Guidebook for Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

Avoiding the most devastating effects of climate change requires cities and regions to lead the way towards carbon/climate neutrality. A number of cities and territories across Europe have embraced this challenge. They are developing and implementing long-term energy and climate plans that aim for carbon/climate neutrality by or before 2050. In order to reinforce and facilitate such efforts, it is vital to have clear guidance on what carbon neutrality means and how local and regional authorities can ensure that this is achieved within their sphere of influence.

The Guidebook for achieving carbon/climate neutrality by 2050 has been developed within the framework of C-Track 50, a project funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, which supported local and regional authorities in long-term energy and climate planning. The Guidebook describes the key steps in the planning process, along with important considerations in each step. It also presents best practices to inspire cities and regions and help them better design actions to take forward in the decarbonisation process.

Inside, you will find some information about what carbon neutrality means, why cities, regions and Europe should aim for it, the policy framework, how to develop a strategic vision and commit to it and much more. Several best practice examples are presented from the various C-Track 50 partners, divided in 5 different topics: governance and decision-making, infrastructure, urban/spatial planning, energy efficient buildings and energy production.

The guidebook is also available in the 10 languages of the project: Croatian, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Latvian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish. To access these versions, visit the project website.