Energy issues, MEA-project and activities of the Commission on Environment

Work meeting in Kaunas

The Commission on Environment held its work meeting in Kaunas, Lithuania 13 - 14 September. There were 30 participants from 11 UBC cities. Main themes of the meeting were energy issues, the UBC's Municipal Environmental Auditing -project and the activities of the Commission on Environment.

Mr Carl Nielsen, Mr Mikko Jokinen and Mr Peter Gavelin engaged in a discussion during the two day meeting. Photo: Esko Sorakunnas

During the first day, Lithuanian energy specialists presented the situation in their country as well as plans for promoting energy saving, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, etc. Representatives of the Danish company I/S Midtkraft provided a presentation on the use of combined energy production plants using straw, biomass and even municipal waste as fuel. The meeting decided that the Commission on Environment, together with the City of Kaunas, should invite UBC member cities to a meeting in spring 1997 dealing with energy issues. The purpose of this meeting should be to investigate the need for as well as initiate cooperation among cities on more specific energy projects. This could be the starting point for a special Commission on Energy - provided the necessary specific projects and interested cities are represented. Excursion The participants visited the new Kaunas waste water treatment plant, presently under construction. Once it is operational it shall greatly improve the ecological situation in Kaunas. The hosts also presented Kaunas` "Babies` Home", where a project on energy-saving and utilization of renewable energy sources is planned to take place. Back to the Table of Contents