Achieving Europe’s Energy & Climate Goals Through Local Action

Cities and regions play a vital role in addressing climate change. The Cities Mission has engaged over 100 European cities to reach climate neutrality by 2050, but many of the 88,000 sub-national authorities across Europe face challenges in accessing the tools, resources, and knowledge necessary to meet climate and energy goals. Without support, they risk falling short of key EU targets.

This interactive session will explore pathways for the energy transition, with insights from senior city and regional leaders. Attendees will discuss practical strategies for planning, funding, and implementing the transition, helping shape future policies and encouraging collaborative learning.

This session is a crucial opportunity for empowering local authorities with the knowledge and strategies they need to advance Europe’s sustainable energy future. We will present real-world examples from across Europe and showcase the methodologies developed through the IN-PLAN, Regio1st, and PROSPECT+ projects. These examples demonstrate how to effectively integrate energy and spatial planning, turning policies into actionable solutions.

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Draft Agenda:

14:45 - Opening: Integrating energy strategies into spatial planning and increasing innovative financing in energy investments, with Giulia Pizzini (IEECP) sharing conclusions from REGIO1st, Prospect+, and IN-PLAN.
14:50 - Keynote speech by Luigi Lo Piparo (Technopolis Group), expert advisor for the Smart Cities Marketplace.
15:00- Panel Discussion: Lessons from local leaders and investors.

• EE1st in local planning (Maria Belarmina Diaz Aguado, Asturian Energy Department, Spain)
• Overcoming barriers in financing models and increasing citizen engagement (Mario Rajn, Mayor of Križevci)
• Insights from Flanders and the Committee of the Regions (Andries Gryffroy, Flemish Parliament)
• Flemish Local Energy and Climate Pact with VITO (Elise Steyaert, VITO, Belgium)

15:25 - Conclusions