The Cities Mission Climate City Contract (CCC) is a governance innovation tool to help cities collaboratively address their barriers to reaching climate neutrality by 2030.
Cities will need unprecedented amounts of capital to achieve climate neutrality. Mobilising these resources with a clear priority to achieve maximum climate impact and societal co-benefits.
Effective monitoring helps quantify progress of the portfolio of actions implemented, strengthens transparency, legitimacy and assesses the effectiveness of solutions.
Local governments will need to act together with business leaders, knowledge institutions, disruptive innovators, artists, civil society, and citizens, to radically multiply everyone's collective actions.
Governance innovations can enhance the capacity of actors to reach climate neutrality. The better we govern collective action, the faster and fairer the required transformation is achieved.
Social innovation tackles the societal challenges thats is reaching climate-neutrality with a bottom-up, collaborative, holistic and human-centred approach to innovation.
The problems cities face in mitigating and adapting to climate change are complex, rooted in technological, economic, financial, organisational, political, cultural and social systems.
There are a range of technologies and innovative solutions that can be implemented and deployed to cut these emissions on buildings, industry and transport, waste treatment, agriculture and forestry.
The Cities Best Practice Series is aimed at learning from the best practices across Mission Cities. These monthly online sessions provide a platform to learn from the best on-the-ground experiences, fostering a discussion about key challenges, leaving space for questions, reflections and comparisons. Best Practices #1 - Mobilising citizens and stakeholders for action Link to video Cities: Parma, Italy (8:03) Guimaraes, Portugal (18:40) Lyon, ...
NetZeroCities is designing the Mission Cities Capital Hub to support the development and execution of city projects. The implementation of Investment Plans will require a holistic approach covering technical assistance, impact alignment and capital facilitation as well as private sector engagement. The Capital Hub is planned to be a city resource for facilitating funding and financing, investments, and technical assistance in support of city ambitions of reaching climate neutrality. On 23 ...
Energy management techniques
To reach the target of climate neutrality of European cities by 2030, it is very important to introduce renewable energy systems into the global energy system. To manage the fluctuating power generation of renewable energy systems, it is very important to use energy management techniques. One of the energy management techniques is to establish energy communities in these cities. e.g. AIT has made in cooperation with Wien Energie a study about energy communities as part of smart and sustainable ...
The systemic design toolkit is for change-makers willing to trigger a process of systemic transformation. The tools are meant to be used during collaborative co-creation sessions. This booklet will guide you through a selection of eight techniques from the toolkit. These are categorised according to different phases of the design process, but that does not mean that you cannot use them in different ways. We invite you to be creative, to use and adapt them to your project. We hope this kit will ...
Simple Contracting Model
In this model a private entity is offered the management and implementation of an entire infrastructure project including sourcing capital on behalf of the municipality. The private entity undertakes the project for a mutually agreed fee. This can also include vendor finance, where a private entity provides financing to private end users for investing in their products. Advantages: The main merit of this model is off-balance sheet (OBS) financing for the city. Contracting models differ ...
This page provides an overview of NZC documents, tools and resources on the topic of Policy, Networks and Partnerships for climate neutrality The EU Climate Projects Navigator Relationships map (Kumu) Policy Briefs Policy brief on Finance and Investment Policy brief on Circular Economy Projects maps Interactive tables of projects by category Deliverables: Stakeholder map Report on consultation input to CCC concept and multi-level governance ...
This page is dedicated to NZC research events and resources. Upcoming publishing opportunities for researchers: Special issue on "Co-design and Social Innovation for Climate Neutrality" in Sustainability | Deadline: February 2025 Edited book with proceedings of the event Chapters submission by November 30th, 2024 Length: 17.000-18.000 characters including spaces Academic writing with APA ...
The Healthy Cities Generator is the definitive tool for healthy urban living. The new version of the Healthy Cities Generator is ready to serve the needs of cities and governments on their path to achieve healthy urban environments. With this evidence-based tool, urbanism and health are addressed together to define comprehensive strategies for urban design and planning. Behind its design and development there is a very powerful team that combines multidisciplinary expertise and years of work ...
Enhancing Transport Decarbonisation in the European Union
New report released by the World Bank Group: 'Enhancing Transport Decarbonisation in the European Union' Chapter of interest: 'Creating Sustainable Urban and Metropolitan Mobility' from pages 31-38. Report Summary: The European Union (EU) has established itself as a global frontrunner in climate action, targeting a climate-neutral economy by 2050 with a sector-specific ambition to cut transport-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90 percent from 1990 levels. Despite ...
The document provides an overview of the NetZeroPlanner model, which helps cities quantify their economic case for decarbonization by analyzing emissions reductions and associated costs across 13 key sub-sectors. It emphasizes the importance of including both direct and indirect emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3) and outlines how the model considers various costs, benefits, and co-benefits from a societal perspective. Watch the NetZeroPlanner walkthrough video here.
A webinar hosted by Sean Murray, Sustainable Cities Consultant, to walk Mission Cities through NetZeroPlanner, a new tool available on the NetZeroCities Portal, designed to help cities monitor progress against defined emission targets, create roadmaps for achieving decarbonisation and use real-time data to enhance and evaluate climate strategies.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Aachen and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Greater Manchester - Powering a Greener Future and Building a Carbon-Neutral ...
Greater Manchester, home to over 2.8 million people, has set an ambitious target to become carbon-neutral by 2038. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is made up of the ten Greater Manchester city councils and mayors, who work with other local services, businesses, communities and other partners to improve the city-region.
Shaping Climate Narratives: 8 Tips for Building Trust and Driving ...
Shaping climate narratives is both an art and a science. The goal is not merely to convey information but to foster trust, inspire action, and create lasting change. To achieve this, we must address multiple facets of climate narratives - including framing, storytelling, inclusivity, and diversifying our engagement and communication pathways. This article combines insights from academic research and real-world examples to outline eight actionable strategies for building a compelling ...
In the framework of the UPPER project we held a series of Hackathons asking innovators and entrepreneurs to come up with solutions to mobility challenges raised by the cities. The Mannheim Hackathon was held on 12-13 March 2024. More information about the project here: https://www.upperprojecteu.eu/
Learn from Mission Cities and propel your city’s climate neutrality ...
Is your city ready to achieve climate neutrality ? Are you a city representative eager to drive climate action? The Cities Mission Platform, managed by NetZeroCities, offers unique opportunities for peer learning with Mission Cities and access to a wealth of online resources—all designed to support cities committed to a climate-neutral future. Start your transformative journey today by learning from the Mission Cities paving the way.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Gothenburg and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Methods to implement social innovation in projects and in cities: Phase 1 - Analyze the Context Context Map Canvas: The Context Canvas is a framework used to help understand the context. The template can map out the trends and different perspectives. This brings out drivers outside the organisation and the forces that could shape the project now and in the future. Ethnographic Fieldnotes: Ethnographic fieldnotes are a tool to organize different observations, types of analysis, emerging ...
Social Innovation for Climate Neutrality: full collection of resources, ...
On this page you can find the list of all NZC resources on social innovation for climate neutrality in cities: (1) quick read; (2) video; (3) Social Innovation Actionable Pathways map; (4) NZC Seasonal Schools resource; (5) Social Innovation Learning Club; (6) case studies; (7) methods to implement social innovation in cities; (8) Social Innovation assessment: process and outcome indicators; (9) NZC Deliverables on Social Innovation; and (10) scientific publications 1.Quick read on Social ...
The NZC impact pathways, theory of change, monitoring, evaluation and framework with indicators Quick read: https://netzerocities.app/QR-Monitoring (to be updated) Download the pdf version of the figure, with interactive links to the portal content per category Video Impact Pathways and Indicators - Presentation Slides (PDF) https://netzerocities.app/file-b5488aeff42889188d03c9895255cecc 'Impact Pathways' tell a story about how systemic transformation is expected to unfold. ...
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Vitoria Gasteiz and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Trikala and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Porto and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Münster and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Miskolc and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted in 2023 by Liepaja and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Prato and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Suceava and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Turin and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Milan and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Ljubljana and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Vitoria Gasteiz Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Vitoria Gasteiz and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Kranj and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by The Hague and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Gavle and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Eilat and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Bucharest and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Bologna and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
NetZeroPlanner is a powerful data-driven decision making tool that empowers city leaders to assess the impact of their Climate Action Plan and refine their roadmaps to ensure they meet decarbonisation goals. Using local data inputs and performance tracking, it provides evidence-based insights to make informed climate actions and investment decisions. The tool is free to access for all city users of the NetZeroCities Portal, find out more about its key functionality in the attached ...
The IN-PLAN Practice, developed under the framework of the LIFE IN-PLAN project, aims to provide municipalities, regions, and other public authorities with a comprehensive guidebook for integrating climate adaptation, mobility, and energy planning into spatial planning processes. It fosters institutionalised collaboration across different departments and stakeholders at all levels. As such, the practice is meant to: give guidance on how to utilise and integrate spatial plans to streamline ...
NetZeroCities Learning
This page summarizes the main learning programs offered by NZC Learning Map (Work in progress to systematize the learning offer of NetZeroCities) For all cities: THE NZC SYSTEMIC INNOVATION APPROACH: Impact Pathways & Monitoring [tool: Barometer] The Systemic Approach [tool: Solution Bundles] The Climate Transition Map NetZeroPlanner (Economic Model) Climate City Contracts LEVERS OF CHANGE Technical Solutions [tool: Solution Outliner] Citizen engagement ...
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Bergamo and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Dear Mission Cities, We are happy to announce that we will soon be holding another NetZeroCities Seasonal School, this time in Madrid, Spain, from 27 to 29 November, after four editions in Milan, Santander and Budapest in 2023, and Stockholm in 2024. This edition of the NZC Seasonal School is open to all cities, focusing on the implementation of the Climate City Contract (CCC). Implementation involves putting planned actions into practice, continuously evaluating ...
Policy Lab #7 Decarbonizing Industry
Wednesday, 13 November 14:00-16:00 CET (online) NZC Policy Labs are designed to empower Mission Cities’ representatives to raise their climate-related policy needs to EU decision-makers. The labs focuses on both informing participants about the latest developments in EU climate policy that have an impact on our Mission Cities’ road towards climate neutrality, and diving into valuable real-case city challenges to extract policy recommendations to advocate for the needs of our cities ...
Work of Oslo to decarbonise the construction sector
Quick Reads Index
Quick Reads are short overviews of key NetZeroCities concepts providing essential information in a practical and visual way. More comprehensive resources and additional information will be available in the knowledge repository. 01. Climate City Contracts The Cities Mission Climate City Contract (CCC) is a governance innovation tool to help cities collaboratively address their barriers to reaching climate neutrality by 2030. 02. Financing the Mission Cities will indeed need ...
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Lisbon and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
In the case of a photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) hybrid system, both heat and electricity are generated. The heat production of these panels can be used to reduce fossil fuel consumption and at the same time, satisfy the same supply of domestic hot water and space heating. The heat could also be supplied to a low-temperature district heating system to increase the contribution of renewable energy sources (RES) and avoid associated emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG). The ...
Is your city a Mission City? Find out more about how to access support from the Capital Hub in this 2-pager.
A short presentation (General 1-Pager) of everything you need to know about the Hub and how EU Missions are supporting cities to access finance.
City communications support: How can we help you?
Why is it important to communicate about your climate efforts? Municipalities may not always control GHG emissions in their city, but they still play a key role in shaping climate action. To effectively raise awareness, garner support, and inspire action from citizens, industry and other stakeholders, cities need to communicate about their climate initiatives and commitments actively. What can NZC offer you? The NetZeroCities team is committed to supporting your ...
Climate Governance in Cities - Leading Societies Towards Climate ...
In order to translate high ambitions into fair and sustainable realities, cities need to engage deeper not only in ‘what’ they are aiming for but also ‘how’ to create the needed transformative change alongside other actors. This ‘how’ is a question of governance. In this piece, we break down what climate governance is in cities, why governance is key, four modalities to use as a lens for looking at it, and how to strengthen and apply climate governance in ...
A pitching deck for Mission Cities to present and mobilise around the EU ...
This pitching deck is meant as an editable deck for Mission Cities to reuse and modify as needed to present the city’s selection as a Mission City and what this means for the near future. It is a key component of the Communication Playbook for Mission Cities. Text and figures can be directly edited in this template to adapt them to local context. Graphic elements can be reused directly in cities' own presentations too using a visual bank linked in the document.
The GreenInCities initiative, submitted under the HORIZON-MISS-2023-CLIMA-CITIES-01 program, aims to revolutionize urban planning by integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to combat climate change and enhance resilience in cities, particularly in deprived areas. In recent years, urban regeneration has focused on affluent regions, often neglecting communities facing significant environmental and social challenges. The GreenInCities proposal recognizes the urgent need to address these ...
This case study describes the national Climate City Contracts in Sweden, demonstrating effective multi-level governance for the transition to climate-neutrality in cities. It is part of a series of resources aiming to shed light on innovative multi-level governance approaches.
Local Portfolio Analysis - A test of Government Support for Urban ...
This case study investigates the initiative Local Portfolio Analysis, a starting point for coordinated funding across authorities in Sweden. It is part of a series of resources aiming to shed light on innovative multi-level governance approaches.
This case study investigates the role of the regional level in the Mission, focusing on Poland and their support to cities in achieving their climate-neutrality objectives. It is part of a series of resources aiming to shed light on innovative multi-level governance approaches.
Making EU Missions a priority in the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy ...
This case study investigates the role of the regional level in the Mission, focusing on the Region of Blekie and their work with the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy. It is part of a series of resources aiming to shed light on innovative multi-level governance approaches.
A National Platform is a multi-level, multi-stakeholder space for collaboration and innovation, established across EU Member States and Associated Countries. Its goal is to support and accelerate the transition of cities in the country towards climate neutrality.
The region as a signatory of the Climate City Contract - Region of Valencia, ...
This case study investigates the role of the regional level in the Mission, focusing on the Region of Valencia as a signatory of the Climate City Contract. It is part of a series of resources aiming to shed light on innovative multi-level governance approaches.
Call for Proposals: Enabling City Transformation (MEL) info webinar ...
Please find the recording here. The Enabling Cities Transformation Call remains open until October 14 (17:00 CEST). With just under a month until the final submission deadline, we invite you to join our final info sessions.
Please find the accompanying slides here. Call for Proposals: Enabling City Transformation: Impact Framework and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) - 24 September 2024. The Call to participate in the Enabling City Transformation Programme is open from 5 June 12:00 CEST until 14 October, 17.00 CEST.
NetZeroCities Online Discussion Groups Kick-Off - 25 September (SGA2 T1.5)
NetZeroCities Online Discussion Groups Kick-Off - 25 September (SGA2 T1.5)
Florence is illuminated by over 40,500 lampposts and 3,500 traffic lights, all of which required upgrades to meet the energy-saving targets outlined in the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (2020) and the Smart City Plan (2030-2050). The challenge was to design a solution that respected the requirements of UNESCO recognition while improving efficiency.
Vitoria-Gasteiz has launched a major car-pooling initiative to help achieve its climate neutrality aims. At the beginning of 2023, around 25,000 residents drove their own cars to industrial parks for work every day. Now, after a pilot project brought about 600 carpool trips a week, the measure will become long term.
Vitoria-Gasteiz has launched a major car-pooling initiative to help achieve its climate neutrality aims. At the beginning of 2023, around 25,000 residents drove their own cars to industrial parks for work every day. Now, after a pilot project brought about 600 carpool trips a week, the measure will become long term.
This policy brief gives some early results of the LOCALISED project that highlight the critical insights into the regional distribution of investments needed to achieve net zero emissions across Europe. For example, LOCALISED provides the first estimate of projected investment needs in individual regions and offers a solution with an innovative method for downscaling national decarbonisation plans to the local level by providing detailed, stakeholder-specific maps for all European Member States ...
This session are designed to refresh your understanding of the call and provide an opportunity to ask any practical questions regarding the process, criteria, or different sections of the application form.
Enabling City Transformation Call - Refresher on Ambition, Eligibility and ...
This session is designed to refresh your understanding of the call and provide an opportunity to ask any practical questions regarding the process, criteria, or different sections of the application form.
These sessions are designed to refresh your understanding of the call and provide an opportunity to ask any practical questions regarding the process, criteria, or different sections of the application form.
NetZeroPlanner Tutorial - The Economic Case for Decarbonisation
The document is a tutorial for using the NetZeroPlanner tool, which helps cities create an economic case for their decarbonization efforts as part of their Climate City Contracts (CCC). It outlines how the tool enables cities to assess and prioritize decarbonization projects by calculating costs, benefits, and returns on investment, including monetizing co-benefits.
hese sessions are designed to refresh your understanding of the call and provide an opportunity to ask any practical questions regarding the process, criteria, or different sections of the application form.
SNAP City As Studio canvas
Core objective: The City as Studio workshop is designed to enable city participants to creatively consider what success looks like in 2030 for their city, and what achieving this success entails in the context of thinking about the whole city as a system of systems. Working back from 2030, participants will plot key delivery and impact points, highlighting the direct and indirect benefits of successful delivery, the policy settings required to set the success on the right path, and ...
Climate and Biodiversity: synergies for Urban Transformation - A Common Ground for Collaboration between NetZeroCities and NetworkNature
On this page, you will find the collection of NetZeroCities resources on the topic of Finance: (1) videos on the training program on the investment plan; (2) The finance Guidance Tool; (3) information on Cities' Action and Investment Plans and (4) Deliverables. 7.1: Training programme and embedded tutoring on innovative finance for city officials: The video recording recordings of the module on Investment plan is provided below in 3 parts Video: NetZeroCities Capability Building ...
The EU taxonomy is a cornerstone of the EU's sustainable finance framework and an important market transparency tool. It helps direct investments to the economic activities most needed for the transition, in line with the European Green Deal objectives. This webinar will go through some of the key details of the EU taxonomy and why this is relevant in the context of the EU Cities Mission.
The EU taxonomy is a cornerstone of the EU's sustainable finance framework and an important market transparency tool. It helps direct investments to the economic activities most needed for the transition, in line with the European Green Deal objectives. This webinar will go through some of the key details of the EU taxonomy and why this is relevant in the context of the EU Cities Mission.
The EU taxonomy is a cornerstone of the EU's sustainable finance framework and an important market transparency tool. It helps direct investments to the economic activities most needed for the transition, in line with the European Green Deal objectives. This webinar will go through some of the key details of the EU taxonomy and why this is relevant in the context of the EU Cities Mission.
The EU taxonomy is a cornerstone of the EU's sustainable finance framework and an important market transparency tool. It helps direct investments to the economic activities most needed for the transition, in line with the European Green Deal objectives. This webinar will go through some of the key details of the EU taxonomy and why this is relevant in the context of the EU Cities Mission.
The EU taxonomy is a cornerstone of the EU's sustainable finance framework and an important market transparency tool. It helps direct investments to the economic activities most needed for the transition, in line with the European Green Deal objectives. This webinar will go through some of the key details of the EU taxonomy and why this is relevant in the context of the EU Cities Mission.
State-of-the art on technical solutions to achieve climate neutrality ...
On this page you can find the list of all NZC resources on technical solutions to achieve climate neutrality in cities: (1) Thematic areas for services definition; (2) Catalogue of solutions & co-benefits; (3) Expert services for deploying climate neutral city actions; and (4) Deliverables. 1. Thematic areas for servicies definition To effectively combat climate change and achieve climate neutrality, it's essential to define and implement the most advanced and ...
This guide outlines how to engage on the NetZeroCities Community of Practice online group.
Tool for Embedding Stakeholder Engagement in Urban Projects* A major challenge for cities is determining when and how to initiate stakeholder participation. Often, project teams feel they must have every detail finalized before engaging stakeholders and/or the wider public, leading to missed opportunities for meaningful collaboration. The "Infrastructuring Democracy" canvas helps cities recognize that participation can serve various purposes and methods, and it can be initiated at ...
Tool for Building Distributed Networks for Urban Transformation The Scaffolding Emergence Canvas is a tool that supports cities that aim to create a distributed network for change. It guides municipalities beyond one-off engagement, fostering a collaborative ecosystem where cities work closely with frontrunners to shape and maintain a dynamic network for urban transformation. The canvas guides participants through the Quintuple Helix, obliging them to choose to which helix any stakeholder is ...
The city’s emissions for 2019 stood at the equivalent of 352 ktCO2, a number that Ioannina has committed to reducing by 80% by 2030. Reaching these ambitious targets will require targeted initiatives informed by technical expertise. To make this possible, the Municipality of Ioannina has partnered with the Technical Chamber of Greece to create local groups consisting of engineers, municipal staff and citizens to work on the creation of climate neutral zones in the complex urban environment. ...
This document is a training material about co-benefits, including economic value of co-benefits, case examples, and a list of co-benefits for common climate action.
This document provides an overview of the NetZeroPlanner methodology and a detailed review by decarbonisation lever.
The economic model as a tool is a fundamental part of the Climate City Contracts, and it is something that has been worked with each city in a particular way, with a tailor-made approach. Why Economic Case Analysis for City Decarbonisation is crucial? Cities have a clear and fundamental role to play in addressing the climate emergency and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Many are working hard to decarbonise, but face significant challenges due to inertia in existing systems, ...
NetZeroCities impact pathways diagram pdf with active links to dedicated portal pages
Malmö’s political leadership tasked the Finance Department to investigate green bonds as a potential instrument for raising capital for investments that benefit the climate and environment. It resulted in the development of the Green Bond Framework and the issuance of their first green bonds in 2018.
Grenoble Alpes Métropole’s Citizen Convention for Climate
In 2022, Grenoble Alpes Metropolitan Area embarked on an ambitious initiative to involve its residents as key players in its climate transition. The metropolitan area, composed of 49 towns and villages and home to 450,000 inhabitants, has a strong tradition of citizen participation in public life. Consult this case study to understand their journey
The main objective of the Sun4All Capacity and Training Package is to help cities and other stakeholders to understand and address energy poverty more efficiently, ensuring fair energy transition across Europe. This document aims to ensure that Sun4All financial support scheme remains as a stable programme to tackle energy poverty and ensure vulnerable consumers participation in the energy transition in Europe. This document compiles the key information about the Sun4All approach necessary for ...
This policy brief highlights the role of national governments in fostering the development of energy communities in their territories overall, and in particular on how to support energy communities in fulfilling their potential for social cohesion. The policy brief first reviews the transposition process of the first-generation EU legislation on energy communities and key aspects of it. It then outlines the new provisions that Member states will need to adopt in the coming years as part of the ...
This short animated video explains the Sun4All solution to alleviating energy poverty, and presents the project in an accessible manner. It can be used by cities or utilities replicating the Sun4All scheme when approaching vulnerable stakeholders, implementing community work plans, and communicating on the local level.
Rzeszów Urban Innovation Lab is both a physical space and an organisation/city department which allows residents and stakeholders including local authorities, government officials, scientists, and business representatives to meet, exchange ideas, and share perspectives. It has been used by the city to facilitate conversations and promote collaboration between, with the hope of identifying topical problems and developing solutions to improve the quality of life for city inhabitants.
With the ambition of becoming a one-planet city, Guimarães needed a way to measure how many planets-worth of resources the city and its residents are consuming. This would allow for monitoring progress towards the shared vision. In collaboration with the Global Footprint Network and the University of Aveiro, the city introduced two types of ecological footprint interfaces: A research-based municipal ecological footprint (2018) and an individual ecological footprint calculator (2021).
Lisbon is an internationally acknowledged leader in participatory budgeting. The city implemented this process at a municipal scale since 2008. This allows residents to have the power to decide how a part of the municipal budget is spent by submitting and voting on project proposals.
The Cities Best Practice Series is aimed at learning from the best practices across Mission Cities. These monthly online sessions provide a platform to learn from the best on-the-ground experiences, fostering a discussion about key challenges, leaving space for questions, reflections and comparisons. Best Practices #1 - Mobilising citizens and stakeholders for action Link to video Cities: Parma, Italy (8:03) Guimaraes, Portugal (18:40) Lyon, ...
Purpose: Adapt and refine the tool to each city, to enable quantification of the economic case for decarbonization – to build the rationale for ambitious climate action, support strategy and identify priority areas as defined in the Climate City Contract.
In the sustainable transition of a city, climate solutions such as decarbonising transport and heating can provide additional value other than CO2 reductions. These co-benefits are an essential part of the total economics case for city decarbonization and support the investment case of solutions. Co-benefits also help cities prioritize and compare the value of different actions.
Cities have a clear and fundamental role to play in addressing the climate emergency and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Many are working hard to decarbonise, but face significant challenges due to inertia in existing systems, pre-existing policy environments, and limited budgets. A key obstacle is the seemingly high cost of reshaping key CO2-emitting sectors in the city, from transport, to buildings, to the power supply, as well as challenges in understanding who needs to pay ...
Climate Proofing and Climate stress-test // Climate proofing for climate ...
Proposed solutions must operate under a changing climate. Throughout their entire lifetime, these solutions will both impact and be impacted by the environment through various feedback loops. Climate risks need to be reduced to acceptable levels through enduring changes that are environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially acceptable. In this context, ensuring performance with a long-term perspective involves evaluating functionality in relation to ...
Bordeaux's Réseau Vélo Express or 'ReVE,' is the express bike network. Extended by 60% from the existing cycle network, it involves an additional 250km of bike paths with 14 dedicated routes planned. The ReVE aims to encourage shifts from private cars to cycling.
Helsingborg increased its cycling rate for school commutes by creating a school-focused digital platform and using behavioural science and nudging techniques.
The Climate Assembly was designed to get proposals for the City Government on how to make Tartu’s streets safer and healthier, reduce traffic-related noise and air pollution in the urban space, and shape a more climate-friendly future.
The Climate Assembly was designed to get proposals for the City Government on how to make Tartu’s streets safer and healthier, reduce traffic-related noise and air pollution in the urban space, and shape a more climate-friendly future.
The Climate Assembly was designed to get proposals for the City Government on how to make Tartu’s streets safer and healthier, reduce traffic-related noise and air pollution in the urban space, and shape a more climate-friendly future.
The necessity for urban transformation towards a circular economy (CE) system is becoming more evident as urban population and waste generation are increasing. To face this challenge of decoupling the economy from natural resources extraction, the cities need to adhere to several programs and strategies established by national, regional and municipal levels such as CE Action Plans. Local policy makers can make public local commitment to tax and regulatory reforms, or promote legislation ...
Citizens' Climate Assembly in Barcelona
The Citizens' Climate Assembly in Barcelona, Spain is a deliberative process of 100 people chosen by lottery between the ages of 16 and 75 to discuss the climate emergency situation in the city and they defined actions and solutions to improve it.
URBACT
Author: European Regional Development Fund Category: Technical Programme / Co-finance Facility Published/Created by: European Regional Development Fund Link: https://urbact.eu/ URBACT is a European exchange and learning programme promoting sustainable urban development. It is one of the EU funding programmes solely dedicated to cities. The main goal of the programme is to increase the capacity of cities and support the exploitation of good practices thanks to the use of ...
The aim of this CCC Info Session was to help cities be ready for Window 4 submission. Colleagues from the Joint Research Council (JRC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) joined to share their "top tips" to ensure cities' submissions are as complete as possible.
The aim of this CCC Info Session was to help cities be ready for Window 4 submission. Colleagues from the Joint Research Council (JRC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) joined to share their "top tips" to ensure cities' submissions are as complete as possible.
The aim of this CCC Info Session was to help cities be ready for Window 4 submission. Colleagues from the Joint Research Council (JRC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) joined to share their "top tips" to ensure cities' submissions are as complete as possible.
The aim of this CCC Info Session was to help cities be ready for Window 4 submission. Colleagues from the Joint Research Council (JRC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) joined to share their "top tips" to ensure cities' submissions are as complete as possible.
The aim of this CCC Info Session was to help cities be ready for Window 4 submission. Colleagues from the Joint Research Council (JRC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) joined to share their "top tips" to ensure cities' submissions are as complete as possible.
The aim of this CCC Info Session was to help cities be ready for Window 4 submission. Colleagues from the Joint Research Council (JRC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) joined to share their "top tips" to ensure cities' submissions are as complete as possible.
The aim of this CCC Info Session was to help cities be ready for Window 4 submission. Colleagues from the Joint Research Council (JRC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) joined to share their "top tips" to ensure cities' submissions are as complete as possible.
Deep dive into the CCC drafting and submission process, with facilitated breakout sessions on the Commitments, Action plan and Investment plan by thematic area.
Deep dive into the CCC drafting and submission process, with facilitated breakout sessions on the Commitments, Action plan and Investment plan by thematic area.
Deep dive into the CCC drafting and submission process, with facilitated breakout sessions on the Commitments, Action plan and Investment plan by thematic area.
Deep dive into the CCC drafting and submission process, with facilitated breakout sessions on the Commitments, Action plan and Investment plan by thematic area.
The aim of this CCC Info Session was to help cities be ready for Window 4 submission. Colleagues from the Joint Research Council (JRC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) joined to share their "top tips" to ensure cities' submissions are as complete as possible.
The aim of this CCC Info Session was to help cities be ready for Window 4 submission. Colleagues from the Joint Research Council (JRC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) joined to share their "top tips" to ensure cities' submissions are as complete as possible.
The aim of this CCC Info Session was to help cities be ready for Window 4 submission. Colleagues from the Joint Research Council (JRC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) joined to share their "top tips" to ensure cities' submissions are as complete as possible.
• Passenger transport levers • Freight transport levers • Buildings & heating levers • Electricity levers • Waste levers • Appendix: Lever sensitivities • Appendix: Model Updates & Improvements
The economic case is the foundation of a city’s decarbonization strategic plan as documented in the Climate City Contract (CCC). The NZC Economic Model is a tool that supports a process for creation of the economic case. Through the process, cities validate and improve upon their Climate Action Plans and Investment Plans for inclusion in the CCC.
CCC Highlights - A Diverse Ecosystem of Supporters
The CCC Highlights provide thematic information extracted from labelled Climate City Contracts. These CCC Highlights delve into the diversity of actors that signed the Commitments Document of the first cohort of labelled cities.
Valladolid has been at the forefront of climate action initiatives, and in recognition of these efforts, it was one of the first cities to be awarded the Mission Label by the European Commission. A key element of the city's success in promoting climate neutrality has been the development of communication and engagement campaigns in collaboration with the local football team, Real Valladolid.
Pop-up Återbruk is a temporary reciclying service provided by Stockholm Vatten och Avfall. From April to November, two metal sheet containers move around all neighbourhoods of Stockholm offering two main services: the collection of small objects to recycle and a second hand shop where citizens can buy things collected on the same containers
Since 2018, Dubrovnik has implemented a participatory budgeting project, allowing residents to directly influence the allocation of public funds to community projects. This initiative aims to enhance civic participation, improve local infrastructure, and foster a sense of community ownership.
Join NetZeroCities User Panels! The project of NetZeroCities wants to empower cities with the essential tools, resources, and knowledge to combat the climate crisis and build sustainable urban environments for everyone. We are thrilled to invite you to participate in NetZeroCities User Panels. These interactive virtual meetings are designed to bring together cities in order to understand users and refine various aspects of the NetZeroCities portal, services and processes. For ...
Solution Bundles Handbook
The NZC Solution Bundles is a tool to inspire and show in a diagram how the technologies and levers can be combined together to implement solutions. It provides an interactive visualisation of city systems. Here you can have access to the tool. There will be a City Panel to validate the tool on April 30. If you want to particiapte, join us in the Group NetZeroCities City Practitioner Panel! Together, let's shape the future of our cities!
Espoo is collaborating to ensure waste heat can be captured from its data centres and fed into its district heating supply.
Launched in 2021, VeniSIA, the Venice Sustainability Innovation Accelerator, aims to develop and scale business ideas and technological solutions to address environmental, social, and economic challenges in Venice and beyond.
The Boot Camp is part of the NetZeroCities Pilot Cities Programme
A co-creation model is a toolkit for developing sustainable and smart urban areas. It describes a general model for urban co-creation, considering the conditions and different starting points. The model originates from the SPARCS project in which ideas and co-creation practices, its potential and constraints were initially tested in the City of Espoo’s Kera region in Finland. The objective of SPARCS was to create a network of sustainable, energy-positive and carbon-free communities.
Turku's Climate Team is a network aimed at companies and communities in the Turku region. It aims to make the fight against climate change visible, effective and communal. The Climate Team started as campaign-based activity in 2018 and got more formalised network structure in few years. It shares information about climate work and organizes regular events. In 2024, there are more than 130 local operators from various fields. The Climate Team's captain is a Finnish ex-hockey player Saku Koivu. ...
Support Needs Assessment (SNAP) Playbook
This Playbook draws together the methodologies co-designed and developed by NetZeroCities Climate Neutral Cities Advisors, with wider support from specialists under NetZeroCities Platform to help cities navigate their journey towards climate neutrality. By using the Playbook, cities will be able to better: Align city teams towards a common goal for climate neutrality; Enable city teams to navigate the core concepts and tools of NetZeroCities and the broader Mission for 100 Smart and ...
SNAP Horizon Mapping canvas
Core objective: The Horizon Mapping exercise is a way to gather a bird’s eye view of everything that is going on in a city in the immediate, near-term and longer-term that has the potential to impact upon the city’s climate journey – and to quickly identify the shared opportunities and barriers, as well as the most salient gaps in the city’s approach. Sometimes, the surprises in this workshop are found in strange places – the elements on the horizon that might ...
SNAP Building a Transition Team canvas
Core objective: To enable city teams to consider the skills, capabilities and resources required in order to deliver the transition to climate neutrality, and how these might be sourced/shaped in the context of a range of different governance models. The workshop will explore governance options to identify which reflect local conditions/cultures and ways of working, and how to approach current gaps in governance/resourcing. There are two options here for this workshop – each with a ...
