Local services
The Municipality of Debrecen decided in 2016 to join the Covenant of Mayors (CoM).
By joining, the Municipality committed to setting ambitious medium- and long-term goals in line with the objectives of the European Union, within the framework of which
it will achieve at least a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, while it has set a climate neutrality target for 2050, which means an 80 percent reduction.
In order to achieve the set goals, the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (hereinafter: SECAP) was completed in 2018 and submitted to the CoM, a strategic document that defines the measures taken at the municipal level for sustainable energy management and the fight against climate change.
The first monitoring year of SECAP was 2021, for which the current monitoring emission inventory was completed. Data for 2007 and 2021 were presented when summarising the city’s energy situation.
As stated in the proposal adopted by the general assembly,
Debrecen’s long-term vision is to be a macro-regional centre developing sustainably and innovatively, offering a high quality of life and playing a cross-border role.
A caring metropolis that adapts flexibly to changing external conditions, provides an attractive urban environment for its residents in an intelligent and sustainable manner, prepares for the challenges of climate change and contributes to climate change mitigation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
To achieve the city’s vision for the future, SECAP sets comprehensive and specific targets for reducing emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change, as well as reducing energy poverty. By consistently implementing these, the sustainability goals set for 2030 and 2050 can be achieved.
Debrecen’s continuous economic and social development can be clearly seen in the data on residential energy consumption, transport, the service sector and non-ETS (EU Emissions Trading System) industrial actors. The document also contains long-term plans for reducing the city’s energy consumption and related carbon dioxide emissions.
The public consultation on the SECAP review document was conducted in November 2024, to which civil society and professional organisations were also invited. The consultation version intended for public comment was also published on the city’s website for the public to view.
One of the main objectives of SECAP for 2030 is to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent compared to 2007. Based on the data from the first monitoring year determined during the review, the reduction rate is 27% compared to 2007, while greenhouse gas emissions have reached a 50% reduction compared to 1990. The results achieved in the areas of electricity and district heating are primarily due to the increase in renewable energy production, as well as targeted sustainability measures.
Between 2021 and 2024, a number of additional energy and sustainability developments were implemented, ensuring that Debrecen can achieve the 55 percent emission reduction target set for 2030 and the 80 percent emission reduction target for 2050.
The 52-hectare solar park next to Debrecen airport, completed in 2022, contributes to this by installing 52,000 solar panels to cover the energy needs of 15,000 households and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 33,000 tonnes a year.
The carbon dioxide emission savings are most significant in the following areas of action: buildings, facilities, industry, locally generated electricity, local district heating and cogeneration, and sustainable transport development. Accordingly, building energy renovations, increasing energy efficiency, utilising renewable energy sources in local energy supply, and modernising public lighting prove to be the measures that bring the greatest savings.
The city focuses not only on measures within the competence of the municipality, but also on
actions to improve the energy efficiency of the population, the largest carbon emitting sector, will also be prioritised and given special attention. Examples include the residential LED replacement programme and the prefabricated house program to improve the energy efficiency of prefabricated buildings.
The city aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and to prioritise adaptation measures to climate change, taking into account the assessed and understood environmental status. To this end, Debrecen will take into account in its various strategy documents, programmes and plans the steps needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the adaptation measures that can be taken at local level to help prepare its population and economic actors for the challenges of the future.
The objectives and measures set out in the SECAP are in line with the strategic documents of the municipality, including the Sustainable Urban Development Strategy (2021-2027), the TOP Plus Urban Development Programme Plan, the Climate Strategy (2022), the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (2023), the Urban Development Concept (2020-2030), the Environmental Programme (2023-2026) and the Carbon Neutrality Study, Concept and Action Plan (2024).
As the submission states, a comparison of the strategies adopted by the Municipality and taken into account in the development process clearly shows that the city’s goals point in one direction: to transform Debrecen into a liveable, green city, while preserving its development and economic centrality.
“The urban strategies and the goals set out in the SECAP document are closely aligned, mutually supporting the realisation of Debrecen’s vision for the future,” the proposal says.
In the debate, Civil Forum leader, Zsolt Gondola asked why battery factories were not included in the document. Deputy Mayor Ákos Balázs, who is also responsible for environmental issues, said that the material should include emission sources over which the Municipality has direct influence. Battery plants, like other factories, are subject to EU regulations and quotas, but they are not part of SECAP.
Municipal representative of the Civil Forum Debrecen Association, Mariann Illés-Rácz asked about the factories’ carbon emissions and whether another action plan would be prepared. Mayor László Papp replied that they were taking action, they had built a solar park at the airport and were trying to convince companies to do the same. As an example, he mentioned that BMW will have its own solar park at its factory. In response to the question, Ákos Balázs reminded that the already adopted Green Codex contains many action elements to protect the environment and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
From the Momentum party László Mándi argued that it is useless to save carbon dioxide emissions if new plants emit several times more of it into the air. László Papp reiterated that this is why companies are being encouraged to make investments themselves to reduce their fossil footprint. László Mándi also asked about the thermal waste recycler mentioned in the paper. Balázs Arday, the present CEO of Debrecen Heating Services, said that they had assessed the possibility of replacing gas-fired district heating through a tender, but that it was a very long-term option. Mayor László Papp also confirmed that there are no plans to build a waste incineration plant, and the city does not have 40 billion forints for this.
The assembly finally adopted the proposal with 22 votes in favour, 5 against and 4 abstentions.
Source and photo credit:dehir.hu
