European cities learn how to achieve net zero emissions together

In news

July 10, 2024

Cities in Europe are at the forefront of addressing global climate challenges. Their density enables more energy-efficient housing, transport and services. The EIT Climate-KIC-led initiative, NetZeroCities, its pilot programme and the Twinning Learning Programme represent Europe’s efforts to steer cities towards climate neutrality. Part of the broader EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, these initiatives emphasise shared learning, experimentation and innovation. This article explores the key learning elements of these programmes. It also highlights their impact on the cities that have taken part.

Space for experimentation

The Pilot Cities program is the main educational tool within NetZeroCities. It provides cities with additional funding, support, and training to help them learn collectively. The program’s design also encourages experimentation, which creates a dynamic environment for cities to explore and refine their approaches to achieving climate neutrality.

From last year to March 2024 and beyond, Pilot Cities bootcamps set the stage for a comprehensive learning journey. By thinking about their challenges and opportunities personally, cities had many opportunities to better understand their different realities and ways of working. This sparked potential solutions that could scale and replicate in different contexts, and helped them identify beneficial contacts for further discussions.

In the first years of the programme, cities have already been exploring the need to define the role of city administration in the transformation, the need for good practices to increase citizen engagement and the difficulties in identifying and engaging the right stakeholders. They are also discovering the potential for cooperation among themselves.

The program’s “sensemaking sessions” offer cities the opportunity to share their experiences, struggles, and questions with peers working on similar challenges. Here, cities can receive feedback, encouragement, and advice from other cities, reflect on past experiences and current work, and anticipate future obstacles.

Learning in groups

The Twinning Learning Programme connects twin cities through a bilateral exchange between Pilot Cities cities and partner cities across Europe. This opportunity allows them to learn from each other, share knowledge and jointly develop strategies to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.

Site visits are key to the program. They enable personal interactions between Pilot and the Twin Cities. These visits began in February 2024 and have already shown significant benefits.

After months of working together, eight team members from Belfast and Galway City Councils met in person. They visited Galway’s WarmHome Hub, a community hub that plays a key role in educating residents about retrofitting and climate action. During the visit, Belfast gathered insights and strategies to inform its retrofit pilots, which aim to replicate Galway’s success in increasing community engagement and energy efficiency initiatives.

“The Twinning Learning Programme is a valuable experience that allows us to establish connections at a technical level between city teams. It facilitates innovation processes and approaches to climate and energy problems, allowing us to think outside the box,” said Javier Frades Orallo, Project Officer for Bioeconomy and Biocities in the Spanish city of Soria, during a site visit.

Many capacity building initiatives

The NetZeroCities Winter, Spring and Summer Schools are another integral part of the extensive capacity building programme for EU Mission Cities. They offer both online and offline learning opportunities, guiding cities on their journey towards climate neutrality by equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge and facilitating the rapid formulation of coherent action plans and solid financing strategies.

Participants describe the Summer Schools as “inspiring and useful”, “a chance to tell their story”, “a good networking opportunity” and “providing intensive training that reduces the amount of additional work” to help cities implement their climate action pathways towards climate neutrality.

The workshops of the last Spring School in Stockholm focused on social innovation and stakeholder engagement, climate investment and portfolio design.

The Winter School in Budapest brought together representatives from 19 Mission Cities to discuss best practices. The event provided a platform for collaboration and sharing experiences.

“Winter School facilitated thematic learning and sharing that is essential to Mission Cities. These interactions provided a platform for networking and empowerment,” noted one participant.

The NetZeroCities initiative and its related programmes, the Pilot Cities Programme and the Twinning Learning Programme, provide a framework for learning, collaboration and innovation between European cities. By offering structured learning opportunities through boot camps, schools and sensemaking sessions, these programmes support cities in navigating the complexities of the transition to climate neutrality. Shared experiences and joint efforts not only accelerate progress but also build a resilient and connected network of cities ready to address the global climate challenge.

To learn more, visit netzerocities.eu