The European Union is a unique economic and political union between 28 EU countries that together cover much of the continent. The EU is actively promoting Europe’s transition to a low-carbon society, and is updating its rules in order to facilitate the necessary private and public investment in the clean energy transition [1]. The EU has set itself targets for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions progressively up to 2050. Key climate and energy targets are set in the:

These targets are defined to put the EU on the way to achieve the transformation towards a low-carbon economy as detailed in the 2050 long-term strategy. It shows how Europe can lead the way to climate neutrality by investing into realistic technological solutions, empowering citizens, and aligning action in key areas such as industrial policy, finance, or research – while ensuring social fairness for a just transition. The EU tracks its progress on cutting emissions through regular monitoring and reporting. [2]

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

Source. European Energy Agency. 

https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/greenhouse-gas-emission-trends-6/assessment-2

References

[1] E. Union, “European Union,” [Online]. Available: https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en

[2] E. Comission, “Energy union and climate,” 2019. [Online]. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/energy-union-and-climate_en

[3] EUROSTAT, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat

Selection criteria

The selection of the European cities to be involved has been finalized following the selection of the cities in the project countries. The selection criteria utilized for identifying these cities include size, geographical distribution, climate, sector of expertise, variety of needs and challenges, and best practices to share.

In particular, the aim of the selection was to ensure that the needs of the newly identified cities could be addressed by the European local governments (topic and available staff/time capacity). In addition, an assessment of the European cities topical interested and needs was carried out, to guaranteed a bilateral maximum value from the exchange with the Global South.

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Tel: +49-761 36 89 2-0
Fax: +49-761 36 89 2-19
E-mail: iclei-europe@iclei.org

Results from Phase I

In April 2014, 13 cities took part in the European Study Tour “Low Carbon Solutions in Europe”. Host cities Almada, Portugal; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Hannover, Germany; shared their approaches to waste-to-energy systems, buildings, district energy systems, and sustainable transportation solutions. The tour was a successful peer-learning and experience-sharing event. The Mayor of Recife, Brazil, for example was impressed by the green roofs project and availability of bike lanes in Copenhagen, which inspired the city’s 2014 Green Roof Law as well as an expansion of bicycle lanes with the river restoration program in Recife. Other regional and global events used for networking, experience sharing, and training included the ICLEI World Congress 2015, Metropolitan Solutions 2014, and the Local Climate Solutions for Africa Congress (LOCS) 2015.

The Urban-LEDS European cities also benefited from this project, and established valuable cooperation with their counterparts from the Model Cities (not through direct one-to-one twinning but rather using an ad hoc approach as interests emerged and then facilitated connection). This was largely as a result of the staff exchanges and study tour that took place within the project. Thanks to these activities the European cities gained insight on the visions of the Model Cities, and were able to successfully inspire and provide hands-on examples and ideas for speeding up local low-carbon development.

Staff exchanges were organized in 2015 and early 2016 to provide in-depth support to the Model Cites on topics of their choice. The purpose of the staff exchange was to visit the European cities to explore details of local low-emission policies and measures, be inspired, and explore how these could be successfully transferred (where relevant) to their own local context. City representatives from 6 Model Cities participated, with 4 European cities acting to host one or two people from the Global South. The staff exchanges that had been organized are as follows:

• The chief planner from KwaDukuza (South Africa) engaged in a one week staff exchange in Helsinki, Finland, in October 2015 to learn more about the European cities approach to green buildings and the integration of sustainability into urban planning.
• The administrative head of the city of Thane (India) visited Zagreb (Croatia) in March 2016 to explore examples of citizen engagement, energy efficiency through sustainable urban mobility, and sustainable buildings.
• The Spatial and Environment Subdivision of the Municipality of Bogor took part in a one week staff exchange in Warsaw, Poland in November 2015 based on the Indonesian city’s interest in Warsaw’s LEDS and green growth vision.
• The City of Bologna, Italy, hosted the Assistant Director of local Economic Development in Steve Tshwete Municipality, South Africa, alongside the Executive Secretary for the Environment and Sustainability of Recife, Brazil, in December 2015. The delegates gained insight into Bologna’s sustainable energy action plan, and the use of public-private partnerships to deliver this.

Almada participated in Urban-LEDS I. Almada is a ICLEI GreenClimateCities (GCC) Europe Ambassador and has committed to test the program, provide feedback, and represent GCC Europe in their country and globally. This helps facilitate links and provide support to other local governments wishing to use the GCC methodology to create a global community and network of peers. Almada is taking active action to reduce city-level climate emissions and providing an example for other rapidly growing cities on how a city’s growth and determined reduction in climate emissions can be implemented.

