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The linear economic model – why can’t things just stay the same

The working group kicked off by reflecting on some of the inefficiencies and impacts of the current take, make, waste system of production and consumption.

A picture of dying Lough Neagh - a putrid green, provided a stark image of what happens when narrow economic interests take precedence over the wider social, economic and environmental needs of society.

Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the UK and on the island of Ireland, provides 40% of the drinking water of Northern Ireland. It provides vital tourism, leisure and fishing related ecosystem services to the people there and is arguably the region’s most valuable natural asset.

Now, it is dying.

Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland

The lake has become a nutrient dense toxic soup as a result of increasing run-off from agricultural land and human sewage systems. It is no longer capable of sustaining the rich and vibrant ecosystems to which it was once home. It is choking and for anyone brave enough to venture nearby the stench is unbearable[1].

But this is not an isolated case. Yet, as we strive further towards agricultural intensification and increasing food production, more and more people go hungry each year[2], while over 30%[3] of food is wasted along the value chain.

This is both inefficient and ineffective. But it is not a characteristic unique to the food system. This is a characteristic of the linear system of production and consumption as a whole.

A system that is well and truly broken.

The linear economic model relies on high volume inputs of virgin resources and cheap labour to feed its endless appetite for economic growth and profit, all the while resulting in increasing biodiversity loss, environmental pollution and growing social inequity. Meanwhile our thirst for consumption does not cease and global resource extraction is predicted to rise by 60% by 2060[4].

The system is broken.

Can Circular Economy be the change we need?

The circular model of production and consumption provides us with some hope of emerging from this current mess. A regenerative and restorative economic model, it does not focus on economic growth alone but also strives to benefit both the environment and society. The circular economy model is based on the three key principles of (i) designing out waste and pollution, (ii) keeping products and materials in use and (iii) regenerating natural systems.

Can Cities Lead the Change towards a circular economy?

While cities are drivers of consumption and production they can also be agents of systemic change. 75% of Europe’s population live in cities which are renowned for their potential to be epicentres of innovation. Cities of course are also business and commercial hubs. 80% of cities and regions surveyed by the OECD identified the business sector as a key player in contributing to the development and implementation of circular economy initiatives[5]. Businesses recognise that climate change is the biggest threat to the future sustainability[6] of their business and many of them are making great strides towards more circular business models.

Several examples of these models were shared during the workshop with can be seen in the visual here below:

Figure 1: Five business models of circularity with examples

Industrial symbiosis was also discussed and a case study example was shared from the public, private and intermunicipal collaboration which is Green Hub Denmark, encompassing industrial areas in Northern Denmark with the Port of Aalborg, a focal point. This collaboration between six municipalities, two universities, three energy companies, four business associations, one port authority (Aalborg), one housing association, one regional government organisation, a regional EU office and Invest in Aalborg, is a great example of what can be achieved through strategic stakeholder collaboration at a regional scale.

Green Hub Denmark acts as a facilitator by enabling development, validation, testing & demonstration of green business models, solutions & technologies in real life testing environments. The typical value of industrial symbiosis to SMEs operating in this area ranges between €4,000 - €6,500 per year. You can learn more about Green Hub Denmark here.

Going a step further, examples of urban industrial symbiosis, where material exchanges are extended to include a nearby city, were also provided. The Amazon data centre in Dublin provides waste heat to a district heating network servicing  South Dublin County Council buildings as well as to a university & apartment complex. This covers 100% of their heat demand and results in 1,500 tonnes of Co2 savings annually. The system is managed by a not for profit heat utility company fully owned by South Dublin County Council.

Before diving deeper into further case studies participants were asked to reflect on the barriers towards progressing to a circular economy within their own cities. Participants included private and academic representatives as well as public sector participants. They cited barriers such as a lack of effective communication and awareness raising, regulatory barriers, lack of a circular economy culture and lack of a strategic vision.

Having reflected on the opening, exploratory and closing stages of the idea generation process, partners were invited to brainstorm in small groups what actions their municipalities could take to become a champion of change and lead the shift to circular. A wide range of ideas emerged from showcasing circular businesses so that others might be inspired to developing circular economy hubs.

