DOWNLOAD THE PILOT CASE FACTSHEET
The objectives of the first Italian pilot case were to assess to what extent the EE1st principle would already be implemented in SECAPs (Sustainable Energy & Climate Action Plans), and how the EE1st principle could be better integrated in the processes and practices for preparing a SECAP.
A SECAP is a local planning document, voluntarily signed by a municipality, or group of municipalities, committing to concrete mitigation and adaptation actions to achieve climate objectives by 2030 and/or 2050, under the framework of the Covenant of Mayors launched by the European Commission in 2008.
The Italian pilot case first reviewed a selection of well-documented SECAPs to analyse the criteria used for selecting and prioritizing measures, the emphasis placed on energy efficiency, and the level of ambition of the targets.
Then a sample of measures was analysed in more details, using a multi-dimensional evaluation. This multi-dimensional analysis (MDA) methodology was tested with the municipality of Naples that was preparing the revision of their SECAP. This also involved other stakeholders taking part in the SECAP process (e.g. energy utilities, University of Naples Federico II).
Key points for an effective SECAP process in line with EE1st include, among others, clarifying the decision process to select the actions, stakeholder engagement and coordination, and structuring data collection and management.
The role of national and regional agencies is also essential in providing various types of support, as municipalities may have different in-house skills and capacities (number of people, dedicated department, available time, competencies, etc).
The proposed methodological framework represents a significant contribution to the systematic assessment of the integration of the EE1st principle within local energy policies. Further investigation is considered to consolidate its applicability across diverse territorial contexts, constituting a promising area for future research in the field of multi-level energy governance.
The framework could provide a structured basis for comparing different generations of SECAPs over time, enabling policymakers to monitor how the integration of the EE1st principle evolves in response to regulatory updates, technological progress and shifting socio‑economic conditions.
DOWNLOAD THE PILOT CASE FACTSHEET
Look at the PROCEEDINGS of the workshop “Plugging Energy Efficiency First in SECAPs: Why and How”, where the pilot case was presented, together with the new JRC guidelines for SECAPs, and an infographic about how to integrate EE1st in SECAPs.