Sustainable development of cities and municipalities on the way to climate neutrality - Jadwisin 2023 seminar
Nearly 70 representatives of cities and municipalities met on 11 and 12 May in Jadwisin during a seminar on 'Sustainable development of cities and municipalities on the road to climate neutrality', organised by the Association of Municipalities Polish Network 'Energie Cités'. Participants had the opportunity to listen to experts from, among others, from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, the National Centre for Climate Change IOŚ or the Renewable Energy Development Forum, as well as participants of the debate on the successes and barriers in the energy transition of cities and municipalities, and to take part in good practice sessions held in small groups.
International meeting of the OwnYourSECAP project in Vienna
The second meeting of the Own Your SECAP project took place in Vienna, Austria on the 25th and 26th of April.
During the first day, the project partners held presentations on the progress of each task in the project. They discussed about each work package and the next steps and actions to be taken in the coming months. While the partners discussed current and future activities, representatives of the project municipalities visited places that provide an interesting example of the measures implemented by the city for energy transition and climate protection. They were guided by an architect and lecturer at the University of Vienna, who explained the selected sites in detail. Among other things, he used the example of several buildings on Geblergasse Street to show the potential of unrenovated buildings, both from an energy and social perspective. Then the group visited the Smartblock Geblergasse (a project that won a state award in the field of architecture and sustainability) to demonstrate how the potential of existing buildings, in which apartments have been expanded and completely renovated during a comprehensive renovation, can be realized. Representatives from the municipalities also saw the Seestadt Aspern in Vienna, one of the largest urban planning projects in Europe, with numerous examples of protection and adaptation to climate change in new development areas in a small space. The day ended with a joint dinner.
Final meeting of the S3UNICA project in Trieste
S3UNICA (Smart SpecialiSation UNIvercity Campus) project funded by the Interreg Europe program is slowly coming to the end. A final dissemination event was held on April 20, 2023. Project partners and representatives of the target regions had the opportunity to meet in person in Trieste and at the same time participate online, those who could not join.
The entire event was organized under the theme Regional Policies for Energy Efficient Buildings and aimed to promote the project results and disseminate the outcomes of the Regional Action Plans to a wide range of stakeholders and local decision-makers. The Action Plans are one of the main achievements of the S3UNICA project, so each of the partners had the opportunity to share their activities planned and implemented within its framework.
Workshops on energy management in municipalities as part of the OwnYourSECAP project
On April 18, 2023, workshops were held as part of the OwnYourSECAP project. The project includes a series of training sessions aimed at strengthening local potential and competencies in the field of climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as supporting the exchange of knowledge and experience between pioneering municipalities, experienced municipalities, and replicators. This time, the meeting was devoted to energy management in municipalities and was attended by representatives of the project municipalities of Bydgoszcz and Sztum (pioneering municipalities), Beska and Raciechowice (experienced municipalities), and Siemiatycze, Zamość, and Żyraków (replicator municipalities).
Covenant of Mayors 2023 conference in Brussels - the role of cities as leaders in the EU energy transition
How European cities are turning the energy crisis into an opportunity to drive Europe towards a climate-neutral and just future?
On March 30, the 2023 Covenant of Mayors Conference in Brussels brought together high-level representatives of EU institutions and Mayors from cities across Europe.
Nine mayors showcased what their cities are doing faced with the two big crises of today: the energy and climate crises. The exchange highlighted how cities’ response to the energy crisis is setting an example for Europe’s long-term efforts in matters of energy and climate. Panelists shared long-term solutions that will accelerate a profound social and energy transformation and the support that European institutions and national governments can provide to local governments in this process to reach common objectives.
School climate checks in Zamość
Representatives of the Association met in Zamość with teachers, students and employees of two primary schools that joined the Visions2045 project on 23th of March, 2023. School working groups had the opportunity to talk about common plans and expectations.
The most important element of the event was conducting a carbon footprint audit and collection of data needed to define it in the school building using a dedicated calculator prepared for this purpose by Greenpeace. The analysis of the collected data and the implementation of the school action plan for climate neutrality is planned. The goals of the project and the individual steps, that will enable its implementation, have been presented.
School climate check in Mińsk Mazowiecki
Schools in Mińsk Mazowiecki have started their activities as part of the project Visions 2045 - Schools as drivers to Climate Neutrality in Cities. School Working Groups - consisting of teachers, students, administrative and technical employees from primary schools No. 1 and No. 5 - met on 7th of March 2023 with representatives of our Association and the City Hall to talk about plans and expectations. Implementation of the project by building awareness and implementing specific activities among the youngest, with the simultaneous involvement of adult stakeholders, will facilitate the pursuit of climate neutrality of the city, building an aware society and proper use of available resources.
National Workshop on Energy Literacy in Poland
Environmental education, including adult education, plays an increasingly important role in shaping a sustainable society. On March 3, 2023, workshops dedicated to this topic were held in Krakow, with particular emphasis on the needs of young adults, i.e. people aged 29-39. The participants included representatives of cities, eco-advisors and organizations related to climate protection interested in the development of energy competences. The diversity of the group enabled a wide exchange of experience in acquiring and transferring thematic knowledge.
Recording of the EPAH Technical Support Program informational webinar now available!
Anyone interested in submitting an application in the second call for the EPAH Technical Support Program is invited to watch the recording of the event and the presentations given on February 28, 2023 during the webinar. The deadline for submitting the application form is March 31, 2023.
The meeting began by introducing participants to the topic of energy poverty, introducing the definition and characteristics of the phenomenon, as well as the challenges at the local level and proposed solutions to this increasingly common problem. The participants were then provided with detailed information on the Energy Poverty Advisory Center. The main task of this institution is to provide local government units and cooperating entities with assistance in diagnosing and analyzing this phenomenon in their area and planning local measures to help reduce it. The center collaborates with subject matter experts and gathers valuable knowledge, experience and good practices that may prove useful to other local governments and entities interested in combating energy poverty. This was followed by a step-by-step discussion of how to apply for the second call under the Technical Assistance Program and the entire process of preparing an application.
Workshop on adopting cities and municipalities to climate change
Enhancing the capacity to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change and supporting resilience to these changes is one of the most important elements of global, European, and Polish climate policy, as reflected not only in the European Green Deal but also in the programming of the new European Union Financial Perspective 2021-2027. In the new climate change adaptation strategy Building a climate resilient Europe, published on 24 February 2021, the European Commission points out that national, regional and local authorities should develop plans for adapting to climate change.