SNAP Exploring uncertainty canvas
Core objective: This workshop will explore the key strategic risks and uncertainties to the city in its journey to climate neutrality and what approaches and levers are available to meet these. The workshop will focus on the known uncertainties and risks. What the workshop will deliver A clear understanding of the strategic uncertainties inherent for the city in the programme; A demonstration of the systemic nature of the impacts of addressing uncertainties and risks as they emerge (for ...
Core objective: To help city participants determine which stakeholders have the potential to have the greatest impact on GHG reductions, and which stakeholders have the potential to have the most influence on others in relation to GHG reductions. This workshop will deliver A clear understanding of the top ten stakeholders across the city’s emissions profile with the greatest contributions to those emissions A way to strategically estimate the relevant influence of those top emitters ...
Core objective: This workshop helps the city team to explore thinking around financing the transition, including known sources of finance and potential next steps for financing and partnerships. This workshop will deliver An exploration of the potential municipal sources of funding for decarbonisation An overview of existing mechanisms the city has to stimulate private investment towards decarbonisation An understanding of the city’s internal capacity to develop and implement ...
On this page you can find the list of all NZC resources on citizen and urban stakeholder participation: 1) Quick-read, 2) Video, 3) An Introduction to the Need for a Participative Transition: Why It Matters and How It Can Be Done 4) Services & Tools, 5) Case Studies & Methods, 6) NZC Deliverables on citizen and urban stakeholder participation 1) Quick-read: https://netzerocities.app/QR-Citizen&Urban 2) Video: ...
On this page you can find the list of all NZC resources on systemic innovation for climate neutrality in cities. QUICK READ LEADING COLLABORATIVE SYSTEMS CHANGE FOR CLIMATE-NEUTRALITY Quick Reads are short overviews of key NetZeroCities concepts providing essential information in a practical and visual way. More comprehensive resources and additional information will be available in the knowledge repository. YouTube video Using Systemic Innovation to Radically Reduce ...
NZC Policy Brief - Nature-Based Solutions
This policy brief presents policy recommendations on nature-based solutions formulated by cities participating in the EU Cities Mission (Mission Cities) for EU decision-makers and European national authorities. These recommendations have arisen from discussions among seven Mission Cities during the Nature-Based Solutions Policy Lab, facilitated by NetZeroCities.
This policy brief presents policy recommendations on finance and investment formulated by cities participating in the EU Cities Mission (Mission Cities) for EU decision-makers and European national authorities. These recommendations have arisen from discussions among 13 Mission Cities during the Finance & Investment Policy Lab, facilitated by NetZeroCities.
The CCC Highlights provide thematic information extracted from labelled Climate City Contracts. These CCC Highlights delve into the climate commitments and the barriers to achieving the climate neutrality goals of the first cohort of labelled cities.
The 112 Mission Cities of the 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission have been leading the charge on climate-neutrality for 2 years already. As of June 2024, 56 cities have created a Climate City Contract (CCC) and 33 cities received a Mission Label from the European Commission, gaining access to the new Mission Cities Capital Hub for funding opportunities. NetZeroCities follows Mission Cities in their journey and met with city representatives to learn from their ...
Enabling City Transformation Info session: Eligibility and Assessment Criteria (19.06.2024), please find the accompanying recording here.
Enabling City Transformation - Info session: Ambition, ...
Enabling City Transformation - Info session: Ambition, Approach & System and technical information, please find the accompanying recording here.
Info session regarding the call "Enabling City Transformation"
EU Policy framework
The policy framework provides an overview of the EU level policies that are most relevant to achieving climate neutrality in cities by 2030. The policy framework provides an overview of both regulatory and policy/strategy documents issued at EU level. It includes regulations which are currently in effect, as well as those which have been proposed by the Commission. It includes the policy and strategy documents produced by the Commission most relevant to urban climate neutrality, ...
Launched in 2012 by the Municipality of Turin, Torino Social Innovation fosters social innovation and entrepreneurship by bringing together over 40 public and private organisations to support sustainable business projects addressing societal needs in education, sustainability, employment, mobility, health, and inclusion. TSI is the first attempt to adopt a territorial and systemic approach to developing social innovation policies in Italy.
Intended for Cities part of the Pilot City Programme - Cohort 1
Intended for Cities part of the Pilot City Programme - Cohort 1
Info-session connected to the Call for Proposals: Enabling City Transformation.
Vantaa: towards climate neutrality - NEUTRALPATH city profile
NEUTRALPATH has produced a series of case studies to showcase the ambitious goals set by cities to achieve climate neutrality and provide a more sustainable future for their citizens. At the local level, Positive and Clean Energy Districts (PCEDs) are playing a key role in the energy transition and contributing to the achievement of the zero emissions targets.
Ghent: towards climate neutrality - NEUTRALPATH city profile
NEUTRALPATH has produced a series of case studies to showcase the ambitious goals set by cities to achieve climate neutrality and provide a more sustainable future for their citizens. At the local level, Positive and Clean Energy Districts (PCEDs) are playing a key role in the energy transition and contributing to the achievement of the zero emissions targets.
Zaragoza: towards climate neutrality - NEUTRALPATH city profile
NEUTRALPATH has produced a series of case studies to showcase the ambitious goals set by cities to achieve climate neutrality and provide a more sustainable future for their citizens. At the local level, Positive and Clean Energy Districts (PCEDs) are playing a key role in the energy transition and contributing to the achievement of the zero emissions targets.
Istanbul: towards climate neutrality - NEUTRALPATH city profile
NEUTRALPATH has produced a series of case studies to showcase the ambitious goals set by cities to achieve climate neutrality and provide a more sustainable future for their citizens. At the local level, Positive and Clean Energy Districts (PCEDs) are playing a key role in the energy transition and contributing to the achievement of the zero emissions targets.
Dresden: towards climate neutrality - NEUTRALPATH city profile
NEUTRALPATH has produced a series of case studies to showcase the ambitious goals set by cities to achieve climate neutrality and provide a more sustainable future for their citizens. At the local level, Positive and Clean Energy Districts (PCEDs) are playing a key role in the energy transition and contributing to the achievement of the zero emissions targets.
CCC - 2030 Climate Neutrality Action Plan (template)
LAST UPDATE JUNE 2024 This template provides a clear and instructive structure for the 2030 Climate Neutrality Action Plan to be created as one of the three parts to the Climate City Contracts, alongside the commitment document and the investment plan. The template follows a modular approach for cities to fill in section by section in an iterative process. The information collected via this template will serve as a basis for the CCC evaluation process to obtain the Mission Label.
This Factsheet provides an overview of the Autonomous Network and Traffic Management Engine (ANTME) Platform and its main components developed in the EU-funded FRONTIER project.
The video presents the ANTME Platform developed in the EU-funded FRONTIER project and the results of its demonstrations in three European pilot sites: - TEN-T CORRIDOR – Oxfordshire, UK, - ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY – Athens, Greece and - ANTWERP PORT – Antwerp, Belgium. Known as the Autonomous Network and Traffic Management Engine (ANTME), the smart collaborative platform is revolutionising traffic control by addressing traffic incidents – such as roadworks or collisions – across ...
Sveta Nedelja, Croatia, launched an online transparency platform to enhance citizen engagement and accountability. It centralizes municipal information, promoting transparency and participatory governance, and includes data on environmental efforts. Despite digital literacy challenges, it sets a model for modern governance through technology and communication.
This session includes the presentation of 3-4 cities that obtained the mission label after submitting their CCC in Window 2. During the session, cities share part of their process elaborating the CCC and how they used it to accelerate their city's transition.
LAST UPDATE 18 DECEMBER 2023 The Investment Plan template is designed to give cities’ administration a reference structure for the development of the Investment Plan. This will include potential constituent parts, such as tables and textual elements. This document is designed to adapt to cities’ needs and goals, maintaining a certain level of flexibility and adaptability to the way individual administrations operate. This document is accompanied by an IP guidance, which will ...
Energy Renaissance kicked off in 2021. The city established a team of energy specialists providing free, impartial advice to housing companies, promoting energy-efficient renovations.
Launched in 2021, Renolution is a comprehensive approach to decarbonising the region’s buildings while improving living standards and promoting a circular economy in renovations. The strategy includes a combination of regulatory measures, financial incentives, and broad-based stakeholder engagement. It also merges previously separate city initiatives for sharing the same goal.
Launched in 2021, Renolution is a comprehensive approach to decarbonising the region’s buildings while improving living standards and promoting a circular economy in renovations. The strategy includes a combination of regulatory measures, financial incentives, and broad-based stakeholder engagement. It also merges previously separate city initiatives for sharing the same goal.
Launched in 2021, Renolution is a comprehensive approach to decarbonising the region’s buildings while improving living standards and promoting a circular economy in renovations. The strategy includes a combination of regulatory measures, financial incentives, and broad-based stakeholder engagement. It also merges previously separate city initiatives for sharing the same goal.
Launched in 2021, Renolution is a comprehensive approach to decarbonising the region’s buildings while improving living standards and promoting a circular economy in renovations. The strategy includes a combination of regulatory measures, financial incentives, and broad-based stakeholder engagement. It also merges previously separate city initiatives for sharing the same goal.
Launched in 2021, Renolution is a comprehensive approach to decarbonising the region’s buildings while improving living standards and promoting a circular economy in renovations. The strategy includes a combination of regulatory measures, financial incentives, and broad-based stakeholder engagement. It also merges previously separate city initiatives for sharing the same goal.
Launched in 2021, Renolution is a comprehensive approach to decarbonising the region’s buildings while improving living standards and promoting a circular economy in renovations. The strategy includes a combination of regulatory measures, financial incentives, and broad-based stakeholder engagement. It also merges previously separate city initiatives for sharing the same goal.
Launched in 2021, Renolution is a comprehensive approach to decarbonising the region’s buildings while improving living standards and promoting a circular economy in renovations. The strategy includes a combination of regulatory measures, financial incentives, and broad-based stakeholder engagement. It also merges previously separate city initiatives for sharing the same goal.
This Policy Lab opens a space for exploring different policy scenarios and strategies to tackle city-level challenges in the field of Energy Communities at EU level. Antwerp, Guimarães and Rome will be the challenge owners, presenting their case studies to the other mission cities, namely : * Antwerp: How can the EU ensure that local authorities can become pioneers in more equitable energy redistribution? * Guimarães: How can Guimarães effectively introduce the consumption of renewable ...
The NetworkNature Tasks Forces (TFs) Cluster Meeting took place virtually on March the 20th, 2024, gathering the members of the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Task Forces and focusing on the topic of standardisation. After the opening remarks from Piret Noukas (European Commission, REA) and Bettina Wilk (ICLEI), the key outcomes of each TF were presented. The NbS co-creation tool, currently under development, was introduced for the first time by Sean Bradley (Groundwork London), as the main ...
These are seven services and resources you can use to more effectively engage and involve citizens and stakeholders in your climate transition. These services are developed by experts in the fields of citizen participation and stakeholder engagement. They can be used on your own, with your transition team, or with support from an expert facilitator. An Introduction to the Need for a Participative Transition: Why It Matters and How It Can Be Done Democratic decision-making and ...
Social innovation case study of positive energy districts in Norway
Madrid Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Madrid and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Mannheim Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Mannheim and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Cluj Napoca Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Cluj Napuca and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Klagenfurt Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Klagenfurt and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Sonderborg Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Sonderborg and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Valencia Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Valencia and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Valladolid Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted in 2023 by Valladolid and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Stockholm Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted in 2023 by Stockholm and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Zaragoza Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted in 2023 by Zaragoza and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Barcelona Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Barcelona and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Espoo Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Espoo and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Florence Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Florence and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Guimaraes Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Guimaraes and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Heidelberg Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted in 2023 by Stockholm and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Izmir Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Izmir and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Kalamata Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Kalamata and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Kozani Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Kozani and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Lahti Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Lahti and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Leuven Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Leuven and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Parma Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Parma and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Malmö Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Malmö and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Tampere Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan were submitted by Tampere and endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Thessaloniki Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Thessaloniki and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Ioannina Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Ioannina and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Limassol Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Limassol and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Lappeenranta Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Lappeenranta and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Lyon Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Lyon and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Seville Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Seville and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
Turku Climate City Contract
This Climate City Contract and Action Plan was submitted by Turku and was endorsed by the European Commission resulting in the city being awarded the Mission Label.
The Green Living Room is a nature-based solution that can be applied to various urban situations. It offers multiple benefits for the urban environment in terms of climate action, public space improvement and nature awareness. In Ludwigsburg it was applied as a multifunctional structure that contributes to addressing urban. environmental and societal challenges. The Green Living-Room helps regulate the urban heat island effect by evapotranspiration of leaves and shading, promotes urban ...
Stuttgart, Germany lies in a natural depression. Like other big cities with manufacturing industries, a high volume of traffic and a population density, Stuttgart had to find ways of coping with the heat island effect and poor air quality. To overcome these challenges, it is implementing a natural green belt strategy to create pathways for winds to sweep down from the hills to ventilate the city.
The Green Roof Strategy of Hamburg, Germany was initiated in 2014, making Hamburg the first major German city to launch a comprehensive green roof strategy. Its goal is to green at least 70 per cent of both new buildings and suitable flat or gently pitched roofs undergoing renovation. The Ministry for Environment, Climate, Energy, and Agriculture supports the project with EUR 3 million until the end of 2024. The strategy is based on four pillars: promotion, dialogue, policy and research. Green ...
The green noise barrier by the Municipality of Sachsenheim Germany, in collaboration with the company Helix PflanzenSysteme, was initiated in 2014 with the aim of delivering a certified instant green noise barrier. The idea was to create a noise barrier that improved noise mitigation while offering other benefits such as managing rainwater flow-off, promoting biodiversity including nesting opportunities and overall an aesthetic structure.
This NetworkNature design brief series presents simple design suggestions for renaturing in built environments to restore or provide habitat for nature. It is not meant to replace professional ecological or landscape guidance, but rather to encourage designers to intentionally consider how they can adopt an interdisciplinary approach to make projects more biodiverse. Specifically, it encourages professionals to adapt to and achieve biodiversity-positive design in urban areas via nature-based ...
The Handbook provides practitioners with a comprehensive NbS impact assessment framework, and a robust set of indicators and methodologies to assess the impacts of NBS across 12 societal challenges. In the appendix of methods, there are factsheets for all indicators on how to assess and monitor them.
CO-IMPACT tool: create an impact assessment plan for your nature-based ...
CO-IMPACT is a decision-support tool allowing city officers and cities to create impact assessment plans for the nature-based solutions projects. The tool aims to make the process of building a baseline and impact assessment plan straightforward and simple for anyone who wishes to do so, with the final report providing advice around suitable methodologies based on scale and project characteristics. Test the tool at https://connectingnature.eu/co-impact-tool. CO-IMPACT guides you step by ...
Urban Greening Plans articulate, formalise and showcase a city’s commitment to promoting biodiversity and urban greening. This guidance document sets out the background, rationale and key elements needed to produce and successfully implement an Urban Greening Plan. It is accompanied by a toolkit that goes into more detail on each step and gives links to relevant tools, initiatives and good practice examples.
This webinar covers : 00:08:18 Getting to know each other over afternoon tea/coffee 00:11:09 Practicalities of the PCP and Bootcamp - FAQs and Q&A 00:35:43 Lightning Talks #1: Embedding a just transition perspective across your Mission activities 00:57:29 Lightning Talk #2: The everyday politics of behaviour change 01:07:15 Group conversation 01:20:30 Final comments and run through of Berlin programme
This deliverable D2.5 presents a concise view of what cities require for reporting GHG emissions towards their climate neutrality goals within NetZeroCities. The report outlines the definition of climate neutrality under the mission, what information falls under each category and how cities can move towards a comprehensive GHG inventory accounting for their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Along with D2.6, D2.7 and D2.8, D2.5 presents a set of indicators that the cities can use within the ...
Crowdfunding and citizen financing has been used as an innovative source of finance to engage citizens, business and municipalities as a part of the transition to climate neutrality. This webinar go through the function of the product, how it can be structured and deployed to raise capital for projects as well as case studies showing its effective implementation.
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed two tools that can assist your city in its air quality monitoring and modeling efforts: SHERPA and My Air Quality. These tools can enable exploring reduction scenarios and their impact on pollution concentration levels, providing crucial insights for informed decision-making. The demo provided an in-depth overview of the functionalities and demonstrate how they can be integrated into your city’s planning processes.
Short informational flyer regarding the EU Sparks for Climate Hackathon Championship and correlated dates. Find more information here: https://eusparks.eu/
European Commission Feedback to Mission Label Cities - January ...
This presentation consist of a summary of the European Commission's feedback to cities awarded the Mission Label for their Climate City Contracts (CCC). The event recording can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHJImw3H5Dc.
European Commission Feedback to Mission Label Cities - May 2024
This video provides a summary of the European Commission's feedback to cities awarded the Mission Label for their Climate City Contracts (CCC).
CCC Learnings - EC feedback on CCC Mission Label Cities - April 2024
This presentation pulls together key learnings from EC feedback: - General observations about the EC assessment - The structure of the assessment - Key findings: areas of interest, most commonly addressed issues
This info session provided participants with key call guidelines for the Twinning Learning Programme Call.
The monitoring system is a time measuring tool aimed at monitoring, in the long term, the impact of the energy system. Thanks to the monitoring system it is possible to check the energy and environmental performance of the system collecting data such as water temperatures, water flow rates and energy consumptions. It allows also to verify the comfort conditions inside the building monitoring the inside air temperature. Monitoring system architecture, where: 1=equipment; 2=data logger; ...
This webinar aims to improve city understanding of carbon credits and how they work as a part of projects. Many cities are looking at how to tackle residual emissions and how carbon credits can be used, valued and counted to support climate neutrality investment and as a project revenue to enhance profitability.
This webinar aims to improve city understanding of carbon credits and how they work as a part of projects. Many cities are looking at how to tackle residual emissions and how carbon credits can be used, valued and counted to support climate neutrality investment and as a project revenue to enhance profitability.
The 'Mobility as a Right' concept is one of the pillars of the project, and this first online Workshop was planned specifically for the UPPER Consortium. The workshop's aim, organized by ICLEI and Eurocities, was to dive deeply into the concept and discuss the application in practice with all our cities and horizontal partners. A great opportunity to learn about the “Mind the Gap” initiative in Oslo launched in 2021 (presented by Ruter) as well as the precious experience from the ...
This session focuses on Energy efficient retrofitting of buildings, exploring transformative potential and innovative approaches from mission cities. Learn how it reduces environmental impact, improves comfort, lowers costs, and fosters resilience. Join us to gain insights for your sustainable initiatives.
This session focuses on Energy efficient retrofitting of buildings, exploring transformative potential and innovative approaches from mission cities. Learn how it reduces environmental impact, improves comfort, lowers costs, and fosters resilience. Join us to gain insights for your sustainable initiatives.
Compilation of short policy briefs fostering Nature-based Solutions for equitable, green and healthy urban transitions produced by EU-funded project REGREEN (Horizon 2020)
The second online Policy Lab will focus on Finance and Investment, with the Mission Cities of Valladolid, The Hague and Leuven presenting their challenges. This Policy Lab opens a space for exploring different policy scenarios and strategies to tackle city-level challenges in the field of Finance and Investment at EU level.
This open access book presents a catalogue of over one thousand indicators which can be used by cities' public administrators to monitor and evaluate social innovation action plans to support people-centred, collaborative or co-designed solutions to lower carbon emissions. Indicators are clustered according to a framework of social innovation solutions for climate neutrality at city level, developed by merging top-down academic knowledge with bottom-up pragmatic case studies. There is currently ...
This scientific study, published on the journal "Climate" provides bottom-up evidence of NZC Pilot cities’ (cohort 1 and 2) selection of non-GHG indicators through different levers of change, including participatory governance and social innovation, for assessing progress and the co-benefits of actions toward climate neutrality taken at the urban level. The resulting list of indicators, classified according to the SDGs, provides evidence of cities’ priorities and can be utilised by ...
The video covers: - timelines and requirements - periodic technical and financial report templates and required attachments
While answering the "City Needs and Pathways towards Climate Neutrality Needs assessment survey for cities", you might want to share the survey questions with different colleagues internally to collect the information. You can use this editable document to collect all the answers before submitting them online through EUSurvey.
This webinar is part of a new webinar series, as part of our embedded tutoring on finance and investment, to provide insights on different sources of capital that can be utilised to help execute on your CCC and finance projects in the Investment Plan. Each session in the series will go through the detail of one financial product or vehicle with the aim of providing an understanding of how they can be deployed, and also provide a route for discussion with financial teams in the city. This ...
This webinar is part of a new webinar series, as part of our embedded tutoring on finance and investment, to provide insights on different sources of capital that can be utilised to help execute on your CCC and finance projects in the Investment Plan. Each session in the series will go through the detail of one financial product or vehicle with the aim of providing an understanding of how they can be deployed, and also provide a route for discussion with financial teams in the city. This ...
The city of Pécs, located in the South-Western part of Hungary, has been firmly committed to a climate policy, driven by a clear sense of purpose. In Pécs, which has almost 140 000 inhabitants and is the fifth largest city in the country, the two largest emitting sectors are buildings and transport, including private transport.
The city of Lund, in southern Sweden,has adopted critical measures in its heating system, as part of their efforts to achieve climate neutrality.
Climate change is a global challenge, and the Brazilian Amazon Forest is a particular concern due to the possibility of reaching a tipping point that could amplify environmental crises. Despite many studies on the Amazon Forest, this research was conducted in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, to address five gaps, including the lack of local citizen consultation on urban environmental issues, Smart Cities, decarbonization, and disruptive technologies. This study holds significance for the ...
The Cities Best Practice Series is aimed at learning from the best practices across Mission Cities! These monthly online sessions provide a platform to learn from the best on-the-ground experiences, fostering a discussion about key challenges, leaving space for questions, reflections and comparisons. The second session is dedicated to "Urban Mobility and Transport Innovative Solutions”. It highlights 4-5 Mission Cities who have developed innovative and impactful approaches to transport and ...
NZC SOLUTION OUTLINER / Identify and prioritize decarbonization solutions for your city The NZC SOLUTIONS OUTLINER is a tool developed to support the Mission Cities in getting the most ALIGNED SET OF SOLUTIONS that could contribute to their transition towards neutrality. The service uses contextual parameters such as ambition, barriers, enablers, and co-benefits to automatically present a LIST OF PRIORITIZED SOLUTIONS, from which the user can get more information.
El Dia Después - Sustainable Development Multi-stakeholder ...
El Día Después (EDD) is a multi-stakeholder platform for networks to address the sustainable development goals, specifically SDG 17. There are four communities within this project: environment & health, cooperation & global governance, city transformation, and inequality & new economic model. Within these groups are experts and professionals from the field who collaborate to create different services towards change. Through these collectives, lessons can be drawn from ...
Elektrizitätswerke Schönau (EWS) Citizen Led Green Energy
In the aftermath of Chernobyl, a handful of committed citizens decided to become active together in their community in the Black Forest and create a nuclear- and coal-free energy supply belonging to citizens. Today the EWS supplies people throughout Germany with green power and eco-gas and works in various ways towards bringing about the energy revolution.
EVA Maakt Het Plantaardings - Plant-based Diet Initiative
EVA is a bottom-up initiative that promotes plant-based diets through cooking workshops & awareness. EVA believes that, on average, plant-based products have the greatest overall positive impact on the well-being of people, animals and the planet. Working on a larger scale with restaurants, hospitals and schools through guidance at institutional kitchens will have a large-scale impact.
Play!UC - Playing with Urban Complexity - Serious Games
Play!UC is an initiative that developed a series of serious games and following participatory processes to raise awareness and deal with the individual carbon footprint of young adults. The term ‘serious games’ can describe all kinds of physical or digital games that are developed and played not only for entertainment, but have a functional scope as well like education, training or exploration. Different games like a strategy board game that requires players to build an energy ...
NZC SOLUTION OUTLINER / Identify and prioritize decarbonization solutions for your city The NZC SOLUTIONS OUTLINER is a tool developed to support the Mission Cities in getting the most ALIGNED SET OF SOLUTIONS that could contribute to their transition towards neutrality. The service uses contextual parameters such as ambition, barriers, enablers, and co-benefits to automatically present a LIST OF PRIORITIZED SOLUTIONS, from which the user can get more information.
Electrification of Heating in the Textile Industry
A comprehensive resource on the potential for decarbonising the textile and apparel industry through electrification of process heating. It details the sector's significant contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions and explores the opportunities for reducing this footprint by transitioning from fossil fuel-based thermal energy to efficient, clean electrified processes. The report analyzes four electrification technology pathways for the textile industry—industrial heat pumps, ...
Pioneering District Heating Solutions in Lund
In the city of Lund, in southern Sweden, a remarkable transformation towards climate neutrality has been unfolding. With a population close to 120 000 inhabitants, Lund has embarked on the ambitious mission of reducing its carbon footprint and pave the way for a sustainable future. In 2010, Lund took a significant step by committing to become a climate-neutral and fossil fuel-free city by 2030. The city's sustainability policy outlines ambitious targets, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas ...
This article by the OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI) interviewed pioneers in this field of innovation portfolios in various organisational contexts. Those interviewed include various city-level organisations (city of Helsingborg, Chicago, Lund), regional or national-level (10X investments in the US, Mexiro in Mexico) and those operating internationally (Democratic Society, EIT Climate KIC). They conducted a series of interviews with these organisations to ask them for ...
The Indicator Framework describes a set of indicators for monitoring the impact of Climate City Contracts (CCC) in terms of: 1) Required Indicators: Direct Benefits – Impact on GHG emissions. and 2) Recommended Indicators: Co Benefits/ Co Risks – Indirect impact. Required Indicators represent an integral part of the CCC process. In addition, cities are encouraged to make use of a selection of recommended indicators most applicable to their local climate neutrality target and ...
This is a PDF version of the Ecosystem Activation Tools. You can find the digital version here: Engagement Strategy Tools What are the Ecosystem Activation Tools? The Ecosystem Activation Tools are a set of resources which can be used to identify where to start when it comes to engaging the citizens and urban stakeholders in your city. The tools offer an opportunity to diagnose your most pressing citizen and stakeholder engagement needs. They also offers ways to find and pair ...
CCC Document Completeness and Coherence Checklist
The Climate City Contract (CCC) is the result of a collaborative process aimed at systemically integrating and accelerating action across all sectors and at all governance levels to help your city reach climate neutrality by 2030. The outcome of this process is captured in the CCC document. This CCC Document Completeness Checklist (Checklist) has been created to communicate the key elements to include in your CCC document and help you track your progress. The Checklist is a part of the CCC ...
This webinar covers Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and City Funds (1) what SPVs and City funds are and the ways in which they can be used (2) how these can be structured for your projects (3) sources of capital that can be used to capitalise them.
One-page, plain-English summaries on aspects of transport planning from robust peer-reviewed studies, released fortnightly by Prof Adrian Davis of Edinburgh Napier University’s Transport Research Institute. We aim to improve public policymaking and practice by making robust academic evidence freely accessible to local government transport authorities, advocacy groups, and public health practitioners working across Scotland and beyond. Our concise, de-jargonised summaries address a range ...
The Indicator Framework describes a set of indicators for monitoring the impact of Climate City Contracts (CCC) in terms of: 1) Required Indicators: Direct Benefits – Impact on GHG emissions. and 2) Recommended Indicators: Co Benefits/ Co Risks – Indirect impact. Required Indicators represent an integral part of the CCC process. In addition, cities are encouraged to make use of a selection of recommended indicators most applicable to their local climate neutrality target and ...
This session allowed Mission Cities to get a demo of the CCC Space on the Portal and an overview of the updated completeness checklist.
This session allowed Mission Cities to get a demo of the CCC Space on the Portal and an overview of the updated completeness checklist.
Crowdfunding as a Tool to Raise Capital
Crowdfunding is a type of crowd investing that collects funding from a “crowd” of retail investors, usually via an online platform. Unlike crowd-donation, crowdfunding or -investing collects funds from retail investors who can expect a return on their investment. Hence, it is a type of loan product, where interest needs to be paid. Thus, it is based on lending or reward-based models and investors can freely pledge their capital to projects they wish to support. In principle any ...
Public Private Partnerships - (PPP)
Partnerships between a government body and a private sector party whereby the private sector provides infrastructure or services that have traditionally been delivered by the public sector are termed as Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). PPPs come in different forms. A few of them are mentioned below. The level of ownership, financial responsibility and required know-how may vary across the different models. PPPs are widely used in Europe for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of ...
This report is part of EPEC’s work on monitoring developments in the public-private partnership (PPP) market and is intended to provide an overview of the role played by the EIB in financing PPP projects inside and outside of Europe since 1990. It covers a wide range of PPP transactions (e.g. design-build-finance-operate. design-build-finance-maintain, concession arrangements which feature a construction element, the provision of a public service and risk sharing between the public and ...
This policy brief presents policy recommendations on circular economy formulated by cities participating in the EU Cities Mission (Mission Cities) for EU decision-makers and European national authorities. These recommendations have arisen from discussions among twenty-one Mission Cities during the Circular Economy Policy Lab, facilitated by NetZeroCities
Taxes
The major sources of revenues for local governments are taxes, user fees and intergovernmental transfers. Taxes such as income taxes, property taxes, land transfer (stamp duty) taxes, general sales taxes and sales taxes on special commodities (licences, permits, hotel occupancy, vehicle registration etc.) along with user fees form the current operating revenues (COR) of the cities. Once the operating expenditures are met, the COR is often used for short life expectancy assets or recurrent ...
Supporting Croatian Cities in reaching climate neutrality webinar - 15 ...
This webinar provides Croatian cities the opportunity to better understand what the NetZeroCities project can offer and serves as a common space to exchange on climate-related topics and envisage common actions. To kick-start these discussions, this webinar presents the methodology and the resources developed by NetZeroCities. Then, there is a brief update on the current EU policy landscape which can provide various opportunities for Croatian cities to collaborate. For example, with the new ...
NetZeroCities Info Session: Pilot Cities Programme Boot Camp & Twinning ...
Please find the accompanying presentation slides, here. NetZeroCities Info Session: Pilot Cities Programme Boot Camp & Twinning Learning Programme - 21 February This webinar of the Call for Pilot Cities Cohort 3 NetZeroCities is for Mission Cities who are not yet a Pilot City within the Pilot City Programme and wish to undertake two-year, systems innovation-oriented pilot activities. It covers: Presentation on the PCP Bootcamp; Presentation on the Twinning Learning Programme.
NetZeroCities Info Session: Pilot Cities Programme Boot Camp & Twinning ...
Please find the accompanying recording, here. NetZeroCities Info Session: Pilot Cities Programme Boot Camp & Twinning Learning Programme - 21 February This webinar of the Call for Pilot Cities Cohort 3 NetZeroCities is for Mission Cities who are not yet a Pilot City within the Pilot City Programme and wish to undertake two-year, systems innovation-oriented pilot activities. It covers: Presentation on the PCP Bootcamp; Presentation on the Twinning Learning Programme.
Grey water treatment (including Nature Based Solutions) and reuse
Greywater is the wastewater generated in households or office buildings without serious contaminants, such as water from baths, sinks and washing machines. Greywater can be separated from blackwater (water from toilets or kitchens) and then treated on-site for direct reuse in toilets recharge or irrigation. Greywater is a relevant secondary source of water and nutrients. Many studies have analysed the environmental, economic, and energetic benefits of the reuse of greywater [1][2][6][7]. ...
NetZeroCities Pilot Cities Programme Bootcamp (Cohort 2): Online Collective ...
NetZeroCities Pilot Cities Programme Bootcamp (Cohort 2): Online Collective Learning Session 1 (February 2024)
"Pilot City Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning & Sensemaking" ...
This webinar of the Call for Pilot Cities Cohort 3 NetZeroCities is for Mission Cities who are not yet a Pilot City within the Pilot City Programme and wish to undertake two-year, systems innovation-oriented pilot activities. It covers: NZC Impact Framework to create your impact logic and pathways; PCP Indicators Set; Indicator Selection & forthcoming Reporting Support; Sensemaking & Peer-to-peer Learning process. Acces presentation slides here ...
These are the slides from the webinar info session "Pilot City Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning & Sensemaking" of the Call for Pilot Cities Cohort 3 The webinar covered: NZC Impact Framework to create your impact logic and pathways; PCP Indicators Set; Indicator Selection & forthcoming Reporting Support; Sensemaking & Peer-to-peer Learning process. Acess webinar recording here: https://netzerocities.app/resource-4113
Please find the accompanying presentation slides, here. Pilot Cities Programme Info-session Cohort 3: "Eligibility and Assessment Criteria" - 06/02 This webinar of the Call for Pilot Cities Cohort 3 NetZeroCities is for Mission Cities who are not yet a Pilot City within the Pilot City Programme and wish to undertake two-year, systems innovation-oriented pilot activities. We covers: Call Timeline; Eligibility & Assessment Criteria Stage 1 (Eligibility), Stage 2 (Assessment ) and ...
Please find the accompanying webinar recording, here. Pilot Cities Programme Info-session Cohort 3: "Eligibility and Assessment Criteria" - 06/02 This webinar of the Call for Pilot Cities Cohort 3 NetZeroCities is for Mission Cities who are not yet a Pilot City within the Pilot City Programme and wish to undertake two-year, systems innovation-oriented pilot activities. We covers: Call Timeline; Eligibility & Assessment Criteria Stage 1 (Eligibility), Stage 2 (Assessment ) and ...
Presentation on what is social innovation, examples and benefits for climate neutrality, as presented at the 2023 summer schools
Map of social innovation actions with related indicators and links to case studies
This factsheet explores how implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in cities can be a more financially viable alternative to conventional approaches. By outlining inspiring NbS case studies, this factsheet lists possible options for municipalities to fund NbS.
