6th NetZeroCities Seasonal School: Speeding Up the Energy Systems Transition to Climate Neutrality

18 Mission Cities representatives gathered in Milan for the sixth edition of the NetZeroCities Seasonal School, hosted by consortium partners Politecnico de Milano from 3 to 5 June 2025.

At the beginning of June, the sixth Seasonal School was held, entitled “Speeding up the Energy System Transition to Climate Neutral”. This edition of the Summer School was focused on the transformation of urban energy systems – complex, interconnected structures that shape how cities produce, distribute, and consume energy.

City representatives from: Aarhus, Amsterdam, Bucharest, Copenhagen, Communaute Urbaine de Dunkerque, Izmir, Liberec, Limassol, Ljubljana, Milano, Miskolc, Porto, Rzeszów, Sofia, Torino, Umeå, Vilnius and Warsaw, gathered in Milan.

This sixth edition centred on the specific work, common barriers, and emerging best practices in relation to the implementation phase of cities’ Climate City Contracts.

Harnessing peer-to-peer learning 

Over two and a half days, NetZeroCities led insightful sessions on a variety of topic including:

• Portfolio Mapping for District-Level Transition: Equipping cities with tools to strategize energy interventions at a granular level.
• Collaborative Stakeholder Engagement: Fostering effective partnerships essential for successful energy transitions.
• Integrated Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning: Developing robust frameworks to track progress and adapt strategies.
• Financing Pathways for System Transformation: Exploring innovative funding mechanisms to drive change.
• Smart Grids & Renewable Electricity Procurement: Understanding the infrastructure and sourcing for a greener energy future.
• Governance & Transition Team Models: Optimizing organizational structures for climate action.
• Policy Instruments for Decarbonised Networks: Navigating the regulatory landscape to support sustainable energy.

Beyond the technical expertise shared, a cornerstone of these Seasonal Schools is the invaluable peer exchange. City representatives openly shared their individual challenges and celebrated their successes, creating a powerful environment of mutual learning and support. This collaborative spirit left attendees feeling not only better equipped with knowledge and tools but also reassured that they are part of a larger, collective effort towards climate neutrality.

Let’s keep building momentum, one city at a time, through these essential learning and networking opportunities, empowering European cities to lead the way towards a climate-neutral future.

About Seasonal Schools

The Seasonal Schools are part of an extensive Capability Building Programme for Mission Cities, facilitated by the NetZeroCities consortium, which manages the EU Cities Mission Platform. The Schools offer both online and offline learning opportunities. These in-person events are tailored to guide cities in their pursuit of climate neutrality, facilitating the robust support for the development and implementation phase of CCCs.

For more information about the Seasonal Schools you can read more on the previous seasonal schools held in Madrid, Milan, Santander, Budapest and Stockholm.