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Small stories and big news for those committed to a locally-driven energy transition.
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Huge success of the first EUCF call raises expectations for support to local sustainable energy
Local authorities submitted a total of 257 applications to get funding for the development of their sustainable energy investment plans from the European City Facility (EUCF).
Local authorities from all over the EU and the UK took part in the 1st ever EUCF call for applications, that closed on 2 October. […]
Drinking from a firehose
The success of the EU’s Green Deal and national recovery plans hinge on cities – but they are not at the table
Look out your window and make a mental note of what you see: a road, footpath, parked cars, maybe a park, trees, a rubbish bin, […]
Urban transition-makers in Brest
Brest Métropole gets ready to work with citizens for the energy, climate and societal transition
The metropolitan government of Brest is getting ready to organise a first major event dedicated to the involvement of local players and citizens in the […]
Renovation Wave will have a big impact on cities
Mandatory renovations for city-owned buildings and numerous lobbying wins makes for ambitious proposal
The Renovation Wave proposal from the European Commission landed on Oct. 14th and cities, for better or worse, will be most impacted. There are some […]
Grenoble awarded EU Green Capital 2022
Get to know this local champion for participative governance
Energy Cities’ member Grenoble won the prestigious EU Green Capital award last week! Grenoble impressed the European jury of experts with its pioneering approach to […]
Do the final National Energy and Climate Plans finally acknowledge cities’ key role?
New Energy Cities report reveals persistent lack of recognition towards local action by many EU countries
With all EU Member States having submitted their final national energy and climate plans (NECPs), Energy Cities has explored whether EU countries have improved in acknowledging the key role of local authorities, compared to their draft NECPs.
Active democracy
Policy op-ed by Claire Roumet
I remember a speech by Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona, addressing participants from all over the world at the first Fearless Cities summit in 2017. […]
Valencia’s stakeholder alliance: Weaving the energy question into the social fabric
How Valencia shapes its new normality
The City of Valencia just recently joined Energy Cities’ Board of Directors. Alejandro Ramon Àlvarez, Councillor in charge of the climate emergency and the energy transition for the city, talked to our colleague Miriam Eisermann about Covid, citizen participation and the keenness to share with others.
Make your EU funding applications more successful
Energy Cities’ tips for a good project proposal
The European Union provides plenty of opportunities for motivated teams to fund their projects in the field of research and innovation, sustainability, energy, regional development, […]
Financing opportunities for Sustainable Energy & Climate Action Plans
In a series of four publications, the Covenant of Mayors - Europe Office guide you through the maze of funding and financing solutions for your local energy and climate actions.
Innovative Financing Schemes In 2015, just before the COP21, City of Paris issued its very first set of green bonds worth €300 million. The system […]
The European Climate Law: is it enough to get to climate neutrality?
Learn about the latest developments in EU policy in Energy Cities' What's EUp? - October 2020
It is the legal backbone of the EU’s bid to become climate-neutral by 2050. The European Climate Law is supposed to enshrine and mainstream the 2050 climate neutrality objective into European legislation. For the Commission, the success of the Climate Law will make or break the ambitions of the Green Deal put forward by President Ursula von der Leyen. As the EU institutions are about to hash out the final details of the Climate Law, Energy Cities analyzes whether this first-of-a-kind European legislation is sufficient to get the EU to climate neutrality by mid-century.
Local heating and cooling planning – What benefits?
Learn from the Hotmaps pilot cities’ experience
In the past 4 years, five members of the Energy Cities’ network co-developed and tested the Hotmaps toolbox for heating and cooling (H&C) planning together […]