Challenge mapping helps to understand the barriers to innovation within a certain thematic area / challenge / societal mission and to indicate the most promising routes towards overcoming the barriers. The challenge map is a tool to engage with a certain community of experts to build this understanding and discuss the routes towards solutions. A ready challenge map provides a good overview of how different aspects are interconnected and where the ‘sore points’ are vs. what can ‘the ...
The customer journey map is a representation describing each step of the interaction that a user or customer has with a service, product, organization or system taking the perspective of the user. It is stated what the actions, the touchpoints with the service, product or system and the emotional state of the user for each of the steps. It can functions as a planning- and strategic tool to keep the focus on the final users for the final development and the prototyping of a new solution. It ...
Cities Best Practice Session “How to mobilise citizens and ...
This webinar session organised by the NetZeroCities EU-funded project focuses on mobilizing citizens and stakeholders for effective climate action. The presentation slides are available here https://netzerocities.app/resource-4101
Cities Best Practice Session “How to mobilise citizens and ...
Please find here the presentation slides from NetZeroCities webinar session on mobilizing citizens and stakeholders for effective climate action. Valuable insights were provided by representatives from Parma, Guimaraes, Lyon and Bristol. The webinar recording is available here https://netzerocities.app/resource-4100
NetZeroCities Policy Activities - Information Session Accompanying ...
Policy Labs - Info Session (24th Jan) Webinar Recording, here. Policy is an important lever in the systemic, mission-driven approach to climate neutrality, and the need for policy alignment and collaboration across all levels of government, including non-state actors, is critical for cities to reach their NetZero goals. The purpose of this info-session is to provide an overview of our mission-oriented policy approach and outline the opportunities to co-create policy innovation forums in ...
NetZeroCities Policy Activities - Information Session Webinar Recording
Policy Labs - Info Session (24th Jan) Accompanying Presentation Slides, here. Policy is an important lever in the systemic, mission-driven approach to climate neutrality, and the need for policy alignment and collaboration across all levels of government, including non-state actors, is critical for cities to reach their NetZero goals. The purpose of this info-session is to provide an overview of our mission-oriented policy approach and outline the opportunities to co-create policy innovation ...
Pilot Cities Programme Info-session Cohort 3: "Ambition, Approach & ...
Accompanying Presentation Slides, here. This webinar of the Call for Pilot Cities Cohort 3 NetZeroCities is for Mission Cities who are not yet a Pilot City within the Pilot City Programme and wish to undertake two-year, systems innovation-oriented pilot activities. We will cover: Ambition & Approach of the Pilot Cities Programme ; Call launch & documentation; Submission platform registration (organisation & individual). Part of the session will be dedicated to Q&A. The session ...
Pilot Cities Programme Info-session Cohort 3: "Ambition, Approach & ...
Webinar recording, here. This webinar of the Call for Pilot Cities Cohort 3 NetZeroCities is for Mission Cities who are not yet a Pilot City within the Pilot City Programme and wish to undertake two-year, systems innovation-oriented pilot activities. We will cover: Ambition & Approach of the Pilot Cities Programme ; Call launch & documentation; Submission platform registration (organisation & individual). Part of the session will be dedicated to Q&A. The session will be ...
Please find in this document the answers to all questions asked during the CCC Updated Resource Pack Info Session.
CCC Updated Resource Pack Info Session - Recording
This webinar provides you with all the information regarding the materials available to support you in drafting your Climate City Contract. Answers to all questions are provided in written in this Q&A document : https://netzerocities.app/resource-4094
ENGAGEMENT BUILDING BLOCKS
En route to achieving climate neutrality, you will need to engage with citizens and urban stakeholders across your city. The Engagement Building Blocks offer a visual, collaborative, and playful way to learn and implement frameworks for designing such an engagement process. It can be used to explore alternative ways forward, assess needs, and reach agreement on key aspects between different stakeholders before you start the detailed ...
This documents (PDF) includes all the cards necessary to use the Engagement Building Blocks. Use the physical cards by printing and cutting them out. They are laid out to make the print and cut process simple and quick, so you can quickly start to use them.
Terms and meanings to help clarify and support your use of the Engagement Building Blocks.
This tool offers a visual, collaborative, and playful way to gain understanding of frameworks for designing citizen and urban stakeholder engagement processes. The tool helps to consider and evaluate the different elements that affect how best to build this process and takes you step by step through different choices that need to be made. The result is the framework of the design of the engagement process. It provides insights into which basic building blocks can best be used to build a ...
CIVIC ENVIRONMENT MAPPING SERVICE - CANVASES & GUIDE COLLECTION
Mapping civic environments is the first step to visualize various individuals, groups and organizations, their roles, relationships, influence and impact on the city’s climate neutrality transition journey. It is by this process, that cities are able to make informed decisions on whom to engage in a strategic manner. To enable cities in carrying out this process and move beyond the usual suspects, it is important to empower them with simple intuitive mapping tools and effective guidance ...
Bresciani, S., Tjahja, C., Komatsu, T., & Rizzo, F. (2023). Social ...
Bresciani, S., Tjahja, C., Komatsu, T., & Rizzo, F. (2023). Social innovation for climate neutrality in cities: actionable pathways for policymakers. In De Sainz Molestina, D., Galluzzo, L., Rizzo, F., Spallazzo, D. (eds.), IASDR 2023: Life-Changing Design, 9-13 October, Milan, Italy. Abstract: The track [Changing] Organizations and Policies of the 2023 IASDR conference encompasses 30 original papers that revolve around four main contributions of design in this domain: (1) ...
Bresciani, S., Tjahja, C., Komatsu, T., & Rizzo, F. ...
Bresciani, S., Tjahja, C., Komatsu, T., & Rizzo, F. (2023). Prototyping for Policy Making: Collaboratively Synthesizing Interdisciplinary Knowledge for Climate Neutrality. In: International Conference 2023 of the Design Research Society Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG) Conference proceedings (pp. 104-116), Politecnico di Milano, Italy. ISBN: 9788894167436 Abstract: Cities around the world are confronted with the unprecedented grand challenge ...
This presentation provides you with all the information regarding the materials available to support you in drafting your Climate City Contract. The recorded webinar is available at https://youtu.be/l-TS96vYbuw
Florianopolis, Brazil
The case outlines a new theoretical–methodological approach for the mapping and analysis of the social innovation ecosystems (SIE) in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil. The study was put into practice through the creation and implementation of a collaborative digital platform.
LAST UPDATE 18 DECEMBER 2023 This guidance document is designed to accompany the Investment Plan Template to give Mission Cities a reference point when developing their Investment Plans. Cities will build this plan on the back of the actions outlined within their Action Plan, and the content here should inform the way cities engage with the template documents. The 2030 Climate Neutrality Investment Plan is a newly developed concept and as this process will be iterative, we encourage cities to ...
LAST UPDATE 18 DECEMBER This CCC Commitment Document Template gives Mission Cities a reference point when developing their core CCC commitments. The document should be used to define key political commitments and priorities for the CCC and collect formal signatures from local government and other local stakeholders. The Commitment Document provides the basis for the subsequent development of the Action Plan and Investment Plan.
LAST UPDATE - 18 December 2023 This guidance document serves as a manual or 'how to' guide for compiling the CCC 2030 Climate Neutrality Commitments according to the provided template. It provides section-by-section descriptions, details and guiding questions on filling out the template. This guidance will be updated over time, based on city feedback, so please provide feedback and questions to us via missioncities@netzerocities.eu. Please also revisit this document ...
This guidance document serves as a manual or 'how to' guide for compiling the 2030 Climate Neutrality Action Plan according to the provided template. It provides section-by-section descriptions, details and guiding questions on filling out the templates. This guidance will be updated over time, based on city feedback, so please provide feedback and questions to us via missioncities@netzerocities.eu. Please also revisit this document regularly. Please also watch ...
Bresciani, S., Rizzo, F., & Deserti, A. (2022). Toward a Comprehensive ...
Bresciani, S., Rizzo, F., & Deserti, A. (2022). Toward a Comprehensive Framework of Social Innovation for Climate Neutrality: A Systematic Literature Review from Business/Production, Public Policy, Environmental Sciences, Energy, Sustainability and Related Fields. Sustainability, 14(21). Abstract: Social Innovation (SI) is considered a key lever for supporting climate action and decarbonization. In addition to the adoption of technological innovations, novel social practices ...
Bresciani, S., Rizzo, F., & Deserti, A. (2022). Designing Systemic ...
Bresciani, S., Rizzo, F., & Deserti, A. (2022). Designing Systemic Change for Urban Ecosystems: A Framework for Assessing Social Innovation. In Cumulus Conference Proceedings Series 10/2023 Detroit (pp. 779-795). USA. ISBN 979-8-218-07901-7 Abstract: Developing systemic changes for decarbonization and adaptation to climate change at urban level is a complex challenge which requires considering a systemic approach. Numerous cases, frameworks and theoretical models are ...
View the presentation slides that provide guidance for the paired canvas: Co-creating Impact Pathways and Indicators for your City’s Climate-neutrality Transition: A 7-Step Process.
Co-creating Impact Pathways and Indicators for your City's ...
Impact Pathways and Indicators for your City's Climate-neutrality Transition: A 7-Step Process Connecting the CC Action-planning with strategic objectives and MEL. Downloadable Canvas
'Impact Pathways' tell a story about how systemic transformation is expected to unfold. 'Indicators' are a measurable data point used to track a city's progress towards achieving climate neutrality. These indicators evaluate the effectiveness of urban sustainability initiatives, such as reductions in carbon emissions or increases in renewable energy usage.
Green Industry
Industry is the second-largest global resource of energy sector CO2 emissions. In Europe the total final energy demand in the industry accounted for 2950 TWh/yr in 2020, 66% of which came from process heating. The main fuel source for fulfilling this demand is gas (36%), followed by coal (20%) and oil (8%). In Europe, EU paper production plants represented 20.5% of the world pulp production in 2018, still relying on fossil fuels for the 40% of its energy use. A vast majority of these plants, ...
Beautiful, Sustainable and Together in District heating networks
There are plenty of rational arguments for implementing heat networks, as Heat Networks offer numerous advantages and opportunities. They are an efficient, reliable, and proven solution for increasing energy security while reducing the carbon footprint of heat. They are convenient and affordable for customers, yet profitable for owners. They enable communities to generate local jobs, increase social welfare, and bolster resilience in turbulent times. However, as we all know, humans are ...
The Healthy Cities Generator is a freely available digital tool that makes it easy for urban planners, health professionals and policy makers to incorporate health factors into urban planning and urban factors into health policy. Want to explore the healthiest options for your city? If you want to improve your urban plan, devise a health strategy, or have a constructive dialogue with your stakeholders – reach out to see how we could help! Visit our website for more information: ...
Ethnographic Interview (Canvas)
Ethnographic interviews are a method used to understand deeply the actions and motivations of people behind a theme or topic of research. This process relies on a close connection between the researcher and the community they are working in. In creating connections the researcher is able to get a more rich understanding of how the community functions and what their motivations towards climate actions are for example, which is reflected in interviews with stakeholders. While it is not likely to ...
Cooling trees are appropriate at different scales: the isolated tree: in a park, a street or in a square; rows of trees along a street: on either side of a street, on one side of a street or in a central row; and at the scale of a city: forming what is called an urban forest. In terms of mitigation, trees contribute to carbon sequestration through photosynthesis, which transforms carbon dioxide into organic matter. This stored carbon is found: in the above-ground biomass: stems, ...
Multi-level perspective: context map and trajectories for change
A comprehensive resource book for practitioners to map, analyse and facilitate systemic change. Includes many canvases and practical tools.
E-participation [1][2][3][4][5] enables citizens to use digital technologies or platforms, e.g., combination of geographic information systems (GIS), Web 2.0 and mobile technologies (including video, mobile messaging and Internet access), for communication, engagement and deliberation on policy or planning challenges. Engagement and participation are vital tools in climate adaptation and environmental decision making as these entail increased community acceptance, ...
“Systemic” - A Game for Applying Systems Change Thinking to ...
The problems we face today, such as climate change, inequality and ageing populations cannot be fixed by one department alone. They require a systems approach. This is a game for policymakers to explore how taking a systemic approach can unlock intractable issues in their policy areas. Playing “Systemic” will enable you to: Learn about some foundational systems change frameworks, as well as some of the latest thinking on systems change for people working on social ...
Concessional loans
A concessional loan or 'soft' loan is credit offered to municipalities at a below market rate of interest. Concessional loans could have lenient conditions, offer differed payments, grace periods, interest holidays or income contingent payments. They could also offer longer amortisation schedules than conventional loans. Most municipalities are eligible to obtain low-interest (soft) or concessional loans to be able to finance activities that may not be the ...
Concept: Positive Energy Buildings (PEBs)
Positive Energy Buildings, PEB, is a relatively new and more ambitious energy target than the Nearly Zero Energy buildings, NZEB. Currently, there is no official definition at EU level. However, there are several projects investigating the PEB concept. According to the EU EXCESS project (1,2), ‘‘a positive energy building (PEB) is an energy efficient building that produces more energy than it uses via renewable sources, with high self-consumption rate and high energy flexibility, ...
Concept: Near Zero/ Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)
The two pillars of the decarbonisation of the buildings sector in Europe are a) improving energy efficiency and b) supplying with renewable energy sources both new and existing buildings. Recent developments show that energy developments at the neighbourhood or district scale can accelerate and improve the required quality to meet the requirements of the Paris agreement (1,2). Acting at the neighbourhood level permits to better consider the energy interactions between the buildings and ...
Concept: Urban heat island effect mitigation – Shadings
Alternative cooling strategies based on improved thermal protection of the building envelope, and on the dissipation of a building's thermal load to a lower temperature heat sink, appear to be very effective. These strategies and techniques known as passive and hybrid cooling have already reached a serious level of acceptance from both the technical and scientific experts. The present document aims to inform and provide knowledge and recommendations on the use of ...
Concept: Urban heat island effect mitigation – Earth to Air Heat ...
The use of passive cooling technologies in the built environment has reached a stage of high maturity. Passive cooling techniques are based on the use of techniques of solar and heat control, heat modulation and heat dissipation. While heat modulation deals mainly with the thermal storage capacity of the building structure, heat dissipation techniques are mainly associated with the disposal of excess building heat to an environmental sink of lower temperature, like the ground, water, and ...
Concept: Urban heat island effect mitigation - Greenery
The heat island phenomenon rises the temperature of cities, increases the energy demand for cooling and deteriorates comfort conditions in the urban environment. To counterbalance the impact of the phenomenon, important mitigation techniques have been proposed and developed. It is widely accepted that an increase of the urban green infrastructure, and particularly of the tree cover, improves urban resilience [1-2]. Trees provide urban overheating reduction, pollutant ...
Concept: Urban heat island effect mitigation - Cool urban surfaces ...
The heat island phenomenon raises the temperature of cities, increases the energy demand for cooling and deteriorates comfort conditions in the urban environment. To counterbalance the impact of the phenomenon, important mitigation techniques have been proposed and developed. Absorption of solar radiation by the materials of the building envelope and the city structure contribute to increasing urban overheating. Use of solar reflective materials, known as cool materials, helps to decrease the ...
Concept: Urban heat island effect mitigation – Evaporative ...
The heat island phenomenon rises the temperature of cities, increases the energy demand for cooling and deteriorates comfort conditions in the urban environment. To counterbalance the impact of the phenomenon, important mitigation techniques have been proposed and developed. The use of water in reducing ambient temperature is known from the traditional architecture. To evaporate water in the atmosphere, latent heat is used that contributes to decreasing the ...
Concept: Urban heat island (UHI) effect mitigation - Nearly Zero Energy ...
The design and operation of zero or very low energy buildings started in the 2000s and even earlier. The basic idea is to use energy conservation technologies combined with renewable energy systems to decrease as much as possible the energy use of buildings (see Figure 1). Nearly-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) have continuously gained acceptance by the market and the research community and several thousands of such buildings have been built and monitored. The NZEB principle has ...
NetZeroCities is designing the Mission Cities Capital Hub to support the development and execution of city projects. The implementation of Investment Plans will require a holistic approach covering technical assistance, impact alignment and capital facilitation as well as private sector engagement. The Capital Hub is planned to be a city resource for facilitating funding and financing, investments, and technical assistance in support of city ambitions of reaching climate neutrality. On 23 ...
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) about Positive Energy Districts ...
Start learning about Positive Energy Distrcits via a short e-learning module In the Smart City Lighthouse project ATELIER (H2020, Grant Agreement No. 864374), a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) was developed to provide an engaging e-learning opportunity for everyone who wants to learn about Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). It is hosted on a learning platform ("PED Learning Platform") that also offers the opportunity to exchange with peers and to share own experiences. Enrolling in ...
This guide walks through the principles of portfolio co-design, providing framing which can be reused in meetings or workshops with stakeholders to justify why portfolio co-design is important and how it can happen. We provide key intuitive metaphors to support a good understanding of what a portfolio is and isn't (the 3D cube) as well as intuitive visuals to convince other of the need for a collaborative approach to putting a portfolio together for the CCC Action Plan. This guide is a good ...
This exercise is focusing on evaluating the potential of a portfolio of actions for climate-neutrality with local stakeholders (whether from the local government or from the broader local ecosystem). This session is particularly adapted to build participants' understanding of what is a portfolio and, especially, what is a successful portfolio, while identifying the gaps of existing strategies. The exercise can be used to iterate current plans and refine a strategic portfolio for a CCC Action ...
Please find the video recording here. This session is organised to present and answer any questions regarding the two important parts of the Pilot Cities Programme: Boot Camp, which starts right after the selection of successful applications. Cities Learning Programme, which will match selected Pilot Cities with their Twinning Cities.
This session is organised to present and answer any questions regarding the two important parts of the Pilot Cities Programme: Boot Camp, which starts right after the selection of successful applications. Cities Learning Programme, which will match selected Pilot Cities with their Twinning Cities. Please find the presentation slides, here.
In just one hour, you’ll learn about carbon management, how to identify measures and actions and how to implement them. More importantly: Serge (CEO of Futureproofed and one of Al Gore’s two first European Climate Ambassadors) will share his experiences on transforming cities into climate-neutral cities. Your host, Serge de Gheldere, has been on a mission to change the world for decades. In 1999, he established an ecodesign focused engineering company. In 2006 he became one of Al ...
Pilot Cities Programme Info Session 4: Inspirational Session with existing ...
Please find the accompanying recording, here. This session hosts Pilot Cities selected during the 1st Pilot Cities Programme call. They share their projects, experiences and challenges during planning and implementing the Pilot Activities. Find Guimarães City's presentation, here. Find Bristol City's presentation, here. Find Nantes Métropole's presentation, here.
Guimarães City's Presentation for: Pilot Cities Programme Info ...
Please find Bristol City's presentation slides from the Pilot Cities Programme Info Session 4: Inspirational Session with existing Pilot Cities. Please find the accompanying recording, here. This session hosts Pilot Cities selected during the 1st Pilot Cities Programme call. They share their projects, experiences and challenges during planning and implementing the Pilot Activities. Find the full presentation, here. Find Bristol City's presentation, here. Find Nantes ...
Bristol City's Presentation for: Pilot Cities Programme Info Session 4: ...
Please find Bristol City's presentation slides from the Pilot Cities Programme Info Session 4: Inspirational Session with existing Pilot Cities. Please find the accompanying recording, here. This session hosts Pilot Cities selected during the 1st Pilot Cities Programme call. They share their projects, experiences and challenges during planning and implementing the Pilot Activities. Find the full presentation, here. Find Guimarães City's presentation, here. Find Nantes ...
Nantes Métropole's Presentation for: Pilot Cities Programme Info ...
Please find Bristol City's presentation slides from the Pilot Cities Programme Info Session 4: Inspirational Session with existing Pilot Cities. Please find the accompanying recording, here. This session hosts Pilot Cities selected during the 1st Pilot Cities Programme call. They share their projects, experiences and challenges during planning and implementing the Pilot Activities. Find the full presentation, here. Find Guimarães City's presentation, here. Find Bristol City's ...
Pilot Cities Programme Info Session 4: Inspirational Session with existing ...
Pilot Cities Programme Info session: Inspirational session with existing Pilot Cities - 26 September This session hosts Pilot Cities selected during the 1st Pilot Cities Programme call. They share their projects, experiences and challenges during planning and implementing the Pilot Activities.
The CCRI Methodology provides decision-makers with actionable guidance to help accelerate the transition towards the circular economy at local or regional level. The CCRI Methodology takes stock and draws on past and current efforts and initiatives aimed at deploying the circular economy at local level. Developed in the framework of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), this methodology is mainly designed to be used by policy and decision-makers operating at various levels of ...
NetZeroCities Pilot Cities Programme Info-session: Eligibility, Assessment ...
Recording: NetZeroCities Pilot Cities Programme Info Session: Eligibility, Submission Criteria - 14 September This session is organised to answer the following questions: - who can apply to this edition of Pilot Cities Programme Call? - against what criteria will the proposals be assessed? - how to submit a project application? Part of the session is dedicated to Q&A.
Presentation Slides: NetZeroCities Pilot Cities Programme Info Session: Eligibility, Submission Criteria - 14 September This session is organised to answer the following questions: - who can apply to this edition of Pilot Cities Programme Call? - against what criteria will the proposals be assessed? - how to submit a project application? Part of the session is dedicated to Q&A.
Smart House Training Program - SmartEnCity project / University of ...
The main goal of the project was to implement a complete solution for a smart and sustainable urban environment, which would inspire residents to make environmentally conscious decisions and would later be implemented in various European regions.
The purpose of Nappi Naapur is to increase real encounters between people who live close to each other. It is intended for neighborly help, getting to know each other, gig work and promoting the sharing economy. Everyone is welcome to become a user!
Viable Cities is a Swedish strategic innovation programme focusing on the transition to climate-neutral and sustainable cities. Viable Cities aims to create transformative system change based on the mission Climate Neutral Cities 2030 with a good life for everyone within the planetary boundaries. The mission means that cities' climate transition should take place from a broad perspective, where social, ecological and economic sustainability is taken into account.
Brainport Smart District
Brainport Smart District (BSD) is a smart city district in the city of Helmond, the Netherlands
Better Reykjavik
Better Reykjavik is an online platform for the crowdsourcing of solutions to urban challenges launched in May 2010. Better Reykjavik is a co-creation project of the Citizens Foundation, Reykjavik City and its citizens that connects them and improves trust and policy. It’s a platform for crowdsourcing solutions to urban challenges and has multiple democratic functions: Agenda setting, Participatory budgeting and Policymaking. Innovations include unique debating system, crowd-sourcing, ...
Case Study on streets converting into seasonal socialising spaces
Pilot Cities Programme Info Session: Ambition, approach and technical information – call launch (7th September) This session is organised to present the overall Pilot Cities Programme Call, focusing especially on: - Its unique ambition and approach - Technical information regarding call's documentation, timeline - Call and grant management system - Part of the session will be dedicated to Q&A.
Pilot Cities Programme Info Session: Ambition, approach and technical information – call launch (7th September) This session is organised to present the overall Pilot Cities Programme Call, focusing especially on: - Its unique ambition and approach - Technical information regarding call's documentation, timeline - Call and grant management system - Part of the session will be dedicated to Q&A.
CCC Submission Information Session - 4th September 2023 This session is intended for cities planning to submit their CCC in autumn 2023. On 6 September, a dedicated space will open on the Portal for cities to upload their CCC Documents prior submission to the European Commission. Cities planning to submit their CCC in this window will have until 15 September to finalise the upload of their documents on the Portal. This session will guide you through the CCC space on the Portal and the next ...
Outcome harvesting
Outcome harvesting is a method to identify, formulate then analyse and interpret the outcomes (positive and negative, intended or not) of an initiative. The process is stakeholder-centered and includes 6 steps that are helpful to collect evidence of what has changed for project stakeholders or beneficiaries and work backwards to evaluate whether and how the project has contributed to these changes. It is particularly adapted to evaluate dynamic and uncertain situations when it is difficult to ...
By utilizing an experimental design, such as A/B testing, users (i.e., citizens) are randomly exposed to different options, then results are compared. The aim is testing which solution is best. For example, when utilizing a service, half of the users are provided one version of the service (intervention A), while the other half of the participants are provided a different version (intervention B). Performance and other data are collected for all users for the two conditions: the best performing ...
TACSI strives to enhance social and economic well-being through their approach to accelerate social innovations. The organization has conducted experiments in the field of human-centered innovation, driven by the belief that individuals are the best experts on their own lives. By collaborating with those affected by the challenges they aim to address, TACSI creates effective innovations. They have been building scaling programs that seek to improve outcomes for people in relevant and dynamic ...
In this article by Moore, Riddell and Vocisano, it is argued that the process of scaling social innovations to achieve systemic impacts involves three different types of scaling—scaling out, scaling up, and scaling deep—and large systems change (LSC) is likely to require a combination of these types. The findings focus on the phenomenon of scaling, and the strategies by which actors can move social innovation impacts across scales. After broadening their problem frame to pursue ...
Social Innovation Canada is a network that aims to fortify the innovation ecosystem by providing an operational model that offers information, tools, skills, and a network for developing social innovations. By utilizing this model, practitioners can collaborate effectively, build stronger connections, align their efforts, enhance their capacity, and advance their knowledge in the field of social innovation. Social Innovation Canada operates within the framework of the Sustainable Development ...
Real Junk Food Berlin
Real Junk Food Berlin is part of the international organization The Junk Food Project that aims to raise awareness around the topic of food waste and new sustainable food systems. Their activities include the use of food that would otherwise go to waste and the conduction of workshops and courses sharing ways to avoid food waste.
Ride Sharing Service
Ride sharing service initiated by local football club PPJ started from an agile pilot and became a permanent activity in the club. After school, school children get transported from school to football training on a minibus. This saves time and reduces the number of total trips otherwise taken by each individual child driven by their [parent]. Lower price of early practice hours compensates the transportation costs.
15-Minute City is an urban plan established by the city of Paris whose goal is to make most daily necessities accomplishable by either walking or cycling from residents' homes in a maximum of 15 minutes.
Green Squares
The Green Squares project aims to support the local communities in climate action by piloting a model for joint engagement of residents, students, local artists and civil society in a collaborative process of co-designing solutions for neglected urban pockets in line with particular needs of local communities. The goal of the project is for communities to collaboratively design micro public spaces to improve air quality in Niš.
Climate Quarter Project
The goal is to create a residential quarter that prevents the necessity to travel more than 15 minutes to get the most essential goods and services, and therefore reduces the amount of carbon emissions related to transport – the key to averting the so-called heat-island effect. An important aspect of the implementation will be the involvement of citizens and the active cooperation of all parties (city units) to discuss about the problems, vision for the Climate Quarter and future ...
Five cities from across South-Eastern European and Central Asian region embarked on an exploration of a new approach to problem solving, which is rooted in systems thinking. The city councils began designing what are called systems thinking portfolios for urban transformation with the support of UNDP Europe and Central Asia.
Applause is a project led by the city of Ljubljana, Slovenia aiming to find solutions to invasive alien plant species (IAPS) in cities. Ljubljana is applying a zero-waste and circular economy principle to deal with these harmful plant species. Ljubljana is moving from a linear model for managing IAPS to a circular one that is valuable for the entire ecosystem. This process involves six steps: plant identification, biomass harvest, processing & storage, value recovery, final production, and ...
Finnish cities have been experimenting with a vision of sustainable living. The tool “1.5 Degree Lifestyles Puzzle” was used to help households and other stakeholders understand what changes they need to make in their lifestyles to significantly drop their carbon footprint. Individual carbon footprints were calculated at the project start and the development was monitored over time.
Terre & Humanisme promotes agroecology as an approach in transitioning towards more sustainable farming practices while training people in its application. The association aims to change production models to achieve higher combined economic, social and environmental production based on the founding principles of Agroecology. The association operates on three fundamental pillars: 1. Raising Awareness: To share agroecology (and its practices) as an approach and promote its adoption as a ...
Levers of a Sustainable City is a scaling model to accelerate the adoption of good sustainable practices in municipalities. It aims at turning means that have proven to work well into concrete action. The model consists of several interconnected methods and of a typology of scaling activities. The model emphasises the importance of learning from one’s peers as well as the need to highlight the added value that adoption of new practices brings about. The approach has been developed for the ...
The framework describes four stages in developing a scaling strategy: clarifying aims and goals for scaling, establishing what to scale up, choosing a route to scale, gearing up to deliver a scaling strategy. The writers identify four common routes for scaling-up: influence and advise; build a delivery network; form strategic partnerships and grow an organisation to deliver. Each route has a different focus and activities however, social innovators often pursue more than one strategy; some ...
Academic studies show that the journey from social to institutional entrepreneurship takes different configurations, depending on the initial conditions of the innovative initiatives and obstacles encountered during implementation. Therefore, five different pathways for scaling up social innovation initiatives were developed, consisting of different configurations of key variables, and informed by qualitative interview data from selected non-profit organizations.
Guidance on target setting and emissions inventories for the Climate-neutral and Smart Cities Mission
JRC Collection
In the face of pressing environmental challenges, cities around the world are seeking innovative solutions to create a sustainable and livable future. From energy efficiency to waste management, transportation to urban planning, a multitude of strategies are being implemented to reduce our carbon footprint and promote a greener urban environment. The Joint Research Centre has produced a collection of documents to help cities identify how to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. At the buildings, ...
Futures Table is a method in a scenario process that offers a structured approach to analyse how different variables of a trend, development or change signal may develop in the future.
CCC Submission Information Session, 6th March 2023
This session is intended for cities planning to submit their CCC in Spring 2023. On 6 March, a dedicated space will open on the Portal for cities to upload their CCC Documents prior submission to the European Commission. Cities planning to submit their CCC in Spring 2023 will have until 15 March to finalise the upload of their documents on the Portal. You get a demo of the CCC Space on the Portal and have the opportunity to exchange on the next steps for your CCC. Questions related to the ...
This session is intended for cities planning to submit their CCC in Spring 2023. On 6 March, a dedicated space will open on the Portal for cities to upload their CCC Documents prior submission to the European Commission. Cities planning to submit their CCC in Spring 2023 will have until 15 March to finalise the upload of their documents on the Portal. You get a demo of the CCC Space on the Portal and have the opportunity to exchange on the next steps for your CCC. Questions related to the ...
Civic Design Lab facilitates dialogues and co-creates solutions in collaboration with government agencies, local businesses and communities for improved public services by applying a racial equity lens, human-centred design and systems thinking approach. It helps local government decision making by designing current and future policies with the people, for the people and by the people.
Conclusions from Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President, European Commission
Closing Plenary, moderated by Patrick Child, Deputy Director-General DGEnvironment | Cities Mission Manager, with the participation of Natalia Chueca, Mayor of Zaragoza, and Dovydas Kaminskas, Mayor of Tauragė.
Pilot Cities: In the Spotlight gives each of the selected Mission and non-Mission Pilot Cities the opportunity to present their pilot activities in a short, sharp, and pithy ‘pitch’. This session also introduces the Pilot Cities Programme’s learning and sense-making activities and launches the next Call for Pilot Cities under NetZeroCities.
This panel focused on the local and wider impacts of the Mission. Panellists discussed how cities, citizens, and businesses can get the most benefit out of the Mission and how to best address both challenges and co benefits.
One year after the selection of cities for the Cities Mission, local authorities and their partners are working hard on their Climate City Contracts, while facing new challenges including an acute energy crisis. This panel is a political exchange on how the Cities Mission has already impacted Mission cities and how its high ambition can hold up in real life.
Day 2 of the Mission in Progress: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Conference 2023: - Cities as Frontrunners of the Climate Transition with Barbara Trachte, State Secretary for the Economic Transition and Scientific Research, Brussels Capital Government and Kim Jørgensen, Director General and Permanent Representative Office of the EIB to the EU Institutions, European Investment Bank
Cities Mission Conference (DAY 2) - Keynote speech Marc Lemaître, ...
Day 2 of the Mission in Progress: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Conference 2023: - Keynote speech delivered by Marc Lemaître Director-General DGResearch and Innovation, European Commission
This session aims to focus on the urban climate action initiatives that require collective policy action. Mission Cities Copenhagen, Lisbon, Helsinki , Oslo, Paris, and Stockholm share local climate action initiatives that, to be effective, need policy coordination at the European level. Through a world café format, participants discuss policy needs, implementation challenges, and desired outcomes in groups using these climate action initiatives as examples.
Day 1 of the Mission in Progress: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Conference 2023: - Peer-to-Peer City Exchanges, presented by Climate-Neutral City Advisor Jane McLaughlin provides participants with a space for sharing approaches, tools, and methodologies with fellow Mission Cities to overcome barriers you may be facing in the climate neutrality journey.
Day 1 of the Mission in Progress: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Conference 2023: - Keynote Speech delivered by André Sobczak, Secretary General, Eurocities. - NetZeroCities Updates by Thomas Osdoba, Programme Director, EIT Climate-KIC as well as reflections on the Climate City Contract process and its evolution, and upcoming City Support for 2023 with Q&A.
This document includes a detailed review of the NZC Economic Model calculations and how they work to create an economic case analysis for cities. It also includes examples of how the model was used effectively in the EU Healthy Clean Cities initiative to help cities analyze costs and benefits as a foundation for the development of an effective strategic plan for decarbonization.
NetZeroCities Capability Building Module Investment Plan | Part C
NetZeroCities Capability Building Module Investment Plan | Part B
NetZeroCities Capability Building Module Investment Plan | Part A
Circular Economy Life Cycle Costing (CE-LCC)
The Circular Economy Life Cycle Cost (CE-LCC) model is an economic assessment model for the building sector. It is based on current Life Cycle Cost analysis, which calculates the total cost of a product from cradle to grave (such as sales price, use price, and disposal costs) to support decision-making processes during the development of products. The CE-LCC includes properties of circular economy products, such as different lifespan of parts and components, design for ...
