Energy Cities is the european association of local authorities in energy transition. The association created in 1990 represents now more than 1,000 towns and cities in 30 countries.

Policy brief: "To change everything it takes everyone"
by Béatrice Karas
18 Jan 2019 at 12:49am

by Claire Roumet, Executive director of Energy Cities
?To change everything it takes everyone? This was the theme of a day of debate organised by my favourite cultural place in Brussels (Kaaitheater)! What an inspirational formulation in such troubled times!
Beyond the deep, emblematic crisis of democracy in France, it is the issue of the moment for all European countries and will set the tone for the upcoming European elections. Whether we talk about a fair or inclusive transition, or (...)

Two new publications out!
by Béatrice Karas
17 Jan 2019 at 5:22am

Two publications to help you make your budget climate-friendly and support citizen participation! Climate-mainstreaming municipal budgets
This guidebook contains a collection of case studies, best practices and tools that can help local authorities align their spending and investments with the Paris Agreement objective of limiting global warming well below 2°C, by fully integrating energy and climate issues into their budgetary and financial planning.
There is a multitude of (...)

Transformation led by Vision - How Münster´s Sufficiency Strategy overcame 3 ...
by Adrian Hiel, Tatjana Veith
14 Jan 2019 at 5:30am

The city of Münster has bold 2050 goals: being almost climate neutral while reducing their final energy consumption by 50% and their GHG emissions by 95% compared to 1990.
But how do you do that? This is the crux of the issue for Münster and all progressive cities. You can't mandate people to completely change all of their consumption patterns at an individual, household or enterprise level. Increasing energy efficiency alone isn't enough to create the necessary changes in housing, energy (...)

230 million, 233,000, 23%... 2018 key figures of the Covenant of Mayors in Eu...
by Floriane Cappelletti
11 Jan 2019 at 7:07am

In a constantly evolving policy context, the Covenant of Mayors Community has been acheiving great results.
Supported by the Covenant of Mayors Office with capacity-building events and materials, tailored information, international visibility, the Covenant of Mayors Community has been acheiving great results. 2018 was full of challenges, and successes! We're ready to go even further in 2019!
There are now 8,800+ local governments in the Covenant of Mayors movement in Europe, willing and (...)

These are the 10 trends reshaping climate and energy policies
by David Donnerer
7 Jan 2019 at 1:48am

The impacts of climate change are already felt today in Europe and across the globe. But a changing climate is not the only variable that is affecting climate and energy policies. A new study from the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC), the EU Commission's think tank, has identified 10 key trends that are transforming our societies, economies and energy systems.
The EU Commission has recently presented its vision for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. It has emphasized that this aim (...)

Energy Cities Conference 2019 : Save the date and get inspired!
by Tatjana Veith
13 Dec 2018 at 6:38am

Join us in Heidelberg for next year's major event and discover the ICCA 2019, the International Conference on Climate Action!
Save the date now: 22-24 May2019
In 2019, Eckart Würzner, invites all Energy Cities Members to join not only ICCA, but also our Annual Conference in Heidelberg.
Every year, our Annual Conference provides a dynamic and positive atmosphere and hence offers you the possibility to connect with partners for fruitful discussions and innovative ideas to shape your cities. (...)

How Milton Keynes used artificial intelligence to better engage with its citi...
by David Donnerer
12 Dec 2018 at 1:48am

The relationship between a city´s decision makers and citizens is of mutual importance. For local authorities, it is hence crucial to take the pulse of public opinion and act on it. Town hall meetings, surveys or consultations are only some of the many possibilities for this exercise.
Recently, the Energy Cities member Milton Keynes ran a pilot project that used a different approach. Thanks to the artificial intelligence (AI) tool ?Citibeats?, developed by the Barcelona-based startup Social (...)

Policy brief: Does the French new energy programme maintain the status quo or...
by Claire Roumet
10 Dec 2018 at 7:41am

Claire Roumet, Executive director of Energy Cities
By some quirk of the calendar (or not), France unveiled its pluriannual energy programme the day before the European Commission was scheduled to publish its own long-term strategy. The latter plan, which should prove ambitious, is targeting a ?net-zero? greenhouse gas-emitting Europe by 2050, based on models that are solid and accepted by the climate community.
Reduction of demand, mix of all possible technologies (including those which (...)

Energy Cities at COP24
by Sara Giovannini
3 Dec 2018 at 5:50am

The United Nations Climate Change Conference starts today! Our Vice President Peter Marland, Mayor of Milton Keynes will represent us in Katowice, but other Energy Cities members will also be there to showcase cities' efforts to tackle climate change.
Today marks the start of COP24, the 24th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. For 2 weeks, the Polish city of Katowice will be the centre of attention of the climate and energy community. Energy Cities could not miss this (...)

Personalised service to boost energy retrofits in private housing: a UK best ...
by Floriane Cappelletti
30 Nov 2018 at 8:09am

In the UK, Parity projects provides homeowners with personalised service for their energy retrofitting projects.
Through the RefrofitWorks intiative, they coordinate the work of suppliers (SMEs) and advocates such as social workers or associations to facilitate customer outreach and guide the clients in their renovaiton works.
SMEs can take part in training courses on technical issues - materials, technology, methods for effective energy retrofits-, on customer outreach and interaction - (...)