BEACON

The successful implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement and the achievement of the EU climate and energy targets by 2030 require increased climate protection efforts at all levels. National governments must create the necessary political framework for this. An important contribution to achieving the medium and long-term EU climate targets will be made by municipalities and municipal actors. These actors can be pioneers and drivers of far-reaching decarbonization and social transformation processes, as their actions hold considerable potential for increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Schools and other educational institutions in particular can play an important role by reducing their own energy consumption and providing education for a climate-friendly future. Bridging European and Local Climate Action (BEACON) is a three-year project to promote climate action through exchanges between national governments, local authorities and schools in Europe. The aim is to contribute to stronger European integration through bilateral and multilateral dialog in order to ultimately create the common ambition to implement the Paris Climate Agreement. Building on an EU-wide analysis of successful national climate protection measures, proven policy instruments in the buildings, transport, small industrial plants and agriculture sectors will be prepared and disseminated. In addition, good practices at the municipal level will be identified and shared with a network of municipal actors from Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Romania and the Czech Republic. The participating municipalities will be supported through technical expertise and coaching in the transfer and implementation of good practices in their local context. In addition, five climate protection city partnerships will be initiated as part of the network. To raise awareness of the causes of climate change and climate protection at an individual level, educational institutions from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania and Germany will be involved. Together, curricula and educational programmes of participating schools and educational institutions from the partner countries are analysed with regard to climate protection, incentive models for energy savings in schools are developed and training courses and study trips to Germany are organized for educators and teachers. The European Climate Initiative (EUKI) is a project funding instrument of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). Implementation is supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The overarching goal of EUKI is to promote cooperation in the field of climate protection within the European Union in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

BEACON Booklet

BEACON Flyer