Good Practices of Polish and European hospitals – Meeting of the DAPHNE Local Stakeholder Group
On September 25, 2025, the 3rd meeting of the Local Stakeholder Group was held as part of the DAPHNE project: Decarbonising healthcare in EU regions, combined with a bilateral exchange of Good Practices with the Greek Region of Thessaly. The online meeting brought together, among others, representatives of our Association, the Elk City Office, the “Pro-Medica” City Hospital, the 1st Military Clinical Hospital with The Polyclinic of the SPZOZ in Lublin – Branch in Elk, the Municipal Transport Company, and the Thermal Energy Company.
Third meeting of the DAPHNE project partners
The next meeting of the DAPHNE project partners took place in Dublin on 9-10 September 2025. The event was an opportunity for international exchange of good practices in the field of healthcare sector decarbonisation and for discussing the project’s activities to date. This time, the host was the HSE Capital & Estates Energy Bureau from Ireland, which welcomed representatives of partner organisations from Belgium, Greece, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine and Italy. Poland was represented by delegates from the City of Ełk, the Pro-Medica city hospital in Ełk and our Association.
Summary of activities within the OwnYourSECAP project
The OwnYourSECAP project (“Bringing local and regional municipalities towards owning their SECAPs”), carried out under the LIFE+ Programme between 2022 and 2025, aimed to support local governments in the energy transition by providing a systematic approach to developing, implementing, and monitoring Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs). The project was implemented by an international consortium of partner organizations from 11 European countries (Latvia, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Spain, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, and Italy). This collaboration enabled the exchange of experiences, good practices, and proven tools applied across different regions of Europe.
The project covered nine municipalities in Poland, grouped into three categories: advanced municipalities (Bydgoszcz and Sztum), deployment municipalities (Besko and Raciechowice), and replication municipalities (Pałecznica, Siemiatycze, Zamość, Żyraków, and Cieszyn). Its goal was not only to develop or update SECAPs — strategic documents that guide municipal actions in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change, and tackling energy poverty — but also to equip local authorities with the tools needed for effective implementation and monitoring. To achieve this, the project applied three key elements: an energy management system based on ISO 50001, a climate change adaptation framework based on ISO 14092, and an innovative stakeholder engagement method — Design Thinking. Through this approach, the project helped institutionalize energy and climate planning within municipalities, integrate it into everyday governance, and establish lasting structures to support the transition.
Within the OwnYourSECAP project, Polish municipalities received comprehensive support in planning and implementing climate and energy initiatives. For the advanced municipalities — Bydgoszcz and Sztum — updated SECAPs were prepared, integrating long-term climate neutrality goals (by 2050). For the deployment municipalities — Besko and Raciechowice — and the replication municipalities — Pałecznica, Siemiatycze, and Żyraków — new SECAPs were developed, serving as a foundation for defining concrete mitigation and adaptation measures. Moreover, in Besko and Raciechowice, training on the ISO 50001 standard was conducted, accompanied by the preparation of documentation enabling the implementation of an energy management system to support the permanent integration of energy efficiency processes. Through these actions, municipalities were provided not only with strategic planning documents but also with practical tools that enable them to carry out an effective energy transition.
An integral part of the OwnYourSECAP project were numerous training sessions and workshops, held both in person and online, aimed at strengthening the capacities of local government representatives in energy management, climate action planning and implementation, municipal and urban climate adaptation, climate budgeting, as well as effective citizen engagement and communication methods. A particularly important role in building these competences was played by the annual seminars in Jadwisin, which each year brought together dozens of municipal representatives from across Poland. These events created a platform for exchanging experiences, showcasing good practices, and debating the challenges of the energy transition. Knowledge exchange also took place at the international level during workshops combined with study visits in Vienna, Prague, and Bratislava, in which Polish municipalities actively participated. The culmination of project activities was the final conference, held online, which provided an opportunity to summarize the results achieved over three years of joint work on local energy transition. The event gathered representatives of local governments from the partner countries as well as replication municipalities beyond the project consortium — among them the Croatian town of Prelog, which, thanks to technical and expert support, successfully implemented the project’s tools and adapted them to local needs. The conference demonstrated that, while the challenges facing municipalities are substantial, through knowledge exchange and cooperation it is possible to shape effective local climate policies that make a real contribution to achieving European and global climate neutrality goals.
The implementation of the OwnYourSECAP project has come to an end, leaving municipalities with lasting tools and support for advancing the energy transition. The developed and updated SECAPs, the documentation enabling the introduction of an energy management system, and the tools supporting climate adaptation have created a solid foundation for continuing municipal efforts in energy efficiency. The experience gained through the project will continue to contribute to the further development of local climate policy well beyond its completion.
