Participative governance Archives

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Interviews

How to turn a city into a “cool” place: Grenoble’s fight against urban heat islands

Interview with Mariam Emelien, Urban Planning Service at Grenoble Alpes Metropole

Participative governance

Climate adaptation

Fossil-free cities

Fair economies

23/07/2026

Heat peaks have become the new normal in many of our cities. On hot days, residents have to find places to stay cool – if there are any. In Grenoble, France, a team of urban planners and other experts have been working on interventions, some small-scale, some much bigger.

News

How Bristol City Leap is using private finance to empower citizens

The story behind the EUR 1.7 millions fund for community energy projects

Participative governance

Finance & Divest

Renewables

Community energy

03/07/2026

If your municipality is wondering how to finance the energy transition while delivering visible benefits for residents, you're in good company. Across Europe, local governments are experimenting with new ways to attract investment, strengthen communities and build more resilient energy systems. Bristol's Community Energy Fund is one example. It has already unlocked more than EUR 690k for 43 local projects.

News

A new course to facilitate inclusive decision-making and equitable benefit-sharing in renewable energy projects

Participative governance

Renewables

Tools & Capacity building

Local governments

Local governance

Community energy

01/06/2026

Energy Cities is launching a course to promote a common dialogue framework for inclusive decision-making and equitable benefit-sharing in renewable energy projects’ development

News

How a small French town grows an energy sharing culture

In Malaunay it all began with solar panels on a church rooftop

Participative governance

Renewables

Community energy

19/05/2026

Malaunay fearlessly and progressively extends its renewables activities. The city is tapping in its local energy potential, reducing energy needs, using biomass and fostering community solar on its way to full energy independence.

News

Empowering cities, engaging citizens

The SPARKLE School in Guimarães explore how citizen engagement and private-sector mobilisation can make climate action faster, fairer, and built to last

Participative governance

07/05/2026

Wouldn’t the green transition be faster and fairer if governments involved citizens from the start? That question ran through two days in Guimarães (Portugal), EU […]

News

Love me tender

Valencia's groundbreaking public procurement approach benefitting energy communities

Participative governance

Renewables

Community energy

28/04/2026

A recent UK analysis warns that the Iran conflict could cost households over EUR 550. Municipalities across Europe are searching for innovative ways to provide affordable energy solutions. The City of Valencia, Spain, offers a pioneering model that not only speeds up renewables installations but also ensures that the most vulnerable are included in the process.

News

Europe needs its cities if it wants to save democracy

Why the EU's sidelining of local governments dangerously undermines its fight against democratic backsliding

Participative governance

09/12/2025

Democracy is increasingly under threat in Europe, and the EU is struggling to respond. If they want to mount an effective defence of the rule of law, they must stop sidelining local governments and urgently focus on empowering cities.

News

Social business models to address local energy poverty: six cities tell their story.

How each place found its pace

Participative governance

Renewables

Community energy

Fair economies

02/12/2025

Imagine six places that set out to build their own social energy players – or at least a mindset for more collective and fair energy. […]

News

This summer, join the LIFE LOOP Community Energy Accreditation Scheme

Participative governance

Renewables

Community energy

29/07/2025

As Europe works on its transition to a sustainable and citizen-driven energy future, local authorities stand at the forefront of change. Community energy is the […]

Interviews

Reducing thresholds for citizens to make energy democracy work

Live podcast session with city makers and participation expert

Participative governance

03/06/2025

Tune in to the discussions around community engagement and also what role AI can or cannot play in participation and citizen engagement. In this episode you will see that cities and citizens are still somewhat searching for the right way towards energy democracy. It’s become increasingly important to go rethink how we govern, going back to the core: involving citizens in decision-making.