The OwnYourSECAP project (“Bringing local and regional municipalities towards owning their SECAPs”), carried out under the LIFE+ Programme between 2022 and 2025, aimed to support local governments in the energy transition by providing a systematic approach to developing, implementing, and monitoring Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs). The project was implemented by an international consortium of partner organizations from 11 European countries (Latvia, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Spain, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, and Italy). This collaboration enabled the exchange of experiences, good practices, and proven tools applied across different regions of Europe.
The project covered nine municipalities in Poland, grouped into three categories: advanced municipalities (Bydgoszcz and Sztum), deployment municipalities (Besko and Raciechowice), and replication municipalities (Pałecznica, Siemiatycze, Zamość, Żyraków, and Cieszyn). Its goal was not only to develop or update SECAPs — strategic documents that guide municipal actions in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change, and tackling energy poverty — but also to equip local authorities with the tools needed for effective implementation and monitoring. To achieve this, the project applied three key elements: an energy management system based on ISO 50001, a climate change adaptation framework based on ISO 14092, and an innovative stakeholder engagement method — Design Thinking. Through this approach, the project helped institutionalize energy and climate planning within municipalities, integrate it into everyday governance, and establish lasting structures to support the transition.
Within the OwnYourSECAP project, Polish municipalities received comprehensive support in planning and implementing climate and energy initiatives. For the advanced municipalities — Bydgoszcz and Sztum — updated SECAPs were prepared, integrating long-term climate neutrality goals (by 2050). For the deployment municipalities — Besko and Raciechowice — and the replication municipalities — Pałecznica, Siemiatycze, and Żyraków — new SECAPs were developed, serving as a foundation for defining concrete mitigation and adaptation measures. Moreover, in Besko and Raciechowice, training on the ISO 50001 standard was conducted, accompanied by the preparation of documentation enabling the implementation of an energy management system to support the permanent integration of energy efficiency processes. Through these actions, municipalities were provided not only with strategic planning documents but also with practical tools that enable them to carry out an effective energy transition.
An integral part of the OwnYourSECAP project were numerous training sessions and workshops, held both in person and online, aimed at strengthening the capacities of local government representatives in energy management, climate action planning and implementation, municipal and urban climate adaptation, climate budgeting, as well as effective citizen engagement and communication methods. A particularly important role in building these competences was played by the annual seminars in Jadwisin, which each year brought together dozens of municipal representatives from across Poland. These events created a platform for exchanging experiences, showcasing good practices, and debating the challenges of the energy transition. Knowledge exchange also took place at the international level during workshops combined with study visits in Vienna, Prague, and Bratislava, in which Polish municipalities actively participated. The culmination of project activities was the final conference, held online, which provided an opportunity to summarize the results achieved over three years of joint work on local energy transition. The event gathered representatives of local governments from the partner countries as well as replication municipalities beyond the project consortium — among them the Croatian town of Prelog, which, thanks to technical and expert support, successfully implemented the project’s tools and adapted them to local needs. The conference demonstrated that, while the challenges facing municipalities are substantial, through knowledge exchange and cooperation it is possible to shape effective local climate policies that make a real contribution to achieving European and global climate neutrality goals.
The implementation of the OwnYourSECAP project has come to an end, leaving municipalities with lasting tools and support for advancing the energy transition. The developed and updated SECAPs, the documentation enabling the introduction of an energy management system, and the tools supporting climate adaptation have created a solid foundation for continuing municipal efforts in energy efficiency. The experience gained through the project will continue to contribute to the further development of local climate policy well beyond its completion.
We encourage you to follow our project website and the main project page, where you can find event highlights, as well as additional materials and information about the activities carried out within the project.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Life funding instrument for the environment and climate action under grant agreement no 101077109. The sole responsibility for the content of this website lies with the OwnYourSECAP project and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.
