Description
The aim of this project is to address two key challenges Lithuanian municipalities are facing today in the field of municipal environment and energy policies – namely the preparation and implementation of municipal Renewable resources energy action plans (hereinafter – Plans) and Environment Air quality management programmes (hereinafter – programmes). The implementation of those tasks is marred by the novelty of the requirements as well as by both lack of funding and lack of relevant field experience. The Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania (hereinafter LSA) in cooperation with the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities and Employers’ Interests (hereinafter KS) plans to use the Norwegian financial mechanism, aimed at the promotion of Lithuanian and Norwegian municipal experts’ and policy makers’ cooperation in the field of sustainable energy and environment quality, thus contributing to the solution of the key challenges Lithuanian municipalities are facing in these fields.
Summary of project results
The aim of this project was to address two key challenges Lithuanian municipalities are facing today in the field of municipal environment and energy policies – namely the preparation and implementation of municipal Renewable resources energy action plans (hereinafter Plans) and Environment Air quality management programmes (hereinafter programmes). These commitments are rising from Europe 2020 strategy and national legislation obliging all Lithuanian municipalities to prepare relevant Plans and Programmes. The implementation of those tasks is marred by the novelty of the requirements as well as by both lack of funding and lack of relevant field experience. Therefore the legal requirement to have such Plans and programmes if not-so-rarely ignored to some extent, or implemented formally; some municipalities are hiring costly experts or try to find their own solution employing a method of error and trial. Furthermore, lack of comprehensive supportive documents, regulating the drafting and revision of such documents, causes the situation, when especially in smaller municipalities’ administration, there might be only one civil servant, capable of explaining it thus making all implementation of certain legal act depending on the presence of particular person in the municipal service. Taking into consideration the above-mentioned, the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania (hereinafter LSA) in cooperation with the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities and Employers’ Interests (hereinafter KS) used the Norwegian financial mechanism a pre-defined project, aimed at the promotion of Lithuanian and Norwegian municipal experts’ and policy makers’ cooperation in the field of sustainable energy and environment quality, thus contributing to the solution of the key challenges Lithuanian municipalities are facing in these fields. This project aimed to assist Lithuanian municipalities in meeting European and national targets in certain fields of sustainable energy and environment through enhanced cooperation with the Norwegian colleagues. During the project were prepared pilot municipal Renewable resources energy action plans and Environment Air quality management programmes (three units of each, for particular municipalities) as well as methodologies for drafting and revising respective Plans and Programmes and organization of trainings for Lithuanian municipal civil servants in relevant fields, working with the issues of energy and environment.
Summary of bilateral results
Project partner - The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities- during implementation of the project consulted project promoter in fields of environment (renewal of air quality monitoring and their implementation); and 2. sustainable energy policies (development/renewal of SEPs, promotion of local and renewable energy sources). Project partner shared the best practices of how to work more efficient in the field of corruption prevention.