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The ECM is a climate policy tool for local authorities
that acknowledges the increasing importance and responsibility of
local and regional authorities in achieving the Kyoto and RES (Renewable
Energy Sources) targets.
The ECM is meant to remove the barriers local authorities
experience while materializing climate policy. The ECM offers clear
ambitions and targets, translates national climate policy targets
into local ones, and uses a procedure to shorten the decision making
process while still addressing the need to achieve consensus. All
of this results in the creation of a coherent climate policy integrated
throughout all relevant policy areas.
The ECM consists of a table or menu of various
themes, ambition levels and targets. These themes and corresponding
targets refer to climate emission reduction. The Menu offers a compact
but comprehensive framework on which local authorities can define
an integral (including all relevant policy areas), transparent,
and practicable climate policy.
The ECM is accompanied by a procedure on how to
use the tool, and information on activities (a project database)
local authorities can implement in order to achieve the targets
in the Menu.
The ECM is based on existing, successful experiences,
notably the Dutch Climate Menu. The Dutch Government launched the
Dutch Climate Menu in 2001 as part of its national climate program.
At this moment 250 local authorities have used the Menu. This is
certainly related to the fact that in the Netherlands a funding
program was and is connected to the implementation of Climate Menu
based activities. We certainly hope other national authorities will
be stimulated by the ECM project and act accordingly.
The ECM is supported, through the Altener program,
by the European Commission.
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