Local Governments in Europe and Climate Neutrality

Summary of the CommitClimate Project

The commitclimate project offers a thorough system to help municipalities and citizens address climate change. Here’s a breakdown of its key components:

1. Municipal CO₂ Simulator:

* Purpose: Allows municipalities to model and understand thier carbon emissions.
* Data Inputs: requires data on:
* Number of inhabitants
* Municipal transport fleet
* Total building area
* Public lighting units (LED/non-LED)
* Transport demand indicators
* Functionality:

* Uses national averages if detailed data is lacking.
* Allows users to adjust policy parameters (building renovations,public transport,renewable energy) to see the impact on emission reductions.

2. Household CO₂ calculator:

* purpose: Helps citizens understand and reduce their personal carbon footprint.
* Functionality:

* Calculates personal CO₂ footprint.
* Identifies how daily habits (mobility,energy,food,waste) contribute to emissions.
* Compares individual results to the national average.
* Demonstrates the impact of lifestyle changes on emissions.
* Benefit for Municipalities: Facilitates interaction with citizens about climate policy and potential solutions.

3. Online Platform:

* purpose: Serves as a central hub for all project resources.
* Content:

* Project information
* resource library (guidelines, studies, materials)
* Training module for municipal specialists
* Examples of best practices
* Self-assessment tests

4. Citizen Involvement:

* Methods: Workshops, discussions, meetings, and a large-scale survey.
* Survey Focus:

* Mobility habits
* Energy consumption
* Waste management
* Lifestyle & climate understanding
* Assessment of municipal services
* Purpose of Survey: To understand public acceptance of solutions, identify areas needing clarification, and guide municipal resource allocation.

Overall Goal:

The CommitClimate project aims to empower municipalities to systematically address emissions by combining modeling, knowlege sharing, and public engagement, leading to informed decision-making and effective climate action.

Links to further information:

* CommitClimate Simulator: https://br-commitclimate.rtu.lv/simulator/

* CommitClimate Household CO₂ Simulator: https://br-commitclimate.rtu.lv/for-citizens/

* Survey Results: https://br-commitclimate.rtu.lv/for-citizens/