"Networking action to involve Local Governments in the EU and international energy and climate debate" (LG Action)
	Local governments (LGs) are key players in a number of ways. As the closest level of governance to citizens and as community leaders they have excellent potential to guide the process of change by changing their own energy use in municipal operations (corporate sector). They have the opportunity to lead change among citizens and businesses (community sector) and potentially local industry. Energy is needed for electricity, heating / cooling; in buildings; transport; waste and water management. Improvements can be made in services, through efficient measures and technologies. Now LGs must take key steps and take on more responsibility in climate protection and local energy security, increase their support from national governments to contribute to a coherent framework across EU and feed into the national, European and international climate and energy debate. LGs need to be recognised for the integral role they can play in achieving success to reach Kyoto and post-2012 Protocol targets. LG Action was started in May 2009 to provide a voice for European local governments, to improve local-national dialogues, and capture local government (LG) needs to empower and support them in climate and sustainable energy action.   The project partners are ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, European Secretariat; Local Government Denmark (LGDK), Denmark; Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling sustainable Resource management (ACR+), Belgium; The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), Hungary; and Coordinamento Agende 21 Locali Italiane (CA21L), Italy. This European local government networking action builds on existing networks and addresses climate protection and sustainable energy through: Information: make LGs aware of their powers for change in local energy issues; Mobilisation: encourage LGs to link up to and influence national, European and international (UN) climate protection processes; Positioning: develop a strong LG position and support LG positioning in their national context regarding their tremendous potential to support national CO2 reduction targets and energy security; Recognition: through advocacy encourage national and European recognition by national governments for the essential role LGs play in the climate and energy debate.     Contact person: Judit Balint E-mail: jbalint@rec.org