Planners are encouraged to follow the framework in a sequential manner, from preparation to implementation, monitoring, and review.
Click on the diagram to navigate through the Regio1st Planning Framework's 8 stages.
This stage focuses on reviewing and establishing energy objectives and targets that align with national, regional and local visions, as well as engaging stakeholders to ensure a shared and well-informed approach.
In this step, planners should review relevant national energy policies, strategies, and targets. Such plans may include objectives related to greenhouse gas emissions reductions, renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency improvements, transport infrastructure development and energy security, among others.
Understanding the national context and national priorities will help ensure that the regional energy plan aligns with broader policy frameworks.
National and Regional Targets Comparison Template
This Excel template can help planners systematically compare their regional energy targets with EU, national and other objectives, such as the European Union's energy and climate goals. The template includes columns for each target type (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions reduction, renewable energy share, energy efficiency) and rows for filling in national, regional, and other targets, enabling planners to identify deviations and areas for review.
National and Regional Targets Comparison Template Download
In addition to national targets, planners should examine existing regional and local visions, strategies, and targets for energy, as well as for other relevant policy areas. For instance, planners could review, amongst other, regional development plans, energy master plans, urban mobility plans, regional spacial/territorial plans, waste management plans and other relevant strategic documents that affect energy policy. Evaluating existing regional and local targets, strategies and plans will help identify synergies, gaps, and potential conflicts at a regional level as well as between different levels of governance. This will ensure that the regional energy plan is consistent with and builds upon existing planning efforts.
National and Regional Targets Comparison Template
This Excel template can help planners systematically compare their regional energy targets with EU, national and other objectives, such as the European Union's energy and climate goals. The template includes columns for each target type (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions reduction, renewable energy share, energy efficiency) and rows for filling in national, regional, and other targets, enabling planners to identify deviations and areas for review.
National and Regional Targets Comparison Template Download
In this step, the new/revised regional objectives, priorities and targets need to be defined, considering existing national regional and local targets and strategies. These should also consider economic development, long-term energy independence, environmental protection, improvement of quality of life and of health. In addition, appropriate indicators need to be identified to better define set objectives.
Additional resources
Once national, regional, and local visions, targets, strategies, and plans have been reviewed, planners should engage with stakeholders to discuss these and their implication on the regional energy plan. The dialogue should aim to:
- Identify potential barriers and opportunities for achieving established goals in order to consider them further in the regional plan
- Ensure that regional needs and stakeholder concerns are adequately reflected in the regional plan and sufficiently considered in new/revised objectives and targets
- Build consensus on the regional energy vision, objectives, and targets
- Rank the importance of objectives to build consensus on priorities Stakeholder engagement may take the form of workshops, meetings, or online consultations, depending on the resources available and the preferences of the stakeholders involved.
Stakeholder engagement may take the form of workshops, meetings, or online consultations, depending on the resources available and the preferences of the stakeholders involved.
Participatory Priorities Ranking Tool
This tool can facilitate planners rank priorities using a collaborative process. It provides a systematic approach for gathering inputs and perspectives from a diverse group of stakeholders, such as community members, experts, or decision-makers, and collectively determining the relative importance / urgency of different options / measures. By actively involving stakeholders, a more inclusive and representative prioritization process is ensured, ultimately leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes.
Participatory Priorities Ranking Tool Download
Additional resources
- Co-creation for policy: Participatory methodologies to structure multi-stakeholder policymaking processes
- Urb Cultural Planning Participatory design guide
- URBACT Engaging Stakeholders
Best practicies/Success stories
Overall Stage material
Co-funded by the European Union under project ID 101076088. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.