Group work © Medienproduktion der Stadt Solingen

The workshop sought to provide additional inspiration by showcasing further case studies including the development of a reuse shop in the city of Opole, the development of a circular economy guide to support SME’s to adopt circular practices in Ciudad Real, the development of a cross sectoral circular economy hub and innovation space in Mechelen, known as the Impact Factory and the use of circular economy hubs as new model for community building in the city of Oslo, following on the model of Vollebekk Factory.

How to Involve Stakeholders?

Since the circular economy involves system change it will not emerge on its own. Instead it will require collaborative efforts across the value chain, involving individuals, the private sector, different levels of government and civil society.

Ensuring thus the active involvement of stakeholders is an essential part of the process. In fact knowledge and awareness of the local circular ecosystem of actors and stakeholders is a prerequisite for effective action design.

 There are two key strands to consider in preparing the ground for stakeholder involvement. These are (a) knowledge and awareness of circular economy actors and their needs and (b)  knowledge of who can support the transition or influence change and how to mobilise them.

Figure 2: Ecosystem awareness: a prerequisite for effective action design

This baseline knowledge will help to inform effective action design. A city’s actions should ultimately reflect the identified needs and challenges of various city stakeholders when it comes to the circular economy. The working group reflected on a city circular economy journey map put forward by the ad hoc expert which showcased a five stage journey, each stage with their own characteristics and related potential city actions.

Figure 3: City Circular Economy Journey Map

Tools to support designing solutions:

The workshop concluded with further group work. Participants mapped their initial brainstormed ideas on an attractiveness map which mapped ideas in a grid categorising them based on impact potential and the degree to which they would be challenging to implement.

Each group chose one idea to take forward and further develop using a designing solutions brainstorming board (based on the test card developed Strategyzer) which served to flesh out details of the action that could later be refined in an action table.

The workshop finished with a call to action reminding participants of their potential to act as changemakers and asking them to reflect on this, on what role they can play in leading the shift to circular, both in their own organisation and within their city.

Key Takeaways

The linear economic system is well and truly broken and the impacts of this are becoming painfully and shockingly evident on a wide scale. A systemic shift towards circularity provides some hope. Cities can play an important role in promoting, facilitating and enabling this, but effective collaboration with their broad ecosystem of stakeholders is vital. Knowledge and awareness of this ecosystem is an important first step in effective action and solution design. Co-creation tools can help this often complex co-design process. Support from an experienced facilitator is also invaluable. Finally, we must never forget that each of us has a role to play in pushing forward this change.

What will your role be?

Keywords: #circular economy #innovation ecosystem #collaboration #integrated action planning #co-design tools #circular hub #industrial symbiosis #circular business models

A deep dive into Avilés’ industry

On the morning of the first day, the meeting kicked off with an insightful symposium which provided a comprehensive understanding of how collaboration, innovation, development, and social cohesion converge to form the backbone of Avilés’ industrial success. The round tables delved into the city's unique model of public-private partnership, highlighting the existent synergies between public bodies, social partners, and private companies.

The first round table, titled "Avilés Model for Economic Development, Sustainability, Employment, and Social Cohesion," provided a comprehensive overview of how Avilés has successfully integrated innovation and sustainable development into its industrial fabric.

The second round table, focusing on Avilés' public-private collaboration with leading companies, showcased real-world success stories. Industry leaders from ArcelorMittal and IDONIAL R&D Center shared how these partnerships are driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of industry standards in Avilés.

Shared dreams, diverse cities

All the partners of the In4Green network are united by a common commitment: to lead transformative change within European industry and strive for a greener future. Nonetheless, our cities are well aware that, to achieve this goal, they must overcome their specific local challenges and forge their paths towards a green transition.

Based on the findings of the Lead Expert of the Network, Jose Costero, during the initial study visits to the network cities, a participatory session was held. The local challenges, good practices and learning needs of each city were identified and shared, and all attendees had the chance to discuss their expertise and background in relevant topics such as circular economy, energy transition, digitalization and investment attraction.

