Author: Elisa Abrantes Stories from Pilot Cities: Mannheim is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period. In 1817, Baron Karl von Drais raced through the streets of Mannheim on a wooden frame with wheels, a world-first that he called a ‘Laufmaschine’ or 'running machine', in English, but better known to us now as the bicycle. In 1885, the city saw the [...]

Author: Elisa Abrantes Stories from Pilot Cities: Nantes is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period. The French city of Nantes, famed for being the birthplace of surrealism and home to writer Jules Verne, is becoming a visionary urban centre, placing community at the heart of sustainability. The city and its surroundings, known as ‘Nantes Métropole’, has adopted a renewed approach [...]

Author: Elisa Abrantes Stories from Pilot Cities: Turku is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period. There aren’t many cities that can confidently make the claim they’ll reach climate neutrality by 2029. On the southwest coast of Finland, the city of Turku can, and is on track to do so, reaching net-zero on the year marking the city’s 800th birthday. Turku [...]

Author: Elisa Abrantes As cities navigate the urgent demands of climate change, the need to involve citizens is becoming increasingly pivotal. At its core, citizen engagement in cities involves the active participation of individuals in urban decision-making. Strong citizen engagement contributes to climate strategies that are effective, equitable, and aligned with community needs. Engaging citizens promotes public support for necessary but potentially contentious policies like low-emission zones or retrofitting buildings. It also fosters a sense of ownership over local environmental challenges, encouraging proactive participation and compliance. Citizen input helps identify specific community issues, enabling tailored solutions [...]