Institutionalised cross-sector PLanning and dedicated capacity building to ENable small and medium-sized municipalities to develop and monitor sustainable strategies for the Transition to clean energY

Introduction

The need to tackle climate change and achieve the desired carbon neutrality to keep pace with the 1.5 degrees is more urgent than ever. The climate deal at COP26 calls on all nations to set new ambitious climate targets in preparing their NDCs and further urges them to integrate mitigation and adaptation measures into national, regional, and local planning.

Urban Areas and Climate Change

Cities and urban areas are vital for achieving climate protection and energy transition targets, being currently responsible for around 70% of energy-related CO2 emissions. With increased global urbanization, where particularly in Europe around 85% of the population is projected to be living in cities by 2050, cities of different sizes are decisive to reach the COP26 goals. Given the long-term persistence of urban structures, we have to act now.

PLENTY-LIFE Project Overview

The PLENTY-LIFE project will focus on establishing an innovative methodology of stakeholder-based holistic integrated spatial and energy planning (HISEP) methodology.

Objectives of HISEP

HISEP comprises:

1. Building capacity of SMCTs in the field of integrated urban energy planning.
2. Enabling them to prepare and monitor long-term sustainable energy strategies and plans tailored for their specific conditions.
3. Managing the clean energy transition and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030/2050.

Additionally, it aims at institutionalizing the HISEP methodology, which implies a cross-sectoral planning process that integrates the energy system with other development sectors to plan the energy transition and achieve sustainable and efficient carbon-neutral SMCTs.

Methodology

PLENTY-LIFE will apply an innovative “spatio-temporal and multi-sectoral planning” methodology. This methodology will be established by the team members of the project consortium based on the combination and advancement of their previous research and development results.

Co-Creation Processes

The methodology will be fine-tuned in co-creation processes in pilots that will be empowered to deliver and monitor their clean energy strategies.