Author: Barbara Jarkiewicz Europe’s climate transition is unfolding in places most people know intimately: the apartment blocks where families start their mornings, the schools and offices that shape daily routines, the streets where old buildings tell the story of generations. These spaces also represent one of Europe’s biggest climate challenges.   Buildings account for around 40% of the EU’s energy consumption and more than a third of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, making the built environment one of the most important frontiers in the race towards climate neutrality.  For cities working towards the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, [...]

Author: Joanna Trimble In Denmark, Sønderborg is set to achieve a carbon-neutral energy system by 2029 – positioning the city as a green frontrunner in Europe. Its business-first mindset powers that success. Working alongside ten industries with the highest energy consumption, the municipality creates viable business cases, setting in motion the economic tipping points that propel the climate transition.  A small city with a grand vision   Nestled on the southern coast of Denmark, Sønderborg is a small waterfront city where history, innovation, and maritime culture converge. Despite a modest population of 74,000, its influence far exceeds its size. The city can punch above its weight thanks [...]

Author: Barbara Jarkiewicz A decade ago, the energy transition seemed relatively straightforward. Replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, improve efficiency and emissions would fall. Cities now know it is far more complicated than that.  As climate neutrality moves from ambition to implementation, local governments are discovering that progress depends on far more than technology. Success now hinges on institutions, investment, public participation and the ability to align diverse stakeholders around a shared vision. Producing clean energy remains essential, but cities are also learning how to integrate it into the fabric of urban life through governance, finance and collective action.  That lesson is [...]