Exploring possibilities

Sharing and transferring successful industrial models among the cities of the network is a fundamental part of the mission of In4Green. For this reason, several study visits were organised in order to showcase Avilés’ best practices and initiatives.

The study visits included explorations of the Renewable Energy Exhibition (NorteRenovables), IDONIAL Foundation, and ArcelorMittal. Partners had the opportunity to connect with relevant stakeholders and experts in the field and gain a better grasp on the strengths of Avilés’ industry first-hand.  

Great Things Await

The kick-off meeting marks a promising first step for the implementation of network. In4Green partners returned to their cities with insights, knowledge and an even stronger motivation to shape sustainable industries and work towards the green transition.

But the journey has just begun: in the months and years to come, the network will continue evolving and striving for a better change in the industry sector. The path ahead seems challenging, but it will pave the way for the generations yet to come.

The global food systems cause roughly 1/3 of the greenhouse gas emissions, and the climate impact of major industries (e.g. meat, dairy) brings into question the sustainability of our eating habits. New solutions are being considered to facilitate the transition away from food waste to more sustainable agri-food systems. Unlocking the potential of urban agriculture and building communities around solutions for organic farming, urban greening and biodiversity can accelerate the transformation of food practices, as the URBACT Network Sustainable Food in Urban Communities has clearly shown. 

In March 2024, URBACT and the European Urban Initiative will kick off a series of EU City Labs on Local Food Systems. On 21-22 March, the first of three in the series puts the spotlight on Mouans-Sartoux. Here’s how this small French town has taken on organic, locally sourced food and emerged as a major player in the urban food transition and the leader of two URBACT Transfer Networks. 

When in Mouans-Sartoux

To better understand Mouans-Sartoux's food policy achievements, why not take a closer look at the local way of life? Between 2016 and 2022, a study financed from ADEME (French Agency for Ecological Transition) evaluated carbon impact in Mouans-Sartoux. According to the evaluation, while food represents a yearly average of 2 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per person in France, it is only about 1,17 tonnes in the city. In addition, the number of inhabitants reducing their consumption of meat has increased to 85% in less than 10 years. Of course, Mouans-Sartoux doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Other European cities, including Haarlem (NL), are pushing forth legislation to ban meat advertisements. 

Group discussion during the A Table ! Mouans-Sartoux Food Forum. Source: François Jégou.

Visual transcription 

In France, Mouans-Sartoux is one of four towns offering 100% organic meals in public school canteens, where 1 000 primary school children eat every day. Half of the meals are strictly vegetarian, and almost exclusively locally sourced. Also, the municipal farm, located 700 metres away from the town centre, supplies the school kitchens, and the three municipal  farmers harvest 25 tonnes of vegetables per year. The municipality's support for the installation of young organic producers on communal land represents another successful measure, accompanying a general embrace of “zero food waste”. 

The municipality also succeeded in creating the MEAD – Center for Sustainable Food Education: the true city public food service. The centre is politically committed to fair trade and it supports the Positive Food Families Challenge. As Valery Bousiges, a parent of a primary school student, put it: "The question is not when is something happening about food in Mouans-Sartoux, but what is happening today." 

Finally, the city's "permanent public activism" is proving its effectiveness with the Citizen feeds the city urban gardens. "These collective gardens grow vegetables and fruit, but above all they produce socialisation between the inhabitants of the neighbourhood", says Rob Hopkins during a visit to one of the association’s six gardens, a project that was conceptualised by the MEAD - Sustainable Food Education Centre and set up by the local residents. 

Two URBACT Networks standing up against bio sceptics

The "Mouans-Sartoux approach" is a bearing fruit, as it builds on long-term awareness and education for a sustainable transition. Yet, this transition is rooted in changing behaviour which, even when anticipated, is not always speedy or easy. In his book L'Homnivore, Claude Fischler explains that, through the mechanism of “food embodiment”, we become what we eat. This applies both physically and symbolically, hence an increased resistance to any diet changes. Unless our lives depend on it, like they once did for the first humans, dietary changes can threaten one’s identity altogether. 

