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Social participation in the implementation of renewable energy sources. How to engage citizens in environmental actions in the city? – online training highlights

How to involve citizens in green activities in the city? The answer to this question was the training and workshop on public participation in the implementation of renewable energy sources, which took place on January 31, 2025 in an online format. The meeting, during which participants had the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and experience of experts, was attended by about 40 people, including more than 20 representatives of Polish cities and municipalities. This was the third in a series of six training and advisory meetings aimed at supporting municipalities in the energy transition process. Previous training sessions covered the areas of accelerated development of RES and effective renovation of public buildings. The training was carried out as part of the public task within the framework of investment G1.1.4 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The training was held in Polish and English and participants were able to use live translation.

"Social Participation in Implementing Renewable Energy Sources (RES). How to Engage Citizens in Ecological Activities in the City" Invitation to Online Conference | January 31, 2025

The Association of Municipalities Polish Network "Energie Cités" invites you to a free online conference dedicated to communication and citizen engagement in ecological actions and the implementation of renewable energy sources (RES). The event will take place on January 31, 2025, from 10:00 to 12:30 CET on the ZOOM platform.

During the training, experts and experienced municipalities will present effective communication strategies and approaches to building citizen engagement. Participants will explore solutions to communication challenges related to ecological initiatives and tools for fostering social dialogue. The event will include a Q&A session, providing an opportunity for discussions with experts and addressing pressing questions.

Addressing Inefficiencies in Public Building Renovations: Challenges, opportunities and solutions for Central and Eastern Europe – online conference highlights

On Tuesday, December 10, about 60 participants, including more than 20 representatives of Polish local governments, attended the conference “Addressing Inefficiencies in Public Building Renovations: Challenges, opportunities and solutions for Central and Eastern Europe”. This was the second in a series of six training and advisory meetings, organized by Polish Network “Energie Cités”, that are aimed at supporting municipalities in the energy transition process. The first online training concerned the subject of shaping areas of accelerated RES development and energy communities, and this time the discussions revolved around the issue of effective thermal modernization of public buildings. The conference was carried out as part of the public task within the framework of investment G1.1.4 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and within the framework of the project OUR-CEE: Overcoming Underperforming Renovations in Central and Eastern Europe and OwnYourSECAP: Bringing local and regional municipalities towards owning their SECAPs.

Shaping areas of accelerated RES development and energy communities – online training highlights

More than 30 representatives of Polish municipalities took part in an online training on 28 November 2024 entitled “Shaping areas of accelerated RES development and energy communities”. The event kicked off a series of 6 training and advisory meetings aimed at supporting the energy transition process in municipalities. The training is part of the public task carried out by the Association of Municipalities Polish Network “Energie Cités” titled. “Conducting training and advisory activities on green and energy transformation for local government administrations” under investment G1.1.4 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

‘Developing ambitious local long-term climate neutrality strategies’ – a guide for local authorities representatives is now available

We would like to invite you to read the latest publication prepared within the framework of the project ‘Ready4NetZero: Capacity building for long-term climate neutrality strategies in towns and cities’. The handbook provides comprehensive guidance for administrative staff on how to effectively develop and implement Local Long-term Climate Strategies (LLCS). The publication provides best practices from cities like Kempten, Bydgoszcz and Brasov, focusing on inclusive governance, community engagement, and sustainable financing. Kempten's Climate Plan 2035 and Bydgoszcz's SECAP showcase effective pathways to reduce emissions and foster renewable energy use. By promoting collaborative urban planning, innovative public participation methods, and green infrastructure, the guide encourages cities to lead Europe's transition to climate-neutral, resilient urban spaces.

Kick-off meeting for the CETAC project in Prague

1. discussion On 16-17 October 2024, the kick-off meeting of the CETAC (Clean Energy Transition Assistance Centers) project took place in Prague. The aim of the project is to support local authorities in the decarbonisation process by establishing Clean Energy Advisory Centres. The Centres will be closely connected to the structures of municipal offices and will focus on implementing green policies, supporting citizens and businesses in actions related to the energy transition.

Innovative energy solutions in Sweden explored by DAPHNE partners

On 16-17 October 2024, the partners of the DAPHNE project (Decarbonising healthcare in EU regions) met in Malmö to discuss the progress of the project activities and plan the next steps. The meeting was attended by representatives from ten partner organisations from Sweden, Italy, Romania, Greece, Poland, Belgium, Ireland, Ukraine and Serbia. This time the event was hosted by the Swedish organisation NCSH (Nordic Center for Sustainable Healthcare), which is advisory partner in the project.

