Monitoring SEAPs: Mismatching in Italian Implementation of Sustainable Energy Planning

European climate policy, since the 1990s, has developed incrementally and supported programs, plans and actions for sustainable, clean and secure energy. The Covenant of Mayors (CoM), a volunteer movement of local administrators established in 2008, set a target of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020. The CoM has launched a new season on energy planning in Europe based on Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs), defining actions for selected intervention sectors. The aim of the work was to evaluate after the 2020 deadline, the state of the implementation of Italian CoM signatories, assessing results achieved in terms of the Municipalities involved (CoM signatories), SEAPs developed and Monitoring Reports submitted. Specifically, the analysis of the Monitoring Reports data represents a relevant step needed in order to formulate some critical appraisals concerning the performance level of CoM adoption at a national scale, in terms of the commitment levels, goals achieved and actions completed or in progress. The paper also remarks the recurring issue of mismatching between Italian SEAPs submitted and their Monitoring Reports. This critical step is not allowed to know the real number of CoM Signatories on track or not with their commitments. Therefore, a realistic framework of Monitoring Reports represents a useful tool for interpreting the targets achieved in terms of CO2 reduction and for improving the current Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) adoption procedures.