From the Green Deal to Glasgow – all the important 2020 dates for your calendar


From the launch of the Green Deal on Dec. 11, 2019 to the UNFCCC’s Glasgow CoP 26 conference beginning Nov. 9th, 2020 we are at the beginning of the most important year yet for combatting climate change and ensuring that cities have a seat at the table and the support they need to succeed.

Energy Cities has trawled through packed agendas and selected the most important events and milestones for the year to come.

Jan. 14th, 2020 – The initial proposal for the Just Transition Fund – the €1 trillion fund based on just €7.5 billion in new funding.

February 18-19thCovenant of Mayors Investment Forum – The Energy Efficiency Finance Marketplace.

February 24-25th – DeCarb Cities Conference in Vienna, Austria – Present the technical and organizational solutions for cities to replace coal, oil and gas and improve air quality, reduce heat island effects, and drastically reduce GHG emissions. Register now! http://decarbcities.eu/

March 4th, 2020The Covenant of Mayors Ceremony in the European Parliament. Taking stock of achievements to 2020 and looking ahead to the Green Deal and 2030

March 4th 2020 – Launch of the European Climate Pact with the Covenant of Mayors as ‘a central force’.

March 2020EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy – This will include ‘proposals to green European cities and increase biodiversity in urban spaces’.

March 2020 – EU Industrial Strategy and the Circular Economy Action Plan – These two items, in tandem will attempt to transform industrial sectors to become circular and ‘stimulate the development of lead markets for climate neutral products.’

April 22-24 – Energy Cities’ Annual Conference in Heerlen, NL – The Cities and Citizen Energy Forum – Register now! https://forum.energy-cities.eu/

Spring 2020‘Farm to Fork’ Strategy – This should help align the need for fresh produce in cities with the ability of cities to grow food and nearby rural producers.

Summer 2020 – Strategy for smart sector integration – A review of the TEN-E Regulation to enable and deploy smart grids, hydrogen networks or carbon capture, storage and utilisation, energy storage, also enabling sector integration.

Summer 2020 – Comprehensive plan to increase the EU 2030 climate target to at least 50% and towards 55% in a responsible way.

October 2020 – Sustainable Finance Action Plan – Mobilising private sector financing by better identifying green investments, clear labels for retail investments and an EU green bond standard.

November 9 – 19, 2020UNFCCC CoP 26 in Glasgow, UK

Other EU initiatives expected at some point in 2020 and beyond – we will update this as details become available:

  • ‘Renovation wave’ initiative for the building sector
  • Proposal for legislative waste reforms
  • Funding call to support deployment of public recharging points
  • Screening and benchmarking green budgeting practices of Member States and the EU

Of course, there’s much more going on in the world of Energy Cities that we had to pick and choose what to include. Did we miss something big? If so, let us know and we will add it in.