A digital twin presents a digital replica of a real object or process or a system and uses data from the real environment to represent, analyse, validate and simulate present and future behaviour [11]. Typically, connecting real objects with its digital twin enables testing new scenarios or models in real time without interfering with the real objects. Using digital twins, various forms of data analysis can be performed in the digital realm and results can be visualised, e.g., predictive ...
Construction and Buildings: optimal management of waste at the end of ...
Currently, at the end of a building’s life the majority of its materials are sent to landfill or down-cycled into products of much lower value. To maximize the recovery and valorisation potential of existing materials in buildings and minimize waste in construction, optimal waste management at the end of life of buildings is essential. The right treatment and disposal of materials at the end of life can significantly reduce the construction sector’s environmental ...
Heat Pumps (HP) are conversion devices able to transfer heat from a lower temperature heat source into a higher temperature heat sink. HP can be used to provide heating, cooling, or domestic hot water both for residential and non-residential applications. There are several types of HP (electric compression heat pumps, gas driven HP, heat driven HP, etc.), with electric HP being by far the most common. An electric HP is made of five main components: an evaporator, a compressor, a ...
Heat pump: air source
Heat Pumps (HP) are conversion devices able to transfer heat from a lower temperature heat source into a higher temperature heat sink. HP can provide heating, cooling, or domestic hot water both for residential and non-residential applications. There are several types of HP (electric compression heat pumps, gas driven HP, heat driven HP, etc.), with electric HP being by far the most common. An electric HP is made of five main components: an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion ...
Solar Thermal panels
Solar thermal panels are devices that convert solar radiation into heat and transfer it to a heat transfer fluid (typically water or an anti-freeze fluid) to be stored or to reach the point of use. Solar thermal systems are usually implemented with a water storage tank, to reduce the production-demand fluctuations, ensure high operational safety and good performance, and guarantee at least 25 to 30 years of lifetime. The most common application is solar heating to produce thermal energy ...
Solar thermal panels are devices that convert solar radiation into heat and transfer it to a heat transfer fluid (typically water or an anti-freeze fluid) to be stored or to reach the point of use. Source: Jafari S, Sohani A, Hoseinzadeh S, Pourfayaz F. The 3E Optimal Location Assessment of Flat-Plate Solar Collectors for Domestic Applications in Iran. Energies. 2022; 15(10):3589. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15103589 FPC is the main solar collector technology installed in ...
On-site and nearby renewable energy generation (heat/cold)
The use of renewable energy sources to produce thermal energy is one of the key actions of the energy transition for reducing carbon emissions to the atmosphere. On-site generation of thermal energy from renewables can help local municipalities, cities and communities harness substantial environmental, economic and social benefits. The main technologies used for renewables thermal energy generation which can be adopted in cities are: Solar thermal – It represents the ...
BIST (Building Integrated Solar Thermal)
Building Integrated Solar Thermal (BIST) can be considered a typology of solar thermal collectors, which are directly integrated to the building and used to convert solar radiation into useful heat that can be used in different applications. BIST typologies can be classified using different criteria, most commonly by the heat transfer fluid used in the solar thermal system which can be air, water or refrigerant. BIST using air as heat transfer fluid can be used for ...
Concrete is the most-used manufactured substance on the planet in terms of volume. It is used to build homes, schools, hospitals, workplaces, roads, railways and ports, and to create infrastructure to provide clean water, sanitation and energy [1]. Concrete is manufactured by mixing cement, water, aggregates and small quantities of chemical admixtures to improve its properties and meet specific product requirements. The direct CO2 emissions related to concrete largely come from cement ...
Passive building design means providing passive heating, passive cooling, and natural ventilation to maintain comfortable indoor conditions with no need for energy, by taking advantage of location (climate), orientation, massing, shading, material selection, thermal mass, insulation, internal layout and the positioning of openings to allow the penetration of solar radiation, daylight, and ventilation in the desired amounts [1–8]. When duly applied, passive design strategies are a ...
To decrease the heat gains of buildings, reflective or cool materials can be applied on the roof or the facades of buildings (1-3). Reflective materials are characterized by high solar reflectance (SR) combined with a high thermal emittance value (4). Numerous reflective white or light-colored materials are currently commercially available for buildings presenting solar reflectance values ranging from 0.4 to 0.9, and emissivity values close to 0.9. Reflective ...
PV panels
Photovoltaic (PV) systems represent the most used technology to convert solar radiation into electricity. A PV module is a grid of cells of semiconductor material, which is able to convert sunlight (photons) to electricity (voltage potential). The electricity from a module is generated in the form of direct current (DC), hence an inverter is required to convert it to alternating current (AC). A single PV cell is small (6”x6” square) and can produce only few Watts of power (1/2 ...
Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)
Photovoltaic (PV) systems represent the most used technology to convert solar radiation into electricity. A PV module is a grid of cells of semiconductor material, which is able to convert sunlight (photons) to electricity (voltage potential). Most typically, PV panels are installed on roofs or on the ground. Nevertheless, a promising application which can boost the use of solar energy is to integrate PV systems directly into the building envelope. Source: ...
Textile and fashion design for circularity
Circular design of textiles involves designing textiles in ways that make them last longer, create less waste during their entire life-cycle, are made from non-toxic material and can be recycled (2). The development and take-up of such solutions can benefit from the use of co-creation approaches in urban environment involving multiple stakeholders, such as designers, manufacturers, researchers, and behavioural scientists. Innovative technologies for customer-driven design and ...
Water scarcity is a concern not only due to a changing climate and a rise in demand, but also due to non-accountable losses within water distribution networks. In some parts of the EU, up to 80 % of water pumped into distribution systems is lost [Life SmartWater]. Leakages in large diameter main pipelines represent the highest share of the total water losses. However, the issue has been poorly addressed thus far, for example due to lack of access to pipelines. In addition, there is a lack of ...
Ocean contains a vast renewable energy potential, which could support sustainable long-term development and can be a crucial component in the world’s emerging blue economy. Ocean energy technologies are utilizing different resources. They can provide both reliable and stable electricity, as well as support other components of the blue economy, such as aquaculture and desalination. The four main technologies developed are: Wave energy: Utilizes the movement of waves ...
Mechanical energy storage
Mechanical energy storage (or electromechanical energy storage) systems are devices which convert electrical energy into kinetic or potential energy which can be reconverted into electricity at a later stage. Mechanical energy storage systems can be used in the grid to balance peak periods and to provide ancillary services including frequency, primary and voltage control to the power grid. The main technologies include pumped hydro energy storage (PES), flywheels, compressed air energy storage ...
Thermal energy storage (TES) systems can store heat or cold to be used later under varying conditions such as temperature, place, time, or power. The main use of TES is to overcome the mismatch between energy generation and energy use [1]. The main requirements for the design of a TES system are high energy density in the storage material (storage capacity), good heat transfer between the HTF and the storage material, mechanical and chemical stability of the storage material, compatibility ...
Solar thermal collectors are devices that convert solar energy into thermal energy available in a working fluid, which can be used to cover the heating loads or can be converted into electricity. Nowadays, there are many typologies of solar thermal collectors, which can be classified in many different ways. Nevertheless, solar thermal collectors can be distinguished between small-scale and large-scale applications. Small-scale collectors are mainly used in small family houses to generate ...
Thermal energy storage (TES) systems can store heat or cold to be used later under varying conditions such as temperature, place, time, or power. The main use of TES is to overcome the mismatch between energy generation and energy use [1]. The main requirements for the design of a TES system are high energy density in the storage material (storage capacity), good heat transfer between the HTF and the storage material, mechanical and chemical stability of the storage material, compatibility ...
Seasonal storage (pits, dwells, etc.)
Thermal energy storage (TES) systems can stock heat or cold to be used at a later time under varying conditions such as temperature, place, time, or power. The main use of TES is to overcome the mismatch between energy generation and energy use [1]. The key requirements for the design of a TES system are high energy density in the storage material (storage capacity), good heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid and the storage material, mechanical and chemical stability of the storage ...
Re-using local building waste (e.g. local waste material bank)
Currently, the construction sector is mostly following linear economy principles – consuming non-renewable virgin materials, producing landfill waste, and producing an overall negative environmental impact. The construction industry is the biggest global consumer of resources and raw materials, consuming e.g., roughly 50% of the total steel production. In addition, 3 billion tonnes of raw materials are used yearly to manufacture building products worldwide [8][9]. In Europe, the ...
The use of renewable energy sources to produce electricity is one of the key actions of the energy transition for reducing carbon emissions to the atmosphere. On-site generation of electricity from renewables can help local municipalities, cities and communities to have substantial environmental, economic and social benefits. Indeed, generating electricity in the urban environment is possible to reduce transmission and distribution losses, and increase flexibility and energy security. The main ...
Urbanisation and industrialisation have led to reduced vegetative cover and decreased water storage in the subsurface, as well as the concentration and accumulation of surface runoff in sewage systems due to reduced infiltration into the soil [1] [2] [5]. Until now, no universally applicable urban flood management solution has been developed. However, hybrid measures that combine nature-based solutions (NBS) with conventional engineering solutions/grey infrastructure have been identified as ...
Companion guide for Civic environment mapping
In order to accelerate their transition to climate neutrality, cities need to cooperate with their full local ecosystem of actors - including citizens, civic groups and stakeholders from the private and public sector – who need to be positively engaged in the challenge as a broad coalition of actors joining their forces. Together, they will need to build new governance models, reect on and co-create new solutions, co-decide upon and embrace climate actions for change, as a whole community ...
Product labels for circularity can encourage consumers to make more environmentally friendly purchasing choices, thus nudging manufacturers towards a more sustainable production (16); help extend product lifespan by promoting repair over disposal (4); and ensure correct sorting and recycling of end-of-life products. They can include various lifecycle aspects, such as a product’s origin, energy efficiency, lifespan (i.e. durability, reparability and ...
Currently, 75% of European houses are energy inefficient, which means that much of the energy needed is simply lost [7]. There are several passive and active solutions to improve energy efficiency in buildings. Passive solutions typically refer to solutions that reduce the amount of energy lost. They include façade isolation, roof isolation, insulation of heating tubes, energy-efficient windows, structural air tightness on doors and windows and other ...
Heat recovery in district heating networks is relevant for climate-neutral targets due to the replacement of fossil fuels in proportion to the use of waste heat alongside renewable energy sources. The exchange of heat and coolth among different buildings and sources represents an interactive way of satisfying thermal energy needs for space heating. Such exchanges can include those based on the rejected waste heat from the refrigeration of supermarkets that can be used in local residential ...
Heat captured during phase change
Thermal energy storage (TES) systems can store heat or cold to be used at a later time under varying conditions such as temperature, place, time, or power. The main use of TES is to overcome the mismatch between energy generation and energy use [1]. The key requirements for the design of a TES system are high energy density in the storage material (storage capacity), good heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid (HTF) and the storage material, mechanical and chemical stability of ...
Guarantee the energy saving/production in buildings
Different service providers offer services to help customers improve their buildings energy performance. These are typically called energy service companies (ESCOs). They can help achieve energy savings by implementing energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects [e.g. Houseful]. Typically, the service is delivered through Energy Performance Contracting (EPC), a business model where the solution provider guarantees the performance and receives a performance-based remuneration from the ...
Heat Pumps (HP) are conversion devices able to transfer heat from a lower temperature heat source into a higher temperature heat sink. HP can provide heating, cooling or domestic hot water both for residential and non-residential applications. There are several types of HP (electric compression heat pumps, gas driven HP, heat driven HP, etc.), with electric HP being by far the most common. An electric HP is made of five main components: an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion ...
Enhancing the thermal performance of building envelopes by improving the thermal properties of construction systems is possible by acting upon not just the insulation level, but also the thermal inertia through proper selection of the construction materials [1–3]. The building structure itself constitutes a source of thermal energy storage and plays a key role in buffering heat and in reducing indoor temperature swings [4]. Literature claims that it is impossible to design ...
Buildings represent the largest energy consumer in Europe. Deep energy renovation of the existing stock to reduce its energy consumption seems to be the most appropriate measure and a key policy to achieve emissions reduction targets. The largest part of the European building stock was built way before strict energy requirements were set and, given the long life span of buildings, it is expected that between 85 -95 % of the existing stock will be still under use by 2050 [1]. Given the ...
Zero emission buses (electric and fuel cell)
Buses are an integral part of urban public transport systems. However, urban buses are responsible for about 8% of the road transport Green House Gas emissions in EU [8]. Buses with internal combustion engines are responsible also for emissions of fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as air pollutants particulate matter (PM) or nitrogen oxides (NOx). Thus, zero emission buses, have a significant potential in the reduction of transport related emissions in urban areas. Zero emission ...
Urban Air Mobility (UAM)
The urban air mobility (UAM) concept revolves around the use of highly automated aircraft (e.g. drones) to transport goods and people in urban and suburban areas. These aircraft fly at low altitudes, and are usually associated with the use of electric motors for propulsion, to achieve sustainable flights with no emissions during operation. Urban air mobility is a new concept which, although still in research phase, is rapidly evolving and taking shape. To support it, the ...
The EC Communication on a European strategy on Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems [1] acknowledges the key role of digital technologies in the current transformation of the transport sector. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) apply information and communication technologies such as journey planners, eCall (a system that automatically alerts emergency services in case of an accident), short-range communications for improving passenger safety and reducing road fatalities, and connected ...
Cooperative, connected and automated mobility (CCAM)
DESCRIPTION: Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) refers to the development of user-centered, inclusive and shared mobility concepts, for people and goods, that are based on automation and connectivity. These innovative mobility concepts aim to complement and integrate the EU transport system with the aim to make it safer, smarter and more sustainable. CCAM has the potential to transform the way we move and the way we travel: it can decrease transport accidents ...
NetZeroCities Call for Twin Cities Information Webinar | 12th June 2023 This webinar: 1) gives information about the Call for Twin Cities (Call guidelines, who can apply, selection criteria, timeframe, Pilot cities, Application Form etc) and 2) answers questions about the Call.
Tree planting (urban forestry/urban trees), parks and (semi) natural urban ...
Greening cities is a transversal solution to numerous urban challenges, not only to support the transition towards climate neutrality, but also to improve biodiversity, social justice and resilience. Greening cities can include many diverse solutions, among them tree planting and the development of parks and natural urban green areas. Tree planting and urban forest Planting street trees, single line trees or group of trees, as well as trees in urban parks or urban ...
Water scarcity is a concern not only due to a changing climate and a rise in demand, but also due to non-accountable losses within water distribution networks. In some parts of the EU, up to 80 % of water pumped into distribution systems is lost [Life SmartWater]. Leakages in large diameter main pipelines represent the highest share of the total water losses. However, the issue has been poorly addressed thus far, for example due to lack of access to pipelines. In addition, there is a lack of ...
Hydrogen as a fuel in urban transport
Hydrogen used as a fuel has emerged as an alternative fuel with multiple benefits. It is commonly used in its gaseous form to power a fuel cell, generating electricity, where it is completely emission free at point of use, with zero tailpipe emissions. Fuel cells are especially useful in-vehicle applications where the energy and power density of batteries is not sufficient, with also the advantage of low refuelling times. In urban transport, there are some vehicle ...
Zero emission vessels - Reduce emission in Ports
Waterborne transport greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are on the rise, and they represent today almost 3% of global GHG emissions [1]. Ships entering EU ports emit 13% of the total EU transport GHG emissions [2], while inland waterway transport in the EU is estimated to emit 3.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year [3]. Apart from GHG emissions, shipping is responsible for water degradation, air pollution and noise pollution. All these impacts have a negative impact on cities and their ...
Urban Rail
Urban rail transit (e.g. light rail, rapid transit, commuter rail, metro rail) is an important component of urban mobility and transport. With relatively low lifecycle emissions, electrified rail transport is considered to be key for the reduction of emissions in transport in general, and also in urban areas. Railway networks in urban and suburban areas play a prominent role in major cities and highly dense urban areas, serving the daily needs of citizens and offering ...
Zero emission electric cars
An electric car uses electric power instead of an internal combustion engine powered by liquid or gaseous fuels like diesel fuel, gasoline, LPG or methane. It has been increasingly recognized that electric cars provide an opportunity to reduce global GHG emissions [3] and greatly increase air quality. Even though the emissions by a vehicle determine only a part of total emissions related to mobility (apart from emissions during production of energy, production of a vehicle and ...
Allotments, community gardens and ...
By 2050, the majority of people (67 %) will live in urban areas [1], one of the reasons why urban agriculture and gardening is becoming a topic of growing interest. In addition to providing fresh food to urban areas, community and rooftop gardens provide environmental, social and health benefits, as well as opportunities for economic development. Urban agriculture does not only address climate issues by supporting CO2 storage in urban areas, but it also addresses environmental issues ...
From 3G to 5G District Heating and Cooling networks (energy generation to ...
DESCRIPTION: The new generation of district heating and cooling networks are based on low and/or ultra-low temperature sources of renewable energy and waste heat for heating as well as high-temperature cooling. Such networks provide key options for decarbonizing the thermal energy needs of the building sector and allow supporting strategies for climate neutrality in the urban context for reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions while increasing energy security. This factsheet ...
Latent thermal energy storage (PCM)
Thermal energy storage (TES) systems can store heat or cold to be used later, under varying conditions such as temperature, place, time, or power. The main use of TES is to overcome the mismatch between energy generation and energy use [1]. The main requirements for the design of a TES system are high energy density in the storage material (storage capacity), good heat transfer between the HTF and the storage material, mechanical and chemical stability of the storage material, compatibility ...
Evacuated tubes solar collectors
Solar thermal panels are devices that convert solar radiation into heat and transfer it to a heat transfer fluid (typically, water or an anti-freeze fluid) to storage or the point of use. Solar thermal systems are usually implemented with a water storage tank, to reduce the production-demand fluctuations, and have high operational safety, a great performance ratio, and can account for at least 25 to 30 years of lifetime. Solar thermal collectors can be mainly divided into two types: tracking ...
Concept: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and utilisation (CCU)
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and utilisation (CCU) present themselves as crucial solutions in the emission reduction strategies for hard-to-abate industries that have few other decarbonization options, such as chemical, cement, and steel production. It can also be used in the production of hydrogen. CCS technologies prevent fossil-based CO₂ from entering the atmosphere by capturing it at the source and storing it safely underground so that it does not contribute to climate change. It ...
Solar PV implementation in Spain (past and future)
Photovoltaic (PV) energy policies can vary from one country to another and can change over time. In general, policies are designed to encourage the development and deployment of a technology by providing financial incentives, setting performance standards, and creating frameworks for the integration of systems into existing grids. In Spain, PV policy has been an important driver of the growth of the solar industry. The country has a strong solar resource and has implemented a number of ...
Vertical green infrastructure: Green fences, green noise barriers, vertical ...
Vertical green infrastructure (VGI) has a great potential to support climate transition of compact urban areas. VGI does not compete for land use, but is able to support microclimate regulation through cooling capacities, to reduce noise pollution, to recycle and upcycle rainwater and grey water, to produce food or habitat for species, and to generate pleasant green spaces, with a significant aesthetic value. From a built environment perspective, these solutions can enhance buildings’ ...
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS)
Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) are a wide category of water interventions to align modern drainage systems with natural water processes. SUDS comprise “a sequence of management practices, control structures, solutions and strategies designed to efficiently and sustainably drain surface water, while minimising pollution and managing the impact on water quality of local water bodies” [1]. SUDS can be considered more sustainable than traditional drainage methods ...
Residual Value Calculator for construction parts/material, consumers ...
Currently, there is a widespread lack of awareness on the economic value of building products and components deriving from renovation, repurposing or change of layout in buildings. Especially in office and commercial buildings, the design might change the interior materials many years before technically necessary, leading to unnecessary waste. The Residual Value Calculator is a model that provides insights into the residual financial value of building products, such as the ...
The built environment industry mostly follows a linear economy model: from extraction of non-renewable virgin materials, through manufacturing and constructing, to disposal in landfills. Registration and documentation of products and materials used in the built environment can help the transition to a circular economy, encouraging their reuse and eliminating waste, thus reducing the negative environmental footprint of the building sector [2]. Online Material and/or Building ...
Industrial symbiosis refers to an association between industries where companies’ waste or side products turn into input materials for another company, creating economic gain for both [8]. The word “symbiosis” is usually associated with relationships in nature, where two or more species exchange materials, energy, or information in a mutually beneficial manner. In the case of industrial symbiosis, it is industrial players or companies, often from different sectors but located ...
Flooding, along with related storms, is the most important natural hazard in Europe in terms of human and economic loss [12] and the intensity of flood events has grown in the last years. In urban areas, the waterproofing of soils is incrementally increasing flood risk due to the presence of roads, industries and houses. The intensity and the frequency of flood events will increase in the next years due to global warming and the consequent change in the global water cycle. The resulting ...
Green infrastructure means introducing vegetation on/in man-made buildings and constructions to provide environmental, economic, and social benefits (i.e., clean air and water, climate regulation, food provision, erosion control, and places for recreation) [1]. Green roofs advantages over traditional solutions include reduction of surface runoff in large cities, reduced urban heat islands, support to biodiversity, improvement of the durability of waterproofing materials, increase of energy ...
20% of all food produced in the EU is currently wasted. 70% of this waste stems from households and processing. Although actions are primarily needed to reduce food waste, existing waste can be recycled in several ways to capture valuable nutrients [1]. When selecting recycling solutions for food waste, the food waste hierarchy can be used as an indicator as to which solution to give preference (see visual) [2]. Reuse for consumption and high-value products, followed by ...
The stakeholders engagement and dissemination plan is for defining your strategy for engaging and communicating with your stakeholders. It is used for understanding the context based on experiences or by analysing the situation. It helps to identify how differences in circumstances of the environment are related to the project. With this tool you can clearly plan your interaction with different stakeholders. It can be used as a guide to the identification and representation of the outputs of ...
Solar thermal collectors are devices that convert solar energy into thermal energy available in a working fluid, which can be used to cover the heating loads or can be converted into electricity. Nowadays, there are many typologies of solar thermal collectors, which can be classified in many different ways. Nevertheless, solar thermal collectors can be distinguished between small-scale and large-scale applications. Small-scale collectors are mainly used in small family houses to generate ...
The basic principles in urban rain water management and retention is to mimic nature, meaning to stay as close as possible to the natural water cycle. In an ideal case, infiltration can store water and then release it as needed. However, in urban environments this is not always possible, therefore, rainwater should be stored in a buffer and gradually released to the natural environment [7]. Alternative solutions for rainwater management and retention are for example ...
The United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) is a global initiative that provides an international platform for information exchange and partnership building to guide cities and communities in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The U4SSC is a UN initiative coordinated by ITU, UNECE and UN-Habitat and supported by other 16 UN bodies, that help support the development of institutional policies and strategies which encourage the use of digital technologies to facilitate digital ...
Data ownership refers to both the possession of and responsibility for information. Ownership implies power as well as control. The control of information includes not just the ability to access, create, modify, package, derive benefit from, sell or remove data, but also the right to assign these access privileges to others (Loshin, 2002). Data ownership is the right to control the use of data. It is the responsibility of the data owner to ensure that the data is used in a responsible manner ...
The concept of digital twins traces its origins to product development and simulations of the behaviour of physical objects. It emerged from manufacturing and prototyping such as those conducted by NASA and Formula One racing cars. The digital object that forms the twin looks the same and behaves the same as the “real” object, and so the digital twin can provide simulations and predictions. The application of digital twins not only provides accurate representation of complex ...
With the introduction of satellite images and geolocated data to a broad public, new opportunities are offered to city planners and governments to take informed decisions by quantitative analyses and even predictions based on these technologies. In doing so, urban phenomena, such as the relation of population demographics to current challenges of cities (as for instance, climate change in cities, crime or deprivation) can be discussed or future predictions of urban development modelled to ...
Public Code Management is a practice of developing and managing publicly funded software development openly. An ideal situation is to offer free software for everyone. In contrast to proprietary software development, the innovative solution is developed by public organisation with everyone able to share, explore, utilise, and improve the work. The core principle is responding to fundamental rights of individuals. Public code movement encourages towards openness (Source: Publiccode) For ...
Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms (MIMs) are the minimal but sufficient capabilities needed to achieve interoperability of data, systems, and services between buyers, suppliers and regulators across governance levels around the world. Because the mechanisms are based on an inclusive list of baselines and references, they take into account the different backgrounds of cities and communities and allow cities to achieve interoperability based on a minimal common ground. The MIMs are aimed to ...
Agile systems development, including prototyping and sandboxes, is a method of software development that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and rapid iteration. This approach is based on the Agile Manifesto, which advocates for a more flexible and responsive development process that can adapt to changing requirements and customer needs. In the construction industry, Agile systems development can be used to create digital tools and solutions that support the design, construction, and ...
Interoperable Europe is an initiative of the European Commission for a reinforced interoperability policy in the public sector. It evolved out of the ISA² funding programme of the European Union that supported the development of digital solutions to enable public administrations, businesses, and citizens in Europe to benefit from interoperable cross-border and cross-sector public services. That programme finished at the end of December 2020. The issue, of course, is still not solved, and ...
The local data spaces policy in the construction industry refers to the creation of digital representations of a building's data in a secure and controlled environment. This includes information about the design, construction, and operation of the building, such as building plans, specifications, schedules, and energy consumption data. The purpose of this policy is to provide a centralized repository of building data that can be easily accessed and shared by all stakeholders, including ...
Open data models refer to the sharing of data in a freely accessible format, allowing for greater transparency, collaboration, and reuse of information. In the construction industry, open data models can be applied to building information modelling (BIM), which is a digital representation a building or infrastructure. By using open data models, construction professionals can access and use building data more easily, leading to improved decision-making and increased efficiency in the design, ...
Building, structure and infrastructure content in cities is exchanged many ways. When software dominates in market it may be referred as ‘de facto’ standard, but technical guidelines and specifications are decided by its developers. Open standards, on the other hand, are freely available for anyone to use without any legal, technical, or financial restrictions. Those are a set of technical guidelines that ensure consistency and interoperability across different systems used in ...
The Measuring and Monitoring services and tools may include the following parts: learning info kit - why measuring & monitroring is important to enable good city governance, KPIs, impact and monitoring methods, data collection sources & respective ICT technology, tools and services to support measuring & monitoring of green and digital transitions. There are many EU research project currently running in Europe to support cities in measuring and monitoring tasks. The example ...
Urban development projects are usually complex tasks where failures based on environmental circumstances, such as flooding or strong winds, can cause disastrous outcomes. With the introduction of digital technologies and the availability of large amounts of data, various data-driven methods have been developed to inform leaders of such projects upfront on future situations and any possible effects of planned developments. This allows stakeholders to assess risks, evaluate designs and identify ...
IoT sensors are connected devices collecting and transmitting data over the internet. They can be monitoring environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, air quality. Edge computing is technology doing data processing near the data source, so called at the edge network sometimes also called also fog. Together these solutions can improve performance and efficiency of environmental monitoring system because less data is transferred, and local processing reduces processing in main ...
Given the exponentially increasing amount of data being generated in cities and communities by many different agencies and the fact that much of this data could be of value to other agencies, increasing numbers of local data sharing ecosystems (Local Data Space) are being set up, where many different agencies can make useful data that they are gathering available for use by other agencies. The aim is to make it easy for organisations to offer up their data and easy for potential users of that ...
The renovation supporting solutions can potentially support users (Facility managers, Building owners, ESCOs) in the design and selection of most appropriate building renovation actions. In modern data-driven developments, this is achieved by leveraging the real-time data coming from the actual operation of the building combined with occupants’ behaviuor- and comfort profiles. With the support of data science (i.e. AI algorithms) an alternative renovation scenarios for the selected ...
The Predicitve Maintenance supporting tools in general aim at the facilitating predictive maintenance tasks for various large energy systems (e.g. HVAC) installed in buildings. Existing modern real-time data based solutions are able to support recognizing building technical systems' malfunctions, inefficiencies and optimization possibilities. Continuous data collection and data analytics are enabled by installed smart building infrastructures (such BACS system and data cloud ...
City Dashboards
City Dashboards are typically deployed by stakeholders such as municipalities, provinces or any other organization interested and involved in urban planning. Dashboards provide cities with visual insights about various indicators in their city environment, such as air quality, emissions, traffic, and road safety. These insights can be generated in real-time, based on different current, as well as historical, data that has been collected in the past. Examples of such data can be real-time sensor ...
CO2 Emission Trading Platforms
There is a strong global interest on reducing CO2 emissions. Two cost-effective main routes for this are emissions trading and carbon taxes. CO2 trading platforms are digital marketplaces where businesses, governments, and individuals can buy and sell carbon allowances. It may include one or more exchanges, brokerage, and auctions for allowances. Services may be provided by private sector or government agencies. Actors purchase credits either for compliance (targets) or voluntary purposes. ...
City Platforms are a key part of any city architecture and cities and communities will each have a variety of different platforms at different layers of their overall city platform. The logic behind the use of platforms is straightforward – instead of using many separate applications containing duplicating functionally, all common functionalities can be collected into a platform and solutions which are built on top of that platform then only need to possess unique functionality. The ...
BIM and CIM (Building/Civil Information Model)
Building Information Model (BIM) and Civil Information Model (CIM) are digital tools transforming the construction industry. BIM is a set of technologies, processes, and policies of creating and managing digital representations of a building or structure, while CIM is focused on civil infrastructure facilities and sometimes called infraBIM. These tools enable stakeholders to design, construct and operate projects in city environment more efficiently. These tools help to manage life cycle of ...
Greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring from space is a solution that uses satellites to measure carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N20) and ozone (O3) emissions in the atmosphere. Construction industry produces a significant portion of global GHG emissions, and buildings with their energy sources are one of largest contributors to these emissions. The technology allows to track the sources and movement of emissions. Carbon dioxide monitoring satellite (Source: ESA ...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications to climate neutrality
There are a range of AI applications that can contribute to climate neutrality in cities, across various themes, including energy, transport and built environment for example by: Integrating and optimizing smart urban transport systems via mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) or other single on-demand mobility services; Optimizing energy production and consumption via home technologies with a focus on energy saving and behavior change; Monitoring changes in the natural and the built environment ...
Decision making in the urban environment is typically performed using a scenario-based analysis. Stakeholders define a base scenario, which serves as the current situation in a city. Additionally, a reference scenario in which e.g. a road is closed can be defined to study the effects of the closure and make a comparison with the base scenario. Source: TNO For a scenario-based analysis in a city it is required that multiple domains are covered, such as traffic, air quality, noise and energy. ...
Predictive modelling is a crucial element for both real-time management and long-term planning in urban areas. For example, road sensor data can be used for real-time traffic management in a city, while predictions based on this data can enable decision makers to study long-term effects of interventions in a city. Typically, predictive modelling is performed for one domain in isolation, such as traffic predictions. However, for an integral view on a city it is important to combine such ...
In urban areas, rainwater falls and runs off mineralized surfaces (asphalt, concrete, bitumen, etc.). For cities, this generates problems in terms of: water pollution: instead of being absorbed by the soil, rainwater is loaded with pollutants from the leaching of the impermeable surfaces on which it runs; flooding, due to an excessive volume of runoff water that can clog up the existing sewage system. This is why there are integrated rainwater management techniques at the plot level, ...
Hard drainage-flood prevention
This NBS focuses on the delivery additional ecological components within a hard/built engineering approach to water management. They aid the reduction in pluvial flood risk in urban areas and improve the quality of water within sewerage systems. The main approaches and benefits of hard drainage flood prevention are: Hard-drainage flood prevention includes river engineering and dam construction to control the amount of discharge. Dams can be built to hold water back and release it in a ...
The EU Waste framework directive (Directive 2018/851/EU) defines a target to recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035, along with separate biowaste collection or recycling at source by 2023. Composting is a natural method of waste recycling whereby the organic waste, under natural or induced conditions, is converted into organic fertiliser or soil additives. Community composting is a localised solution for recycling organic solids, wherein different waste generators from one or more urban ...
The natural and built environment that surrounds us largely dictates our behaviours. When it comes to transportation, the domination of the streetscape by car-lanes naturally leads to higher car ownership and use. To address this challenge, the development of well-connected green corridors can promote a modal shift away from cars and towards sustainable mobility means, whether this is walking, cycling or micromobility. Instead of concrete/asphalt roads with little to no vegetation, green ...
Urban garden bio-filter
Urban Garden Biofilter is an air filter framed in an urban garden to reduce the emissions of underground car parks or other stationary sources of pollutant compounds in urban environments. This NBS can be adapted to existing car parks or tunnels, or included in the design of new infrastructures. Urban garden bio-filter, URBAN GreenUP project It is composed of three main elements: the extractor system to extract the polluted air from underground areas/ car parks; the plenum section to ...
Green filter areas are land application system, constructed to provide a buffer or pollution filter between industrial operations, roads, public spaces or walkways. Different typologies of vegetation have different performances and can be combined with solid barriers. Green Filter area in Colombia A specific application of green filter is used for treating water (wastewater). It consists of a plot area, sized according to the influent to be treated, which has forests installed and is ...
Green shading structures
They are mainly shade structures with a total or partial vegetated surface. Shelters in Valladolid (Spain), URBAN GreenUP project There are different types of shading structure, depending on the structure design and the type of vegetation used, e.g. structure could be textile or wood; vegetation could be climbing and hanging plants; and installation could be fixed to the façades or done by posts. Parklets in Izmir (Turkey), URBAN GreenUP project ...
Urban runoff can contribute to flooding and abrupt contribution to flow in peri-urban/urban streams. It is also frequently characterized by poor water quality, as runoff might contain a mix of contaminated sediments, pollutants, oils through to feltilizers and pesticides if these are not properly applied. In order to meet such challenges, alternative solutions exist, such as the one specified below. Constructed Wetlands (CW) are fully engineered systems using natural processes to treat water ...