Decarbonization of heating and cooling systems in Europe — Support-DHC consortium meeting in Milan

tytułowe On October 8-9 in Milan, Politecnico di Milano held the second meeting to summarize the progress of the Support DHC project. Project partners summarized the achievements of the first year of operation, including activities that support both transformation leaders and those district heating systems, which are in the early stages of development. They also discussed plans for initiatives that build competencies and enable knowledge sharing among stakeholders and DHC system operators, which play a key role in accelerating the decarbonization of heating and cooling systems.

Wspólne działania na rzecz sprawiedliwej transformacji energetycznej – IV Konferencja EPAH

W dniach 15-16 października w Barcelonie odbyła się czwarta międzynarodowa Konferencja Centrum Doradczego ds. Ubóstwa Energetycznego (EPAH) pod hasłem przewodnim: „Zmiana kierunku: budowanie ścieżki do łagodzenia ubóstwa energetycznego”. Konferencja zgromadziła 248 uczestników stacjonarnych i 208 uczestników online z całej Europy, reprezentujących samorządy lokalne, instytucje UE, organizacje społeczeństwa obywatelskiego i różnorodne grupy interesariuszy zaangażowane w działania na rzecz sprawiedliwej transformacji w sektorze energetycznym. W konferencji wzięli również udział przedstawiciele trzech polskich samorządów, które były beneficjentami Programu Wsparcia Technicznego (Technical Assistance Program) tj. Bydgoszcz, Niepołomice, oraz Zamość a towarzyszyli im również reprezentaci Urzędu Miasta st. Warszawy, która gościła poprzednią konferencję w Warszawie w 2023 r. Tegoroczne spotkanie wszystkich interesariuszy EPAH, zorganizowane przez DG ENER, we współpracy z Deputacją Prowincji Barcelony (Diputació de Barcelona), miastem Barcelona, Europejskim Komitetem Regionów i Europejskim Komitetem Ekonomiczno-Społecznym, przy wsparciu stowarzyszenia Ecoserveis, koncentrowało się na politykach i strategiach łagodzenia ubóstwa energetycznego, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem praktycznych doświadczeń miast zmagających się na co dzień z tym wyzwaniem.

Workshop for representatives of municipalities in Siemiatycze in the framework of the Ready4NetZero and OwnYourSECAP project

The next national workshop organised as part of the Ready4NetZero project took place on 1-2 October 2024 in Siemiatycze. The event was attended by representatives from the city offices of Siemiatycze, Cieszyn, and Piastów, as well as representatives from the Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre and the Municipal Company in Siemiatycze.

‘Energy management in the city. Good practices’ from the DUET project

We would like to invite you to read the latest publication prepared within the framework of the project ‘DUET: Driving Urban Energy Together’. The presented good practices are the result of the exchange of experiences during study visits that took place, among others, in Hamburg, Dresden and Bydgoszcz.

In an era of increasing climate change and the growing need for sustainability, effective urban energy management is becoming a priority for local governments, businesses and public institutions. The guidebook 'Energy Management in the City: Best Practices' is not only a collection of information about interesting investments, but above all a source of inspiration that shows how to implement modern energy efficiency solutions.

New tool for municipalities is being developed: the CommitClimate Simulator!

Municipalities and cities play a key role in the decarbonisation of energy systems. It is at the local level that strategies and projects are implemented, having a real impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, an effective energy transition requires appropriate tools and knowledge to support the monitoring and planning CO2 reduction activities. In response to these needs, the CommitClimate Simulator is being developed – a tool designed to assist municipalities in achieving their climate goals.

Become an Ambassador for the European Climate Pact - Recruitment is ongoing!

Rekrutacja ENG Our Association, in its role as national coordinator of the European Climate Pact together with the Secretariat in Brussels, invites you to join the ranks of Pact Ambassadors during this year's recruitment! This is a unique opportunity to get actively involved in climate action, while inspiring others to take climate-friendly initiatives. If you care about the future of our planet and want to influence local communities by promoting sustainable solutions, we invite you to apply here.

Local Expert Group of the DAPHNE project launches in Ełk

daphne2.10 DAPHNE project partners from nine European countries have joined forces in an effort to decarbonise the health sector, which is responsible for as much as 4.4% of global CO2 emissions. To address this challenge, it is necessary to increase the capacity of regional and local authorities to develop and effectively implement strategies that include emission reductions in this sector as well.

The first step in this direction has just been taken: in Ełk, on 10 September this year, members of the newly established Local Expert Group met at the Science and Technology Park premises, thus starting cooperation to support the development of a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) for the city of Ełk.

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