In 2020, they were full of hope.
A year and a half after making concrete commitments for the ecological transition, it was time for the first assessment for the municipalities of South Yvelines this Friday evening, at the Bergerie Nationale de Rambouillet.
An event organized with the support of Yann Arthus Bertrand who lives in Les Mesnuls.
Soft circulation, energy sobriety, local food in canteens ... the pact signed during the municipal elections includes thirty-two concrete measures to make cities more ecological, united and democratic and thus come closer to the objectives set by the Paris Agreement for the weather.
The document was signed by majority elected officials from nearly three hundred municipalities across France.
In the south of Yvelines, out of the fifteen municipal candidates who had signed up, four were elected at the head of the town halls of Essarts-le-Roi, Cernay-la-Ville, Émancé and Poigny-la-Forêt.
"The dynamic is still there"
On this first assessment, Françoise Vernet, one of the coordinators of the project in the region, wants to be positive.
"The actions were delayed due to the health crisis, but despite this difficult context, there has been progress."
The most important according to her, "the dynamic is still there, elected officials and citizens remain motivated".
For example, on the bicycle, the municipalities are currently in the design phase.
Thus in Essarts-le-Roi, a bicycle plan is being carried out with the ARC association to link the hamlets to the town center.
In Poigny-la-Forêt, Cernay-la-Ville, educational and participatory vegetable gardens have been set up.
In these two towns as well as in Émancé, rotary composters have also been installed.
Beyond the ecological advantage, the compost allows these villages to make savings of 500 to 1000 euros each month.
Read also South Yvelines: achieving food self-sufficiency is (almost) possible
In terms of energy savings, Poigny-la-Forêt has signed an agreement with a local energy and climate alliance (ALEC).
"The idea is to be supported in the energy renovation of the town, specialists check our consumption and show us where we can make efforts", indicates Thierry Convert, mayor (SE).
Insulation work has been carried out in one of the school's classes, but the major project to come is a third place which will bring together a library, a coworking space and offices for the administrative services of the town hall.
Progress beyond the signatory municipalities
For the other municipalities in the territory which have not signed the pact, "the idea is to bring together as many people as possible around the table and be inspired by what is being done elsewhere", continues Françoise Vernet.
Thus, the mayor (LR) of Bullion Xavier Caris did not sign the text but the town has put in place many initiatives, under the leadership of Michaël le Saulnier, deputy in charge of the environment.
In the school canteen, unopened dishes are no longer thrown away but given away and the rest goes to the chickens.
A canteen has just been recruited by the village to prepare the starters and desserts.
A study is underway to then create a shared kitchen with several municipalities including Cernay and La Celle-les-Bordes.
The evening at the Bergerie Nationale is part of the Dizaine des Possibles, event from 17 to 27
October throughout the territory which brings together authors and defenders of the environment.
Pierre Leroy, mayor of the village of Puy-Saint-André (Hautes-Alpes) which produces its own energy, remunicipalizes waste management and seeks food autonomy, will come to share his experience.