As Andrea Lulovicovà, from Greniers d'Abondance, and Chantal Clément, from IPES FOOD, remind us, the food transition rests on three critical pillars: the agricultural transition, the relocation of food and the transformation of food practices. It is not enough to produce organic and local food if we do not change the way we eat.  

The example of Mouans-Sartoux and all the other towns in food transition tick all three boxes. This is also why the pioneering town was primed to lead two URBACT Transfer Networks advancing good practices, transfer modules and stories on sustainable local food models. BioCanteens (2018-2021) and BioCanteens#2 (2021-2022) involved the following partner cities and organisations: Gavà (ES), LAG Pays des Condruses (BE), Liège (BE), Rosignano Marittimo (IT), Torres Vedras (PT), Trikala (EL), Troyan (BG), Vaslui (RO) and Wroclaw (PL). 

True to name, the BioCanteens URBACT Transfer Networks aimed at reducing food waste by 80%, specifically in the field of collective school catering. Through these networks, Mouans-Sartoux devised and shared good practices for an integrated local agri-food approach, protecting both citizens’ health and the environment. These practices, and more, can be found in the BioCanteens toolbox, which includes a projective exercise on the food sovereignty of each city and the future of its food-producing land by 2040, in addition to a simulation game to create a municipal food platform, a poster outlining a multi-level food governance plan and the Bio Sceptics card game. The card game is intended to debunk clichés associated with organic food heard from farmers, traders, consumers, municipal services and others. 

Participants of the A table ! Food Forum in Mouans-Sartoux (FR) playing the Bio Sceptics card game. Source: François Jégou.

A key output of the BioCanteens Networks was the “A Table !" Mouans-Sartoux Food Forum”. Between 26-28 September 2022, the Forum brought together more than 150 stakeholders from 10 countries – including 50 local authorities, more than 20 NGOs and official structures involved in the food transition. 

The central question of the event was: How can we support cities in food transition at national and European level? It is worth re-listening to some voices from the Forum, which divulge more ‘food for thought’: 

- According to Gilles Pérole, Deputy Mayor of Mouans-Sartoux, “The free circulation of goods guaranteed by the European Market Code goes against the re-territorialisation of food and support for local agricultural transition. We need an exception to this European Code for food markets". 

- Food sovereignty – the central theme of the Forum – means reclaiming the ability to choose what we put on our plates. Fabrice Riem, lawyer and Coordinator of the Lascaux Centre on Transitions, presented an interesting take on how to operationalise exceptions, without breaking the rules. 

- Riem and Davide Arcadipane, from the city of Liège (BE) discussed the process of dividing public tenders into multiple lots – in order to facilitate the access of school canteens to supplies coming from small local producers. Riem pointed out how this process, which is now commonplace, represents a way to bend the Public Procurement Code without undermining it. That being said, splitting tenders into 300 to 400 lots, as practiced by the city of Dijon (FR), require human resources capacity that small cities do not have at their disposal and, therefore, a first distinction has to be made in terms of the size of the different cities. 

- Kevin Morgan, of Cardiff University, noted that if cities want to “express their purchasing power to bring about a local food system”, it would be possible to do so using current rural laws and seizing existing competencies from municipalities. At least in France, this is the way to ensure territorial anchoring, to design a call for tenders for food supply that requires a contribution to the construction of the local food system and that, ultimately, are in line with a Territorial Food Plan. 

- At the European level, the suggestions that were collected point to the same direction: it is fundamental to create a direct link between Europe and the cities that are capable of rebuilding a high-quality local agricultural fabric. Especially in terms of direct funding for public agricultural production, as for example the potential creation of "urban leader" or "inter-rural urban leader" projects. 

- All these ideas represented, in a practical and operational way, the principles outlined by Carlo Petrini, the founder of the Slow Food movement: consuming food is much more than just eating, it is an agricultural act. Likewise, producing and buying food is not simply supplying the city's canteens, it means building a coherent local territorial food system. 

