Invitation

Saatja: "Katia Alarcón" <[email protected]> Saaja: "vana RAM Info" Teema: Invitation – Workshop on Regional Finance Models for Energy Efficiency and Housing Renovation/Retrofitting | 6 May, Vilnius Kuupäev: 2025-04-07 14:23 Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada. Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada. Dear Finance Ministry team, As part of the NetZeroCities <https://netzerocities.eu/> (NZC) and Turnaround money II <https://www.fair-finance-institute.de/en/projekt/turnaround-money-ii/> programmes, we are pleased to invite you to our regional-level workshop taking place during the Cities Mission Conference 2025 <https://netzerocities.eu/cities-mission-conference/> in Vilnius: Rethinking Municipal Finance: Regional Finance Models for Energy Efficiency and Housing Renovation Date: 6 May 2025 Time: 11:00–15:30 (EEST) Location: LITEXPO Conference Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania This workshop will focus on the specific challenges and opportunities in the Baltic region—Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—when it comes to scaling up energy-efficient renovation of residential buildings. It will bring together representatives from ministries, municipalities, financial institutions, and expert organisations from all three countries. In light of the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and broader EU climate targets, the pressure to accelerate renovation efforts is increasing. At the same time, shared structural issues—such as ageing housing stock, fragmented ownership, and limited local capacity—make regional coordination more important than ever. This event will explore the potential for a regional financing model that supports municipalities, streamlines access to funding, and complements national efforts without adding complexity or overlap. The workshop will be interactive, with breakout discussions and targeted contributions, a concept note and draft agenda are attached for more information. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the workshop in more detail, we would be happy to arrange a short call. Lastly, we truly believe your institution and expertise will bring crucial insights to this discussion, and we would be delighted to welcome you in Vilnius. Best regards, Katia Alarcon -- <https://iclei-europe.org/> Katia Alarcón (she/her) Expert, Governance Innovation ICLEI European Secretariat Leopoldring 3 ● 79098 Freiburg ● Germany Telephone +49-(0)761-368920 ● Email <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Web <https://iclei-europe.org/> | Twitter <https://x.com/ICLEI_Europe> | YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/user/icleieurope> Endorse the Aalborg Conditions! <https://iclei-europe.org/endorse-the-aalborg-conditions/> ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network working with more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. ICLEI European Secretariat GmbH GF Wolfgang Teubner HRB 4188 Freiburg i. Br. Workshop Rethinking Municipal Finance: Regional Finance Models for Energy Efficiency and Housing Renovation/Retrofitting V2025-04-07 6 May 2025 Vilnius, Lithuania Taking place during the Cities Mission Conference 2025 at LITEXPO Organisation and implementation: In the framework of the funding programme: European Environment Initiative (EURENI) Workshop partners:  Background and Objectives Europe is entering a decisive moment in the effort to decarbonise its building stock. The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), adopted in 2024, sets out clear targets: all new buildings must be zero-emission by 2030, and existing buildings must undergo deep renovation. This comes alongside broader EU climate goals – a 55% cut in emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, which place growing pressure on member states to deliver, especially at the local level. For the Baltic region, this presents a serious challenge. Much of the housing stock is outdated, energy-inefficient, and over 75% privately owned, often with fragmented ownership structures1. Renovation depends on mobilising millions of individual decisions, supported by accessible finance and strong local coordination. Yet progress has been slow and held back by funding limitations, capacity gaps, and disconnected efforts. At the same time, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia share common ground: similar building types, financing barriers, and the legacy of post-Soviet urban development. They also have valuable experience to build on. From Tartu’s neighbourhood-scale retrofits, Latvia’s ALTUM blended finance model, to Vilnius’ large-scale investment programme, the region has no shortage of pilot projects, but these are still not sufficient. This workshop starts from the belief that tackling this challenge together makes sense. Rather than working in parallel, the Baltics could benefit from a coordinated regional approach. The event will explore the idea of a regional finance model to scale the idea of “one-stop-shops” that supports cities, streamlines access to funding, and complements national efforts without causing fragmentation. This workshop takes the position that the solution lies in coordinated regional action. Drawing on common structural challenges and policy contexts, it proposes an exploration for a regional financial model – a “one-stop-shop” mechanism that supports cities, aggregates demand, streamlines access to funding, and complements national efforts without undermining local autonomy. Taking place during the Cities Mission Conference 2025 in Vilnius, and organised within the Turnaround Money II project and NetZeroCities, the event brings together finance actors, practitioners, cities, NGOs, and state-level stakeholders from across the Baltics. It aims to define a shared set of criteria for a functional, inclusive, and non-fragmenting regional 1 See e.g. https://interreg-baltic.eu/project-posts/the-ownership-and-responsibilities-of-the-multi-apartment- buildings-in-the-bsr-vary-a-lot-creating-different-challenges-and-need-for-support/ finance model – one that enables scale, accelerates delivery, and supports the implementation of the EPBD. This is the first in a series of national dialogues on better funding in the Baltic states (2025– 2027) focused on turning EU climate policy into real, local impact. By fostering collaboration across borders, this workshop aims to move the region from promising pilots to shared, scalable transformation. Key questions: 1. What are the key financial barriers municipalities in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia face in accelerating energy efficiency and renovation, and how could a coordinated regional financing model help overcome them? 2. How can a regional “one-stop” mechanism support cities and residents – particularly in the context of fragmented ownership and limited local capacity – without duplicating or complicating national efforts? 3. What strategies can municipalities use to better engage private homeowners in multi- apartment buildings, and how can financial institutions and public programmes support trust, uptake, and collective decision-making? 4. What enabling conditions (regulatory, financial, and institutional) are needed to unlock building renovation at scale, and how can regional collaboration strengthen these frameworks? 5. What are the concrete next steps that workshop participants (cities, finance actors, and institutions) can take to co-develop a regional finance model that accelerates implementation of the EPBD and related climate goals? Enclosed you will find a proposal for a workshop program and a list of potential participants. Self-conception of the workshop The workshop is organised in cooperation with NZC Mission and the project “Turnaround money II - rethinking municipal finances”, which is funded by the German Environmental ministry as part of the EURENI program. The workshops will be held in close cooperation with municipalities, municipal companies and associations in 2025. The workshops should be characterized by an active exchange between key institutions and provide a framework for the development of concrete solution ideas. Lectures and presentations will therefore be kept to a minimum and the focus will be on direct, constructive and professional exchange. Draft program for the workshop on 06.05.2025 Time Agenda 11:00 Arrival 11:00-11:10 Opening by the organisers • Moderation by Iryna Bakhcheva and Katia Alarcon, ICLEI Europe 11:10-11:45 Keynotes: • Ministerial address – [tbd] • Blending resources for building renovation: a case study on financing smart retrofitting of Soviet-era apartments in the city of Riga – [name], Riga Energy Agency [tbc] • Learning from Europe: One-stop-shop experience in the building sector – [name], [Bankers without Boundaries, tbc] • A regional vision for accelerating building renovations – Linda Zeilina, International Centre for Sustainable Finance 11:45-12:00 Transfer to break-out sessions • Introduction to guiding questions and breakout groups by moderators and workshop partners 12:00-13:30 Facilitated break-out groups • 3 groups to tackle the overarching question on “enabling conditions for unlocking building renovations at scale” 13:30-14:15 Lunch (covered by organisers) 14:15-15:15 Presentation of results from the break-out groups 15:15-15:25 Synthesis and next steps 15:25-15:30 Closing Draft list of participants (alphabetical order of institutions) Institution Field of Name Country expertise/function ESTONIA City of Tartu Estonia City of Tartu Estonia City of Tallinn Estonia Ministry of Climate Bankwatch (Estonia) Estonia TalTech - Tallinn Estonia University of Technology TalTech - Tallinn Estonia University of Technology Rego (Association of Estonia Local Municipalities) From interview Environmental Estonia Investment Centre KIK From interview Rohe Tiiger Estonia From interview LATVIA City of Riga Latvia City of Lepaja Latvia Bankwatch (Latvia) Latvia ERRIN Latvia Finance Latvia Latvia Finance Association of Latvia Bank Association of Latvia Latvia Institution Field of Name Country expertise/function Latvian Banking Association • Home page Latvian Association Latvia of Local and Regional Governments LPS - LPS Ministry of Climate Latvia and Energy Sākumlapa | Klimata un enerģētikas ministrija LITHUANIA City of Vilnius Lithuania City of Vilnius Lithuania City of Taurage Lithuania ILTE – National Lithuania development Bank (earlier INVEGA) ILTE | ILTE Ministry of Energy Lithuania and Environment. Organisation und Leitung des Workshops ICLEI Europe Head of Governance Niklas Mischkowski Innovation ICLEI Europe Expert Governance Katia Alarcón Innovation ICLEI Europe Expert Cities Mission Iryna Bakhcheva Task Group ICLEI Europe Junior Expert Cities Natalia Mission Task Group Lewandowska