Sustainable development is the overriding horizontal principle of the EU's regional development policy and an important policy goal in itself. However recognised environmental objectives such as the Kyoto Protocol or the Gothenborg goals often face limited practical commitment or lack of concrete administrative actions. On a day-to-day basis local and regional authorities have a key role in helping to reach these commitments. Motivated by a “think globally – act locally” approach, the operation "Enercyregio: Action Programme for Strenthening the Energy Efficiency and Source Saving by Sustainable Local Development in European Regions" focuses on increasing energy efficiency and promoting the use of renewable energy resources. The aim of Enercyregio is to establish and implement an action programme for a co-ordinated and focused increase in energy efficiency, energy savings and use of renewable energies at the municipal level in the partner regions. Subprojects within these three fields will support joint activities to boost economic development and job creation, improve administrative action and strengthen related work with young people. By supporting the local level in its efforts to tap the potentials associated with climate protection, the regions aim to achieve their political goals as regards CO2-reductions and use of renewable energy sources. Enercyregio improves regional strategies and long-term policy actions and help integrating ecological, economic and social interests. It provides municipalities with tools to tap into their unused potential for energy savings and use of renewable energies. This, in turn, results in a contribution to better meet global commitments in the fight against climate change. It also leads to cost savings at municipal level, creates jobs and improves awareness of citizens and environmental behaviour. Activities include the elaboration of a tool-kit of instruments tailored to the partner regions' framework conditions and needs. RFO sub-projects mobilise local actors to cooperate with their counterparts in partner regions and to exchange experiences and to find solutions to joint problems.