Going back to the Lab

Now, Mouans-Sartoux will host the EU City Lab on Local Food Systems #1 on 21-22 March 2024. The agenda is already available online and registration is open until 7 March! This will be a unique opportunity to learn more about good practices in the field of collective school catering, look closer at the URBACT BioCanteens and Biocanteens#2 Transfer Networks and discuss how local projects can boost more healthy, sustainable food habits among citizens across different countries and regions. 

Do you wish to learn more about URBACT cities' past work on building sustainable local food systems? For a deep dive into Moans-Sartoux’s and other urban agri-food practices, there are plenty of materials on the URBACT Knowledge Hub – Food and sustainable local systems.  

Disclaimer: This article is an update to a publication by François Jégou from 08/11/2022 

Este City Lab se centrará en el cambio de hábitos para un sistema alimentario saludable y sostenible. A través de debates e intercambio de conocimientos, sesiones temáticas, talleres "a pie" y actividades de grupo, el evento pretende explorar cómo la transformación de los hábitos alimentarios puede impulsar una transición sistémica hacia la sostenibilidad en las ciudades europeas.

El laboratorio es una oportunidad única para:

• - Conocer mejor las buenas prácticas de Mouans-Sartoux en el ámbito de la restauración escolar colectiva.

• - Explorar cómo otras ciudades de la UE han seguido el ejemplo de Mouans-Sartoux a través de las redes de transferencia URBACT BioCanteens y BioCanteens II.

• - Descubrir otras buenas prácticas aplicadas por otras ciudades de la UE para fomentar la sostenibilidad de los sistemas alimentarios locales.

• - Visitar lugares de Mouans-Sartoux e intercambiar opiniones con sus habitantes sobre la sostenibilidad alimentaria en toda la ciudad, las acciones de participación ciudadana y las comunidades de aprendizaje.

• - Debatir cómo pueden ponerse en marcha proyectos locales para lograr hábitos alimentarios más saludables y sostenibles en diferentes contextos nacionales.

• - Comprender mejor el panorama de la UE en torno a los sistemas alimentarios.

Este será el primero de una serie de tres City Labs de la UE sobre sistemas alimentarios locales, en los que se explorará la transición alimentaria sistémica en las ciudades europeas desde diferentes perspectivas temáticas. Los próximos laboratorios se organizarán a lo largo de 2024:

• - Contratación pública para una alimentación más local, estacional y sostenible - Lieja, Bélgica, 29 y 30 de mayo de 2024

• - Uso sostenible de la tierra para la agroalimentación - el lugar y la fecha se desvelarán próximamente.

Más información y registro

Haced clic aquí para obtener más información sobre la serie EU City Lab.

Aquí tenéis información práctica para organizar su viaje a Mouans-Sartoux y preparar su participación.

Programa preliminar (  Inglés  |  Francés)

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How it all started?

Back in 2022, more than 70 cities across Europe – alongside relevant organisations working with environmental matters – took part in an URBACT study. The goal was to better asses capacity-building needs of cities when it came to the green transition, a term that requires some demystification as the findings suggest.

In a nutshell, a green and just transition consists of a shift towards new and affordable models that value the environment, while prioritising people’s well-being, resource-efficient and sustainable economies. Among urgent, priorities respondents highlighted their needs for creating further awareness and increase their knowledge, as well as finding resourcing and financing the green transition.

Energy, mobility and waste ranked as the most relevant topics for cities, followed by food, health, circular economy, housing and jobs & skills. With EUI, URBACT has decided to build on the energy experiences from the VILAWATT Innovation Transfer pilot, which was originally an Urban Innovative Actions-funded project (former EUI - Innovative Actions) in Viladecans (ES); and the food achievements from the BioCanteens and BioCanteens#2, Transfer Networks that were led by Mouans-Sartoux (FR), a city that is now a partner in EUI’s Urban Agenda for the EU Food Partnership.

What was the first EU City Lab like?