It is located on the left bank of the Tagus River, bordering the municipality of Seixal in the east and the municipality of Sesimbra in the south. To the west the municipality of Almada is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. It belongs to the district of Setúbal and the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon. The city has 35 km of continuous border with the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River, mostly covered by requalification projects.

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

Bologna is the capital of Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy and is Italy’s 7th largest city in population. Bologna participated in Phase I of Urban-LEDS and is a ICLEI GreenClimateCities (GCC) Europe Ambassador, committed to testing the program, providing feedback, and representing GCC Europe in their country and globally. This helps facilitate links and provide support to other local governments wishing to use the GCC methodology to create a global community and network of peers.

Bologna is taking active action to reduce city-level climate emissions and providing an example for other rapidly growing cities on how a city’s growth and simultaneous determined reduction in climate emissions can be implemented.

The city Bologna is located in the Emilia Romagna Region, which lies between the River Po to its north and the Apennine Mountains to its south. It is one of the most fertile and productive agricultural regions of Italy, thanks to the mitigating effect that the Adriatic Sea has on the coastal climate. The topography surrounding Bologna is diverse and spreads over the plain of Po River Valley, along the Reno and the Panaro Rivers, in the hills and mountains, along the backbones of the Santerno and Senio Rivers to the east, and the Dardagna in the west.

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. Helsinki was the first European capital with a comprehensive sustainable development action plan in 2002. Helsinki has participated in Phase I of URBAN LEDS and is an ICLEI GreenClimateCities (GCC) Europe Ambassador and has committed to test the program, provide feedback, and represent GCC Europe in their country and globally. This help facilitate links and provide support to other local governments wishing to use the GCC methodology to create a global community and network of peers. Helsinki is taking active action to reduce city-level climate emissions and providing an example for other rapidly growing cities on how a city’s growth and simultaneous determined reduction in climate emissions can be implemented.

Helsinki is geographically situated on the southern peninsula by the Gulf of Finland. Facing Tallinn, Estonia, across the bay, a number of islands, which are part of Helsinki, can be reached via boats and ferries. North of Helsinki leads to other cities in Finland and connects to the borders of Sweden and Russia. Called the “Daughter of the Baltic”, Helsinki is on the tip of a peninsula and on 315 islands. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of Uusimaa in southern Finland. Together with the cities of Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen, and surrounding commuter towns, Helsinki forms the Greater Helsinki metropolitan area.

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

The City of Hannover is the state capital and economic center of Lower Saxony in Germany. Hannover is a city of international flair with its various trade fairs and events, while also enjoying an outstanding reputation for good business, innovative ideas, and academic excellence. The City of Hannover has participated in the European Study Tour in April 2014. The city of Hannover aims, by the year 2020, to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions within the municipal region by 40 percent compared to 1990 levels.

Nearly 40% of the city’s area is covered by gardens and woodlands. The city lies at the confluence of the River Leine and its tributary Ihme, in the south of the North German Plain, and is the largest city of the Hannover–Braunschweig–Göttingen–Wolfsburg Metropolitan Region. The city is not on a coastal location.

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. Aspiring to become the “green metropolis”, Warsaw sets itself a perspective goal of ensuring a high standard of living for its residents in conditions of sustainable development and respect for the natural environment. Warsaw is a city that pays a great deal of attention to environmental protection. In keeping with the motto “think globally, act locally,” the city works hard to protect the climate and participated in Phase I of Urban-LEDS. In 2011, Warsaw adopted the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP), which defined a reduction of CO2 emissions in the city by 20% by 2020, while increasing the share of renewable energy to 20%.

The City of Warsaw has participated in the following Urban-LEDS activities:

• The 2nd International Networking Seminar (Bogor, Indonesia in May 2015)
• The European Study Tour: offered Warsaw an opportunity to learn from Almada’s electric bus system, ‘Flexibus’
• Staff exchange: Warsaw’s carbon-neutral electric buses greatly inspired the delegates from Model Cities Bogor and Balikpapan.
• COP21 in Paris, France in December 2015

Warsaw stands on the Vistula River in east-central Poland, roughly 260 km from the Baltic Sea and 300 kmfrom the Carpathian Mountains. Almost half the urban area of the city is green space with as many as 95 parks. The Vistula is a semi-wild river that runs through Warsaw, that is part of the Natura 2000 network – a habitat for many breeding species of birds threatened with extinction. The clean and well-maintained beaches along the river foster sustainable urban spaces in the city for citizens to enjoy.

