The Low Carbon Future of Cities

The workshop took place as part of the Civitas Annual Conference and brought together leading minds and engaged stakeholders.The aim of the session was to challenge participants on how to achieve significant decarbonisation in cities, fast and with significant effect, noting that urban mobility account for 40% of all CO2 emissions of road and transport.

The activities and group discussion allowed the sharing of new ideas and innovate practices to find new solutions.

Addressing delegates, Violeta Bulc drew attention to the unsustainability of existing policies in the field of energy and climate before discussing promising changes in energy policy: “Yes, we are in the midst of a fundamental energy transition, and it is taking place as we speak. But this transition also offers tremendous opportunities. During my Energy Union Tour to the EU Member States, I found many impressive examples of such opportunities.”

Later adding that the role of transport is important in decarbonisation as is the role of cities: “Because it is in our cities that concepts like bike-sharing or car-sharing will be implemented. It is in our cities that innovative apps are being tested, turning cities with a very bad biking record into frontrunners of technological, bicycle-friendly innovation.”