The project aims to support small- and medium-sized cities in Poland, Romania, Hungary and Croatia in the development and implementation of local strategies to reach climate neutrality.

European Union aims to become the world’s first climate neutral territory. To achieve this goal, action is needed at all levels, including the local one. More than half of Europe’s urban population lives in small and medium-sized cities, which have a key role to play in reducing greenhouse gases emissions. Local governments become more and more committed to climate action, however often they have limited staff capacity, restricted financial resources and knowledge gaps that hamper ambitious, coordinated local efforts to become more climate friendly. The Ready4NetZero project aims to help overcome the barriers faced by small and medium-sized municipalities on their path to climate neutrality.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

• Development of the essential knowledge base;
• Organization of dedicated capacity building events (webinars, workshops, study visit, international conference);
• Kick-starting work on local long-term climate neutrality strategies in 8 pilot cities from the project countries (e.g. by developing city’s sustainable development vision until 2050, launching campaigns activating key stakeholders, conducting studies enabling development of optimal path towards climate neutrality…);
• Organization of communication campaign encouraging municipalities to take ambitious actions for climate.

EXPECTED PROJECT RESULTS:

• Guidance document on developing ambitious local long-term climate neutrality strategies
• Programme for building capacities of local self-governments striving for climate neutrality (basing on the initial needs’ assessment)
• 8 local pilot actions/campaigns bringing cities nearer towards reaching the net zero emissions objective
• 1 publication containing case studies and recommendations for cities and municipalities in energy transition

PROJECT PARTNERS:

• Association of Municipalities Polish Network „Energie Cités“, PL (coordinator)
• Energiaklub, HU
• North-West Croatia Regional Energy Agency, HR
• Asociația Orașe Energie în România, RO
• Ecologic Institute, DE

DURATION: 1 November 2022 – 30 April 2025

PROJECT WEBSITE: https://ready4netzero.eu

FINANCING: European Climate Initiative - EUKI

This project is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).