SPARKLE Calenzano School – Resource-wise and socially just local economies
When circular economy meets local climate strategies
Fair economiesAbout
How can local and regional authorities translate circular economy principles into concrete climate and urban regeneration policies?
Cities and regions are increasingly confronted with the need to rethink how land, materials and resources are used, while ensuring social inclusion and climate resilience. The SPARKLE School When circular economy meets local climate strategies, hosted in Calenzano (Italy) on 5–6 May 2026, is designed for local and regional authorities like you seeking practical approaches to integrate circularity into urban regeneration, construction and planning policies.
Connecting circularity and climate action at the local level
The programme combines expert presentations with policy case studies, participatory methodologies and peer-to-peer exchange. Throughout this 2-day capacity building event, you will explore how resource-wise planning, circular construction, soil protection and sufficiency measures can support local climate strategies while responding to challenges such as land scarcity, affordability and social equity.
The school aims to support you in co-creating locally adapted solutions at the intersection of circular economy and climate strategies, while fostering more inclusive and sustainable planning processes.
Day 1 – Policy frameworks, tools and governance approaches
The first day sets the scene by addressing the systemic changes needed to transform the built environment. We will explore how circular economy principles can be embedded in urban regeneration projects, starting from the analysis of local compensation mechanisms such as Calenzano’s crediti edilizi approach, reaching examples of sufficiency measures for more affordable and inclusive cities.
You will also dive into the role of circular construction and resource-wise planning in addressing spatial constraints and reducing climate impacts, supported by examples from the Flanders Region (Belgium). A dedicated session on urban soils will highlight why soil health, de-sealing and urban agriculture are increasingly recognised as key components of climate resilience in cities.
Beyond technical solutions, we will emphasise participatory governance for inclusive planning, with a particular focus on storytelling as a tool for co-creation and shared ownership in local climate and circular economy strategies.
| ACTIVITY | MODERATOR/SPEAKER |
| INTRODUCTION | 9:00 – 10:00 | |
| Agenda and objectives | Serena Lisai (ACR+) |
| Transforming the built environment with a systemic change | Aimée Aguilar Jaber (Hot or Cool) – online |
| LOCAL POLICIES TO PROMOTE A RESOURCE-WISE APPROACH IN URBAN REGENERATION PROJECTS | 10:00 – 13:00 | |
| The crediti edilizi method in Calenzano: a compensation approach for urbanisation with challenges and limitations | Maurizio Bresci (City of Calenzano) |
| Sufficiency measures applied to the built environment to create more sustainable, affordable and inclusive cities | Laetitia Aumont (European Environmental Bureau) – online |
| How circular construction and resource-wise planning can reply to the lack of space and to fight climate change | Elmar Willems (Circular Flanders) |
| Q&A | |
| Coffee break @Altana del Castello | |
| Importance of healthy soils for climate resilience in cities: de- sealing and urban agriculture practices. | Beray Cayli (ACR+) |
| Local governance for soil health: participatory processes to co-create territorial management agreements | Annalaura Vannucci (ANCI Toscana) – HUMUS project |
| Q&A | |
| Lunch @Altana del Castello | |
| FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE | 14 :30 – 16 :00 | |
| Visit to the laboratories of the Design Campus – UNIFI: Recycled materials Biobased circular materials | DIDA, Design Campus – Università degli Studi di Firenze |
| PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE FOR INCLUSIVE, FAIR AND SUSTAINABLE PLANNING | 16:00 – 17:30 | |
| Co-creating more inclusive and fair planning through participatory approaches: an overview of participatory methodologies with a focus on Storytelling | Samir Amin (Institute for Urban Excellence) |
| DINNER | 20 :00 |
Day 2- From theory to practice: learning on the ground
On the second day, we will translate learning into action through a study visit to Nuove Ca.Se., a new public housing project part of the Programma Innovativo Nazionale per la Qualità dell’Abitare (PINQUA) and funded by NextGeneration EU. Here, you will explore how quality of living, regeneration and sustainability objectives are being addressed locally, and how circular approaches can be further integrated.
Building on the visit, you will take part in hands-on group work, imagining a circular future for the regeneration plan of Calenzano. Working in small groups, we will develop policy ideas and actions inspired by the concepts discussed during the first day.
| ACTIVITY | MODERATOR/SPEAKER |
| FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE | 9 :00 – 12 :30 | |
| Study visit at the Nuove Ca.Se. project | Municipality of Calenzano |
| Coffee break @Altana del Castello | |
| Group work: Imagining a circular future for r the regeneration of Calenzano | Moderated by ACR+ with the support of the students from DIDA |
| CLOSING | 12 :30 – 13 :00 | |
| LUNCH AND GOODBYE @Altana del Castello | |
How to apply
To join us, you need to apply by 25 February 2026. You can either join as a self-funded participant, or – if you are a local/regional authority that meets all the eligibility criteria – we will cover your travel expenses up to € 1.400. To apply for the fully funded programme, you need to:
- Complete the SPARKLE free e-learning Integrated energy and climate transition planning course and at least one among Data for a clean energy transition and Transition management.
- Fill out the application form and indicate the school (first and second choice) you would like to attend.
- Provide a Letter of Commitment demonstrating your municipality’s ambition to develop or improve a SECAP or similar plans and to participate in the chosen SPARKLE school.
- Indicate 2 representatives (one technical and one political delegate) to join the selected school.
Selected participants will be notified by 23 March 2026.
Click on the button below to discover the selection process and learn more about the other schools!
