Kökar island, together with 21 other European islands have published their clean energy transition agendas, making a firm step towards decarbonising their energy systems with a strong focus on citizen engagement. 7 more islands will publish their agendas in the near future.
A Ilha de Arousa (Spain), the Hvar Archipelago (Croatia), Brač (Croatia), Cape Clear (Ireland), Halki (Greece), Ibiza (Spain), Kasos and Symi (Greece), Korčula (Croatia), Kökar (Finland), Menorca (Spain), Pantelleria (Italy), Ouessant, Molène and Île de Sein (France), and Eigg, Muck, Rum, Canna, Fair Isle, Foula, and the peninsula of Knoydart (Scotland) have each developed decarbonisation pathways tailored to their individual needs and assets over the past nine months. The majority of these islands are part of the Pioneering islands selected by the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative of the European Commission in February 2019. Another 7 islands are currently in the final approval process and will publish their transition agendas in the near future, namely the Azores (Portugal), Mallorca (Spain), Marie-Galante (France), Belle-Île, Hoedic and Houat (France), and Crete (Greece). They will be available on the website when they’re ready.
The published agendas can be found on the website of the Clean Energy for EU islands initiative
The publication of the agendas comes as EU decision-makers and representatives of the EU islands community gather this week at the Clean Energy for EU Islands Online Forum to discuss the future of the EU islands community. Flexens is proud to be part of the island transition team of Kökar and responsible of preparing the energy transition agenda for the island.
European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said:
“These transition agendas are a testament to the hard work and fruitful collaborations among islanders, both within their communities and across borders. It has been truly inspiring to see what is possible when local people have the power and support to write their own futures. We look forward to continuing the cooperation with the EU island communities to make the European Green Deal a reality, both through this initiative and through other EU actions to support a locally-driven energy transition.”
About the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative
As part of the EU’s Clean Energy for All Europeans package, the EU’s Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative provides a long term framework to help islands generate their own sustainable, low-cost energy. The Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative was launched in May 2017 in Malta, when the European Commission and 14 EU countries (Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) signed a Political Declaration for the decarbonisation of EU islands.
Picture credits: Miikka Airrikkala (unsplash)
