About the project
The LOCALISED project has developed several tools that enable local administration to implement climate mitigation and adaptation actions. These include the Building Cards tool. This is a comprehensive and visually engaging tool that showcases national and regional renovation programmes, and the Integrated Database on Adaptation and Mitigation Measures in Europe, which compiles data on adaptation and mitigation measures to close the gap between planning and implementation.
About the project
LOCALISED supports efforts to achieve European net-zero goals through transferring national decarbonisation pathways to a local scale. The project develops tools and services for local and regional administrations and their citizens by using downscaled, localised data to speed up the uptake of mitigation and adaptation actions. The project supports the upscaling of mitigation and adaptation measures at a local level, boosts the establishment of Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) and supports the monitoring of related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Description of success
LOCALISED’s Building Cards showcase national and regional renovation programmes under the Renovation Wave initiative across various EU countries. They capture and harmonise key characteristics of these programmes, such as duration, funding sources, target entities and coverage scope. More importantly, they facilitate easy comparison across regions, countries and programmes. A key graphical element in the Building Cards tool is the assessment of whether the adoption of the programme leads to any structural change in the building sector, providing valuable insights into the long-term impact of Renovation Wave programmes. Furthermore, specific interventions within each programme are linked to the LOCALISED mitigation/adaptation database and relevant SDGs and SECAPs.
LOCALISED have also created an Integrated Database on Adaptation and Mitigation Measures in Europe, which compiles data for 188 mitigation and 191 adaptation measures, and 97 measures of both response types, and aims to close the gap between planning and implementing climate actions. It is designed as a user-friendly and interactive repository for planners and policymakers. The framework is used to categorise climate actions into measures (direct impact on emissions) and instruments (implementation aids and policies) making use of reproducible and transferable methods and aligns the data with the Covenant of Mayors SECAPs template. The database allows users to explore the measures and the instruments that facilitate implementation and make use of a set of relevant indicators of the SDGs impacted by the measure.
Highlights
- Building Cards: evaluate national and regional renovation programmes and offer insight into the diverse strategies being implemented across the EU to address aging buildings.
- Building Cards: show that a notable division exists between programmes in countries with warmer climates versus those with colder climates, suggesting tailored approaches to renovation based on regional needs.
- Integrated Database: combines mitigation and adaptation measures from 13 different known repositories.
- Integrated Database: merges scientific approach with climate planners’ and practitioners’ needs.
Outputs
The full Report on buildings and energy strategies linked to renovation wave policies and climate change mitigation initiatives, including the Building Cards, is now available online on the LOCALISED website.
The integrated database on adaptation and mitigation measures in Europe is available online (zenodo.org).
Impact
The Building Cards streamline the sharing of knowledge and expertise across EU regions by offering a standardised visual representation of successful policy implementations. This tool enhances collaboration and learning by making it easier for stakeholders to identify and replicate best practices. The Integrated Database equips climate planners and policymakers with a comprehensive, detailed, and easily replicable repository of climate measures and instruments. This resource supports the development of climate plans by providing an adaptable and extendable foundation for informed decision-making and policy formulation.
Lessons
- Steps to be able to compare diverse regional programmes using the Building Cards: the first step is to identify the key characteristics that enable such a comparison. Next is developing an informative visual representation, which allows users to easily navigate and compare the programmes.
- Alignment of frameworks and language: between science and practitioners is essential for proper implementation of the Integrated Database.
- Climate actions: to be transferable, need to be specific and detailed.
- Climate actions: should be differentiated by abstraction level and role in the implementation process.
Other information
Some programs primarily offer financial aid for building rehabilitation, while others focus on more transformative measures, such as establishing energy efficiency plans, certifications, and offices. Due to the recent initiation of many such programs, there is insufficient data available to evaluate their success or potential failure accurately. The Building Cards template will be available on the on the LOCALISED website.
A screenshot of the Building Cards tool. © LOCALISED 2024