We encourage you to follow our project website and the main project page, where you can find event highlights, as well as additional materials and information about the activities carried out within the project.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Life funding instrument for the environment and climate action under grant agreement no 101077109. The sole responsibility for the content of this website lies with the OwnYourSECAP project and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.
From Policy to Practice: Driving Energy Renovation in Central and Eastern Europe – Synergies, Strategies, and Local Success Stories from the CEE Region
How can ambitious climate goals be effectively translated into concrete actions in the cities and buildings of Central and Eastern Europe? We were looking for answers to this question during the international online conference titled “From Policy to Practice: Driving Energy Renovation in Central and Eastern Europe – Synergies, Strategies, and Local Success Stories from the CEE Region” held on 11 July 2025. The event was organized within the framework of the OUR-CEE project, funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German government.
Study visit to Hamburg: Efficient urban planning, building renovation and innovative use of Renewable Energy Sources
On June 9-12, 2025, representatives of Polish local governments and international partners had the opportunity to participate in a study visit to Hamburg, organized by the Association of Municipalities Polish Network “Energie Cités”. The visit was aimed at inspiring representatives of municipalities to implement innovative solutions and show Hamburg's approach to urban planning, including modernization of buildings and implementation of renewable energy sources. Participants had the opportunity to learn about good practices that have not only made Hamburg stand out today in terms of innovation, but were created as a response to problems the city once faced.
ISO 50001 in practice: energy management system training for municipalities as part of the OwnYourSECAP project
An efficient energy management system in a municipality is a tool that translates into real benefits – lower bills, greater control over energy consumption and better use of local resources. It enables effective investment planning and improves the energy efficiency of buildings and infrastructure. A well-designed system increases the municipality's energy independence, improves the quality of life of its residents and allows for a faster response to challenges related to rising energy costs and climate change. It is also an opportunity to strengthen the municipality's position as a modern and responsible local community.
Samorządy w centrum zielonej transformacji energetycznej – podsumowanie działań szkoleniowo-doradczych
W obliczu rosnących kosztów energii, potrzeby ograniczenia emisji gazów cieplarnianych oraz konieczności uniezależnienia się od importu paliw kopalnych, państwa członkowskie podejmują intensywne działania na rzecz zielonej transformacji energetycznej, przyspieszenia rozwoju odnawialnych źródeł energii i poprawy efektywności energetycznej. Kluczową rolę w tym procesie odgrywają samorządy lokalne, które, nawet przy ograniczonych zasobach, są ważnymi aktorami zielonej transformacji. W odpowiedzi na takie potrzeby Stowarzyszenie Gmin Polska Sieć „Energie Cités” podjęło się realizacji działania publicznego pn. „Przeprowadzenie działań szkoleniowo-doradczych oraz analitycznych w obszarze budowania zdolności administracyjnych w zakresie zielonej i energetycznej transformacji na rzecz administracji lokalnej”, realizowanego w ramach Inwestycji G1.1.4 Krajowego Planu Odbudowy i Zwiększania Odporności.
With deep sorrow and sadness, we bid farewell to Mrs. Maria Stankiewicz
With deep sorrow and sadness, we bid farewell to Mrs. Maria Stankiewicz – co-founder of our Association, PNEC Office Director for 17 years, a person of great heart, a brilliant and creative mind, inexhaustible energy, kindness, and unwavering spirit. We will miss her dearly.
She will remain forever in our hearts and in our grateful memory.
Act now, Shape Tomorrow – final conference of the OwnYourSECAP project
The final conference of the OwnYourSECAP project took place on June 13, 2025. The project, co-financed by the EU under the LIFE Clean Energy Transition programme, brought together participants from across Europe to discuss local energy and climate initiatives. The event, held under the theme "Act Local, Shape Tomorrow: Lessons from OwnYourSECAP," gathered representatives from local authorities, European institutions, and energy and climate experts in an online format. It provided an opportunity to reflect on three years of joint efforts towards local energy and climate transition and to share experiences among municipalities from different parts of Europe.
Integrating Climate Action into Municipal Budgets – Workshops under the OwnYourSECAP Project
Budgeting for municipal investments is a complex process that requires not only knowledge of funding sources and financial models but also the consideration of environmental and climate-related aspects. In response to the growing challenges of ecological transformation faced by local governments, climate mainstreaming is playing an increasingly significant role. This approach involves integrating climate issues directly into policy, planning, and municipal budget management. As a result, climate action becomes an integral component of investment decisions rather than a separate initiative running parallel to other strategies. To support the practical implementation of climate mainstreaming, the OwnYourSECAP project organized a series of online workshops on the topic.
