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JRC publishes updated guidance on developing SECAP
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) published the 2025 edition of the Covenant of Mayors Guidebook “How to develop a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) – Main Document”. Released in June 2025, this update offers structured guidance to help Covenant signatories across Europe reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance climate resilience, and address energy poverty at the local level. This latest edition maintains methodological continuity with the original 2011 guidebook and the updated 2018 version, while integrating emerging best practices in local climate governance.
The new edition reflects the growing ambition of EU climate policy, as set out in the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law. In this context, Covenant signatories commit to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, while also addressing climate risks and ensuring energy justice within their territories.
Among the key improvements, the guidebook enhances methodological guidance on preparing greenhouse gas emissions inventories and revises the recommended scopes and boundaries. It also updates the approach to risk and vulnerability assessments (RVA), offering tailored methodologies that reflect the diversity of local contexts, resources, and capacities.
Moreover, the 2025 edition introduces new tools for assessing energy poverty, a challenge increasingly faced by cities and municipalities. By bridging theory with practical examples, the guidebook helps local authorities understand and apply energy poverty diagnostics in a policy-relevant way.
While the guidebook has been developed for EU-based signatories, its guidance is largely applicable to CoM East municipalities. Signatories in the Eastern Partnership region are encouraged to use this document as a reference point when developing local energy and climate action plans. However, region-specific context and adaptations will continue to be addressed through CoM East’s own methodological resources and capacity-building efforts. Further technical documents are expected to follow, providing more detailed guidance on specific SECAP components.
Access the new guidebook: How to develop a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP)
Source: Joint Research Centre