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NZC Scientific Research

This page is dedicated to NZC research events and resources.

Upcoming publishing opportunities for researchers:

Chapters submission by November 30th, 2024 

Length: 17.000-18.000 characters including spaces

Academic writing with APA references

Publisher: tbd, possibly Springer

Further information and template will follow via email

 

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Interactive visualization for researchers of projects and initiatives of Mission cities 

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PAST EVENTS

First NetZeroCities event for researchers:

"Unleashing a Research Agenda for the EU Climate Neutral and Smart Cities"
 

Date: June 25th 2024, 9.15-17.45 (as part of the Cities Mission Conference 2024)
Location: Cajamar, Pg. de l'Albereda, 34, El Pla del Real, 46023 Valencia, Spain (Located opposite the Palau de la Música, at Paseo de la Alameda No. 34)

In a significant step forward for urban climate neutrality, the event “Unleashing a Research Agenda for the EU Mission Climate Neutral and Smart Cities” was organised by NetZeroCities in Valencia on June 25th. This pioneering gathering brought together researchers from across Europe and marked a pivotal moment in the collective efforts towards climate-neutral and smart cities. It complemented the 2024 edition of the Cities Mission Conference, enhancing the collaborative spirit essential for sustainable urban transitions.

The primary goals of this research-focused event were multifaceted. It aimed to outline the research aspects of Mission cities’ pilot activities, reconnect research with local practitioners in Mission Cities, and identify the current research challenges and gaps on the journey towards climate neutrality. A significant emphasis was placed on adopting a systemic approach to sustainable transitions, one that could be scaled and shared at the EU level. One of the event's ultimate objectives was to inform a research agenda centered on systems transformation within the context of the EU Cities Mission implementation. This Research Agenda is poised to become a cornerstone for researchers and scholars dedicated to leading the way towards climate-neutral cities and communities. Additionally, the event aimed to initiate the establishment of a network of universities and research institutions eager to integrate critical scientific insights with pioneering policy and practice recommendations.

The event saw the participation of approximately 50 researchers, representing not only the NetZeroCities consortium but also an additional 28 universities and research institutions from various parts of Europe. This diverse assembly underscored the widespread commitment within the academic and research community to address the pressing challenge of climate change and urban sustainability.

The day's proceedings were divided into several insightful sessions. The morning began with research presentations from the Pilot Cities Programme managed by NetZeroCities. Researchers who support cities in experimenting with new decarbonization pathways shared their findings and discussed the research challenges they have encountered. This session also provided a platform for projects outside of NetZeroCities but related to the Mission, fostering a truly cross-disciplinary overview of research on urban climate neutrality.

A key highlight of the event was the active discussions on the “Mission Cities systemic approach: research challenges.” Participants collaborated to develop a set of “Pathways toward a Research Agenda for the Mission Cities,” tackling various research topics. These included governance, citizen engagement, energy futures, behavioral change, funding for climate action, developing transformative capacities, making the sustainability transition desirable, and upscaling sustainability projects.

The event culminated in a presentation of the roundtable results to Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director of the Clean Planet Directorate in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and Deputy Mission Manager of the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. This presentation highlighted the significance of the discussions and their potential impact on shaping the future of climate-neutral and smart cities.

This event represents a crucial milestone in the collective journey towards sustainable urban futures. By bringing together a diverse group of researchers and practitioners, it has laid the groundwork for a robust research agenda that will drive the transformation of European cities into climate-neutral and smart cities. The collaborative efforts and shared insights from this event will undoubtedly contribute to the broader mission of achieving climate neutrality and creating resilient, sustainable urban environments across Europe.

 

Organizers:
Francesca Rizzo, Politecnico di Milano
Emma Puerari, Politecnico di Milano
Sabrina Bresciani, Politecnico di Milano
Marzia Mortati, Politecnico di Milano
Jordi Peris Blanes, Universitat Politècnica de València
David Dooghe, TNO Vector
Nikhil Chaudhary, EIT Climate-KIC


Participating organizations:

Austria Tech

Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3)

Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences Slovak Academy of Sciences
Delft University of Technology

DUT

EIT Climate-KIC

Erasmus University Rotterdam
European Commission
IFEU-Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg
INGENIO (CSIC-UPV)
Institute for Energy Research at UniversitatPolitècnica de València, Spain
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
KU Leuven
LAB University of Applied Sciences
LERU
LUT University
Lund University
National University of Water and Environmental Engineering
National University of Water and Environmental Engineering, Rivne city
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Politecnico di Milano
Politecnico di Torino
Stockholm Environment Insitute
Stockholm Environment Institute
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
TNO Vector
Tallinn University of Technology
Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest
The Cyprus Institute
The Lisbon Council
U!REKA European University (Metropolia UAS)
UIC - University International de Catalunya
Universidad Internacional de La Rioja
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC)
Universitat Politecnica de Madrid
Universitat Politècnica de València
University of Bologna
University of Parma
University of South-Eastern Norway
VTT - Technical Research Center of Finland
Viable Cities/KTH
Vilnius University
Warsaw University of Technology

Interactive map of participating organization:

 

 

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NetZeroCities Scientific Publications:

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