Between 23 and 24 November 2023, 61 people – from city representatives to Managing Authorities – took part in the first EU City Lab in Viladecans (ES). The intense two-day event enabled participants to discover local practices in the field of energy transition, the challenges to set up energy communities, and how a multi-level governance approach can help shape more energy-efficient cities. It was also an opportunity to learn more about the experience of the host city, while making connections to a green just transition.

Under the VILAWATT Urban Initiative Actions’ project, Viladecans developes a citywide energy strategy, as well as to explore alternatives for citizen engagement and retrofitting buildings. With the URBACT network, the city could further refine actions, while learning and exchanging with three project partners. The work of this network also reflected on the possible ways to implement the European Commission's Clean Energy for All Europeans Package (2020), which recognises the rights of citizens and communities to engage directly in the energy sector, while contributing to the Cohesion Policy – particularly the Policy Objective 2 for a “greener Europe”.

In total, 11 countries were represented at the EU City Lab. Spain had the largest representation with a total 32 attendees, followed by Greece and North Macedonia, with four attendees each. The remaining eight countries were represented by one attendee each. Although beneficiaries from current URBACT networks and previous EUI projects were present, 40% of the attendees were newcomers to the programme and the initiative. This proves to be a successful experience as to how we can connect and strengthen a larger knowledge community. It’s worth mentioning that the majority of attending participants worked in energy-related areas and had a medium to high level of knowledge of and experience with energy transition, as shown by their responses to the following two questions in the online registration form:

Participants’ previous knowledge and background in the field of energy transition

The feedback received from participants on-site indicate that this event was appreciated by its attendees, who valued both the learning component and the networking opportunities that it offered. The city visits, in their format of “walking and learning” tours, were one of the most appreciated components of the EU City Lab. According to a follow up survey on the visits, participants particularly enjoyed the occasion to exchange with people working on the ground and other locals, but also to get a glimpse of hands-on examples. Viladecans has managed to adapt the “EU energy community” concept to its own needs, creating its own “sharing communities”.

Participants were asked if they would be interested in the continuation of URBACT-EUI labs in energy transition and, if so, which topics and challenges should the next event focus in. Responses were positive among the people sitting in the room. The most recurrent ideas were summarised in a word cloud:

URBACT and EUI consider a good result the diversity achieved in the audience, both in terms of geographical scope and professional background. The presence of many energy transition experts, with sound knowledge and experience in the field, proves the quality and interest of the programme proposed. The lessons learnt from this pilot experience will be used to increase the attendance rate and refine the EU City Lab format in view of future iterations.  

When will the next lab take place?

Save the date! The next EU City Lab, co-organised by URBACT and EUI, will be on the topic of food governance and will take place in Mouans-Sartoux (FR), early March 2024.  This edition of the event will focus in the cities’ role to change food production and behaviour patterns for a greener future. Other EU City Labs on food, as well as a lab on funding the energy transition is also planned throughout the year.

Stay tuned and be the first one to know about upcoming events by subscribe to URBACT’s newsletter and EUI's newsletter. In the meantime, you can check below some of the material from the first EU City Lab and browse through Portico to get more knowledge on energy transition!

Participatory effect

Lead Partner Øystein Leonardsen have a lot of experience in testing methods for citizen engagement and explains that “in the city planning COPE seek to strengthen the empowerment of the citizens and their individual ownership through engaging and co-creative methods”. 

The COPE project seeks to push three levels of change: the structural, the individual and the societal. We do not only need to make the structural changes through policymaking and governance in a traditional top-down process. We have tried, but our societal challenges are getting more and more complicated and the traditional processes of finding solutions falls short. If we do not develop new methods going from looking at our challenges as something technical easy to fix with a simple technological solution, to looking at our challenges as so-called wicked problems with no clear single answer the risk is that we evoke opposition and conflict in the society.

We cannot let the individual change stand alone either relying on a bottom-up transition. This can be overwhelming and create anxiety at individual level.