The needs of sustainable and climate resilience cities are driven along with social, ecological and technological transformations. In recent years, technological advances have increased remarkably, which has prompted the exploration of how urban systems can be transformed into "smart cities". The use of information and communications technologies, the Internet of Things, and robotic systems and artificial intelligence have enabled the creation of "smart" technologies to ...
Green Pavements and hard drainage pavements are particular types of pavements made out of a porous concrete surface, open pore pavers or asphalt, with an underlying stone reservoir or water channels touching the soil. Those solutions allow water to filter on the inside and be absorbed by the ground -or drained via a drain tile- instead of running over. Types of green pavements. Source: www.pavershare.org Some types of green pavement may be: Traditional Concrete/Asphalt: the standard ...
Swales are shallow, flat bottomed, vegetated open channels designed to convey, treatand often attenuate surface water runoff. When incorporated into site design, they can enhance the natural landscape and provide aesthetic and biodiversity benefits. They are often used to drain roads, paths or car parks, where it is convenient to collect distributed in flows of runoff, or as a means of conveying runoff on the surface while enhancing access corridors or other open space. Swales can have a ...
Verges spaces are empty spaces that together add up to a large area with the potential to be used for pollinator (Diptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera) promotion, which requires management guidance to determine the floral species as well as provision to reduce collisions with vehicles. Providing shelters for pollinators is strategic as they often nest in fallen tree trunks, rocks or the ground usually removed by human activity. Management of road verges for pollinators In addition, in many ...
Healthy soil can serve as a vital carbon store. Climate-smart soil management is therefore crucial and can help to make agricultural practices more resilient to the consequences of climate change. Innovative technologies can improve fertility and soil biodiversity as well as reduce risks for erosion. Conservation agriculture practices such as minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation also help to prevent carbon being released from the soil into the ...
Cities are amongst the biggest contributors to carbon emissions because of widescale urbanisation, while also being highly vulnerable to resultant impacts of these emissions due to climate change impacts. Solutions that reduce or capture more carbon emissions than they release are called carbon sinks. Urban carbon sinks refer to a combination of solutions focused on maximising carbon capture and sequestration through the plantation of particular trees in urban and peri-urban green spaces, ...
Solid and liquid/solid free waste fractions generated in households can be separated for further valorisation. Separation technologies include commercial mechanical techniques as screw press or decanting centrifuges. Once separated, the solid fraction can be converted into biogas in an anaerobic digestion unit to be used within the building. On the other hand, the liquid fraction (solid free) can be treated with indoor and/or outdoor Nature Based Solutions (NBS) such as multi-level green walls/ ...
Plastics are among the key sectors identified in the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. The need for solutions that promote circularity in this sector will be increasing as their consumption is expected to double in the coming 20 years. Plastic Waste Management refers to the prevention, reuse, recycle, recovery and disposal of plastic waste generated by households and companies in an area. Recycling plastic material refers to the process of recovering waste or scrap plastic and reprocessing ...
The transition to a low-carbon economy will lead to an exponential increase in demand for batteries and raw materials for batteries (such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese) - this supply risk could at least partially be reduced by system level circular economy (CE) approaches. CE is an economic system in which life cycle thinking, sustainability, systems thinking are at the core. CE concept aims to keep materials in use and design out waste and emissions by using recycled and secondary ...
There is a global need to find and use alternative protein sources in order to improve the sustainability of the food system. While alternative proteins are studied, the easiest shift in the consumers' diet is to exchange meat with fish intake. Nevertheless, this higher consumption must be done avoiding overfishing and improving the current catching processes: fish by-catch and discards account for approx. 30% of the total world capture fisheries, which translates into approximately 30 M of ...
Circular Food Systems
As cities around the world are growing, we need to find new ways to feed growing urban populations. Our current linear food system is wasteful, inefficient, and resource-intensive. Roughly a third of the food produced worldwide is wasted and ends up in landfills, creating harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Cities (and their peri-urban regions) can take on a leading role in creating sustainable and circular food systems with better waste management. Closed-loop food systems not only decrease food ...
Grinded Bio Waste and Blackwater (water from toilets or kitchens) generated in households can be treated in Anaerobic Membrane Bio-Reactors (AnMBR) for the recovery of: Reuse of treated blackwater ( >90%) for toilet or fertigation, Compost: The sludge from the anaerobic digester can be emptied regularly to produce high-quality compost. Renewable energy. Absorption technologies can be used to ensure biogas quality. The solution would also include biogas cleaning to increase CH4 ...
Black Liquor is a by-product of pulp from mills that make products from trees, such as paper. It is currently used to recover cooking chemicals and produce high-pressure steam used in the pulp and paper-making process. It is composed of different ingredients from these processes such as lignin, hemicellulose, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium sulfide (Na2S). Source: adapted from Hamaguchi, M., Cardoso, M., & Vakkilainen, E. (2012). Alternative Technologies for Biofuels Production in ...
Construction and Buildings: urban mining model to assess circular ...
Urban mining is the process of recovering and reusing materials of existing buildings. An Urban Mining Model is about preserving stock of materials present in existing buildings. It is an applied contribution towards stepping-up of circularity in the housing construction sector with a focus on optimal re-use of secondary building materials and, at the same time, reduction of CO2 relates to the use of new building materials. For city governments in particular, this model shows different ...
There is a clear need to decrease usage of non-renewable raw materials in many applications including packaging. In packaging this means usage of renewable raw materials and decreasing the amount of used packaging material. Target is to produce materials from renewable raw materials that can be used as packaging materials. Packaging materials are typically multilayer structures including several materials like foils, coatings, substrates and inks. There is also need to decrease the material ...
Plastics: Expanding the use of bio-based and compostable materials
Currently, the share of the bioplastics from the overall global plastics production is only 1% (2.1Mt), and it is applied largely for packaging solutions. Globally, sustainability strategies of different countries include replacement of fossils with renewables, however, this intended increase in biomass use will potentially lead to trade-offs that need to be studied. In 2019, material use took up to 2% of global agricultural area, from this share biobased plastics covered approximately ...
Circular electronics and ICT: New processes & strategies for the ...
A variety of new technologies and waste recovery systems are being developed in response to European legislation and market forces that aim to recover critical raw materials (CRM) from end-of-life appliances. These diverse resource recovery processes are often regrouped under the concept of “urban mining”, which considers cities’ waste streams as economically important reserves of metals needed for digital and low-carbon technologies. Recycling waste electrical and electronic ...
Urban biodegradable waste refers to waste from gardens and parks, food waste from households, restaurants, food services, and markets, as well as waste from food processing, excluding waste from forestry or agriculture, textiles, wood, or paper. Across the EU, between 118 and 138 million tons of biodegradable waste are generated each year, which makes up almost half of municipal solid waste. Urban biodegradable waste discarded in landfills poses a major threat for the environment as its ...
Municipal Solid Waste treatment: anaerobic digestion for biogas ...
The anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is a common process implemented throughout the world as it offers a sustainable source of biogas while valorising municipal waste. Anaerobic digestion also produces digestate, a nutrient-dense mixture that can be used by farmers as a high-quality fertilizer: Source: Adapted from: Anaerobic co-digestion is a variant of this process which refers to the mixing, digestion and treatment of two or more organic ...
Muncipal solid waste separation at source: pay as you throw
Pay as you throw (PAYT) is policy instrument that charges citizens for the amount of waste they produce, so the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) services are considered as an utility. It is often linked with the purchase of trash bags directly by the citizens, usually marked with a code. Source: © 2014 WasteZero There are different types of pay as you throw systems, with different outcomes and effectiveness. Cash-based system: Residents pay an amount in cash for every bag they dispose of ...
Green hydrogen refers to electrolytic hydrogen produced using electricity generated from renewable energy sources, and also to hydrogen produced via different methods using other renewable sources such as biogas, biomethane, bio-waste and other renewable sources. Since hydrogen’s production translates into extracting it from its compound by using energy from other primary sources, it is an energy carrier used to move, store, and deliver energy. Source: Hydrogen Council ...
Solar heating technologies collect thermal energy from the sun and use this heat for drying purposes, for space heating/ cooling, or to provide process heat. With the advanced solar process heat technologies, almost 50% of head demand in the industrial sector could potentially be met. Heat in the lower temperature range (<80°C) can be provided with commercially available systems, such as flat plate collectors (FPC) and evacuated tube collectors (ETC). For medium-temperature processes, ...
Heat Pumps are conversion devices able to transfer heat from a lower temperature heat source into a higher temperature heat sink. Within the last years, due to its large potential, its use for industrial application, recovering heat either from renewable sources or waste heat has been in the focus of the thermal sector. Industrial waste heat represents a valuable heat source for heat upgrade technologies due to its relatively high-temperature level in the form of, e.g. cooling liquid ...
Replacement of equipment
Replacement of equipment and machinery is defined as the “substitution of devices due to both economical operational cost reduction and/or the existence in the market of same kind of equipment with enhance characteristics”, and not necessarily due to failures or existent damage. The main benefits of renewal of equipment are: Maintenance cost: in general, maintenance and spare parts of old equipment increase along time in comparison with new devices, increasing the ...
Energy Management System (EMS) is the powerfull energy management concept that implies: Optimal integration of Distributed Energy Resources (generation, storage an consumption with special relevance of reneable energy) in the energy system, specially in the distribution and transport energy grids. The emerging and active participation of new energy profiles (active consumers, prosumers, aggregators...) in the energy framework, specially in the different existing and coming energy ...
Excess heat from certain processes can be a valuable resource for other processes within the industry and even for other industries or users, directly or after some transformation steps. In general industries have implemented solutions as long as these were cost-effective. However, heat recovery potential is still untapped due to a number of technical and non-technical barriers. Among them, the need to make the recovery cost-effective and the real possibility of reusing it by upgrading ...
Collective passenger transport can be defined in two categories: Conventional and high capacity public transport, which consists in transporting collectively citizens from one place to the other. Public transport systems usually operate along established routes and are managed on a schedule or timetable. The typical examples of mass public transport systems are buses, trains, trams, trolleybuses, or waterborne transport systems. High capacity public transport systems are the backbone of ...
Following the success of Unmanned Aircrafts, UAs (drones) in surveillance and remote sensing, drone delivery systems have begun to emerge as an alternative to trucks and vans for handling last-mile delivery. Drone delivery solutions are expected to reduce delivery costs, delivery time, congestion, GHG and local emissions in urban areas and hence free up space at ground level to create healthier, livable cities. Shared autonomous drone package delivery system operations The drone delivery ...
Mobility hubs provide a focal point in the transport network that seamlessly integrates different modes of transport, multi-modal supportive infrastructure, and turn spaces into places. It is designed and spatially organised in a way to facilitate access to transport modes and easy transfer between the modes, from rail, to buses, shared cars, shared bikes, and/or shared e-scooters, ride-hailing/shared taxis. Mobility hubs increase the inherent value of every single transport mode connected to ...
Energy management techniques
To reach the target of climate neutrality of European cities by 2030, it is very important to introduce renewable energy systems into the global energy system. To manage the fluctuating power generation of renewable energy systems, it is very important to use energy management techniques. One of the energy management techniques is to establish energy communities in these cities. e.g. AIT has made in cooperation with Wien Energie a study about energy communities as part of smart and sustainable ...
Microgrids
Microgrid is usually understood as sub-area of an electricity distribution network that is organized and operated independently but is connected to the public electricity grid. Several energy producers and consumers are connected to the microgrid, whereby its expansion is usually limited to campus, several buildings, or a neighborhood due to the limitations of the regulatory framework. The microgrid has an intelligent control system and optimizes operation in such a way that the highest ...
District heating and cooling systems consist of heating and/or cooling production facilities and distribution grids similar to electricity systems. They essentially produce heating and cooling energy remotely and transport it to the consumers. The sizes, temperatures, and energy supply options within these systems vary greatly across Europe and the World. The first and second generation of district heating systems usually refer to older and less efficient networks operating at high supply ...
Fuel cells
Fuel Cells (FC) are electrochemical devices that transform hydrogen and oxygen to obtain water and electrical power through an oxidation chemical reaction. FC are known as gas-to-power (or hydrogen-to-power) technologies. Unlike batteries, the reactive compounds are consumed continuously and produce electricity on-site: Figure: gas-fuel cell that produces hydrogen instantaneously and produces el. and heat in residential units in Japan https://www.j-lpgas.gr.jp/en/appliances/ FCs ...
Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy has a long tradition in human history, from thermal baths to heating and power generation. It represents an important resource of renewable energy. The use of geothermal energy normally requires high temperatures to be viable. This often means deeper and more expensive drilling work. Some technologies can produce power at lower temperatures but they are more expensive and usually less efficient resulting in a higher production cost. The drilling works represent the majority ...
Distributed wind
Distributed wind consists of wind turbines connected to the distribution level of the electric grid, to serve either on-site loads or local loads in the same grid. Use cases are utility (cooperative or publicly owned), industrial, residential, institutional, governmental, commercial, or agricultural. The most common grid applications are grid-connected microgrids, isolated grids, and remote off-grid [1]. In 2020, the average distributed wind project (excluding small-scale wind <100kW) ...
Envelope insulation
Building envelope consists of all components that separate the interior from the exterior in a building, it includes the roof, walls and floor. The most important principle for energy efficient construction is a continuous insulating envelope all around the building, which is also key to maintain comfortable indoor conditions. Figure from https://passipedia.org/planning/thermal_protection Thermal insulation is a construction material with low thermal conductivity (U-value), often less than ...
Chemical storage refers to storing electricity that can be released as required though chemical processes. Known also as batteries that can act as chemical energy storage and become future energy generation solutions more efficient and profitable. They are especially interesting for intermittent renewable sources (e.g. solar or wind energy generation) for making efficient use of the availability. There is nowadays different types of batteries. Follows up a non-exhaustive list of typologies ...
Sustainable biomass and biogas power
Biomass includes all land- and water-based vegetation, as well as all organic wastes. As a renewable energy source, biomass is used for facility heating, electric power generation, and combined heat and power (CHP). For the cities, the preferable way of the utilization of biomass for electricity generation is in CHP plants with supply to a district heating network since this is the most effective way to use biomass. CHP is typically consisting of a biomass-fired boiler whose steam is used to ...
Co-generation is the simultaneous production of electricity and useful heat. In a regular power plant, the heat remaining in the generation of electricity is released to the environment, mostly through cooling towers or cooling water, whereas in a cogeneration plant, the heat is recovered for use in homes, businesses, and industry. Source: Energy transition - Cogeneration (https://wiki.energytransition.org/wiki/cogeneration/) Such a system has valuable properties to enhance the efficiency ...
Micro-hydropower generation in urban water networks
Cities are a framework where the water-energy nexus is becoming critical due to demographic movements, economic growth, or the inexorable increase in the demand for both resources. Metropolises around the world are also facing global change pressures due to climate change and water scarcity, which are making it a challenge to continue to deliver core urban water services without increasing the impact on the natural environment. Urban water networks can be considered a source of renewable energy ...
NZC Civic Environment Mapping Tool
A synthesized ‘NZC Civic Environment Mapping Tool’ has been developed to: -integrate key insights from the analysis of the various stakeholder mapping canvases -integrate elements from the NZC priority areas and levers of change that the cities will have defined as key entry points to their CCC process -provide Mission cities with a simple canvas to start their mapping process It captures diverse stakeholder types, resources and degree of influence, all situated within a framework of ...
Concepts that support climate neutrality city targets (combine several ...
A concept is a principle or an idea, which supports climate neutrality city targets, that can combine several solutions together. Below several concepts that can help in decarbonizing cities are presented by the Net Zero Cities experts: By accounting for all three scopes of GHG emissions in a city's inventory, policymakers and stakeholders can get a more complete picture of the city's carbon footprint and prioritize mitigation strategies accordingly. For example, a city ...
A sewage heat recovery via pump system is designed to withdraw heat from warm wastewater (12-15°C) through heat exchangers, in a closed loop to avoid mixing; preheating cold tap water, and reducing heating demands and fossil fuel consumption. These systems can be implemented for individual buildings to pre-heat tap water for domestic hot water and space heating demands, or on a larger scale in sewer plants and channels having the potential to supply low-heat to a district heating network ...
Sustainable biomass and biogas technologies
Biomass is defined as organic matter derived from plants or animals available on a renewable basis. Cities can collect waste biomass to produce biogas, or can get the wood biomass from the region. As it is distributed worldwide, one of the advantages of biomass utilization for energy is that almost every country can utilize its own resources. Moreover, since it is easy to store, it can be used for peak load generations of electrical energy. Nevertheless, to ensure a secure supply, long-term ...
The built environment makes up almost a third of global greenhouse gas emissions and the embedded emissions of materials used in construction are contributing greatly to this. Concrete alone is responsible for 4 to 8% of the world’s CO2. Circularity in the built environment and the use of biobased materials can play a significant role in reducing cities’ carbon emissions. Schoonschip: A sustainable floating neighborhood. ...
Natural ventilation (or passive ventilation) makes use of natural forces, such as wind and thermal buoyancy, to circulate air to and from an indoor space in order to maintain good air quality. These ventilation systems work to regulate the internal air temperature as well as bring fresh air in and send state air out. This is largely achieved through the opening and closing of windows and vents which act as a source of air as well as exhaust. Natural ventilation: single-sided ventilation, ...
Low-GWP heat pumps
Heat Pumps (HP) are conversion devices able to transfer heat from a lower temperature heat source into a higher temperature heat sink. There are several types of HP (electricity compression heat pumps, gas driven HP, heat driven HP, etc.), the most common and efficient the electrical ones. When electricity comes from renewables, it can be considered green. Due to its versatility and high energy efficiency, the development of HP technology will be crucial in this transition toward ...
Street lighting is a fundamental service provided by municipal governments. It ensures safe transport, makes cities safer, and allows cities to look their best. Smart street lightings are characterised by the fact that the individual light point not only fulfils the function of the lighting, but also offers additional services for citizens. An increase in the scope of functions offers the linking of services and makes further services possible, such environmental monitoring (noise and air ...
The free-cooling systems are based on a simple idea: exchange indoor air with outdoor air, which allows you for conditioning a zone for free. Free cooling cannot be used alone as it depends a lot on climate conditions, so it is usually applied together with a mechanical ventilation system or air-conditioning system In air-to-air heat exchangers, there are three modes of function: heating, cooling, and free cooling. In the heating and cooling mode the system uses the outside air ...
Demand management
The development of sustainable and climate neutral energy production will increase a lot of new fluctuating renewable energy generation to the grid. This increases the need for new methods to balance the electricity grid. Demand response is a method for matching the demand for energy to the available supply of energy (ISO/IEC 15067-3:2012). Demand response is typically classified as implicit and explicit demand response. Implicit demand response services include among others time-varying ...
Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS)
Building automation and control systems contribute to the energy-efficient operation of buildings of all use types. They enable the energy-efficient and cost-effective integration of local renewable energy supply technologies, as well as the management of energy storage and flexibilities to optimally balance energy demand and supply in the operation of building energy systems. The market for building automation systems provides several tested approaches and commercial solutions e.g. BEOS from ...
Geothermal energy for H&C
Geothermal energy has a long tradition in human history, from thermal baths to heating and power generation. It represents an important resource of renewable energy. Geothermal heating plants can come in a variety of types depending on the geological conditions, availability of geothermal water and the needed supply temperatures in the heating system. Depending on the configurations and available resources, geothermal water can be used directly if at sufficiently high temperatures, using heat ...
Climate-smart urban agriculture
Climate-smart greenhouses are making use of innovative solutions to adapt to changing conditions in cities as a consequence of climate change. They allow for food production in densely-populated urban areas with a minimal environmental footprint, using less resources (energy, water) and space than traditional greenhouses and adapting to changing conditions such as rising temperatures or risks of heavy ...
Joinery is the component used to dress the openings (openings intended to let light and people circulate), i.e. doors and windows. Windows play an essential role in bioclimatism. In winter they must capture free solar gain while reducing heat loss. In summer, they must limit direct solar radiation to avoid overheating, while enable natural lighting. Therefore, joinery is often supplemented by shutters and sun protection. Limit losses in winter: Single glazed joinery is inefficient. ...
From the land use planning perspective, urban green spaces or urban green areas are defined by Corine Land Cover classification[1] as “Areas with vegetation within or partly embraced by urban fabric. This class is assigned for urban greenery, which usually has recreational or ornamental character and is usually accessible for the public, and can also include small water bodies. It includes parks, gardens, city squares with greenery, vegetated areas, cemetery with vegetation, green inner ...
Current global developments put increasing economic and social pressures on urban systems. While current risks in key sectors such as water (water stress, scarcity, floods), ecosystems (soil, land, biodiversity, etc.) or food (decrease on production, irrigation, etc.) are clearly identified, existing solutions tend to tackle them individually with scarce considerations of intersectoral impacts (e.g. the use of water or energy in the food, or the use of water for energy production and how that ...
Industrial Symbiosis (IS) is an innovative approach that brings together companies from different sectors to promote the valorisation of waste, improvement of resource efficiency and reduction of environmental impact.(Optimising Environmental Performance of Symbiotic Networks Using Semantics - ScienceDirect) Industrial Symbiosis involves an exchange of products, by-products and/or waste between different industries. Industrial processes use resources such as raw material and energy to produce ...
The concept of the 15-minute city is one of the most prominent attempts to avoid or shorten trips in people's everyday lives. This can be achieved if essential services (e.g. shops, pharmacies, schools, work places, hospitals, leisure destinations etc.) are physically close to people's residential bases. The 15-minute city concept is thus tightly linked to spatial planning strategies and places strong emphasis on neighbourhood-based planning. The 15-minute city can be a major ...
Smart grid is the concept that describes the evolution of power systems to integrate and utilise techniques to adjust the flow of power to optimise the match between electricity supply and demand. The term "smart grids" is used to define the integration of new technologies and methods, often data-driven, in existing power system infrastructure. Sensing infrastructure, smart metering, information and communication technologies (ICT), such as sensing devices and smart metering; ...
Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and permanently storing it in plants, soils, oceans, geological features, or long-lived products like cement, where it can be locked away for decades or centuries – this results in a negative emission. Negative emissions can be achieved through a wide-array of approaches, both technological and nature-based. Technological removal approaches include: Direct Air Capture and Storage ...
As it happens with some other subsets of sustainability term or its application (i.e.: climate-neutral city, smart-sustainable city), there is not unique and clear definition for the eco-district term. Generalist definitions describe an eco-district as an urban development aiming to deploy the objectives of sustainable development, focusing on integrating environmental, social and economic goals. However, there is also an innovative component in the way that urban development is developed; an ...
The European Commission’s Renovation Wave strategy [1] states that “The Commission will introduce Digital Building Logbooks that will integrate all building related data provided by the upcoming Building Renovation Passports Smart Readiness Indicators, Level(s) and EPCs to ensure compatibility and integration of data throughout the renovation journey”. A digital building logbook is a common repository for all relevant building data. Functioning as a ...
Citizens and urban stakeholder collection: co-create the portfolio
The overarching process of Activating an inclusive ecosystem for change is at the heart of the Climate Transition Map approach, and is intended to expand and gain more momentum during each iteration (or turn through the Map). Co-create the portfolio process with an inclusive activation of your local ecosystems is key to support and enable a strong Climate City Contract. It’s important to create and coordinate a comprehensive portfolio of actions with a range of connected interventions ...
GHG emissions / Scope 1, 2 & 3
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic. Water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and ozone (O3) are the primary GHGs in the earth’s atmosphere. Moreover, there are a number of entirely human-made GHGs in the atmosphere, such as the halocarbons and other chlorine- and bromine containing substances (source). GHG emissions caused by human activities - also called anthropogenic emissions - ...
European Commission Information Session - Tuesday 4th April
Systems Mapping Guide
This guide will walk you through the tools needed to start to build your own systems maps. Although useful for anyone wishing to teach or learn systems mapping it is primarily designed for those facilitating systems change initiatives or running a systems innovation lab. The guide starts with a high-level overview of the value and relevance of mapping for those interested in changing systems. The body of the content is a composite of four main dimensions to mapping systems outlined on the ...
The systemic design toolkit is for change-makers willing to trigger a process of systemic transformation. The tools are meant to be used during collaborative co-creation sessions. This booklet will guide you through a selection of eight techniques from the toolkit. These are categorised according to different phases of the design process, but that does not mean that you cannot use them in different ways. We invite you to be creative, to use and adapt them to your project. We hope this kit will ...
This UNDP guidebook presents an approach to help a broad range of development practitioners prepare for, engage in, and manage systems transformation using a portfolio approach in complex development spaces. We developed this guidebook as a way to formalize our process and learnings to date, and leverage these to support others as they initially contemplate—and eventually work towards implementation of a portfolio-based approach for addressing complex development challenges in their own ...
This Systems Innovation Toolkit is designed as an open-source set of modules that can be used for enabling a systems change initiative in the context of addressing climate change adaptation and transformation. The toolkit is designed for a lab team, hub, or initiate aimed at create an ecosystem for systemic change around climate change. The building blocks of this toolkit are the canvases. Each canvas deals with one key aspect of systems innovation; the canvas will help you think through and ...
This is shared from the PROSPECT+ collection of replicable projects. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and verification Link: https://www.h2020prospect.eu
According to the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GESI) [1], digitalization can improve: Healthcare and wellbeing, by mean of telemedicine (like in Norway), to support the healthcare system via phones, through the real-time air quality monitoring (like in the City of Cork), to warn people when the air quality is not good for sports, etc. Economic development and housing, through the sharing or peer-to-peer accommodation platforms (such as spareroom). Engagement and community ...
Radically reducing greenhouse gas emissions requires urgent and transformative action at scale. Quick technological fixes are not enough. The problems cities face in mitigating and adapting to climate change are complex, rooted in technical, economic, financial, organisational, political, cultural, and social systems. These are all interconnected and constantly adapting to one another, meaning their interdependencies can block necessary change. Inherited structures – such as planning ...
By categorising stakeholders in a matrix, according to their impact, influence, importance, contribution, ability to block and engagement, an overall engagement strategy can be devised.
How to gain better insight into the groups of people you want to cater to, and the kind of needs they have, is a fundamental question for every project or organization. The Target Group canvas is a quick and easy way to work out an overview and develop an understanding of the different people your work might reach, and the resources you need to do so. Target Group is probably best used when you are trying to work out some initial ideas about who you want to cater to, and why. It is also a nice ...
The QuickStart stakeholder Engagement: Engagement canvas serves as a tool to quickly construct a plan, which can be used to effectively engage with a particular stakeholder.
The Stakeholder Analysis Table can be used to analyze the interest and motivation of stakeholders while setting-up a multi-stakeholder group. To conduct further analysis as the project evolves, to bring in any missing stakeholders and check on the relevance of the membership. It can be used for brainstorming, workshops and for idea knowledge exchanges after a proper mapping of the stakeholders to be involved. The following three columns describe the stakeholders’ possible involvement and ...
Stakeholder visualization is a tool for obtaining deep knowledge about your stakeholders and their needs, motivations and drivers for participating in your innovation. It will help you create an approach by creating a visual knowledge about stakeholders. This way you can customize activities about specific issues and take into account the needs and desires of your stakeholder. This tool can be used to deepen your insights in the stakeholders and determine the needed characteristics for the ...
The QuickStart Stakeholder Engagement: Analysis canvas serves as a tool to quickly construct a plan, which can be used to effectively engage with a particular stakeholder.
After a comprehensive overview has been created of relevant stakeholders, the Stakeholder Power Categories canvas will help to categorise and prioritise those stakeholders in terms of power and impact. Use methods listed below before applying this canvas.
The RACI framework is an effective way of defining roles and responsibilities in decision making. Through the mapping process, it is possible to identify the key stakeholder that need to be engaged to build consensus and arrive at a decision in a participatory manner.
The System Map is a visual representation of the system behind the innovation, whether it be a service or a product. It helps take on a systemic view of the solution and see connections between the different actors that might otherwise not have been perceived. It also maps out the flow of materials, energy, information and money throughout the system. This helps understand where possible opportunities might lie to increase value, efficiency and/or efficacy.
The Stakeholder Identification canvas aims to provide a comprehensive overview of relevant stakeholders, which include those who benefit from the proposed project as well as those who might be disadvantaged, as part of an inclusive approach to participation.
The Stakeholder Map is a tool for understanding who your partners are or might be and what their role is in relation to your organization. It specifies and visualises the different levels of engagement that the stakeholders may have. This model also states what role the specific stakeholders play in your strategy. It also states if the different stakeholders work together or are involved in co-production and co-design.
The Stakeholder ecosystem map tool aims at identifying and mapping stakeholders based on the sector they belong to and on their level of importance. It should be used at the beginning of the project and can be repeated several times during the project cycle to adapt the group if needed to observe changes that have occurred. It is a visualization tool used to identify stakeholders you are trying to reach. It is a tool for mapping actors that surround the city and those that could potentially ...
The community map enables users to map their urban stakeholders and prioritise them based on their power to be an ally, audience or influencer. The mapping is topic based and requires a focus area, initiative or action to be defined before starting the process. This method of mapping urges users to reflect on the impact of the action, which in turn defines who would be an ally, a target audience member or an influencer.
Stationary Energy (Buildings)
Stationary energy is related to energy use and supply in buildings. Buildings account for 40% of energy consumption in cities. Hence, a significant switch to renewable energy in all buildings and facilities is vital. Implement energy-efficient measures to reduce energy demand and improve energy efficiency. For 75% of the EU's existing building stock, energy performance is poor and the buildings were constructed before current energy requirements were in place. Only 11% of the EU’s ...
Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS)
The cost saving acquired by minimising the consumption of energy by a private entity in an Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) are utilised to fund the investments of the municipality. EEOSs are legitimately enforceable control mechanisms. The entities are assigned duties of meeting certain energy-saving aims by investing in eligible end-use energy-efficiency measures. This is achieved by setting up a quantitative energy-saving target that various enterprises are needed to achieve and ...
Natural gas-free homes: drivers and barriers for residents
Residents go through several steps towards a natural gas-free home. We call this the customer journey to gas-free living. In the study 'Natural gas free living: the resident determines' an analysis was made of the drivers and barriers experienced by homeowners in the various steps towards a natural gas free home. Residents are at different stages of the customer journey. They may get stuck at each step if there is not enough incentive to move to the next step. The distribution of ...
Canvas that allows mapping key individuals in the ecosystem (champions, supporters and resistors) and their influence/power as a base to determine the Transition Team over time.
A comprehensive resource book for practitioners to map, analyse and facilitate systemic change. Includes many canvases and practical tools.
A comprehensive resource book for practitioners to map, analyse and facilitate systemic change. Includes many canvases and practical tools.
A comprehensive resource book for practitioners to map, analyse and facilitate systemic change. Includes many canvases and practical tools.
A comprehensive resource book for practitioners to map, analyse and facilitate systemic change. Includes many canvases and practical tools.
Integrated Energy and GHGs scenario mapping tools
Cities are showing an increasing willingness to implement energy-saving plans. Integrated energy and GHG scenario mapping tools can support cities in this attempt. They can help to reduce energy consumption, maximize energy efficiency, and achieve science-based emission reduction targets. Mapping energy and gas consumption and determining energy demands, for example, helps to optimize energy supply systems. This can be done using Geographic Information System (GIS) as a helpful tool, such as in ...
The Turnkey Retrofit service is developed as a homeowner-centric renovation journey, transforming the complex and fragmented renovation process into a simple, straightforward and attractive process: all providers on one platform, where trust is key. Source: Turnkey Retrofit EU Integrated home renovation service supporting homeowners with a turnkey solution for: INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR HOME (INITIAL TECHNICAL AND SOCIAL/ BEHAVIOURAL DIAGNOSIS): digital solution providing an overview of ...
The Building Material Passport (BMP) is a document (either electronic or in paper format) that contains the information on products, components and materials existing in a building, as well as their quantities. These data are obtained from the information included in the BIM (Building Information Modelling) model of the building, based on the IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) standard. Depending of the Level of Development of the BIM model, additional external information on materials and ...
Ordinances and regulation are the legal mechanisms of local governments for land use and natural resource management. In many cases, both Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and Green Infrastructures (GI) can be part of prevention and development instruments. They can preserve natural areas, reduce impervious surface cover and manage climate risks. Ordinances improve the connectivity of NBS and GI, enhance the surface they represent, avoid their deterioration. Local ordinances can protect wetlands, ...
A low-emission zone (LEZ) is an example of an urban vehicle access regulation (UVAR). A LEZ is a geographic area in a city where vehicle access is limited to those vehicles that meet certain emissions characteristics. A LEZ is a regulatory measure that enables a city to reduce the level of emissions in a given geographic area. Low-emission zones are generally introduced in stages, meaning they become increasingly strict over the course of several years. This allows citizens and ...
Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVAR)
Urban vehicle access regulations (UVARs) are means to reduce the number of vehicles entering a given geographical area. These can include regulatory measures (e.g. low-emission zone), financial measures (e.g. congestion charge) or spatial measures (e.g. creation of a superblock or reallocation of road space to create a pedestrian zone). UVAR measures can be put in place for reasons such as: to create more liveable space, to encourage more walking or cycling, to address delivery ...
Even the best sustainable mobility solutions will only be effective if they are used. Mobility Management refers to the promotion of sustainable transport and managing the demand for car use by offering services with the final objective of changing travellers’ attitudes and mobility behaviour. At the core of mobility management are "soft" measures such as information and marketing campaigns, awareness raising, mobility education, mobility info points, and school and company ...
The potential of smart technologies in the building sector was emphasised in the 2018 revision of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) was introduced, followed by two legal acts in 2020 which establish the SRI as an official EU instrument. The European directive doesn't impose the deployment of the SRI on each Member State, it's for the moment optional, but Europe plans to further strengthen the SRI to ensure its ...
