Zhezkazgan joined 'Covenant of Mayors'

Zhezkazgan MPs supported the idea, as they found that integration into the "Covenant of Mayors" will add valuable experience of cooperation with other countries, particularly in the areas of energy conservation and efficient use of resources, solutions to environmental problems,” a statement reads

The Covenant of Mayors is the mainstream European movement involving local and regional authorities, voluntarily committing to increasing energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources on their territories. By their commitment, Covenant signatories aim to meet and exceed the European Union 20% CO2 reduction objective by 2020.

After the adoption, in 2008, of the EU Climate and Energy Package, the European Commission launched the Covenant of Mayors to endorse and support the efforts deployed by local authorities in the implementation of sustainable energy policies. Indeed, local governments play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of climate change, all the more so when considering that 80% of energy consumption and CO2 emissions is associated with urban activity.

For its unique characteristics - being the only movement of its kind mobilising local and regional actors around the fulfilment of EU objectives - the Covenant of Mayors has been portrayed by European institutions as an exceptional model of multi-level governance.