Discover the transformative potential of clean energy on EU islands at the Clean energy for EU islands forum 2024. Taking place in Pantelleria, Italy, on 14-15 May 2024, this forum embodies the theme "The power of islands: building resilience through renewables."Following a rigorous selection process, 30 islands and island groups have been chosen for support in achieving a fully renewable energy supply.

While islands are particularly vulnerable to climate change, they enjoy a naturally high potential of renewable energy sources to harness. Many islands have abundant renewable energy potential, which can be tapped to lead decarbonisation. However, access to reliable, clean and competitive sources of energy remains a main concern of island communities in the EU. Although it is often technically and financially possible to develop renewable energy projects on islands, legal and regulatory frameworks, whether EU, national, regional or local, are not always fitfor purpose.

This policy brief highlights the role of national governments in fostering the development of energy communities in their territories overall, and in particular on how to support energy communities in fulfilling their potential for social cohesion.The policy brief first reviews the transposition process of the first-generation EU legislation on energy communities and key aspects of it. It then outlines the new provisions that Member states will need to adopt in the coming years as part of the second-generation EU legislation on energy communities.

The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat is delighted to highlight the innovative practices in energy-efficient buildings in Sint Maarten, as shared by local experts. These practices exemplify resilience in natural disasters and set a benchmark for sustainable construction.Sint Maarten has faced severe hurricanes and has embraced best practices in constructing resilient homes. These strategies were developed with various types of homeowners in mind, including those in social housing, the middle class, and the upper class.

Within the technical assistance provided to the 30 for 2030 islands and islands groups, special attention is placed on giving the local teams with tools and knowledge to support them in developing RE and EE projects.With this objective, the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat is organising a series of 20 workshops over three years, to promote capacity building on relevant topics.The workshops are held in person on selected islands, and involve representatives from the island transition teams of a varying number of interested islands.

This policy brief highlights the different roles that local governments can play to foster socially inclusive renewable energy schemes, building notably on the Sun4All experience, which exemplifies the many kinds of municipal involvement and business models that can exist when dealing with energy poverty and energy sharing schemes. The policy brief also lays out a set of recommendations for local authorities regarding funding, policy, technical assistance and governance.You can find here the recommendations for the national level and for the EU level.

This policy brief gives a brief overview of the political and regulatory context at the European level for the development of energy communities, focusing on their social role. The brief shows that while regulation of energy communities is still in its infancy, it benefits from a good political dynamic pushed by the EU. Nevertheless, the social obligations ascribed to energy communities as non-traditional market players are not matched with the support needed to meet such expectations.

The Smart Cities Marketplace has invited the EU islands secretariat to take part in its podcast series Urban Reverb and to discuss the similarities between the decarbonisation efforts of small and mid-sized cities and those of islands. We explore whether islands can serve as models for the decarbonisation of towns. Additionally, we delve into the support provided by the EU islands secretariat's "30 for 2030" call, the challenges faced by islands and strategies for engaging citizens in the energy transition.

The EU Policy Lab (Joint Research Centre, European Commission) just started collecting citizens' and stakeholders' real-life experiences in relation with water, in any of its aspects.Water is life, and it underpins our economies, societies, and the natural world.

The European Week of Regions and Cities (#EURegionsWeek) is the biggest annual Brussels-based event dedicated to cohesion policy. This year edition of the #EURegionsWeek (EWRC) will take place from 7-10 October 2024.Under the motto Empowering communities, the event will focus on four themes:• Competitiveness and convergence: two sides of the same coin• Regions strengthening European Democracy• Smart and sustainable growth for regions• Regions got talentFind out more here