Today, Leeds is welcoming partners from Breda in the Netherlands as part of a long-term exchange programme of the Covenant of Mayors, supporting cities to reach their ambitious environmental and energy targets.
The European Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy was launched in 2008 as an initiative and network of local governments that have voluntarily committed to achieving and exceeding the EU climate and energy targets. Since 2008, over 9,200 local authorities have been taking action to reach higher environmental and energy targets to offer their citizens a healthy environment, green jobs, and a high quality of life.
The Covenant of Mayors is offering cities and regions across Europe the opportunity to take part in twinning exchanges aimed at the exchange of knowledge and best practice in the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Leeds is one of twelve cities and two provinces that have been selected for the 2017 edition of the twinning programme out of nearly 80 applicants. Based on each city’s strengths and challenges, they have been matched in pairs making a total of 7 duos. Leeds’ partner is the Dutch city of Breda.
During their visit to Leeds, our partners from Breda will learn about our city’s suite of low carbon projects (including District Heating, Corporate Energy Projects, Corporate Renewables, and Solar Photovoltaic Systems on Council homes), our Leeds’ approach to spatial planning where low carbon thinking is incorporated into new developments, projects around energy efficiency and climate adaptation (such as Warm Well Homes, Better Homes Yorkshire, and Warmth for Wellbeing), and many more.
With the aim of fostering a long-term partnership, ongoing exchange and mutual support between the two local authorities, the visit of our partners from Breda to Leeds will be followed by a visit of Leeds going to Breda in 2019.
Read more about the exchange on the EUROCITIES website or find out more about the Leeds Climate Commission here.