1. Towards a policy paper for Italy: Voluntary tools in the implementation of the European low carbon strategy in Italy: the Covenant of Mayors and other instruments for public - private partnerships at local level ECOMONDO Rimini, 5 November 2014 by Ekaterina Domorenok University of Padua/EURAC

2. Why a policy paper? 1)The effectiveness of hard regulation and top-down policy instruments has often proved to be limited 2)There is a growing number of voluntary tools promoted at EU level in the field of low carbon policies 3)Voluntary tools contain enormous potential for non-ETS sectors and private investments 4)Italian municipalities hold a leadership in the implementation of the Covenant of Mayors and a number of other innovative voluntary tools for low carbon economy have been successfully promoted at national and local levels 5)Comprehensive impact and potential of such tools have so far been underestimated in the national low carbon policies

3. 1)Identify the most relevant voluntary tools implemented in the country 2)Assess their potential for energy efficiency policies at national and local levels 3)Identify good practices and analyse factors of their success 4)Suggest improvement measures for the existing policy practices in order to maximize the overall impact of voluntary tools in the country in the perspective of the EU low carbon policy objectives (Climate and Energy Package, Framework 2030 and Roadmap 2050) Policy paper objectives

4. Methodology: main steps 1)An updated analysis of the current Italian policies for low carbon in the perspective of EU directives and guidelines, with particular regard to the energy sector 2)Mapping the most relevant experiences of voluntary tools for low carbon policies in Italy and, more specifically, those involving the productive sector at national and local levels 3)Identifying good practices of public-private cooperation within the framework of voluntary tools implementation 4)Drawing constructive policy recommendations for better coordination of voluntary tools with other policy instruments for low carbon employed in the country in the perspective of developing institutionalized forms of public-private partnership for green economy 5)Validation of the proposed policy recommendations by the most relevant stakeholders (Workshops - NWG)

5. … preliminary conclusions for discussion:

6. Case study 1: Covenant of Mayors /SEAPs ( Bari, Bologna, Cernusco sul Naviglio,Verona) Strong territorial roots and embeddedness High political profile at local level Rarely address the productive sector Low knowledge among SMEs Weak coordination with the regional level SF programming for energy efficiency at local level for both public and private sectors European policy networks Economic crisis: low investment capacity (public and private) Obsolete administrative procedures 50% of emissions derive from non ETS-sectors where local authorities have substantial competences 2.104 SEAPs aimed at CO 2 reduction at local and supra-local level approved and 2.965 municipalities joined the Covenant of Mayors in Italy by 2014 there are several tools for local administrations to involve private sector (taxes, incentives, Energy performance contracting, etc.) 50% of emissions derive from non ETS-sectors where local authorities have substantial competences 2.104 SEAPs aimed at CO 2 reduction at local and supra-local level approved and 2.965 municipalities joined the Covenant of Mayors in Italy by 2014 there are several tools for local administrations to involve private sector (taxes, incentives, Energy performance contracting, etc.)

7. Case study 2: Ecological Footprint Program (Carlsberg Italy, Tormaresca Sarl) Increasing volume of private investments into environmentally sustainable products and services as defined by international standards Growing awareness among producers and consumers about the environmental responsibility Ministerial Programme to sustain and promote innovative methodologies of environmental impact assessment of products, processes and services, in particular by the productive sector (more than 100 enterprises involved by 2014) Increasing volume of private investments into environmentally sustainable products and services as defined by international standards Growing awareness among producers and consumers about the environmental responsibility Ministerial Programme to sustain and promote innovative methodologies of environmental impact assessment of products, processes and services, in particular by the productive sector (more than 100 enterprises involved by 2014) Growing commitment of enterprises to CO 2 reduction and innovation Increasing investments into environmentally friendly performance Limited financial and human resources Low visibility Weak inter-institutional coordination Technological innovation for better quality Growing environmental responsibility in the international cooperation Economic crisis: reduced investment capacity

8. Growing concern at EU level about the eco-innovation capacity of market actors with regard to products, services and processes (e.g. Environmental technologies Verification – ETV) Coordination and financing of actions across EU countries to promote eco- innovation along the following dimensions: new regulation and practices; new technologies and their commercialization ; specific financial instruments for SMEs; international cooperation and creation of new “green” jobs. Growing concern at EU level about the eco-innovation capacity of market actors with regard to products, services and processes (e.g. Environmental technologies Verification – ETV) Coordination and financing of actions across EU countries to promote eco- innovation along the following dimensions: new regulation and practices; new technologies and their commercialization ; specific financial instruments for SMEs; international cooperation and creation of new “green” jobs. Case study 3: Eco-AP/Eco-innovation Action Plan (WDE-Maspell Srl, RINA Services, Pozzi Leopoldo Srl ) Fast technological development Increasing environmental awareness of market actors Lacking expertise and human resources Limited knowledge at local level EU financial instrument (direct and indirect) for innovation and energy efficiency Environmental responsibility in the international cooperation Economic crisis: reduced investment capacity High competition at the international market

9. Developing synergies between the different voluntary tools from the perspective of their overall impact on CO 2 reduction potential, especially at the local level Greater information and involvement of the various stakeholders at national and local levels in order to increase awareness and ownership of low carbon production and consumption patterns Recognition - also formal – of the essential role of local governments and improved inter-institutional coordination (State-Region- Municipality), also with regard to financial and regulatory tools for low carbon policies Setting up a structured coordination in the form of public–private partnerships of the various voluntary initiatives for the reduction of the carbon footprint and in the field of environmental and energy sustainability at the national level based on the existing Italian good practices is proposed Possibile improvements: