This is a future scenario* to show how the charter can create a shift in how Multi-level governance (MLG) is applied in Europe. It has been developed during the “Engagement Interviews”,  (Brussels – 03-04/2012).

* The following story is a fiction imagined during the co-creation process and does not engage the public authorities or stakeholders eventually mentioned.

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SCENARIO

Egelin Rebane, Director of Services, Tallinn  Region (Estonia)

Climate Change is a universal task which is to be addressed by a whole chain of people in the governance system. Initiated at school from an early age, children in homes are taking action to reduce and sort waste. Starting from them, we can consider that this is having a systemic effect in the whole chain of governance in the EU, and possibly the world.  Children in local schools in Tallinn have been introduced to the MLG charter through the interactive charters website explaining in simple schemes and using easy examples, the main principles of MLG. Starting from that, they initiated some projects with their teachers with the objective of making things changing locally and to spread their experience globally. They are using this to catalyse systemic change for reducing energy and waste in households throughout the EU.  One of the principles understood by the children was that they could contact themselves their local mayor in Tallinn, who in turn catalysed their suggestions to reduce energy and waste in the city. Tallinn conceived the idea of a ‘European Green Capital’ which runs the program ‘Green Cities – fit for life’, so is a leader in this space to be encouraging other cities to become climate friendly. In turn, the city mayor which received the label/brand “For a good MLG in Europe” by signing the charter have based some new local actions on the main principles to reach Targets set by the national government and European Union strategies on Climate Change. These strategies are stemming from initiatives at the UN level such as the Kyoto Protocol.  Tallinn is in fact one of the first signatories of the “Covenant of Mayors” in Europe.

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