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. It is one of the smallest capitals in Europe, but the country’s largest city. [3]

The city of Bratislava is located on both banks of the Danube-river, the second biggest river in Europe. It spreads at the borders of three countries, neighbouring with Hungary in the south and Austria in the west. [2]

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

References

1. Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, “Population and migration,” [Online]. Available: https://slovak.statistics.sk
2. The Official Website of Bratislava, “Position”, [Online]. Available: https://archive.is/20070927201123/http://www.bratislava.sk/en/vismo5/dokumenty2.asp?u=700000&id_org=700000&id=2011414
3. Statistical Office of the Slovak, “Statistical Yearbook of the Slovak Republic 2017”. [Online]. 
4. International Monetary Fund, “Report for selected countries and subjects”. [Online]. Available: https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=57&pr.y=3&sy=2016&ey=2020&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=936&s=NGDP_RPCH%2CNGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC%2CPCPIPCH&grp=0&a=
5. Eurostat, “Bratislava region Economy”, [Online]. Available: https://web.archive.org/web/20060424134927/http://forum.europa.eu.int/irc/dsis/regportraits/info/data/en/sk01_eco.htm
6. Bratislava.com, “City info – Economy”, [Online]. Available”: https://www.bratislava.com/v/economy/
7. World Population review, “Slovakia Population Growth”, [Online]. Available: http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/slovakia-population/
8. Index Mundi, “Slovakia Demographics Profile 2018”, [Online]. Available: https://www.indexmundi.com/slovakia/demographics_profile.html
9. The Slovak Spectator, “Over 12 percent of Slovaks threatened by poverty in 2017”, [Online]. Available: https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20832401/over-12-percent-of-slovaks-threatened-by-poverty-in-2017.html
10. The European Job Mobility Portal, “Labour market information”, [Online]. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/eures/main.jsp?catId=2808&acro=lmi&lang=en&countryId=SK&regionId=SK0&nuts2Code=SK01&nuts3Code=null&regionName=Bratislavsky%20kraj

Riga is the capital city of Latvia and its most important cultural, economic and administrative center. Accounting for almost half of the total national GDP, Riga hosts a thriving economic environment, fostered by its strategic position on the Baltic Sea.

The territory of the Riga municipality stands on the shores of the Riga’s gulf, in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea, at the estuary of the river Daugava. The historical center has been acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has an extension of 483 hectares; the surrounding protection zone has an area of 1574 hectares. The city presents several lakes, rivers and green areas, that account for 39% of the total surface of the city

The city has committed itself to sustainable development and the achievement of the Agenda 2030 objectives; as part of URBAN LEDS, Riga would commit itself to low carbon development and climate change action

Alba Iulia is home of the largest citadel in Romania. Many people call it “Romania’s Spiritual Capital” or “The Capital of the Union.” The municipality likes to consider Alba Iulia Romania’s “Other Capital.” [1]  Alba Iulia Smart City aims to intelligently use information, data and technologies capable of responding to the challenges of adaptability, flexibility, sustainable social and economic development, energy and environment.

Alba Iulia is at an altitude of 270 m. The perimeter of the city is defined by the two rivers Ampoi and Sebes and the top of the Apuseni Mountains. [2] The city of Alba Iulia, Alba County is one of the most important urban centers of Romania

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

References

1. V. A. Iulia, „About,“ [Online]. Available: http://www.visitalbaiulia.com/about#/the-other-capital/
2. P. M. A. Iula, „Presentation,“ [Online]. Available: https://www.apulum.ro/index.php/alba_en/detaliu/610
3. ICLEI, „ICLEI Members,“ [Online]. Available: https://iclei.org/en/members-search.html?search_query=alba+iulia
4. A. I. Municipality, „ The Integrated Strategy for Urban Development 2014-2023,“ 2017. [Online]. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/conferences/udn_espoo/alba_iulia.pdf.

Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a cosmopolitan city that combines modern infrastructures with economic, financial, administrative and service centres. It is the third city in the European Union in terms of population and also contributes to creating the third largest urban agglomeration in Europe. 

Madrid is strategically located in the geographic centre of the Iberian Peninsula at an altitude of 646 m above sea level.  It’s extensive and beautifully maintained parks and gardens offer inhabitants and visitors the chance to enjoy public spaces, in one of the greenest capitals in Europe. Important communication infrastructures are located in its territory, making it the main logistic centre of Spain and southern Europe.