A Building Renovation Passport (BRP) is a document (either electronic or in paper format) outlining a long-term (up to 15-20 years) step-by-step renovation roadmap to achieve deep renovation for a specific building. It addresses the complexity of renovation works and ensures coordination throughout the different stages. They are conceived as an evolution of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), as it supports building owners with personalised suggestions on their renovation options, while ...
Key EU legislations aim at transforming and decarbonising the European building stock. This includes: The Clean Energy Package for all Europeans – a comprehensive set of legislation that defines European climate and energy policy beyond 2020. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), and The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) cover the main issues regarding building policies on a European level. A new Circular Economy Action Plan ...
Water is a fundamental and unique resource necessary for survival in nature and the development of human settlements. Within cities, water provides a series of tangible and intangible services to citizens, including drinking, sanitation, hygiene and amenity. Water interacts with other urban systems and infrastructure (e.g. flooding of roads, buildings) and includes a variety of possible uses (drinking and wastewater, blue-green infrastructure). In this perspective, water can improve or impair ...
Many companies have publicly declared their intention to become carbon neutral in following years. Some due to CO2 emissions price (which is experiencing high increases and implies higher costs for industries), some due to marketing strategies and some because they believe that they also need to contribute to the transition. The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) already covers sectors not included under the ESR and makes polluters to decarbonize. Also mechanisms such as the Carbon Border ...
Integrated climate plans for cities (i.e. SECAPs)
Integrated climate plans are the result of a well-coordinated strategic local process that generates a binding document, together with the local community. They show the path towards a meaningful and effective implementation of climate action in the city within a certain period of time. In this sense, an integrated climate plan must be one of first steps a city needs to take towards a carbon neutrality goal, structuring and aligning potential initiatives, resources, and decisions through a ...
The integration of land use planning and urban space management with mobility planning is a central strategy to reduce and avoid vehicle miles traveled and to shift motorised trips to zero or low carbon modes of travel. The development of housing and businesses should be oriented towards infrastructure and services for walking, cycling and public transport. Each carbon-free city needs an integrated approach for land-use and transport planning to create multimodal, inclusive, liveable and ...
Congestion pricing is a transport demand management measure adopted to reduce the impacts of traffic congestion on cities. It links the externalities of road transport directly to the travellers who produce them. They are implemented through the definition of tolling systems to influence short-term demand choices, forcing travellers to switch to sustainable transport modes and low impact road routes. Congestion charges can be introduced either in a defined geographical area or on a road ...
The built environment is responsible for ~40% of the EU’s carbon emissions (European Commission, 2020). Significant investments are required to implement demand-side, passive, as well as infrastructure-level energy efficiency (EE) measures to reduce these emissions in line with the global temperature rise. While traditional financing is available for new commercial energy efficient buildings, financing additional investments for EE measures in new community buildings –such as ...
City coaching is a type of non-technical intervention performed by an advisory body for members of a city's administration or city officials. This type of intervention can take the form of a meeting, a webinar, a workshop, or a training course lasting for a determined time, depending on the city's needs. The objective of city coaching on NBS is to develop the awareness, know-how and reflexes of participants regarding the benefits and challenges of adopting and implementing NBS. The ...
Those solutions aim at bringing together concrete experiences, different know-hows, views and approaches to design, between different actors, infrastructure plans and solutions using NBS. Involving different actors together entails a wider spectrum when considering methodologies, implementation plans and outcomes predictions. This can be done through a share of interests, needs, examples, skills and technical capabilities. Often these processes encompass social learning, and community ...
There is a noticeable potential to process Energy Performance Certificate (EPCs) to evaluate the environmental performance of the building sector at the city scale. Such assessment requires an open-access database and a standard level of EPC information reported by cities. Although a review on the availability of EPC databases revealed that several European cities currently report EPC databases, only a few have already provided a public open-access database (see external links section for ...
Energy transition commitments and policies mean people qualified to work in the sector and its supply chains will continue to be in great demand. The barriers in the educational system in terms of the energy transition are that education and training systems are reactive and require time to adapt since the design and implementation of updated and new courses or programmes is a complex task. Because of the fast upgrade of the technologies, the most recent potential, production and consumption ...
In the framework of their Sustainable Development Goal 17: Revitalizing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, the United Nations defines capacity building as "the process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources that organizations and communities need to survive, adapt, and thrive in a fast-changing world". Numerous EU programmes and initiatives, in all fields of economy and society, include capacity building and training ...
Circular economy strategies and projects in cities are often based on experimentation and pilots. This is both an opportunity for creating new knowledge and information, but also a challenge in terms of the human and technical capital needed to design and implement circular economy policies. In this context, capacity building refers to the initiatives and activities aimed at adapting human and technical resources to the challenges to be met. Training can be related to technical issues for ...
Transitioning cities toward fundamentally circular models require a broad range of expertise and activities. To perform this generational journey, it is key that municipalities, not only receive adequate advice but also are taught new ways to comprehend their urban metabolism, plan their journey, and enact change within their urban ecosystems. The governance of the circular economy in cities and regions: A Checklist for Action (OECD, The Circular Economy in Cities and Regions ...
Measuring and monitoring resource flows is key to enable an effective understanding of how cities work in terms of their fundamental stocks and flows, and consequently, to identify circular economy opportunities. Ideally, any circular solution should be based on a comprehensive analysis of the urban metabolism and a monitoring scheme should be settled since the early stages to evaluate the progresses towards circular loops on the one hand, and to overarching sustainable goals on the ...
The energy transition has far-reaching effects on the direct living environment of citizens. Changes at home, neighbourhood, and environment are necessary in order to achieve goals related to energy conservation and the generation of sustainable energy. The extent to which residents are involved in the process of making sustainable decisions has an important impact on the speed and outcome of such projects. Customer journey to a natural gas-free home. Source: TNO, Natural gas-free ...
Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) is a technology that enables bidirectional charging possibility between vehicle battery to many different use cases such as homes, buildings, services, factories, power grids, or even another vehicle. V2X is often considered as a solution for emergency power supply in the event of a power outage or, especially in case of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) for inevitable grid problems when the peak energy demand is higher than the supply capacity of the grid. V2L (Vehicle to ...
A multi-stakeholder communication platform supporting the understanding and promotion of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) throughout Europe. The platform aims at supporting a continuous dialogue & interaction on NBS to: steer dialogue through forums and debates; identify, communicate & promote successful NBS; identify regulatory, economic & technical barriers; foster collaboration at local, regional, national & EU levels; develop synergy with other projects on NBS.
The International Cooperative Alliance defines cooperative as "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise". Cooperatives are people-centred enterprises owned, controlled and run by and for their members to realise their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations. Cooperatives bring people together in a democratic and ...
Easy access to public charging for EVs (including taxis, city utility vehicles, private cars, etc.) is a necessity in transition toward zero-emission electric transport. An expanded charging network needs to be user-centred and integrated with public space design, to encourage consumers to move to EVs and increase electric vehicle drivers’ confidence and their practical traveling range. The charging infrastructures can be provided in various locations & forms, i.e. on-street charging ...
The city of Valencia has developed a strategy to involve the whole community to reach its energy transition targets, while also supporting those at risk of energy poverty through the creation of energy communities. Link https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/node/345
Through a green bond scheme that began in 2017, Östersund has set up a framework for financing sustainable investments in renewable energy, mobility and energy-efficient housing. Energy efficiency improvements in housing in 2021 have led to 892 MWh/year of energy use avoided. Link https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/node/346
FEBUS, a success story of fuel cell buses deployment - Covenant of Mayors ...
In line with its climate action and mobility policies, in 2017 the City of Pau decided to invest in a zero-emission fleet composed of eight 18m-long fuel cell-powered buses (a world first) and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. Link: https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/node/473
District heating as key enabler for climate neutrality in Gothenburg - ...
The Gothenburg municipal power company has built an accumulator tank for short-term heat storage and optimising energy supply and demand while reducing the city district heating network’s fossil fuel dependency. Link https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/node/347
Public procurements
Public procurement is an instrument that enables a city to purchase work, goods, or services from companies. Public authorities can specify the requirements or criteria to award the company for the public contract: but usually, 55% of procurement procedures use the lowest price as the only award criterion, when in fact, other criteria could be considered such as quality, sustainability, and innovation. For example, Best price quality ratio (BPQR) can be used to consider not only the ...
Blended Finance or Blending
Blended finance approaches make use of public and development finance sources, such as development assistance from donor governments and funds provided by philanthropic foundations, to mobilise additional finance, primarily from private and commercial sources. Their purpose is often tied to the achievement of political goals, such as to address the SDGs and promote climate action in countries (Paul Horrocks, 2017). Blending involves the strategic use of a limited amount of grant resources ...
Grants
A grant is a direct monetary assistance to an entity to pursue a specific project or programme. Depending on its stipulations, it can be used to fund solutions to identified problems within a community and can come from federal, state, regional and international resources. Grants are a great way for municipalities, specifically for cash-strapped ones, to receive funding beyond the limits of their operational budget. They can help bridge the gap between a department’s limited ...
Energy Performance Contracting This is a form of creative funding for capital enhancement that permits the upgrading of funding energy upgrades from cost reduction. In Energy Performance Contracting (EPC), and Energy Saving Company (ESCO) is assigned the responsibilities of executing an energy efficiency or a renewable energy project. The production of energy or saving in the project finances the initial investment of the project that is to be carried out. The ESCO is compensated ...
Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Shared savings
Energy Performance Contracting This is a form of creative funding for capital enhancement that permits the upgrading of funding energy upgrades from cost reduction. In Energy Performance Contracting (EPC), and Energy Saving Company (ESCO) is assigned the responsibilities of executing an energy efficiency or a renewable energy project. The production of energy or saving in the project finances the initial investment of the project that is to be carried out. The ESCO is compensated in ...
Energy Performance Contracting This is a form of creative funding for capital enhancement that permits the upgrading of funding energy upgrades from cost reduction. In Energy Performance Contracting (EPC), and Energy Saving Company (ESCO) is assigned the responsibilities of executing an energy efficiency or a renewable energy project. The production of energy or saving in the project finances the initial investment of the project that is to be carried out. The ESCO is compensated ...
Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Guaranteed savings
Energy Performance Contracting This is a form of creative funding for capital enhancement that permits the upgrading of funding energy upgrades from cost reduction. In Energy Performance Contracting (EPC), and Energy Saving Company (ESCO) is assigned the responsibilities of executing an energy efficiency or a renewable energy project. The production of energy or saving in the project finances the initial investment of the project that is to be carried out. The ESCO is ...
Revolving Fund
Entities from the public or private sector may set up a revolving fund to increase available capital to ease the financial strain on taxpayers. Under this financing model, a municipality would "invest" debt or equity in a project, for example an energy efficiency program that lowers energy costs and frees up part of the budgetary resources that were utilised to pay utility bills. These funds can then be used to repay the prior investment and to reinvesting in new projects. ...
A financial guarantee is an agreement that guarantees a debt will be repaid to a lender by another party if the borrower defaults. Essentially, a third party acting as a guarantor promises to assume responsibility for a debt should the borrower be unable to keep up on its payments to the creditor. Guarantees can also come in the form of a security deposit or collateral. Financial guarantees act like insurance policies, guaranteeing a form of debt will be paid if the borrower ...
The Lithuanian Energy Efficiency Fund (ENEF) was established in 2015 by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Energy, and the Public Investment Development Agency (VIPA) of Lithuania. The ENEF channels ESIF finances into the renovation of central government buildings and modernisation of street lighting. For street lighting projects, it provides guarantees for commercial bank loans and decreases municipal costs. Direct link: ...
One of the political priorities of the region Centre in France for the years 2010-2014 was to make out of the region the ‘eco-region for all’. After adoption of the Agenda 21, the region started to define its long- term vision and developed a Territorial Climate Plan with an objective to reduce the greenhouse gases emissions on the territory by 40% by 2020. To enable the Climate Plan implementation, the region set up an ‘Investment Fund for Green Economy’ and the ‘Regional Guarantee ...
Financing investments in Germany & Europe Direct link: https://www.oecd.org/env/cc/CCXG%20March%202013%20Katrin%20Enting.pdf
A commercial loan is a debt-based financing mechanism between the municipality and a financial institution such as a bank used to fund capital expenditures and operating costs. The loan is made available at market rate. Many commercial loans require a good credit rating and/or collateral in the form of municipal assets. Municipalities with a larger revenue base are more attractive to commercial banks (ESMAP 2014). Public funds available at national, state or regional governmental levels ...
Acquisition and refurbishment of rolling stock (trams and electric buses) and further development of infrastructure for soft modes of mobility (bicycling and walking) in the City of Graz. Direct link: https://www.eib.org/en/registers/all/138491970
Municipal Bonds
Bonds are debt instruments that come traditionally with a fixed interest rate, or coupon and is a loan transaction from an investor to a borrower, usually a larger entity such a government or corporate entity. Municipal bonds are debt securities issued by cities, states, counties or countries to raise capital for infrastructure projects. The municipalities in need of capital can raise funds in primary markets via primary issuances of bonds. Once bonds are issued, they can be traded in ...
Sydney Water has been a major participant in the multi-award winning NSW Sustainability Bond Programme (SBP) since its launch by the NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp) in 2018. Eligible ‘green’ projects that Sydney Water has showcased through this programme include those that focus on renewable energy; energy efficiency; pollution prevention and control; sustainable stormwater management; climate change mitigation; and eco-efficient and circular economy adapted production technologies. Direct ...
As part of its funding programme, KfW has been issuing "Green Bonds – Made by KfW" since 2014. The proceeds out of the green bonds contribute to KfW's overall funding and are used for KfW's general promotional activities accordingly. KfW allocates funds equal to the net proceeds of its green bonds to drawdowns under the specific loan programmes defined in its Green Bond Framework. These are used to finance projects that serve climate protection. Direct link: ...
In 2013, the City of Gothenburg became the first city in the world to issue green bonds, which enable it to borrow money for investments that benefit the environment. More than 75% of proceeds from green bonds issued between 2013 and 2015 are used by the city to fund climate change projects that promote the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient growth. Direct link: https://unfccc.int/climate-action/momentum-for-change/financing-for-climate-friendly/gothenburg-green-bonds
Institutional investors are considered as an organisation or company that invests money on behalf of other people. Examples of institutional investors are pensions, sovereign wealth funds, mutual funds, commercial banks, hedge funds, and insurance companies. For the benefit of its shareholders, members, customers or clients, these institutions are responsible for purchasing, trading and controlling a variety of financial instruments, including stocks, bonds and other investment vehicles. If ...
This report is structured in three chapters. The first chapter examines the channels through which institutional investors can access green infrastructure, assesses the extent to which this is currently happening, and identifies the barriers to scaling up these investment flows. The second chapter presents four case studies: on utility-scale solar PV power generation in the United States, sustainable agriculture in Brazil, off-shore wind energy in the United Kingdom, and the securitisation of ...
Public-private partnerships can help make clean technologies for turning waste into energy accessible to cities. Direct link: https://development.asia/case-study/mobilizing-private-capital-and-know-how-turn-waste-energy
Private businesses, including energy service companies (ESCO) and municipalities will benefit from wider access to finance thanks to a €15 million loan that the EBRD is providing to Banca Intesa, the largest bank in Serbia. The loan will be on-lent for energy efficiency investments. https://ebrdgeff.com/ebrd-boosts-green-finance-for-serbian-smes-and-cities/
Port of Cork: There is a gain share agreement between the customer and the ESCO, whereby if the actual savings are 4%-6% of the overall energy use, the ESCO will be paid their fees in full. If, however, savings are below 4% of overall energy use, the customer may claw back a percentage of the fees paid to the ESCO. If savings exceed 6% of overall energy use, the ESCO will be paid in bonus. Kerry County council Pump upgrades: In the tendering process, marks are awarded for a pump systems life ...
The consultant and the main contractor each guaranteed separately to the client that the project would achieve a 15% energy - efficiency improvements in fossil fuel use. If this guarantee was not achieved, each would lose 7.5% of their respective contract values. Direct link: https://www.seai.ie/publications/Energy-Performance-Related-Payments-EPRP-Guide.pdf
RenoBooster is an EU Horizon 2020 funded project developed in Vienna that aims to increase the number of green renovations of private housing, thereby contributing to decarbonisation in the city. Vienna supports citizens and private companies through the creation of a renovation hub that provides guidance throughout the refurbishment process and creates links between supply and demand. Link https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/node/348
The BEWARE project has co-created and implemented a strategy for adaptation to climate change and flood risk in urban and rural areas. The main pillars of the project are the implementation of targeted Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRMs), the development of a trans-municipal adaptation plan, and the involvement of local communities. Link https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/node/540
The Region of Flanders has launched a Local Energy and Climate Pact (LEKP). The Flemish Local Climate Pact focuses on four areas (greening, participatory energy, sustainable mobility and rainwater) and sets concrete objectives for its nearly 300 signatories – local authorities – to tackle the global climate challenge at the local level. Link: https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/node/464
Glasgow’s Climate plan - Covenant of Mayors Europe
While acknowledging climate change as the challenge of a lifetime, Glasgow has created the Glasgow Climate Plan to smooth the transition to a low carbon and resilient city and to improve the quality of life of its people while achieving climate neutrality by 2030. Featured by a strong involvement of its citizens perspectives and needs, the city advances towards a greener future. Link: https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/node/519
Cooperating with the private sector in Joensuu : Case Study
Covenant ...
In 2015, Joensuu established the Climate Business Network to engage the private sector in the green transition and to help companies create more sustainable practices to adapt their operations to the new framework and develop carbon-neutral solutions. Link: https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/node/553
Järva Dialog
Järva Dialog, part of Stockholm City's Sustainable Järva initiative to improve energy efficiency of homes, enabled residents to have a say in decisions being made about renovations.
The city of Barcelona is at the heart of a densely populated metropolitan area between mountains and sea. With 1.6 million inhabitants, it is the core of the largest metropolitan area of the Mediterranean coast of five million inhabitants. It is also a key economic area in Spain. Barcelona is committed to climate change action: the city has set itself the objective to reduce its CO2 emissions by 23% by 2020 on the basis of its Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP). One key action aims at ...
Subsidy model and revenue economics • Provide $4.28 million in grant-based subsidies to five Nepalese municipalities—no repayment required, but municipalities assume the performance risk • The grant payments are contingent upon verified improvements in the service provision and collection of service fees, and are complemented with technical assistance • Subsidies to municipalities are paid based on agreed multiples of verified collection of fees from customers; as the municipalities‘ ...
This case study presents how a property development programme has been used to finance Hong Kong’s public transport system and discusses whether this model is replicable in other countries. Source: https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/Case%204_Land%20Value_Hong-Kong%20MTR.pdf
Tax increment financing (TIF) is a popular economic development tool by which local governments use incremental property tax revenue to fund the public costs of economic revitalization and growth. For many years, municipalities have been looking for innovative ways to fund economic development projects. A wide array of policies, programs, and strategies has been designed to provide financial assistance, directly or indirectly, to businesses to promote economic development in a community. This ...
Internal Contracting
Internal performance contracting is a financing scheme in which organisational units within a municipality are contracted to implement a project without the need for external financiers. For example, energy efficiency measures could be financed through reduced energy costs. The municipal budget supplies most of the initial financing, for example, by setting up a dedicated revolving fund or trust. Internal Contracting is therefore a variation on the internal revolving fund ...
Stuttgart has successfully implemented an instrument to improve the energy performance of its municipal building stock, and significantly reduce its CO2 emissions: internal contracting, or “Intracting”. Internal contracting allows the city to fund energy-saving and efficiency projects for buildings owned by the city, and is part of Stuttgart’s Climate Protection Programme. The internal contracting is funded through a revolving fund, which is a stable fund that operates without any fiscal ...
The biggest challenge in Udine was raising the initial fund, due to the very tight budgetary situation of the municipality. Finally, it was possible to create the fund with income from the EEC’s investment on the National Energy Market. Source:https://energy-cities.eu/best-practice/udine-fund-internal-contracting/
“Energiefonds Den Haag” (ED) Fund is a city fund set up in 2013 in The Hague, under the Holding Fund “Holdingfonds Economische Investeringen Den Haag” (HEID). The aim of the ED Fund is to co-finance energy projects integrated in sustainable urban development plans with loans, guarantees and equity investments. Financed from national and European financing sources, its current size amounts to EUR 18.4 m. Source: ...
In 2017, Limburgs Energie Fonds (LEF) was the first Dutch energy fund to receive an investment from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The EIB has now invested an additional €54 million in the LEF, enabling the fund to provide the financial stimulus for even more projects in energy saving, sustainable energy generation, the circular economy and asbestos removal. The EIB's investment will be guaranteed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the main pillar of the Investment ...
Most buildings in Estonia are energy inefficient. The average annual heating energy used in the buildings today is about 200 kWh/m2 compared to the industrial nations with a similar climate which is about 150- 230 kWh/m2. Energy refurbishment loans for citizens, in particular multi-family apartment buildings, are available in Estonia since 2002. In 2009, a KredEx Revolving Fund was set up by KredEx - a financing institution that operates as a private company but is owned and governed by the ...
The Municipal Energy Saving Fund (ESF) was formed in 2014 as a revolving fund to reinvest money from energy savings into new energy-saving initiatives, doubling savings impacts throughout the city and region. The fund targets energy-efficiency measures in Litomerice’s municipal buildings. Source: https://c2e2.unepccc.org/kms_object/revolving-energy-saving-fund/
Municipal Budget Spending
To self-finance using own capital, or equity, is one of the most conventional ways of financing any activity. Municipal Budget Spending is a type of funding in which a city can finance its projects using resources from its own budget. To finance a municipal activity with this type of funding source, a city facilitates a needs assessment to identify steps required to meet the demands of climate neutral development. It identifies the needs of investments, processes funding requests, ...
Heidelberg is a small to medium-sized city in Southwest Germany. Between 2012 and 2017, the city’s population grew from 138,000 to 150,000 people. In order to accommodate the population growth, in 2008 the city of Heidelberg began to convert land once occupied by a railroad terminal into a modern green district. The area, known as Bahnstadt Heidelberg, has a maximum capacity of 12,000 persons. Energy- efficient and smart street lighting concepts were one of the central elements ...
EPCs in the Dolomites
Edison Facility Solutions SpA, offered over € 11 million of investment, of which € 7 million for municipal buildings and just over € 4 million reserved for provincial school buildings. The ESCo guarantees 52% of overall energy savings, of which 5%, just under 90,000 €. At the end of the contracts, in 15 years, 100% of the savings will be attributed to the consortium members. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and ...
The PM4PM Project (Preparation and Mobilisation of Financing for Sustainable Energy Investments in Primorska Region Municipalities) financed sustainable projects in 5 sectors within 33 municipilaties, through the ELENA Grant from 2016 to 2019. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and verification. https://www.h2020prospect.eu
Aradippou’s solution was an initiative from the city council including the technoeconomic support of the EU Affairs Advisor of the Municipality. Under the scheme envisaged by the municipality, citizens will be rewarded for their solar PV investments by receiving payments on a municipality coordinated credit card called the “Oxygen Rewards Card”. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient ...
ESCO - Streetlight OesteLED IP, Oeste Region- Portugal
The OesteLED streetlighting ESCO project was implemented in 12 municipalities that constitute an Intermunicipal Community, a NUT III region in Portugal, with a population of approximately 365,000 inhabitants. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and verification. https://www.h2020prospect.eu
The project "STREETLIGHT-EPC" had the goal of creating demand and supply for EPC projects in 9 regions by setting up regional EPC facilitation services. They provided comprehensive support to municipalities and to SMEs as potential ESCOs. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and verification. https://www.h2020prospect.eu
The city of Lisbon launched The Lisbon Climate Citizen Commitment, a local government-led initiative that put together climate projects into its Participatory Budget via a “Green Seal”. The Green Seal was a platform that made Lisbon’s Commitment for Resilience to Climate Change material and attracted new private funding sources. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy ...
To provide effective electric vehicles and charging stations for cities, the BABLE project created their Investment package for Smart Cities (ISC) tool, which offers cities an innovative financing instrument that simplifies the process in looking to implement sustainable and smart urban solutions. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and ...
The H2020 funded REMOURBAN project had the ambition to accelerate the deployment of innovative technologies, organizational and economic solutions to increase energy efficiency, improve the sustainability of urban transport and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas. It selected 3 lighthouse cities to implement these goals in : Valladolid (Spain), Nottingham (UK) and Tepebasi (Turkey). PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and ...
SCORE is funded by the European Union under its HORIZON 2020 programme, facilitating consumers to become (co-)owners of renewable energies in 3 EU countries. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and verification. https://www.h2020prospect.eu
ORFEE (Office for Renovations and Financing for Energy Efficiency) is a European H2020-funded project that developed the first four French third-party financing companies. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and verification. https://www.h2020prospect.eu
The LEMON project was developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight energy poverty through the energy conversion of existing social housing. It focuses on increasing the energy efficiency of buildings while looking to improve housing quality. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and verification. https://www.h2020prospect.eu
PRODESA aims to assist 7 municipalities in Athens Metropolitan Area to begin energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, using innovative financial tools and attracting private investments. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and verification. https://www.h2020prospect.eu
In 2018, Green Energy Cooperative (ZEZ) launched the first crowd-investing initiative in Croatia, supported by Križevci local authorities. A solar PV system was installed on the rooftop of Križevci’s Development Center and Technology Park’s administrative building. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and ...
The MARTE project (Marche Region Technical assistance for healthcare buildings Energy retrofit) took place in the Marche Region (Italy) and operated an innovative financing model for energy efficiency in 5 healthcare building. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and verification. https://www.h2020prospect.eu
BAPAURA is a three-year project focusing on facilitating the refurbishment of public buildings in small and midsize municipalities in Auvergne Rhone-Alpes region. Small and medium sized regions often overlook the energy efficiency portion of their works due to high costs of setting-up such projects. PROSPECT+ fosters capacity building in regional and local authorities in order to finance and implement effective and efficient sustainable energy plans, including their proper monitoring and ...
These materials were created as part of The Sustainability Laboratory’s educational curriculum. It was developed with financial support from The Foundation for Advancement of Systems-Orientated Management Education at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Uppsala has a cross-sectoral network, the Uppsala Climate Protocol, whose member organisations work together to inspire each other and others to find local solutions to the climate challenge.
Tallinn established its Energy Agency in 2013 to coordinate the formulation of energy and climate policies by municipal agencies. It is responsible for fulfilling and accounting for the objectives of the Covenant of Mayors and for promoting the need for climate action by residents and energy-efficient renovation of private buildings.
To support its goal of being fossil free by 2040, Stockholm aims to reduce GHG emissions from energy for heating/cooling buildings, electricity and gas use and transport to 2.2 tonnes CO2e per capita by 2020.
At the heart of Prague's transport policy is a more integrated, energy efficient and environmentally effective public transport system. Improvements are being made both to the system’s backbone, the electric rail network and to its intermodal hubs.
Porto is tackling transport emissions with new vehicles and behaviours. Transport accounts for 39% of total emissions in Porto and the city is focusing significant efforts on the sector - its municipal fleet and public transport in particular.
Oslo was one of the first cities in the world to introduce a climate budget (CB) as an integral component of the municipal budget process. Since 2016 its annual CB has proposed a maximum emission ceiling just like the maximum economic expenditure of the fiscal budget, whose structure it shares.
Central to London's Healthy Streets Approach is the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) launched in 2019. Operating 24-hours a day, seven days a week, the ULEZ addresses the need to reduce pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, half of which come from transport.
Ljubljana has initiated a PPP through energy performance contracting, within which the majority of building stock, owned by the city is being deeply energy retrofitted and, where possible, renewable energy sources are being introduced to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Ghent has identified companies as an important target group for CO2 reduction and set up a customised coaching scheme to encourage investment in energy efficiency measures when existing simple energy audits failed to lead to action.
To achieve its goals of 100% renewables and CO2 reduction of 95% by 2050, Frankfurt has implemented a citizen campaign to draw attention to climate protection and motivate people to take action.
Barcelona has co-created a holistic climate plan with citizens which covers mitigation, adaptation and resilience, climate justice and promoting action by the general public.
To achieve its ambitious CO2 reduction targets and phase out natural gas, the city has set up the Amsterdam Climate Neutral 2050 programme, a roadmap for reducing dependence on coal, oil and gas.
A guideline and a set of tools for the collaborative development of integrated service concepts during a workshop series
In equity financing the capital is raised by selling shares (stocks) in the capital market. In this kind of a transaction the investors buy a portion of equity in the company in the form of shares. Equity financing comes from the private placement of shares with investors and public stock offerings in listed public company or a non-listed entity. In equity financing the company does not have repayment obligation but the company is obliged to share profits. Equity financing is usually used to ...
Model with Forfaiting and Waiver of Defence
In this arrangement, a city and a vendor perform obligations that are analogous to those that are performed in a simple contracting model. The strategy that includes forfaiting and waiver of defence, as opposed to the model that only involves contracting, ensures the involvement of a bank. The bank is considered the central element, and it participates in the accomplishment of projects under stipulated agreements with the city municipality and contractors. Under this model, the ...
Simple Contracting Model
In this model a private entity is offered the management and implementation of an entire infrastructure project including sourcing capital on behalf of the municipality. The private entity undertakes the project for a mutually agreed fee. This can also include vendor finance, where a private entity provides financing to private end users for investing in their products. Advantages: The main merit of this model is off-balance sheet (OBS) financing for the city. Contracting models differ ...
Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Immediate savings
Energy Performance Contracting This is a form of creative funding for capital enhancement that permits the upgrading of funding energy upgrades from cost reduction. In Energy Performance Contracting (EPC), and Energy Saving Company (ESCO) is assigned the responsibilities of executing an energy efficiency or a renewable energy project. The production of energy or saving in the project finances the initial investment of the project that is to be carried out. The ESCO is compensated ...
A guideline and set of tools to support and boost social innovation initiatives
Sponsorships to financially support public projects in return for promotion, advertisement or awareness raising can be a source of revenue for a municipality project, particularly if the project offers high visibility. Sponsors may be interested to support green and climate friendly projects as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. CSR activities are efforts, usually by businesses or corporations, that aim at raising awareness on the kind of impact these entities are ...
Another popular method by which local governments might make use of the limited public resources available to them and raise capital for public-private partnerships is the project financing model. The project participants create a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that acts a as subsidiary of the legal entity towards providing funding objectives while reducing the parent company’s risk exposure. This model can be funded through collected contributions from the municipalities, debt from ...
Philanthropic foundations are entities that aim at making a positive social contribution to society using donated assets of individuals or organisations. Endowments, charitable trusts, community foundations and corporate foundations are examples of philanthropic organizations. The European Philanthropy Coalition for Climate promotes the engagement of foundations in climate related social initiatives (Philanthropy Europe Association, 2022). Advantages: Philanthrophic funds usually provide ...
On-Bill Financing
On-Bill Financing (OBF) refers to a type of loan that can be used to invest in enhancing the energy efficiency of a building. The utility provides a loan to the municipality, and the loan is repaid through monthly energy bills based on the saving tendencies thus saving administrative costs. The loan is, however, reflected on the municipality’s balance sheet. OBF is considered to be very easy to set up for small and medium enterprises and simple to implement. Nevertheless, loans should ...
Green Loans
A green loan is a form of a loan that enables borrowers to use the proceeds to exclusively fund projects that make a substantial contribution to an environmental objective. Green loans are any type of loan instrument made available exclusively to finance or re-finance, in whole or in part, new and/or existing eligible green projects. A green loan is similar to a green bond in that it raises capital for these green eligible projects, however, a (green) loan is typically smaller than a bond ...
Desktop Walkthroughs for service design
Desktop walkthrough is a well-known service design technique: a miniature environment is developed to simulate the experience on a small scale, for example with toy figurines, cardboard or Lego bricks. The purpose is to have a mock-up simulation of the user experience for co-designing and testing a service and different scenarios. The relevant output is not the model of the map but the experience of simulating the service experience step by step. The desktop walkthrough helps to make tangible ...
WHO Scaling up framework
How can social innovations make a bigger impact on climate neutrality and wellbeing? The scale up framework developed by the World Health Organization provides the foundation for the development of a scaling up plan, and it helps strucuring a scale-up strategy. The framework is an actionalble tool for cities to consider main issues central to scaling up social innovations and other types of people based innovations for climate neutrality. It views scaling up as a system of interrelated elements ...
NZC CCC Action & Investments Plan Q&A Drop-in Session 4 | Thursday ...
NZC CCC Action & Investments Plan Q&A Drop-in Session 4 | Thursday 24th November This session focuses on the development of the Action and Investment Plans. In addition to general questions on these key areas of work, such as setting strategic objectives and building pathways to overcome barriers, we cover technical questions essential to early work, including: - Baseline inventories and the role of scope 3 emissions; - Economic data inputs to determine total anticipated capital ...
CITIZENS AND URBAN STAKEHOLDER COLLECTION: UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM
The overarching process of Activating an inclusive ecosystem for change is at the heart of the Climate Transition Map approach, and is intended to expand and gain more momentum during each iteration (or turn through the Map). Understand the System process with an inclusive activation of your local ecosystems is key to support and enable a strong Climate City Contract. To understand and make sense of the system in which a city operates, it requires a deep, holistic understanding of its context ...
Asset Based Community Development or ABCD is a method which puts at the forefront, the development of a community’s assets and potentials in a sustainable manner while simultaneously acheiving broader transition goals in the process. It involves building capacity and empowering individuals, associations and informal networks to come together and leverage their strengths to mobilise action in their communities, hence unlocking several co-benefits in the planning and implementation ...
NZC CCC Process, Governance, and Commitments Q&A Drop-in Session 1 | Wednesday 16th November. This session focused on questions relating to the Climate City Contract, as well as the Commitments element in particular. Questions covered include: - Who signs and accepts the contract; - How to engage and build shared commitments with and among diverse stakeholders; - How to bring regional and national governments into the CCC process, including building commitments; - Linkages between the ...
