens a tailored scan of their renovation-needs as well as facilitate their path towards quotations and subsidies to use to start their renovations. By extension, LEKP enables municipalities to organize events like ‘energy-days’ so citizens can be made aware of the financial and climate-oriented benefits of renovations and clean, affordable energy.
On top of that, LEKP supports and helps finance the cooperation between local governments and the so-called ‘regional landscapes’ (organisations that promote nature and biodiversity). Often this cooperation results in the selling of trees, hedges and other plant-packs at very low prizes. Further collaboration with nature organizations (ex. Natuurpunt) ensures that this is largely a story of by citizens, for Citizens.
After 3 years of the LEKP, what have you learned?
Gwendolyn Rutten: We will organise a large evaluation later this year so in a couple of months we’ll be able to make some bigger conclusions. But the large amount of engaged municipalities has definitely created awareness on the topic. Even the smallest towns are thinking about shared mobility and planting extra trees. The structural financial support also helps to create a long-term policy state of mind.
What are the main challenges cities and towns in Flanders are facing and what are some of the solutions that the regional government is helping with?
Gwendolyn Rutten: The goals surrounding renovations are sometimes perceived as a demanding and resource-intensive one. As a result, the Flemish Government is developing a ‘neighborhood renovation tool’ which utilises the building stock and applies parameters that aid municipalities in locating those areas that are suitable for collective renovation. In addition, the regional government continues to direct local governments to the partners that can facilitate the organisation of such renovations.
In many instances, the LEKP-funds have allowed local governments to hire an additional (or sometimes a very first) civil servant with expertise in climate and environment. This has helped alleviate the workload that all-encompassing climate projects bring with them.
What are the next steps and key milestones of Flanders’ Climate Plan?
Gwendolyn Rutten: Getting more municipalities on track in the 2nd and 3rd engagement within the plan. The first one was very accessible with a signing rate of 98% (294 of 300). The second and third one are a bit more challenging to reach and demand more experience. They focus on citizen energy communities and collective renovations in neighbourhoods.
What do you hope to achieve with the March 15th event and the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union?
Gwendolyn Rutten: I hope it will show the power of mayors and local municipalities to tackle contemporary challenges such as climate change and to portray them as vital partners of European policymakers. They are the key allies in implementing the Green Deal.
For the upcoming European elections, it’s an important message to show that locals are closest to the changes we all feel and therefor crucial in supporting.
Lastly of course I hope this will facilitate a European exchange of ideas and best practices on the topic.
What would you like to see from the new European Commission following EU elections this year?
Gwendolyn Rutten: That the declaration of European local and regional leaders gets promoted, accepted and spread throughout. And that the European Commission recognises the strength of their local municipalities.
Add your voice to the chorus! Join 550 local and regional leaders, working to shape the future of European climate policy, at the Conference “Translating the European Green Deal into Local Action”. Organised by the Flemish government, under the Belgian Presidency of the European Council, this is a unique opportunity to unify voices before EU elections and showcase the power of mayors, together.
Details
- Publication date
- 27 February 2024