Madrid joined the Urban-LEDS II initiative in 2019.

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

GHG Emissions – City of Madrid (2016)

Aalborg is Denmark’s third largest municipality, and it is experiencing large growth. Because of this growth, it is focusing on housing. Infrastructure in and around Aalborg city is well-functioning and accessible regardless of mode of transportation. Aalborg has grown to be a diverse and vibrant city with cultural and leisure activities for all age groups year round. [1]

Located close to the sea (North Sea and Kattegat), the Limfjord, and the second largest forest (Rold Forest) in Denmark, Aalborg is surrounded by plentiful and beautiful nature. Aalborg Waterfront was once a hectic industrial zone, but stands today as a modern, attractive and exciting area along Limfjord. [2]

Aalborg is both the municipality’s largest city, with a population of 110,000, and the capital of the North Denmark Region. Nearly 581,000 people in 11 municipalities live in the North Denmark Region.  [2]

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

GHG Emissions – City of Aalborg (2014)

References

[1] C. o. Aalborg, „Welcome to Aalborg,“ [Online]. Available: http://www.e-pages.dk/aalborgkommune/1376/html5/

[2] C. o. Aalborg, „Welcome to Aalborg.,“ 2018. [Online]. Available: http://www.e-pages.dk/aalborgkommune/1376/html5/

[3] A. Kommune, „Aalborg in figures 2018,“ Aalborg, 2018.

[4] A. kommune, „Doing Business in Aalborg,“ 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.aalborg.dk/english/doing-business-in-aalborg/why-choose-aalborg

[5] ICLEI, „ICLEI Members,“ [Online]. Available: https://iclei.org/en/members.html

Budapest is the capital of Hungary and makes up 17% of Hungary’s population. City leaders consider making Budapest a liveable and pleasant city their main responsibility. Main points of attractions include the Budapest Zoo, spas, parks and green areas and theaters. (Budapest)

The city is along the Danube, in the middle of the Carpathian basin, and one third of the city is surrounded by low mountains. The geology of the city is very important for the city’s economy; hot springs breaking through the mountains help support a spa culture even today. (Budapest)

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

References

[1] Budapest. (no date). General information about Budapest. [Online]. Available: http://budapest.hu/sites/english/Lapok/General-informations-about-Budapest.aspx

[2] ICLEI. (no date). ICLEI Members. [Online]. Available: https://iclei.org/en/members.html

[3] Review, W. P. (no date). Budapest Population 2019. [Online]. Available: http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/budapest-population/

[4] European Commission, “Budapest”, [Online]. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/regional-innovation-monitor/base-profile/budapest

[5] The European Job Mobility Portal, “Labour market information Budapest”, [Online]. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/eures/main.jsp?countryId=HU&acro=lmi&showRegion=true&lang=en&mode=text&regionId=HU0&nuts2Code=%20&nuts3Code=null&catId=2772

[6] Index Mundi, “Hungary Demographic Profile 2018”, [Online]. Available: https://www.indexmundi.com/hungary/demographics_profile.html

Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the economic and cultural center of Southern region of the country. Thanks to a historical decision, the city  has been enlarged in size on 31 May 2019, welcoming 85,000 new citizens. 

Cork is a city located in the province of Munster, is south-westen Ireland. It lays on an island on the river Lee, on the shores of the natural port of Lough Mahon. Located on the Celtic Sea, it experience mild oceanic climate and occasionally suffers from river floods

The city has engaged in a variety of innovation projects and initiatives in the past years. A Cork Smart Gateway Strategy, the Cork Healthy Cities and Cork Learning City initiatives. In addition, the city council joined Urban Leds II to address low emission targets and resilient development for its citizens.

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector

Larissa is the city capital of the Thessaly region and the fourth largest municipality in Greece. it accounts for a rich historical background: the main historical personalities from the city are Achilles and Hippocrates. It is located 82 km far from the tallest Hellenic mountain , the Olympus (2,917 m); 64 km from the nearest port of Volos, in the Pegasus Gulf, and 26 from the Central Greece National Airport.

Larissa is located in a strategic position in Greece and serves as the main connection hub between Thessaloniki and Athens. It also account for the main agriculture production center of the country.

Larissa embarked on a process of modernisation and sustainable transformation to foster a more thriving and competitive environment. As part of URBAN LEDS, the city would develop a low emission and climate adaptation development strategy, with the aim to foster administrative cooperation with regional and national authorities.

Greenhouse Gas emissions by sector