The final conference of the Ready4NetZero project took place on April 3, 2025. Dedicated to supporting cities on their path toward climate neutrality, the event gathered over 40 participants in person and 24 online – representatives of local governments, public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and experts from Poland and abroad. The meeting provided an opportunity to summarize the project’s achievements and exchange experiences and best practices in planning and implementing long-term climate actions at the local, regional and european level.
The conference was opened by Anna Jaskuła, Executive Director of the Association of Municipalities Polish Network “Energie Cités,” who welcomed the guests and emphasized the importance of joint action by cities and municipalities in achieving climate neutrality. The next speaker was Izabela Zygmunt from the European Commission Representation in Poland, who gave an online presentation outlining EU policies supporting local climate and energy actions. She discussed practical aspects of existing and upcoming initiatives, underlining the need for long-term thinking and sustainable development.
The first presentation session aimed to highlight the results of the Ready4NetZero project. Izabela Kuśnierz, Project Manager at the Association of Municipalities Polish Network “Energie Cités,” presented the consortium's key outputs, including tools developed within the project such as a practical guide for cities and a methodology for assessing municipalities’ readiness for climate transformation. Her presentation showed the importance of knowledge sharing and experience exchange within Ready4NetZero, which will continue even after the project’s completion through disseminated publications.
Next, Ewa Iwaszuk from the Ecologic Institute in Berlin discussed the long-term vision of climate action in both the urban and European contexts. She reflected on the complex journey from the Paris Agreement in 2015 to the present day, as well as the new challenges and expectations facing community leaders.
In the following session, participants had the opportunity to learn from the experience of the Małopolska region. Justyna Mazurkiewicz from the Marshal Office of the Małopolskie Voivodeship presented the development of the Regional Action Plan for Energy and Climate, which outlines a range of specific short-, medium-, and long-term actions planned for the region. Then, Magdalena Neicu from Energy Cities Romania introduced different approaches to planning climate transformation in cities, presenting nine proven city models on the road to climate neutrality. She emphasized that the chosen path depends on local conditions and each city’s specific needs and capacities.
Andrea Labádi Fébert from the Hungarian city of Szentes shared local experiences in implementing sustainable development actions, particularly harnessing the potential of geothermal energy. Her presentation demonstrated how to effectively leverage local resources for climate benefits.
After the break, participants joined the session on effective climate initiative management. Laszlo Magyar from Energiaklub in Hungary spoke about the importance of leadership and cooperation in driving successful energy and climate transformations. His session also included opportunities for peer discussion and networking among attendees.
Vlatka Berlan-Vlahek from Energy Cities presented inspiring examples of cities participating in the European NetZeroCities initiative, which supports municipalities with innovative tools such as the Climate City Contract and the Climate Transition Map.
Simona Trisnar from the North-West Croatia Regional Energy Agency introduced NECPlatform – an effective tool for stakeholder dialogue in Croatia. She stressed the importance of combining top-down with bottom-up initiatives, creating safe and inclusive spaces for dialogue, and collaborating with the private sector.
The Polish voice in this segment was represented by Agnieszka Oleksyn-Wajda, Ambassador of the European Climate Pact, who spoke about engaging local communities in climate transformation. She demonstrated that valuable initiatives can emerge in any sector – from education, through tourism, to fashion.
The afternoon session began with a presentation by Dawid Brożek, an expert in energy management systems, who introduced the topic of certified systems as tools to support the achievement of local climate goals.
This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ewa Iwaszuk and featuring experts and practitioners: Małgorzata Malina (City of Kraków), Anna Szewczyk (Niepołomice Municipality), and Raluca Manolache (Energy Cities Romania). The panelists discussed the challenges of implementing climate strategies, access to funding, the importance of participatory approaches, and the role of local leaders in effectively managing change processes. They shared extensive experiences, current projects, and even practical tips for those seeking to launch climate initiatives in their communities. The key message? Listen to one another – and remember that every small step toward climate action matters.
To conclude the event, participants took part in a workshop focused on the handbook developed within the Ready4NetZero project. The session introduced the structure and content of the document and encouraged attendees to explore it in more detail.
We sincerely thank all speakers and participants for their presence, engagement, and active involvement in the discussions. We believe that the conference was not only a source of inspiration but also a strong impulse to move forward – from planning to implementing tangible solutions for the climate-resilient future of our cities.
Presentations
- Długoterminowe planowanie klimatyczne a Europejski Zielony Ład , Izabela ZYGMUNT, Przedstawicielstwo Komisji Europejskiej w Polsce
- Jak projekt Ready4NetZero wspiera dążenie do neutralności klimatycznej w miastach? , Izabela KUŚNIERZ, Stowarzyszenie Gmin Polska Sieć „Energie Cités”
- Długoterminowa wizja działań na rzecz klimatu , Ewa IWASZUK, Instytut Ecologic w Berlinie
- Regionalny Plan Działań na rzecz Energii i Klimatu dla województwa małopolskiego , Justyna MAZURKIEWICZ, Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Małopolskiego
- Ścieżki transformacji w kierunku neutralności klimatycznej miast , Magdalena NEICU, Rumuńska Sieć Energy Cities
- Zrównoważony rozwój miasta – zagraniczne doświadczenia , Andrea LABÁDI FÉBERT, Miasto Szentes
- Przywództwo, współpraca i regulacje prawne fundamentem skutecznej transformacji , Laszlo MAGYAR, Energiaklub
- NetZeroCities w praktyce: najlepsze przykłady europejskich miast zmierzających ku neutralności klimatycznej , Vlatka BERLAN-VLAHEK, Energy Cities
- Dialog, współpraca, zaangażowanie – znaczenie różnorodnych perspektyw w kształtowaniu zrównoważonych miast , Simona TRSINAR, Regionalna Agencja Energetyczna Północno-Zachodniej Chorwacji
- Angażowanie mieszkańców i interesariuszy w działania klimatyczne – skuteczna partycypacja w praktyce , Agnieszka OLEKSYN-WAJDA, Ambasadorka Europejskiego Paktu na rzecz Klimatu
- Certyfikowane systemy zarządzania energią - wsparcie dla miast w drodze do neutralności klimatycznej , Dawid BROŻEK, Audytor wiodący systemów zarządzania jakością, BHP i środowiskiem
This project has received funding from the European Union’s LIFE+ funding instrument for the environment and climate action under grant agreement no 101077109.