In the process of policy making we need to create People's acceptance of inconvenience or cost and link this to their understanding of the importance and share the experience of ownership. We as human beings care more about the decisions and things we have contributed to or created ourselves. We call this the participatory effect. Read more about the participatory effect in relation to bottom-up collective citizen climate action on page 49 in “Omstilling på Vippen: Hvidbog om forbrug, adfærd og folkelig deltagelse i grøn omstilling” by DeltagerDanmark here (in Danish). It can be fuelled not only through information, but also through conversations, involvement, and co-ownership. We also use the term social tipping point when talking about this societal level, where the change is becoming a norm that people start to follow. In our COPE city Vilnius a bright example of the co-ownership transforming a local area into a vibrant and inspiring green area is the old hospital ground that through citizen engagement started with making urban gardening evolving into creating a place for gatherings, eating and experimenting with a green lifestyle and is now functioning as a solid local community creating new ideas and initiatives.  

In COPE we aim to find methods for working towards positive social tipping points in favour of the just green transition where as many as possible feel included or represented in the decisions and solutions. Just as we aim to avoid negative social tipping points like we saw with the yellow wests in France for example.

Building capacity – we learn from each other.

Our city network COPE consists of A Coruña (ES), Bistrita (RO), Copenhagen (DK), Kavala (EL), Korydallos (EL), Pombal (PT), Saint Quentin (FR) and Vilnius (LT). Our cities are very different on all levels; political, cultural, and societal. We have quite diverse narratives about the interaction between our political institutions and the citizens. But all cities are very eager to work together and learn from each other sharing knowledge and experiences.

In each partner city a group of local stakeholders and citizens have been put together in a so called Local URBACT Group with the local municipality functioning in a new role as facilitator. And particularly this role as facilitator in the local groups is something that COPE aim to mirror in the bigger picture on local level. Through participatory and deliberative processes, we seek to explore the interface between the citizens participation and the governance structures and culture. How do we as a municipality co-create with our local citizens? How do we make certain that we do not invite into processes that have no mandate, no power, and no real influence?

Sustainable urban development – going very local

As you see we have many questions, that we aim to find answers to during the project. Our approach for this ambitious goal is to zoom in on a local neighbourhood in the city. Through this place-based focus we will engage the local community; the citizens, the institutions and the industries and explore what is at stake in this neighbourhood. What hopes and ambitions do they have for their neighbourhood and how do they see themselves and their neighbourhood in the shift towards a more sustainable lifestyle? Do they agree on the needed actions? Do they need to agree, and can they reach a common understanding? How can they work on fulfilling their ambitions? What can be done today with local resources and what do the municipality need to plan and find funding for?

Change of mindset - Knowledge to action

No real change come from above alone. The changes we confront are so enormous, that we as individuals easily get caught in despair, hopelessness or anger and frustration and that we as governance institutions may give up and just follow the short-term populistic perspective.

The next two years of 2024 and 2025 each COPE city will work on both local and network level to find and experiment with methods for working towards positive social tipping points in favour of the just green transition. Seeking to push for a shift in mindset, not only within political institutions and the governance and planning processes of our cities. But also, through acknowledging the local knowledge, hopes and ambitions of the citizens and local interests evoking trust and engagement. This, we believe, will foster sustainable change within our society – no more no less 😊

Please follow our work and let us know if you find the Philosopher's Stone. We would love to engage and share!

The (bumpy) road to climate neutrality

What do we know about Europe’s journey to climate neutrality? Well, most of us are aware of the headline commitment: through the European Green Deal, the EU is committed to becoming the world’s first climate-neutral bloc by 2050. Ahead of that, the Climate Mission’s 100 front-runners, the NetZeroCities, will hit this target by 2023.

But we also know that this transition to climate neutrality won’t be smooth sailing. The scale of the challenge is as undeniable as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) conclusions about the planet’s current level of danger. Despite this, we can see that the mood may be shifting in the wrong direction. Pushback and resistance are rising, as climate change sceptics seek to hinder the transition to net zero. For example, misinformation about the 15-minute city model has been circulated to stoke citizens’ concerns about their civil liberties, capitalising on post-pandemic anxieties.

We also know that the scale and complexity of the climate-neutral transition creates particular challenges for small and medium-sized cities. Earlier this year, URBACT investigated exactly what this means, through a research project involving 68 cities.