NZC CCC Actions and Investment Plans Q&A Drop-in Session 2 | Thursday 17th November. This session focuses on the development of the Action and Investment Plans. In addition to general questions on these key areas of work, such as setting strategic objectives and building pathways to overcome barriers, technical questions are covered that are essential to early work, including: - Baseline inventories and the role of scope 3 emissions; - Economic data inputs to determine total anticipated ...
NZC CCC Process, Commitments, and Governance Q&A Drop-in Session 3 | Wednesday 23rd November. This session focuses on questions relating to the Climate City Contract, as well as the Commitments element in particular. Questions covered, include: - Who signs and accepts the contract; - How to engage and build shared commitments with and among diverse stakeholders; - How to bring regional and national governments into the CCC process, including building commitments; - Linkages between the ...
The Valencia City Council is promoting Local Energy Communities providing legal advisory and mediation skills to promote agreements among neighbours around Local Energy Communities, under the legal form of Association. The public involvement is guaranteeing inclusive access and sustainability in the initial phase.
City Studio Program
City Studio is a scientific collaboration programme between cities and universities. Cities work together with university students to design solutions that contribute to sustainable urban transformation through final theses of master's and bachelor's degrees. Students will develop their applied research work, including the design phase of a prototype, with dual mentoring: a university lecturer and a civil servant. Each student receives a scholarship for the duration of their ...
The Lada and Velilla Social Innovation Platform aims to promote the collaboration between companies, public entities and the population living and working in the region in order to unlock the just transition of the region after the closing down of a thermal coal plant.
Entrepatios Las Carolinas
Entrepatios Las Carolinas is the first ecological co-housing built in the city of Madrid, nearly-zero energy building which operates with the Right of Use of the dwelling, but not ownership of it. It is a nearly zero energy residential building consists of 17 houses, CO2 zero and made of wood, under the Right of Use regime in the Community of Madrid.
CITIZENS AND URBAN STAKEHOLDER COLLECTION: LEARN AND REFLECT
The overarching process of Activating an inclusive ecosystem for change is at the heart of the Climate Transition Map approach, and is intended to expand and gain more momentum during each iteration (or turn through the Map). Learn and Reflect process with an inclusive activation of your local ecosystems is key to support and enable a strong Climate City Contract. To enable and facilitate the collective sense-making and cross-learning by an inclusive activation of the ecosystem for change can ...
Citizens Asset Program
Citizens Asset is the transfer of public assets’ use and management to non-profit collectives. Based on the logic that public things (municipal property) can become communal (citizen patrimony) through shared management. This is a reinvention of public properties which also provides tools and training to the communities responsible for the management. Citizen assets can be premises, buildings, facilities or public spaces.
In its SONNET City Lab, Bristol City Council searched for ways to make use of crowdfunding - specifically a Community Municipal Bond (CMB) mechanism - as an investment activity to collectively raise capital to install energy efficiency measures in local community buildings. The Bristol municipality, working with the Bristol Energy Network, engaged building managers and technically surveyed the buildings to assess the value of the energy efficiency works that needed to be undertaken, resulting ...
PentaHelix aimed to empower local and regional authorities to find innovative and cost-effective approaches to develop, finance, implement and improve sustainable energy and climate action plans (SECAP) that contribute to reaching national and European climate and energy goals and policies. To achieve this, the PentaHelix project developed and tested a new approach for integrating multi-governance planning for sustainable energy, both horizontal and vertical, together with close interaction ...
Energy cooperative KLIK (Križevci Climate Innovation Laboratory), was founded in 2020 to help make Križevci a self-sufficient city, but above all to engage citizens in the energy transition. KLIK works on identifying the needs of the local community, implementing technology in the social environment, and empowering the local community through cooperation, joint creation and capacity building. KLIK encourages local people to invest in renewable energy sources, both in public projects and in ...
The Cloughjordan Ecovillage started as a plan to create a community of dedicated environmentalists; to buy a site on which they could build their lives. The very first residents of Ireland's first ecovillage moved into their homes in 2009. Today, with 55 low-carbon homes, a carbon-neutral district heating system, a community farm, a green enterprise centre, a planned reed-bed treatment plant, a photovoltaic power plant, and Ireland’s lowest ecological footprint, the ecovillage is ...
The programme of comprehensive renewal of the historical centre of Zagreb is a pilot project that combines 12 studies on an area of Zagreb called "Blok 19" in order to present the pathway to comprehensive renewal for all of Zagreb’s 168 areas. The idea for the Programme came after the devastating earthquake that hit the City of Zagreb. It was clear that a fast renovation needed to be done, but the city wanted to go a step further and make the renovation inclusive, meaning that ...
Multi-stakeholder collaboration for a fair energy transition in Zagreb
A multi-stakeholder partnership was set up in Zagreb to support a fair energy transition. This initiative consists of mapping energy-poor households in Zagreb, implementing low-cost energy-efficiency measures, and providing advice on how to reduce energy use.
You Decide is a participatory budget initiative aimed at promoting greater participation of young people and at increasing their contribution to the development of the city.
SynAthina is a social innovation online platform for engaging members of the community in problem-solving and reform. Citizens and community groups can submit innovative ideas on how to make their city a better place to live in and are then connected to the relevant stakeholders that can support their efforts.
EcoHouse Antwerp
EcoHouse is a physical one-stop-shop for households offering all city services for sustainable building and living run by the city of Antwerp. Its focus is on energy reduction and renewables, and has a programme focused on providing support and solutions to vulnerable groups.
ZKlaster – the Zgorzelec Cluster for the Development of Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Efficiency – is widely regarded as one of the most successful cases of social innovation in energy in Poland. It aims at setting up a regional Renewable Energy System (RES), to replace the brown coal mining in the region. Representatives of local authorities in the area signed an agreement on the basis of which a “Committee for the Transformation of the Turoszów Region” was ...
Backcasting
Scenarios are plausible stories about possible future developments. Backcasting is a method to develop scenarios and explore their feasibility and implications starting from the future towards the present.
Please find the webinar slides here. The objective of the Investment Plan is to mobilise capital at scale for your city to reach climate neutrality by 2030 and forms a crucial element for cities to obtain a mission label. The webinar covers three key sections related to the investment plan templateand guidance documents: Current State of Climate Investment Investment Pathways to Climate Neutrality Enabling Conditions for Climate Neutrality This webinar is particularly relevant for city ...
NZC CCC Action Plan Webinar | 19th October 2022
The presentation slides for this webinar can be found here. The Action Planning Webinar aims to convey the main elements of the 2030 Climate Neutrality Action Plan to the Mission Cities, making a deep-dive into the Action Plan Template as well as the related concepts, methods and activities. The webinar shall provide Mission City representatives with a deeper understanding of how the template should be filled out and what will be the crucial tasks of the Action Plan, informing and ...
Please find the NZC CCC Action Plan Webinar | 19th October 2022 PPT slides here. The recording of this webinar can be found here. The Action Planning Webinar aims to convey the main elements of the 2030 Climate Neutrality Action Plan to the Mission Cities, making a deep-dive into the Action Plan Template as well as the related concepts, methods and activities. The webinar shall provide Mission City representatives with a deeper understanding of how the template should be filled out and what ...
NZC CCC Investment Plan Webinar | Friday 21st October
Please find the webinar recording here. The objective of the Investment Plan is to mobilise capital at scale for your city to reach climate neutrality by 2030 and forms a crucial element for cities to obtain a mission label. The webinar covers three key sections related to the investment plan template and guidance documents: Current State of Climate Investment Investment Pathways to Climate Neutrality Enabling Conditions for Climate Neutrality This webinar is particularly relevant for ...
Slides used for the NZC CCC Refresh webinar that took place on 20 September 2022. The webinar recording is available here.
Presentation displayed during the "Activate an Inclusive Ecosystem For Change" webinar organised by NetZeroCities on 27 September 2022. The recording of the webinar is available here. The ecosystem development webinar explores the continuous engagement with stakeholders and actors in the local context : -Analysing and mobilising the ecosystem -Building a shared vision -Cultivating collaboration -Building the capability to act -Stewarding the shared vision
Presentation displayed during the NZC CCC Commitments Webinar that was organised on 11 October 2022 by NetZeroCities. The recording of the webinar can be found here. This webinar is an in-depth recap of the Climate City Contract with a focus on the Commitments templates and guidance. It also aims to take stock of inputs insights and content shared so far by NetZeroCities this autumn, and to offer a chance to integrate these into the Climate City Contract process and documents, and ask ...
Presentation displayed during the 'Understanding the System' webinar that was organised on 29 September 2022 by NetZeroCities as part of the Climate Transition Map Webinar Series. The recording is available here. This webinar is about developing a holistic understanding of the current state of affairs, as well as developing future scenarios. -Delivering a GHG Emissions Inventory -Analysing action gaps and capital needs -Mapping the system and resource flows and identifying key ...
NZC Climate Transition Map Series: Mandate Setting Webinar | 22 ...
Recording of the "Mandate Setting" webinar organised by NetZeroCities for Mission Cities on 22 September 2022. The presentation slides are available here. The mandate setting webinar explores how to build a strong mandate in your city. This includes: -Setting up or strengthening the internal team -Mobilising resources and capacity -Developing a multi-actor transition team -Building new collaborative governance structures and networks -Strengthening buy in with other governmental ...
NZC CCC Series: Climate City Contract Refresh Webinar | 20 September ...
Recording of the "CCC Refresh Webinar" organised by NetZeroCities for Mission Cities on 20 September 2022. The presentation slides are available here. This session is a short review of the CCC Webinar held in June and a look forward to the programme of events throughout Autumn.
City Mini Webinar Series #2 | 24 May 2022
Introducing the work of the following Mission Cities: - Umeå – Sweden - Izmir – Turkey - Turku - Finland - Milan – Italy
Introducing the work of the following Mission Cities: - Dijon Metropole - France - Kozani – Greece - Krakow - Poland - Bologna - Italy
City Mini Webinar Series #3 | 31 May 2022
Introducing the work of the following Mission Cities: - Mannheim – Germany - Vitoria-Gasteiz – Spain - The Hague – Netherlands - Sofia – Bulgaria
This session presents the methodology, structure and processes covered by the NZC MEL Framework, which is aimed at guiding cities in their monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting activities. The session will also cover how cities can envision their systemic pathways to climate-neutrality based on early to mid-term outcomes and long-term impacts, which will enable them to generate actionable insights and share learnings. Recording of the fourth session of the NetZeroCities Online ...
A series of Information sessions is being organised for cities interested in the call for Pilot Cities to prepare their application. This information session focuses on the eligibility and assessment criteria. It was recorded on 7 September 2022.
A series of Information sessions is being organised for cities interested in the call for Pilot Cities to prepare their application. This information session focuses on monitoring, evaluation and learning and was recorded on 8 September 2022.
A series of Information sessions is being organised for cities interested in the call for Pilot Cities to prepare their applications. This information session focuses on the ambition and approach, and technical information and was recorded on 5 September 2022
NZC Pilot Cities Programme | Information Session #2 Criteria for selection ...
Recording of the second information session related to the NZC Pilot Cities Programme "Criteria for selection and the selection process" on 4 July 2022.
What is needed to accelerate the way to climate-neutrality? Why is a systems innovation approach essential to our success and how does it work? In this session, the first of the NetZeroCities online conference, we explain NZC's collaborative, portfoliobased approach and share inspiration, know-how and first steps to get you started. Recording of the first session of the NetZeroCities Online Conference "Unlocking collaborative systems change for climate-neutrality", on 20 June ...
Recording of the first information session related to the NZC Pilot Cities Programme "Ambition, approach, application" on 27 June 2022.
A key innovative instrument of change for Mission Cities is the Cities Mission Climate City Contract. This is a process designed to systemically approach the challenge of accelerating the transition to climate neutrality by 2030. Cities participating in the Mission will lead this process locally with support from the Mission Platform. The Climate City Contract is the output of a systemic approach to accelerate local climate action and consists of three integrated processes and outputs: ...
This webinar focuses on the proposed Investment Plan Framework for cities to achieve Net Zero.Given the scale ofthe financial challenge to achieve Net Zero, the purpose of the Investment Plan is to facilitate sufficient scale of capital to flow towards the implementation of activities to achieve climate neutrality. The plan will provide the city and stakeholders with an overview of the cost to achieve the required impact, incorporating various aspects into the planning process, including policy ...
The Mission Platform shall be demand-driven, aiming to foster exchange, mutual learning, and access to relevant support accelerating Climate Neutrality. This workshop will give an overview of our vision and proposed design for the Platform, showing what our NetZeroCities digital services can look like and how our staff will work with cities to promote collaboration and joint learning. We will look at designs for: The Peer-to-Peer Collaboration Space online portal module The Knowledge ...
A recap of key concepts and tools, and an overview ofthe next steps. As we come back from the summer period, this session is the opportunity to refresh Mission Cities on the key elements of the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission and NetZeroCities as the Platform Manager. This webinar will start with an update from Patrick Child, the Mission Manager ofthe Mission for climate-neutral and smart cities, and Thomas Osdoba, the NetZeroCities Coordinator. We will then take a closerlook at ...
This video is a recording of the livestrem of the second part of the "Let's Go! Climate Neutral & Smart Cities Mission Kick Off Event" organised by NetZeroCities and the European Commission in Brussels on 13 June 2022.
NetZeroCities will help Europe in its ambition to achieve climate neutrality. The project comes in support of the EU’s Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030” and will provide cities with world-class expertise and services tailored to their needs to overcome the current structural, institutional and cultural barriers they face in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.
Climate Transition Map Series | NZC Co-create a Portfolio Webinar | 4 ...
Recording of the NZC Co-create a Portfolio Webinar that was organised on 4 October 2022 by NetZeroCities. This webinar aims to put Mission cities’s internal teams in a position to engage with the “Co-create a portfolio” phase of their journey, a key process to create an impactful Action Plan and Investment Plan. It will provide the necessary basis for cities’ teams to understand what we call a portfolio approach and will clarify this new vocabulary. The ...
Climate Transition Map Series | NZC Mandate Setting webinar ...
Slides used for the NZC Mandate Setting webinar that took place on 22 September 2022. The webinar recording is available here.
Climate Transition Map Series | NZC Co-create a Portfolio Webinar ...
Slides used for the NZC Co-create a Portfolio Webinar that was organised on 4 October 2022. The webinar recording is available here.
Climate Transition Map Series | NZC Understanding the System Webinar | 29 ...
Recording of the NZC Understanding the System webinar that was organised on 29 September 2022 by NetZeroCities. This phase is about developing a holistic understanding of the current state of affairs, as well as developing future scenarios. Delivering a GHG Emissions Inventory Analysing action gaps and capital needs Mapping the system and resource flows and identifying key obstacles Identifying the levers for change The presentation slides are available here.
NZC CCC Commitments Webinar | 11 October 2022
Recording of the NZC CCC Commitments Webinar that was organised on 11 October 2022 by NetZeroCities. This webinar is an in-depth recap of the Climate City Contract with a focus on the Commitments templates and guidance. It also aims to take stock of inputs insights and content shared so far by Net Zero Cities this autumn, and to offer a chance to integrate these into the Climate City Contract process and documents, and ask questions. The second part of this webinar features a panel of experts ...
Climate Transition Map Series | NZC Activate an Inclusive Ecosystem For ...
The ecosystem development webinar explores the continuous engagement with stakeholders and actors in the local context : -Analysing and mobilising the ecosystem -Building a shared vision -Cultivating collaboration -Building the capability to act -Stewarding the shared vision Recording of the "Activate an Inclusive Ecosystem For Change" webinar organised by NetZeroCities on 27 September 2022. The presentation slides are available here.
This is a recording of the Welcome Webinar held on 11 May 2022 to welcome the 112 cities selected to be part of the EU Cities Mission.
Author: City of Adelaide Category: City Finance Policy - Case study from an Australian City Published/Created by: City of Adelaide Link: https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/about-council/grants-sponsorship-incentives/sustainability-incentives-scheme/ The City of Adelaide’s Sustainability Incentive Scheme supports businesses and households to reduce their carbon emissions by incentivising projects related to energy efficiency, sustainable transport, and ...
Author: Energy Cities, Jana Cicmanova; Thomas Garabetian Category: European Investment Bank Finance Programme Published/Created by: EIB Elena This report is a review of ELENA-EIB projects implemented by five member cities by the Energy Cities. The ELENA programme set up by the European Commission and managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) is the very first European technical assistance facility supporting large investment projects which is led by local ...
NZC Mission Label Information | 19th October 2022
Please find a summary update on the proposed Mission Label to be used by the European Commission to validate Climate City Contracts, as presented by the European Comission Mission Team in this video from our NetZeroCities CCC Output Series: Action Plan Webinar on 19th October 2022. Here are the accompanying presentation slides.
Author: HSBC Centre of Sustainable Finance, Greg Clark CBE; Zoe Knight Published/Created by: HSBC Centre of Sustainable Finance This report provides signposting for the types of activities that can be put in place by local authorities and business to deliver an emission reduction pathway. It showcases success stories that have already been implemented by cities across the world and demonstrates how the different stakeholders of city infrastructure can participate. The ...
Author: City of Helsinki Category: City Net Zero Policy Published/Created by: City of Helsinki In September 2017, Helsinki reset the city’s target year for carbon neutrality to 2035, speeding up the goal by 15 years from the earlier target year 2050. An interim goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 1990 to 2030. The Action Plan outlines how the emissions reductions may be achieved in practice and includes suggestions for emissions reduction actions compiled ...
Author: City of Preston, Council Category: City Investment Plan Published/Created by: Preston City Council Link: https://www.preston.gov.uk/article/2801/Preston-s-City-Investment-Plan https://www.investprestoncity.com/article/3204/City-Vision-and-Strategic-Priorities Preston's City Investment Plan is a 15 year vision for Preston setting out Preston's long-term objectives and strategy to transform the city, targeting resources and ...
Author: Leuven 2030 Category: City Net Zero Policy Published/Created by: Leuven 2030 Link: https://en.leuven2030.be/about-leuven-2030 https://roadmap-en.leuven2030.be/pdf/Leuven_2030_Roadmap_Summary_version2019.pdf In 2013, Leuven set up Leuven2030, a municipal authority group involving NGOs, businesses and many other participants tasked with delivering carbon neutrality by 2030. This innovative governance structure has greatly accelerated the city’s ...
Improving Local Governments Capacity - The Experience of Municipal Finances ...
Author: World Bank, Catherine Farvacque-Vitkovic; Sabine Palmreuther; Tamara Nikolic; International consultant, Anne Sinet; Local Consultants, Anton Bajo (Croatia); Ljiljana Brdarevic (Serbia); Naida Carsimamovic Vukotic (BIH-FBIH); Anila Gilka (Albania); Marjan Niko lov (Macedonia); Natasha Obradovic (Montenegro); Goran Rakic (BIH-RS) Category: City level capacity assessment Published/Created by: World Bank ...
Author: Climate Chance - The Observatory Category: City Finance Case Studies Published/Created by: Climate Chance - The Observatory Link: https://www.climate-chance.org/en/comprehend/case-studies/ https://www.climate-chance.org/en/comprehend/global-synthesis-report-climate-action-sector/ The recovery from the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic is revealing two general trends, seemingly contradictory. On the one hand, there is an acceleration of climate action: the ...
Author: European Environment Agency; Yann Francoise; Marie Gantois Category: Municipal Bond Published/Created by: Paris/Climate-ADAPT Link: https://energy-cities.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Paris_como-adaptation_climate-bond-financing-adaptation_2016_en.pdf When, in 2015, the City of Paris hosted the COP21, the City Hall wanted to send out a strong signal to the international community and to other local and regional authorities and show the diversity of ...
Author: UK Cities, George Beechener; Emre Eren; Rufus Grantham; Philip Griffith; Charlie Leaman; Alex Massie; Laura Stone Category: City level capacity assessment Published/Created by: UK Cities Climate Investment Commission Link: https://www.corecities.com/sites/default/files/field/attachment/UKCCIC_Final_Report-1.pdf The intention of this report is to support the acceleration of Net Zero financing, particularly through bringing ...
Author: Centre for Sustainable Energy Simon Roberts, CSE; Joshua Thumim (CSE); Tom Nokes and Nikki Webb (Ricardo); Ann Ballinger and Amy Nicholass (Eunomia) Category: City Net Zero Policy Published/Created by: Centre for Sustainable Energy with Ricardo and Eunomia Link: https://vdocuments.site/bristol-net-zero-by-2030-the-evidence-base-bristol-net-zero-by-2030-evidence-base.html?page=1 This is a report prepared for the Bristol City Council ...
The impact-feasiblity matrix helps teams prioritize and ultimately decide which ideas/projects are worth moving forward, on what timeline and with what effort. By mapping ideas according to how much they are in line with and can achieve set goals (impact) and whether current organizational resources can support them (feasibility), teams can sort ideas between: quick wins, major projects, busy work and resource drains. In short, the matrix can help teams prioritize projects/tasks, maximize ...
System maps (also referred to as stakeholder maps) are schematic representations of the main "actors" of a given (service) system, from the point of view of the main service-providing organization. The actors are made up of those surrounding and those internal to the organization, including users, staff, departments, and external providers. Typically, the maps make use of pictograms or other visual representations, and lines and arrows connect the different actors representing the different ...
Please find the PPT slides for the NZC Mission Label Information. Please find the recording for the Mission Label Information here.
Author: The World Bank Category: Finance Facility Published/Created by: The World Bank and others Link: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/city-climate-finance-gap-fund The City Climate Finance Gap Fund supports cities with early-stage technical assistance for low carbon and climate resilient projects and urbanization plans. This Fund is an initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & ...
Public-Commons Partnership
Public-Commons Partnerships (PCPs) are collective associations of state, community and private interests that manage and develop assets and investments in a local community, with that community’s interests and voice driving economic development.
TransformTO: Multisolving in Action
A climate action strategy to reduce Toronto’s greenhouse gas emission by 80% by 2050 with the collaboration of experts.
Living Labs are a cycle of activities such as co-design, exploration, experimentation and evaluation that are repeated throughout the stages of an innovative process. They are in real-life environments based on user co-creation, placing citizens at the centre of innovation. They act as intermediaries among citizens, companies and government agencies.
EmpowerMed
The EmpowerMed project aims to address energy poverty in the Mediterranean region, by empowering affected communities, especially women, through engagement, support and policy recommendations.
People's Policy
People’s Policy is a method of citizen-led policy development, designed to generate long-term solutions to complex problems in a non-partisan, collaborative way.
People's Policy on Child Wellbeing
The People’s Policy on Child Wellbeing was a collaborative and deliberative process in South Australia which trialed a citizen-led approach to policymaking. Instead of politicians designing policy and presenting it to the public for approval, this case turned that process on its head by supporting citizens to develop policy themselves.
Futures Thinking
Futures Thinking is a broad umbrella of approaches that support people to think about, cope with, and imagine what is likely to happen, and what could happen, in the future.
Collective Advisory Assemblies
Advisory Assemblies (CAA) bring together communities affected by an issue, such as energy poverty, to receive ongoing support from activists and others affected by the same issue. It is a horizontal approach to participation, meaning that its focused is engaging affected communities engaging with each other.
Community Forest in Nepal, Social Equity in Community Forests
The use of Community Forests (CFs) to address social equity in forest management, namely in the distribution of benefits from the forest resources, good governance in decision making processes and the inclusion of marginalised groups.
The overarching process of Activating an inclusive ecosystem for change is at the heart of the Climate Transition Map approach, and is intended to expand and gain more momentum during each iteration (or turn through the Map). Take Action process with an inclusive activation of your local ecosystems is key to support and enable a strong Climate City Contract. Leveraging top tier innovation, engineering, and technology systems is an advantageous but not sufficient approach to achieve systems ...
Bridging Divides: Collaborating for Sustainable Development in São ...
The work of a multi-stakeholder group to help progress sustainable development to create a better future in Sao Paolo’s North Zone.
Community Wealth Building (CWB)
An economic development model that transform local economies based on communities having ownership and control of their assets. It aims to restructure the economy to make it more democratic.
Citizens’ Assembly
A citizens’ assembly is a participatory process where a randomly selected group of citizens learn about and deliberate upon a specific issue or policy, and collectively come up with recommendations for decision makers.
Online/face-to-face collaborative workshops to understand the implications of climate change and make action.
The Oasis Game is a community challenge for the realization of collective dreams. A group of players and a community make a dream come true by only using materials, resources and skills that are available in the community itself. It is a fast-paced and intense game that raises energy level and empowerment in the community. It was developed in Brazil and has been used in different contexts around the world.
Citizens' Jury
A citizens’ jury are tasked to address a topic/issue through deliberation and present their recommendations or decisions regarding the topic. Jurors are citizens selected through random stratified selection, to ensure representation of the affected community. Citizens’ juries are advisory in nature, and work on a policy issue.
Challenge-based Systems Mapping (Systems Practice)
Systems Practice helps make sense and bring about clarity of complex environments to make substantial social impact on a community or global scale. A method to push beyond the immediate problems to see the underlying patterns and how to learn and adapt the system to change.
Participatory environmental monitoring committees in mining contexts
An environmental monitoring committee based in Panama that works on water resources. The committee is made up of volunteers who help oversee the evaluation of water. They committee has helped the mining company take responsibility and change practices to reduce pollution of the water.
Landforce, community wealth building
Landforce is an organisation based in Pittsburgh, USA, that provides underserved community members training and employment in environmental work. It combines workforce development training with environmental stewardship employment.
BESTGRID
BESTGRID was a project with the aim to improve public acceptance for grids on a local level and bring together stakeholders from civil society, academia and the energy sector to understand concerns of new electricity grids being built in communities. BESTGRID acted as an exchange of best practice approaches of transparent stakeholder participation in power grid planning.
Citizens Science
Citizen science (CS) engages people in research and monitoring and helps expand peoples' knowledge of the subject. Citizen science is often used in studies of biodiversity and the environment, in which people voluntarily collect environmental data, monitor the samples and interpret the data.
Tactical urbanism is an approach to community engagement and place-making. Tactical urbanism projects are physical urban interventions that are often interim and pop-up in nature, to catalyze long-term change for more liveable streets and spaces. The temporary solutions are means to show that there are well-functioning alternatives and that major changes are possible.
Funnel of experience sharing
The metaphorical visual template can be utilized to facilitate meetings with the goal of extracting learning from experiences. The template helps participants structure experiences according to 2 dimensions: (1) phases of the project (plan, execution and end), and (2) activities (actions, outcomes and learnings). The resulting structure is a template with 9 cells, in which the underlying metaphor of the funnel suggests the idea that learnings (that metaphorically come out of the funnel) are ...
Value Proposition Canvas
The Value Proposition Canvas is a fairly simple tool that allows you to establish a logical starting point for building and testing a product or service. It is done to create products and services that meet the needs of people. In order to do that it is important to keep track of the target market’s pains, gains, and to-do’s – which are all opportunities for providing value to them. A value proposition can be made for any products, service or even project.More than just being ...
System maps (also referred to as stakeholder maps) are schematic representations of the main actors of a given (service) system, from the point of view of the main service-providing organization. The actors are made up of those surrounding and those internal to the organization, including users, staff, departments, and external providers. Typically, the maps make use of pictograms or other visual representations, and lines and arrows connect the different actors representing the different ...
Pugh chart can support comparing a variety of options directly and weighing their different characteristics against each other. By giving weight and importance to the variables, the Pugh Chart considers the specific needs and values of an initiative and can help to make the best decision in a specific situation. Ranking the criteria keep the team’s focus and reveals the best opportunities at an early stage. It can be used to evaluate different product- or service directions as well as a ...
The first stage in developing an effective and efficient response is defining the problem, as what may initially seem to be the problem may be a symptom of an underlying, and potentially larger, issue. The Problem Definition tool enables groups to comprehend what these potential underlying causes are and contextualise the problem to reframe it in a more focused and direct way.
Problem Definition (Canvas)
The first stage in developing an effective and efficient response is defining the problem, as what may initially seem to be the problem may be a symptom of an underlying, and potentially larger, issue. The Problem Definition tool enables groups to comprehend what these potential underlying causes are and contextualise the problem to reframe it in a more focused and direct way. The Problem Definition can be used when in need for describing and elaborating on the underlying cause(s) of a targeted ...
PESTEL
A PESTEL analysis is a strategic tool coming from marketing used to identify external forces in the environment that faces an organization. By completing the tool, the team analyses the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal forces that make up the external environment. The exercise provides a situational analysis that allows organizations to anticipate threats and opportunities, gain contextual awareness and process external trends. In order to be an active and ...
PESTEL (Canvas)
A PESTEL analysis is a strategic tool coming from marketing used to identify external forces in the environment that faces an organization. By completing the tool, the team analyses the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal forces that make up the external environment. The exercise provides a situational analysis that allows organizations to anticipate threats and opportunities, gain contextual awareness and process external trends. In order to be an active and ...
Personas (Canvas)
Personas represent typical users and their goals. Personas can be defined by dimensions that characterize and distinguish customer segments from one another. Persona dimensions are selected to inform the product or service experience under exploration. To this end, they may include demographic information, attitudinal information (key drivers, triggers, or motivations), behavioral information (habits and practices, barriers, experiences sought, needs and desires), and information about desired ...
People and Connections Map
The People & Connections Map is a visualization tool used to identify stakeholders you are trying to reach and how. It is a tool for mapping actors that surround you that could potentially become your partner, user or supporter. These might include people, communities, funders, networks etc. All of them can represent a resource to your innovation and link to your group goal or your innovation.
People and Connections Map (Canvas)
The People & Connections Map is a visualization tool used to identify stakeholders you are trying to reach and how. It is a tool for mapping actors that surround you that could potentially become your partner, user or supporter. These might include people, communities, funders, networks etc. All of them can represent a resource to your innovation and link to your group goal or your innovation. The tool helps to focus attention on all actors in the product- service (eco)system. In doing so, ...
Motivation Matrix (Canvas)
A motivation matrix is an exercise that helps facilitators and designers measure what motivates people. The assumption around the motivation matrix is that people perform actions because they are triggered by motivations. The matrix is composed of six core motivation factors: incentive, achievement, social acceptance, fear, power, and growth. After using the motivation matrix, facilitators of the exercise should have a better idea of the motivation behind each individual. This exercise helps ...
KJ Ideation
KJ Ideation is a brainstorming technique, or ‘idea-generating’ method developed by Japanese anthropologist Jiro Kawakita (from which its name derives) to collect, sort and find meaning in qualitative data. As such, it facilitates abductive reasoning that provides rigor to the process of sorting out chaotic ideas and insights to form a hypothesis to confirm or reject. While mostly used in Western countries as an ideation tool, it has been used in Japanese companies as a method for ...
KJ Ideation (Canvas)
KJ Ideation is a brainstorming technique, or ‘idea-generating’ method developed by Japanese anthropologist Jiro Kawakita (from which its name derives) to collect, sort and find meaning in qualitative data. As such, it facilitates abductive reasoning that provides rigor to the process of sorting out chaotic ideas and insights to form a hypothesis to confirm or reject. While mostly used in Western countries as an ideation tool, it has been used in Japanese companies as a method for ...
The Idea Card is a tool coming from Service Design that presents your idea in just one page. The synthetic nature helps you focus on its essential structure: the challenge and needs you are addressing, the solution, what it might achieve and how you will accomplish this. It is an excellent tool to use when presenting your initial idea to stakeholders or future beneficiaries/customers to get a feel of what you’re doing right and what you could improve on.
Idea Card (Canvas)
The Idea Card tool helps to organize and detail an idea in only one page. It requests detailing the needs and challenges addressed, how the solution works and who is involved. It can help elaborating initial ideas more in detail to then present it to others to receive preliminary feedback. In a group the Idea Card may spark discussions on how initial ideas can be implemented pointing out key factors, barriers and opportunities while further developing a concept.
“How might we” questions are a quick way to shift teams to think outside the box. They use strategic and generative wording to translate problems into questions that enable individuals and teams to ask more precise, provocative, and open-ended, questions. These questions transform problems into opportunities and opportunities into ideas. “Proponents of this increasingly popular practice say it’s surprisingly effective — and that it can be seen as a testament to the ...
How might we
‘How Might We’, or short HMW, questions are used by designers to transform problem statements or challenges into opportunities throughout the initial phases of the process of solutions finding. It is meant to rephrase previously stated problems and challenges as opportunities as an ideal starting point to then solve the initial challenges. Take care that questions are neither too broad nor to narrow to ideate solutions later on like this: “How might we design a product that ...
Funnel of experience sharing (Canvas)
The template for experience sharing helps reflecting on experimentation for analytically identifViewying issues that should be addressed and strengths of the project. The method has the purpose of providing a structure for learning from project experiences, by providing discussion categories and a template to collect input (knowledge sharing and documenting).
Frameboards (Canvas)
The Frameboard tool is a canvas/template developed by Guido Stompff in 2018 with the aim of enabling both the visualisation and communication resulting from the exploration of a frame. A frame is intended in this case as a certain temporary perspective on a problem or challenge being explored. Since the Frameboard focuses on a frame – formulated as a temporary perspective on a determined issue – it is particularly useful to quickly explore the situation and iteratively envision ...
Frameboards
The Frameboard tool is a canvas/template developed by Guido Stompff in 2018 with the aim of enabling both the visualisation and communication resulting from the exploration of a frame. A frame is intended in this case as a certain temporary perspective on a problem or challenge being explored.
Experiment Canvas
An experiment canvas allows for a team or individual to create an experiment for the current time and test out their ideas about a certain issue/topic. This is done through hypothesising the current riskiest assumption there is about an experiment, then a falsifying hypothesis. It is clear and easy way to create an experiment.
The Service Blueprint is an operational tool that provides a holistic viewpoint of an organization’s operational processes, e.g. key activities, products, services and points of interaction with the intended audience, stakeholders and beneficiaries. As such, it is a strategic tool useful for planning or improving a service as it demonstrates what is happening along the service line and who is doing what through what means.
