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Small stories and big news for those committed to a locally-driven energy transition.
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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 […]
Europe’s new 2030 target
What it means for cities and how we get there
The European Commission has formally proposed a target of 55% fewer GHG emissions by 2030, a substantial increase from the previous target of 40%. It […]
New board of Energy Cities ready to tackle the opportunities of the Green Deal and COVID recovery
Heidelberg re-elected as President
The new board of Energy Cities has been elected at an online general assembly after an unprecedented number of applications from progressive cities across Europe […]
Energy Cities: 30 years in transition
A short video to take you on a walk down memory lane
2020 marked the 30th anniversary of Energy Cities. 30 years of working with local governments and many international partners to bring forward a shared energy […]
How to Access EU and Member State Recovery Funds
Cities need concrete projects to access the more than €1 trillion available
Between the EU’s recovery package and the recent stimulus packages announced by Germany, France, Portugal, Austria and Denmark there is more than €1 trillion to […]
Your brief guide to the 7 EU programmes funding the energy transition in cities
The programmes, the amounts and their focus
The EU has a number of funding sources available to cities. They have their own focus, operational guidelines and requirements. This is a brief rundown […]
