EU Green Capital Valencia will host 2024 edition of European Urban Resilience Forum
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
According to a new municipal study, Stuttgart can reach carbon neutrality by 2035, but it will cost around 1.5% of its GDP. And the sooner they start investing, the better.
Last week, experts presented the ‘Net-Zero Stuttgart’ study before the city’s council. The study outlines 13 packages of measures for the rapid expansion of sustainable practices and technology, claiming that Stuttgart can reach climate neutrality by 2035.
The study, however, advocates for the combined effort of public institutions, urban society and local businesses to achieve rapid and massive carbon reduction. Despite the large upfront cost, researchers estimate that the investments would more than pay for themselves by the mid-2040s.
The main point of the study is to implement measures to tackle the biggest sources of emissions in the city – electricity, accounting for 47%, heating at 37% and transport at 14%. According to the study, curbing CO2 would take no less than 13 packages of measures, including a push for solar, district heating and heat pumps, as well as a shift in traffic behaviour.
Mayor Frank Nopper explained that the 2035 benchmark is very ambitious and it would take massive efforts from public institutions, private businesses and individual households. At the same time, he explained that expanding sustainability practices should be in tune with social policies and should have an economic incentive.
In a sense, Mayor Nopper said that achieving a just and rapid transition would be the most profitable route, regardless of the environmental benefits.
Of course, ambitious goals cost money and a lot of it. The study estimates that reaching net zero by 2035 requires an additional investment of 11 billion euros. In other words, during the period from 2022 to 2035, the city needs to invest 1.5% of its GDP every year.
According to experts, the investments could be offset by energy savings already in the mid-2040s, while the savings could then cover additional investments in the future, creating a cascading effect.
The study calls for a few central measures to shore up the backbone of the push towards net-zero. One of them calls for quickly involving central actors and the other for sponsoring and stimulating the development of the necessary skills to achieve the expansion. This means organisational transparency, cross-departmental cooperation and finding skilled labour.
According to a statement by the city, while at first reaching climate neutrality would progress slowly, rapid implementation of measures would push it further along. This, in turn, would create a multiplier effect and accelerate the sustainability expansion.
The city was concerned about street noise and disturbances to residents
This, however, is likely to change soon
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
This is city twinning for the 21st century
You can find it in the capital Sofia, where it was installed upon the initiative of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
People in both cities got to sit together both in person and virtually
The city was concerned about street noise and disturbances to residents
And the current administration plans to make Jardin del Turia Europe’s largest city green space by extending it to the sea
The aim is to have the public be able to admire the architectural design without distractions
The installation has been thought out with the concept of letting people “talk” to their dearly departed
It’s an urban space that has undergone several large-scale transformations throughout its existence
A US geologist claims to have solved the centuries-old mystery
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team