Service Blueprint (Canvas)
The Service Blueprint is an operational tool that provides a holistic viewpoint of an organization’s operational processes, e.g. key activities, products, services and points of interaction with the intended audience, stakeholders and beneficiaries. As such, it is a strategic tool useful for planning or improving a service as it demonstrates what is happening along the service line and who is doing what through what means. The Service Blueprint can be used to understand cross-functional ...
Ethnographic Fieldnotes (Canvas)
Ethnographic fieldnotes are a tool to organize different observations, types of analysis, emerging questions and reflections, as well as ideas for future action. Ethnographic fieldnotes are a useful tool to make sense of complex interactions and processes taking place in response to challenges such as climate change. They are structured, written observations done in physical and social proximity to a community or to the daily lives of a particular city. They can reflect not only the context in ...
Ethnographic Fieldnotes
Ethnographic fieldnotes are a tool to organize different observations, types of analysis, emerging questions and reflections, as well as ideas for future action (POLIMI, 2020)
Observation of Context (Canvas)
Observation of context is a qualitative research tool to help understand context and to show what people do. This tool involves collecting data using one’s senses. It is about getting a perspective or opinion on what is happening, what’s going on, who you’d like to spend more time with. This is a guide for an individual researcher or a group of researchers to use within their chosen setting (e.g. a town, organisation or group). It is likely to take more than one observation to ...
Customer Journey (Canvas)
The customer journey map is a representation describing each step of the interaction that a user or customer has with a service, product, organization or system taking the perspective of the user. It is stated what the actions, the touchpoints with the service, product or system and the emotional state of the user for each of the steps. It can functions as a planning- and strategic tool to keep the focus on the final users for the final development and the prototyping of a new solution. It can ...
Designing the Challenge (Canvas)
Designing a challenge is a first step in putting together an innovation competition. In order for the innovation competition to be successful and attract enough audience, a team of organizers should define the main challenge of the competition, how to select winners, judges, what is the selection process along with other details. Intentionally designing the challenge can enable you to systematically design open innovation events and reveal innovative ideas worth developing. Designing the ...
An empathy map is a collaborative visualization used to articulate what is known about a particular type of user. It externalizes knowledge about users in order to create a shared understanding of user needs, and aid in decision making. It helps synthesize observations and draw out unexpected insights. Empathy maps provide a glance into who a user is as a whole through a study of what they speak, think, do and feel about an activity.
Designing the challenge
Designing a challenge is a first step in putting together an innovation competition. In order for the innovation competition to be successful and attract enough audience, a team of organizers should define the main challenge of the competition, how to select winners, judges, what is the selection process along with other details. Intentionally designing the challenge can enable you to systematically design open innovation events and reveal innovative ideas worth developing. ...
Observation of Context
Observation of context is a qualitative research tool to help understand context and to show what people do. This tool involves collecting data using one’s senses. It is about getting a perspective or opinion on what is happening, what’s going on, who you’d like to spend more time with.
Social Innovation Business Model Canvas
Visualizing the business model of your idea in a canvas is an effective step towards advancing the concept. It provides the big picture on the processes that ensure that value is created, delivered and captured. The tool is a precursor to drawing up a complete business plan and is useful for formulating in a more rapid and cost-efficient manner the business model behind the idea for the initial phases.
Visualizing the business model of your idea in a canvas is an effective step towards advancing the concept. It provides the big picture on the processes that ensure that value is created, delivered and captured. The tool is a precursor to drawing up a complete business plan and is useful for formulating in a more rapid and cost-efficient manner the business model behind the idea for the initial phases. The tool addresses in a single canvas the different parts of feasibility plan. It is a great ...
The Context Map is a framework used to help understand the context. The template can map out the trends and different perspectives. This brings out drivers outside the organisation and the forces that could shape the project now and in the future. The context map is primarily for an internal understanding amongst the project teams and might not necessarily involve the stakeholders. After the canvas is filled, the entire team then deliberates on the data gathered and builds on it, also ...
This paper describes conventional measurement tools and their limitations for evaluating social impact, and proposes that developmental evaluation is more suited to evaluating social innovation.
Experience Prototyping is a method of “research through design.” (Wikström, 2015). It is the act of developing “any kind of representation, in any medium, that is designed to understand, explore or communicate what it might be like to engage with the product, space or system [you] are designing.” (Buchenau, 2000). This might include design prototyping techniques such as physical prototypes, immersive spaces/installations, immersive theatre, storyboards, scenarios, sketches, videos, ...
Cultural Probes
Cultural probes are a design research method, which are particularly well suited to conduct research with participants on sensitive topics and in personal contexts. They are intended to encourage participants to look beyond relatively well understood needs, into the fuzzier realm of their beliefs, desires and cultural preferences. Unlike direct observation (like usability testing or traditional field studies), the technique allows participants to self-report. A cultural probe pack comprised ...
5W Technique
The 5W technique is an analysis tool consisting of a series of questions that probe the core qualities and characteristics of a given situation. The 5Ws are who, what, where, when, and why (a sixth component, how, can be sometimes added to the list).
Antwerp's Participatory Budget
The Participatory Budget is a tool for the City of Antwerp to give citizens autonomy to spend 10% of the city’s budget annually on projects that could enrich their lives. The main feature of their approach is the focus on deliberative practices based on face-to-face debate, consensus decision-making and reaching marginalized and hard-to-reach residents. It is an excellent case for cities looking to engage citizens in concrete ways in public life and decision-making, allowing also for ...
Crowdsourcing the Mexico City Constitution
Through crowdsourcing, Mexico City granted a voice and autonomy to the citizens to generate a new constitution. Online petitions, surveys, kiosks, general assemblies and data collection centres served as spaces to acquire these opinions and recommendations for a new constitution.
Paris’ Standing Citizens' Assembly
The permanent Paris Citizens' Assembly is the first full-scale institutionalisation of a representative public deliberation, and it's composed of 100 residents of Paris selected by civic lottery.
The overarching process of Activating an inclusive ecosystem for change is at the heart of the Climate Transition Map approach, and is intended to expand and gain more momentum during each iteration (or turn through the Map). Make it the new normal process with an inclusive activation of your local ecosystems is key to support and enable a strong Climate City Contract. To make it the new normal can enable the creation of new infrastructures and embedded cultural practices that notably foster ...
Berlin's Kiezblocks
Similar to Living Streets, Berlin’s Kiezblocks are an initiative to limit traffic, improve road safety, and improve air quality at the neighbourhood level. However, they aim to establish both permanent and temporary spaces. They use participatory urban planning processes to divert traffic and plan, propose, and implement bike lanes and other communal spaces. They can be implemented by citizens, civil-society organizations, or governments.
Climate and energy model region
An initiative to develop large-scale solutions for affordable and reliable energy systems in Austria while focusing on bottom-up approaches where regions develop their own ways of enhancing renewable energies.
Wards Corner, Public-Commons Partnership (PCP)
Wards Corner uses PCP to establish a community-controlled asset to revitalise the surrounding area. PCPs are radical democratic models that encourages councils and other public bodies to work with communities to design, manage and expand the commons.
Groups of friends and neighbours meet every few weeks with a practical workbook to make easy changes in how they use energy, water, food, packaging and transport.
Democratic energy transition in Amsterdam
In 2021 Democratic Society (Demsoc) were design partners in the Amsterdam EIT Climate-KIC Healthy, Clean Cities Deep Demonstration (EIT Climate-KIC & Democratic Society, 2021). The project focused on what is needed to achieve a decarbonised future in Amsterdam based on key principles of deeper and wider civic engagement for climate action, including collaboration among diverse actors, peer learning, and experimentation for new forms of governance. This is a case study of how the Climate ...
Circular Economy
A 2°C economy must be circular and cities will play a central role in the transition as motors of the global economy. In the coming decades, cities will be increasingly important due to the expected greater urbanisation rates and the significant infrastructure investments and developments needed. Cities are aggregators of materials and nutrients, accounting for 75% of natural resource consumption, 50% of global waste production, and 60- 80% of greenhouse gas emissions [1]. The linear ...
Energy Generation
The Energy Generation area aims to replace carbon-intensive electricity, heating, and cooling with low-carbon energy production. How can cities tackle this issue? by a range of sustainable energy systems, which enable low-carbon energy production, the development of renewable energy solutions, and the efficient use of electricity is necessary to fully decarbonise the energy supply. RES ELECTRICITY AND THERMAL ENERGY GENERATION Decarbonised electricity is a powerful solution for reducing ...
As shown in the Net‐Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario [1] of the IEA, to reach climate neutrality by 2050 part of the emissions will need to be offset with carbon dioxide removal (CDR). In fact, in the Info Kit for Cities is mentioned that “If cities have GHG emissions which cannot be fully mitigated by 2030 due to technological or financial constraints, those so-called residual emissions will have to be compensated”. To deal with residual emissions, carbon sinks are the best ...
The Mobility and Transport thematic area aims to phase out all fossil fuel-based modes of transport within the boundaries of the city, or ideally, the Functional Urban Area, and, simultaneously, facilitate the use of alternative, cleaner and more sustainable transport modes. To do so, the goal is on the one hand to prioritise walking, cycling, public transport and other mobility services (car sharing, micromobility) in order to reduce private car use, and on the other hand, to make use of the ...
CITIZENS AND URBAN STAKEHOLDER COLLECTION: BUILD A STRONG MANDATE
The overarching process of Activating an inclusive ecosystem for change is at the heart of the Climate Transition Map approach, and is intended to expand and gain more momentum during each iteration (or turn through the Map). Building a strong mandate process with an inclusive activation of your local ecosystems is key to support and enable a strong Climate City Contract. To enable an activated inclusive ecosystem to be part of the mandate process means allowing a thin consensus around ...
This video is a recording of the livestrem of the first part of the "Let's Go! Climate Neutral & Smart Cities Mission Kick Off Event" organised by NetZeroCities and the European Commission in Brussels on 13 June 2022.
In Rotterdam, the Resilient Bospolder-Tussendijken 2028 initiative has been working with the local community since 2019 to leverage the energy transition as a means to build social cohesion and community capacity. The initiative applies the Asset Based Community Development approach and is working with local residents, informal social networks and bottom-up initiatives to (1) build an information and support network for the residents, (2) create technical capacity, local energy jobs and ...
Lada and Velilla Carrion River Social Innovation Platform
The Lada and Velilla Social Innovation Platform aims to promote the collaboration between companies, public entities and the population living and working in the region in order to unlock the just transition of the region after the closing down of a thermal coal plant.
Vision workshop in Sztum (Poland) - inspiring collaboration for climate ...
An innovative, inclusive workshop format, gathering Sztum's stakeholders, focusing on individual ideas about the Sztum future, related to the everyday life and environment of people taking part in the event to better understand the concept of climate neutrality and to co-create a common vision of Sztum in a climate-neutral future. The outcome will serve as basis for further development of the municipal climate strategy and can increase the acceptance of related implementation measures.
Clean Cities ClimAcclerator is a 9-month accelerator program targeting startups that help cities achieve climate neutrality, particularly through the use and commercialisation of clean technology. The program is focused on system-level innovations and is demand-led, matching startups in an early phase with challenge-owners.
Superblocks (Vitoria-Gasteiz)
The concept of “Superblocks” is an urban innovation that aims at low-carbon mobility following a participatory approach at the city and neighbourhood level. The idea is that the city, at the neighbourhood level, is reorganised into car-free areas that maximise public space for new social uses and keep road traffic outside the neighbourhoods – so called superblocks. Inner streets are redesigned for the primary use by pedestrians. The planning process as well as the adapted ...
Mannheim City Lab on Social Innovation in Energy Transitions (SONNET)
In line with the city’s overall climate policy, the city of Mannheim developed and implemented a city lab ("living lab" approach) as part of the EU Horizon project SONNET. The city lab aimed at mobilising citizens for the development of the neighbourhood Neckarstadt-West, a neighbourhood with many residents with migration background, where language barriers posed a challenge to the city to engage with citizens for energy transition efforts. Whereas the Covid-19 crisis posed ...
Bologna’s Citizen Collaboration Pacts
Bologna's Participatory Budget and Collaboration Pacts offer a unique model of how structural changes can create the enabling conditions for citizen mobilization around strategic goals by providing pathways for citizen-led (public) value creation. By providing citizens with the right tools and channels to express, deliberate, and co-design goals from the neighborhood level, the city can engage citizens in civic life by allowing them to solve and prioritize their own needs.
On Monday 18th of July 2022, Patrick Child, Deputy Director General of Environment at the European Commission, gave the inaugural speech of a four-day summer course organized by the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP) in collaboration with the Center itdUPM. This intensive course, which took place from Monday 18th to Thursday 21st of July 2022, aimed to introduce the European Commission’s Cities Mission and initiate the dialogue about its implementation in Spain. The ...
Wisdom Council on Bio-based Economy
Citizens were invited to participate in a Wisdom Council so as to develop recommendations for the future design of a sustainable bio-based economy in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). In a Wisdom Council, experts informed them on the opportunities and risks of bioeconomy - and more specifically the cultivation and use of plan-based biomass in NRW. Through discussions and debates, they then constructively and jointly developed policy recommendations on the biomass topic.
The Scotland’s Climate Assembly was planned and executed as part of the Climate Change Act 2019. It involved 106 members, most of them citizens guided by a Stewarding Group over 7 weeks. Due to the COVID19 pandemic the process was conducted entirely online rising new challenges in engaging citizens and building a group. The final output was a series of recommendations for the Scottish Government that reacted with a detailed response shortly after.
The Krakow Technology Park orchestrated and led the development of the new Air Protection Program of the Malopolska region to be adopted by public bodies, industry and other businesses in order to reduce their emissions significantly until 2023. The official document of the plan was co-produced with all affected stakeholders including citizens during co-design workshops and consultation meetings. Furthermore, a hackathon resulted in the concept for a digital platform making emission data ...
One-stop shop is a collective term for services offering integrated renovation solutions with the main intention of simplifying the renovation process for homeowners. A one-stop-shop is a virtual and/or physical place where homeowners can find all information and services they need to implement an ambitious global energy renovation project. One-stop shops can play roles as facilitators in the Renovation Wave, by interconnecting funding opportunities, incorporating solutions to new regulatory ...
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a type of due diligence that can be performed for materials and products, but also other 'systems': projects, corporations, or cities. LCA can assist in: identifying opportunities to improve the environmental performance of the selected system at various points in their life cycle, informing decision-makers in industry, government or non-government organizations (e.g. for the purpose of strategic planning, priority setting, product or process ...
Cities’ metabolism is the process of converting material inputs into outputs. Urban metabolism mapping is a method of quantifying and visualizing all the energy and material flows entering the city to meet the needs of the city and assessing how these materials are either stored or transformed and how they are exiting the city. Transitioning from the prevalent linear urban metabolism to a circular urban metabolism is essential to achieve environmental sustainability. The current ...
Design specifications are non-binding rules used by diverse teams. They can be issued by both public and private entities and are applicable to different actors depending on their roles. Developing and sharing a (local) set of guidelines can support the transformation of the market towards embodied carbon neutral products. The efficacy of the guidelines shall be strengthened through inclusion in tender and procurement processes. The guidelines can also be used by financial actors as a basis for ...
Emission-free building systems is a method to clarify the impact of material-related energy of built objects, aiming at realizing a number of improvements, such as stronger quality assurance, faster construction time, greater productivity and an improved margin. Industrialization, due to reduced activities on the building site, more efficient production in the factory and optimized logistics, is also expected to contribute to emissions reduction. Source: TNO (Link) On the basis of a Life ...
Green Infrastructure (GI) refers to a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural spaces. In urban environments specifically, GI serves as a nature-based solution which is multi-functional and economically and socially sustainable, compared to grey infrastructure. GI provides clean air and water and carbon storage, enhances biodiversity and wildlife, and helps cities with climate change adaptation attempts. Planning new GI projects and maintaining existing GI in urban ...
Thanks to their multifunctionality, NBS can address several urban challenges, in particular related to climate change, urban resilience and human health and well-being. For this reason, NBS require proactive policy intervention to be mainstreamed and integrated into urban policies, planning processes, and decision-making mechanisms. Source: EEA (European Environment Agency) Designing NBS and Green Infrastructure plans and strategies can support other policy documents and have an ...
A Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) is one of the main instruments used worldwide by public administrations to plan mobility systems in an integrated way, looking at environmental and climate change aspects. Following the EU endeavours to cut emissions from the transport sector by at least 55% by 2030 and by 90% by 2050, all European competitive cities are currently looking into developing or updating a SUMP strategy. A SUMP combines technical planning with the social-political dimension ...
Spatial planning is a powerful tool municipalities, cities and region have with which they can define and enforce the development of infrastructure, real estate and services within their borders. It is inherently an interdisciplinary practice, however it is often limited to the definition of zones and land use types without considering the full picture of the needs and goals locally and nationally. The integration of energy and climate with spatial planning can enable local and regional ...
Collectively, buildings in the EU are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which mainly stem from the construction, usage, renovation and demolition. Approximately three quarters of building stock is energy inefficient. (European Commission, 2020). "Financing" EE investments is a key barrier towards wide scale adoption of EE solutions for both new and existing buildings. "Loan financing" can be a key instrument towards ...
The integration of gender diversity considerations in urban design and mobility planning can help to create more inclusive cities and increase agency of marginalized groups and gender minorities. Gender differences can result in different mobility patterns that can be explained by the structural gender inequality that persists in our daily lives. Women typically travel shorter distances than men and use mobility modes such as walking, cycling and public transport more ...
Education plays a fundamental role in fostering sustainability literacy and awareness, and Nature-based Solutions (NBS) are an excellent tool to address the topic. Considering the era of unprecedented global changes our societies are experiencing, among which climate change is one of the most notable examples, the urgency of raising awareness and sparking action is ever more prominent. In this context, education plays a fundamental role in fostering knowledge about the interplay between ...
Vision workshop toolbox
The idea behind Vision Workshops is to bring together representatives of different groups (the general public, city administration, and/or schools) in their local context to make the concept of climate neutrality accessible to the population and to develop a shared vision for a future that is climate neutral.
Energy communities refer to a wide range of collective energy actions that involve citizens’ participation in the energy system. They can be understood as a way to organise collective energy actions around open, democratic participation and governance, and the provision of benefits for the members or the local community. It is a broad concept, that can refer to collective switching campaigns, collective investments in solar panels, but also the ownership of an energy supply company, or even a ...
Geothermal energy is renewable heat produced from rocks and fluids in the subsurface. The temperature of the produced hot water increases with subsurface depth. In the Netherlands for example, at about 1 km subsurface depth the water temperature is about 35 - 50°C and at 2 km depth temperatures are 60 - 80°C. This heat can be used for example to heat greenhouses and houses connected to a heat network. Ultra-deep geothermal energy from ~4 km depth could produce >120°C heat, which ...
Civic labs is a method for bottom-up, local innovation that creates platforms wherein citizens together with other citizen, private and government stakeholders to define common challenges and co-create solutions together. The application of civic labs is versatile and be initiated by governments, universities, non-profits, private companies, citizens or partnerships between stakeholders.
Co-production is a collaborative approach to decision-making and service design where providers, users and all relevant stakeholders work together to reach a collective outcome. The approach is value-driven and built on the principle that those who are affected by a service are best placed to help design it. In practice, it means that service beneficiaries are not only consulted, but are part of the conception, steering and management of services.
Wisdom Council Process
The Wisdom Council Process is a rapid, inexpensive, and easily understandable participatory method. It is designed to develop creative solutions to sensitive problems and topics. It is based on a 2-day working phase in which a small group of randomly selected citizens take part in a Council to develop suggestions for improvements or solutions, with the support of a moderator trained in Dynamic Facilitation. In a community setting, it can strengthen community members’ sense of ...
Idea Selection
After coming up with lots of ideas on how to solve a previously identified problem, it can be difficult to know where to start and which idea to develop. The Idea Selection tool helps mapping out ideas according to their originality and feasibility. With the tool, ideas are divided into 4 quadrants following two axes: • ideas that are original and feasible = ideas that will make an impact • ideas that are ordinary and feasible = standard ideas • ideas that are original and not (yet) ...
Climate Democracy Model
Holistic view of what we need to mitigate climate change and build climate resilience in our cities and regions in a democratic way – what we term climate democracy. The Climate Democracy Model consists of practical, interconnected tools for a city or region to assess and analyse its progress towards climate resilience through democratic means, focusing on diversity of actors and knowledge, participatory culture, resourcing and competencies for climate democracy.
Most Significant Change (MSC) is a participatory monitoring and evaluation method without indicators that consists in collecting stories of change from the field. The stories help understand the complexity and reality of the project in the field and offer a more in-depth picture of progress. More precisely, the method helps identifying relevant field stakeholders, gathering their stories (through interviews, focus groups, or fact sheets), selecting significant ones with precise criteria until ...
To encourage and facilitate a shift from private vehicles to more environmentally-friendly means of transport, all means of transport need to be considered when planning for citizens’ mobility needs. Within the last years, many innovative mobility solutions, like on-demand services, shared mobility & micro-mobility or even automated services have emerged in European cities and have disrupted the conventional mobility system that is shaped by mono-modal transport. With these new ...
Multimodal ticketing
Public transport companies have different types of tickets, providing a variety of services, from single tickets (one-journey ticket, zonal or origin-destination tickets) to single-modes and multi-modes tickets (combining multiple operators), etc. To facilitate boarding and transaction but also the integration of different modes under one card or system, transport authorities are pushing moving towards electronic ticketing, multimodal ticketing and smart cards. Multimodal ticketing is a ...
Smart cards can be defined as a device, generally bank card size, made of an embedded integrated circuit, encapsulated in a plastic body. The contactless smart card communicates with and is powered by the reader through radio-frequency (RF) induction technology, within a few centimetres distance. The contactless smart card is secure, affordable and can be used for many services: the same smart card could be used for public transport, payment services, loyalty, and so on with a dedicated ...
Stakeholders, such as city authorities, companies, experts and planners have to make various complex decisions in the urban planning process, with designing sustainable and future-proof road infrastructures being one of the many complicated tasks. An example includes design decisions for scope and suitable locations for parking and choosing appropriate tariffs. A complicating factor is that design decisions should take into account the future responses of the population. For example, when ...
Impact-Feasibility Matrix
The impact-feasiblity matrix helps teams prioritize and ultimately decide which ideas/projects are worth moving forward, on what timeline and with what effort. By mapping ideas according to how much they are in line with and can achieve set goals (impact) and whether current organizational resources can support them (feasibility), teams can sort ideas between: quick wins, major projects, busy work and resource drains. In short, the matrix can help teams prioritize projects/tasks, maximize ...
The number of mobility services is growing rapidly, yet for the user it can be challenging to confront all these options when choosing the best way to travel. This is where the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) concept steps in: MaaS is about taking away the hassle of finding the most suitable mobility option. It plays a role to change mobility habits by providing travellers with multiple transport options under one system. From a transport perspective, Maas is offering better services with a wide ...
Energy communities refer to a wide range of collective energy actions that involve citizens’ participation in the energy system. They can be understood as a way to organise collective energy actions around open, democratic participation and governance, and the provision of benefits for the members or the local community. It is a broad concept, that can refer to collective switching campaigns, collective investments in solar panels, but also the ownership of an energy supply company, or ...
The public contract is a type of contract in which at least one of the parties is a public Administration, and there is a situation of legal subordination. Public procurement offers potential market for innovative Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and Green Infrastructure (GI). The public procurement of NBS refers to the procurement of solutions, and verifiable environmental and social criteria can be included when "purchasing" NBS.
Shared micromobility is “the shared use of a bicycle, scooter, or other low-speed mode enabling users to have short-term access to an active or low-speed motorized transportation mode on an as-needed basis” (IGI Global). In recent years, electrification of vehicles has led to new shared micromobility services (e.g. shared e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, e-mopeds). Due to their affordability, 24/7 availability and flexibility of routes, they have experienced a rapid growth in ...
Owning and operating a personal vehicle in cities is becoming increasingly inefficient and costly. Car sharing systems provides access to a car for users who might not own a car, because they do not need it for daily journeys or cannot afford a private vehicle. They can also be used by companies and authorities for their fleet management. Flickr Automobile Italia Car sharing models present a reliable, flexible, and cost-efficient alternative to car ownership that supplements the sustainable ...
Commercial fleet is a group of vehicles utilized by a company to pursue its business objectives, regardless of whether persons or freight are being transported. Any type of vehicle can be included in the commercial fleet; however, aviation, shipping and road freight transport are deemed the most difficult sectors to decarbonise. Specific challenges also exist in reducing the GHG emissions of the mining and construction fleets. Different measures can be taken for the purpose of reducing the ...
Electrified urban freight delivery and other sustainable options for last mile delivery can be promising climate and energy solutions to reduce emissions coming from logistics, in the effort to contribute to low-emission zones as these are now envisaged in a number of cities. Solutions such as shifting to electric vans, micro-depots with zero-emission last-mile deliveries, cargo bikes, or even implementing a hub for a certain freight flow can be developed for various sub-sectors within urban ...
Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) characterises the more modern version of ITS where communication among vehicles using wireless technology is possible, which enables them to interact not only with each other but also with the road infrastructure and even with pedestrians or cyclists. Such functionalities enable a coordination and cooperation between road users, which allow for the advanced management of traffic and mobility, and can serve as technological basis for new mobility ...
Participatory Budget
Participatory budgeting (PB) processes empower communities to make decisions on a city’s budget and spending. PB can be combined with deliberation to ensure a robust, inclusive process.
Walking is the most basic, democratic and space-efficient form of transport and is open to people of all age groups and socio-economic circumstances. As a mode of transport (as opposed to walking for leisure), walking needs to be considered both as the beginning and end of every trip by any other mode and as a mode of transport itself for short distances. As the first and last mile option for trips made by other modes, it needs to be taken into consideration in planning. This includes ...
Cycling has recently become more popular (and is being taken more seriously) as a sustainable urban mobility solution. Cycling is at least part of the solution to multiple urban problems. Cycling can reduce the number of serious injuries and traffic deaths, reduce energy consumption, make efficient and equitable use of space, improve personal health, support local economies and improve social inclusion. It also reduces noise pollution and increases the freedom and independence of children (and ...
Green façades and greens walls are part of the so-called vertical greening techniques. Green façades are made up of climbing plants that cling: directly to the facade, thanks to adventitious roots (spikes or suction cups) allowing anchoring along the facade; along a support fixed to the façade, by rolling up or clinging to it thanks to their specialised organs (tendrils, voluble petioles); usually made of stainless steel cables and/or ...
Agirre Lehendakaria Center's Community Listening and Activation ...
A systemic approach to work in an open, collaborative manner that is sustained over time. It drives co-design, implementation and evaluation of Open Innovation Platforms for Systems Transformation.
Agrivoltaics: solar photovoltaics in agriculture
Fruit and particular crops that are increasingly affected by hail, frost, and drought damage may benefit from the protection provided by the partial roofing with PV modules. Figure: Illustration of an agrivoltaic system. The PV production can be used for 1) Own consumption, including energy storage, 2) Energy purchasing agreement with local residential and industrial states, 3) energy feed-in to power grid and gas distribution system operators. (Source: Fraunhofer ...
Citizens’ Assembly
A citizens’ assembly is a participatory process where a randomly selected group of citizens learn about and deliberate upon a specific issue or policy, and collectively come up with recommendations for decisionmakers.
Category: National Finance Policy Published/Created by: Federal Minsitry of Finance, Germany Link: https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/EN/Standardartikel/Topics/Priority-Issues/Climate-Action/immediate-climate-action-programme-for-2022.html Germany adopted major new climate legislation in June 2021 that sets higher national emissions reduction targets for 2030 (at least 65%) and 2040 (at least 88%), with the goal of achieving net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045. ...
Category: Finance Facility Published/Created by: European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund Plus Link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/finance-and-green-deal/just-transition-mechanism/just-transition-funding-sources_en The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is the first pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM). It is the key tool to support the territories most affected by the transition towards climate neutrality ...
Author: Euopean Commission Category: Finance Facility Published/Created by: Euopean Commission Link: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. It provides action grants for projects in the areas of nature and biodiversity, air, noise, soil, waste and circular economy, and water, among others. It also supports projects in the areas of awareness raising, environmental ...
Author: European Union's Horizon 2020 Category: Finance Facility Published/Created by: European Union's Horizon 2020 Link: https://www.eucityfacility.eu/about/what.html The EUCF is a European initiative to support municipalities/local authorities, their groupings, as well as local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities across Europe to develop investment concepts to accelerate investments in sustainable energy. In form of a EUR 60,000 grant, ...
Author: IEA Publications Published/Created by: International Energy Agency (IEA) Link: https://www.iea.org/reports/empowering-cities-for-a-net-zero-future More than 50% of the world’s population currently lives in cities, and that figure is expected to increase to almost 70% by 2050. Cities generate around 70% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. As societies recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, CO2 rates are rebounding rapidly. The increase in global energy - ...
Author: Leeds Climate Commission, Andy Gouldson; Andrew Sudmant; Amelia Duncan & Robert Fraser Williamson Category: City Net Zero Policy Published/Created by: Leeds Climate Commission Link: https://leedsclimate.org.uk/sites/default/files/Net-Zero%20Carbon%20Roadmap%20for%20Leeds.pdf Leeds Climate Commission has produced a Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap for Leeds that shows how the city can achieve its ambition of net-zero emissions by 2030 with many positive ...
Circular design makes buildings more adaptable and facilitates the high-value reuse of products and materials when they reach the end of their life. The new Circular Toolbox brings together first-hand experience and research from sustainability experts and contains a series of 10 whitepapers addressing many areas of sustainability in the built environment: https://www.metabolic.nl/news/the-circular-toolbox-delivers-resources-on-sustainability-in-the-built-environment/
Author: City of Glasgow Category: City Investment Plan Published/Created by: City of Glasgow Link: https://invest-glasgow.foleon.com/igpubs/glasgow-greenprint-for-investment/table-of-contents/ Glasgow City Council launched its 'Greenprint for Investment', a portfolio of investment projects designed to give a significant boost to the city's target to reach Net-Zero by 2030. The project is a mix of market-ready opportunities for private capital and radical ...
Author: The Lab - Driving Sustainable Investment, The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance Secretariat Category: City Procurement Policy Published/Created by: Climate Finance Lab Link: https://www.climatefinancelab.org/about/how-it-works/ The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance was developed in 2014 by the UK, U.S. and Germany in partnership with major development finance institutions, key private sector actors, and several climate finance donor ...
Author: C40 Cities Category: Finance Facility Published/Created by: C40 Cities Link: https://www.c40.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Green-Finance-In-Cities.pdf Green Finance Bench Marking Assessment - study Financing is frequently cited as one of the most prohibitive barriers municipal governments face when trying to implement climate action. For this resource, C40 Cities collaborated with the Government of Dubai to explore green finance trends and challenges experienced ...
Author: Green Bond Programme - Kenya; Mr. Sean Kidney; Ms. Nuru Mugambi Category: National Green Bond Published/Created by: Green Bond Programme - Kenya Link: https://www.greenbondskenya.co.ke/about The Green Bond Programme - Kenya, which aims to promote financial sector innovation by developing a domestic green bond market, is brought together by the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), Climate Bonds Initiative, Financial Sector ...
Author: European Investment Bank Category: European Investment Bank Finance Programme Published/Created by: EIB/NCFF Link: https://www.eib.org/attachments/pj/ncff-invest-nature-report-en.pdf The given report is a practical guide for europe including how to access support from the European Investment Bank's dedicated Natural Capital Financing Facility. The main goal is boosting investment for biodiversity, conservation and nature-based adaptation to climate. ...
Author: City of Belfast Category: City Net Zero Policy Published/Created by: City of Belfast Link: https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/business-and-investment/resilient-belfast/net-zero-carbon-roadmap-for-belfast The roadmap identifies transport, buildings and industry as key sectors to decarbonise. Work is now underway with city partners to develop a Carbon Action Plan. It is designed to influence the city’s net-zero plans and to inform how the city can work towards an ...
Author: City of Malmö, Annika Kruuse Category: City Public Private Partnership Published/Created by: Malmö/Climate-ADAPT Link: https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/optimization-of-the-mix-of-private-and-public-funding-to-realise-climate-adaptation-measures-in-malmo https://malmo.se/Stadsplanering--trafik/Stadsplanering--visioner/Utbyggnadsomraden/Vastra-Hamnen-/Samlade-skrifter-om-Vastra-Hamnen.html The city of Malmö has chosen ...
Author: World Bank, Beijing: Li Li; Washington: Nick Keyes Category: Finance Facility Published/Created by: The World Bank/KFW Link: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2019/05/21/innovative-financing-facility-to-help-small-cities-in-china-close-the-green-infrastructure-gap The Green Urban Financing and Innovation Project will assist China in launching and operating an innovative financial intermediary facility—the Shanghai Green Urban ...
Author: Bart Jan Davidse; Hanna Bornholdt Category: City Finance Policy Published/Created by: Hamburg/Climate-ADAPT Link: https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/four-pillars-to-hamburg2019s-green-roof-strategy-financial-incentive-dialogue-regulation-and-science#:~:text=The%20Hamburg%20Ministry%20for%20Environment%20and%20Energy%20is,to%20cover%20up%20to%2060%25%20of%20installation%20costs Hamburg is the first German city to have developed a ...
Author: City of Oslo, Katja Khardikova Category: City Procurement Policy Published/Created by: https://glcn-on-sp.org/cities/oslo/ Link: https://glcn-on-sp.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/SP_Profiles/City_of_Oslo_GLCN_on_SP_Profile.pdf Oslo is committed to using procurement as a strategic tool to drive a transition to more sustainable production and consumption. In the decentralized procurement function this commitment is integrated at the top management ...