Where are cities going to struggle?

URBACT’s analysis of cities’ needs provides helpful insights into the specific areas where they might struggle. Respondents, most of whom were from small and medium-sized cities, identified the headline challenges as:

1. urgency
2. complexity
3. low awareness levels
4. finance
5. mixed quality data
6. behaviour

For participating cities, energy transition emerged as the highest priority under the broad banner of ‘green transitions’, followed by housing, then education, the latter most likely linked to mindset shifts and reskilling. When it comes to the types of capacity-building needed, energy and energy policy were most frequently cited, specifically in relation to implementation.

How can URBACT help?

URBACT’s core focus is transnational city networks. The programme provides a framework for city authorities – and their thematic stakeholders – to collaborate on addressing their most pressing priorities. Not surprisingly, the most recently approved set of 30 Action Planning Networks (APNs) featured a high proportion of broadly ‘green’ themes. These include:

1. Circular Economy
2. Sustainable Land Use
3. Climate Adaptation
4. Energy Transition

In this new programming period, URBACT also has three cross-cutting themes, which will run through all networks, regardless of their thematic focus. These are: Green Cities, Gender Equal Cities and Digital Cities. At the recent URBACT Summer University, an intensive capacity-building experience for new networks, these transversal themes were highly visible, and the programme plans to further support network activity under them in the months ahead.

In light of the above, an important instrument will be the EU City Labs, the first of which will take place in Viladecans, Spain, on 23-24 November 2023.

Where do the EU City Labs come in?

Starting this month, the EU City Labs will showcase leading-edge activities related to selected themes. These events are co-hosted by URBACT and the European Urban Initiative (EUI), who collaborate on supporting sustainable urban development across the EU. The City Labs will provide a trusted space to identify challenges, examine effective methodology and explore the potential for future city-to-city collaboration. Most importantly, they will demonstrate what works, giving participants first-hand experience of the most advanced urban practices in Europe.

In this respect, Viladecans is the perfect host for the first EU City Lab. This Catalan municipality provides an inspiring example of how a smaller city, with big ambitions, can punch above its weight. Its innovative, inclusive approach to tackling energy transition has already been the subject of much attention and acknowledgment. Earlier this year, the city was given the EU Green Leaf award, together with the city of Treviso (IT), in recognition of its efforts towards climate neutrality. Viladecans was also a lead partner in the pilot URBACT Innovation Transfer Networks (ITNs), where it sought to transfer its Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) project on local energy communities to three other EU cities.

Two of those cities, Trikala (EL) and Nagykanizsa (HU), will join the November City Lab to share their own stories of that replication journey. Other UIA cities, such as Getafe, will also share the stage, which is appropriate at an event jointly supported by URBACT and the EUI.

Beyond Viladecans

The City Labs are, in essence, experimental spaces. To reiterate, each EU City Lab will have a thematic focus. The first shines a light on the energy transition, with two related events taking place within a period of months. The second, launching in early 2024, will focus on food, a theme around which the programme has an established body of experience.

Starting with Viladecans, the City Labs should provide an important platform for leading stakeholders, focused on the energy transition and other themes, to consider future collaborative options through URBACT and EUI channels.

For example, the upcoming URBACT ITN call (January 2024) will fund completed UIA city projects to transfer their innovation experiences across Europe, as Viladecans did in the pilot. The programme will also deliver a series of capacity-building activities under each of its three cross-cutting themes.

From the EUI side, it is worth mentioning other collaborative opportunities:

1. Cities can participate in EUI capacity-building events such as the Green Transition capacity-building event that took place recently in Tourcoing.
2. They can apply for EUI Innovative Actions call, the last one included the Greening Cities theme.
3. The EUI City Exchange provides a way for cities to follow up bilaterally to deepen their knowledge of others’ experience first-hand.
4. Through the Peer Review channel, cities can collaborate on improving their sustainable urban development strategies, which can of course include interventions linked to energy transition.

If you didn''t make it to Viladecans, you can surely sign up for future City Labs, so sign up for the URBACT newsletter and stay tuned!