Conference workshops

Workshop 1: Not all climate action is created equal – how municipal goals compare

Climate neutrality, 100% renewable energies and sustainability are all commonly communicated and hotly debated climate action goals. From the municipal perspective at least, all can be said to be pointing in the right direction for each brings local authorities closer to reaching their stated targets. That, after all, is what matters.

But are all solutions really made equal? Do they all bring us forward in a sustainable way? The challenge of local climate action does not comprise purely environmental concerns, but increasingly socio-economic ones. It is no longer as much about the fact THAT we need we need to act, as it is about HOW we need to act. The Climate Alliance Climate Action Principles deliver guidance in this discussion. Join us in discovering how we can reach our climate action goals while keeping the big picture in focus: resource-saving, fair, regenerative, local and diverse.

An open, communicative format with moderation by

  • Dag Schulze, German National Coordinator, Climate Alliance (pdf)
  • Jan Schwarz, Project Manager, Climate Alliance

Workshop 2: Cooperating on climate action within municipalities and beyond

Local climate action requires the involvement of many different actors, both inside and outside municipal administrations as well as with residents. Those responsible for climate action often find it challenging to motivate colleagues from different departments and to coordinate with them in implementing mitigation and adaptation strategies. At the same time, a commitment to ambitious climate targets can foster increased cooperation within a municipality, and also with other local authorities working together towards a common goal.

At its best, such commitment motivates residents to get on board with mitigation and adaptation agendas as well.

This workshop offered participants the opportunity to exchange with colleagues and explore the success factors and barriers to improving various forms of cooperation on climate action. Via examples taken from Climate Alliance members and signatories of the Covenant of Mayors, it demonstrated how local authorities are rethinking and redesigning the work of their administrations, their work with one another, and their work with their residents to more effectively pursue climate action strategies.

Workshop results (pdf)

Speakers

    • Hannah-Sophie Stabel, Climate protection manager, City of Kaiserslautern, Germany (pdf - in German)
    • Piero Pelizarro, Adaptation Expert, Kyoto Club | Co-Founder, Climalia
    • Karl Kofler, Model Region Manager, KEM Terra Amicitiae (pdf)
    • Joost Venken, Deputy Mayor, City of Hasselt, Belgium (pdf)

    Workshop 3: The power of participatory financing solutions

    Climate Alliance members have ambitious climate and energy projects in the pipeline, but their implementation depends heavily on financial feasibility. In an effort to circumvent the challenges of conventional financing, local authorities are increasingly experimenting with alternative financing schemes to mobilise private investments. By directly involving residents and local businesses, participatory financing can also bring increased public support for local action on climate change. Whether in the form of ESCO financing, crowdfunding, cooperatives or community bond issuing, participatory solutions can help instil a culture of climate action while supporting local authorities in meeting ambitious climate goals.

    This workshop investigated good practice examples of financing for the people and by the people, examining how local authorities exploit such mechanisms to build support and intensify investment in the field of climate and energy.

    Workshop results (pdf)

    Speakers

      • Konstanze Stein, Contracting Department, Climate Protection and Energy Agency (KEA) of Baden-Wuerttemberg (pdf - in German)
      • Nuno Brito Jorge, Coordinator, Citizenergy (pdf)
      • Eftima Petkova, Director, Department for Economic Development, Tourism and International Projects, Smolyan, Bulgaria (pdf)
      • Andy Deacon, Project Manager, Climate Alliance

      Workshop 4: App.lying sustainability – The use of online tools to support participatory urban development

      The rapid evolution of the digital world, especially when it comes to the mobile phone, can empower local authorities large and small to both get in touch with their residents and gain valuable data for their urban planning.  Clever web applications, widely known as apps, allow local authorities to communicate certain information in a very concise way while promoting interaction and facilitating dialogue. Municipalities and other local level players are just beginning to take advantage the immense potential of apps and other digitally-based social tools.

      This workshop introduces good practice examples apps used in the municipal context. How can local authorities push the borders of what can be achieved, what are opportunities and challenges involved, what is the current trend and what does the future have in store?

      Speakers

      • Jörn Klein – City Cycling Campaign Manager, Climate Alliance (pdf)
      • Katharina Borsi – Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham (pdf)
      • Gregory Eve – CEO, greenApes (pdf)

      Workshop 5: A culture of (ex)change and climate justice

      Climate Alliance has a long tradition of promoting climate action amongst European municipalities as well as the indigenous peoples of the Amazon River basin. Experiencing other realities first hand supports intercultural exchange, strengthens connections and fosters important changes in perspective. Via delegation tours, we invited our indigenous partners to Europe as counsellors for sustainability on a number of occasions. As sustainability experts, we asked them for their perception of our culture and ways of life.

      This workshop picked up where other delegation tours left off and allowed for direct exchange between local authorities and representatives of indigenous organisations. Do they have suggestions for us? How can strive towards a good life for all?

      Workshop results (pdf)

      Speakers

      • Bernadette Felsch, Deputy Press Officer and Project Manager, City of Munich, Germany (pdf)
      • Ivana Djedovic, Vice Mayor, City of Daruvar, Croatia  (tbc)
      • Edwin Vásquez, General Coordinator of COICA
      • Maximiliano Menezes, Coordinator, Coordination of the Indigenous Organisations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB)