On 5 November, the European Commission booth hosted a session titled Integrated Support to Smart and Sustainable Cities in Transition. The discussion provided valuable insights into the practical challenges and successes cities face on their journey to sustainability and net-zero goals.
Real-Life Challenges and Progress in Bydgoszcz
A representative from the City of Bydgoszcz, Poland, shared their experience with European funding and support programs. With a population of 350,000, Bydgoszcz has made strides in renewable energy planning, but like many mid-sized cities, it lacks deep expertise in innovative solutions.
The city received €216,000 from the European City Facility (EUCF) to develop an investment concept focusing on photovoltaic farms and a pilot project for hydrogen generation to charge buses. While photovoltaic projects were relatively straightforward, hydrogen initiatives posed significant challenges. The technical support provided through EUCF helped analyze the concept, offer recommendations, and explore investor opportunities. Despite their efforts, the hydrogen project remained uncompleted, reflecting the complexity of navigating emerging technologies.
Bydgoszcz has also applied directly for support from the Smart Cities Marketplace, further highlighting the need for tailored, ongoing assistance.
Collaborative Approaches Across Europe
Speakers emphasized the importance of integrating support initiatives to simplify and streamline the process for cities. Silvia highlighted the abundance of initiatives aimed at urban transformation and the challenges cities face in navigating them. "It’s not about reducing initiatives but organising them for a seamless user experience," she remarked.
Tommaso elaborated on the synergy between the Smart Cities Marketplace and the Capital Hub of the Net Zero Cities initiative. The collaboration enables sector-specific expertise to be provided when projects are identified, ensuring cities can access the right support at the right stage.
The Journey of Transformation
Every city’s journey to sustainability is unique and often marked by challenges and setbacks. "There’s no single solution or chronological path," said Tommaso. Cities need flexibility to address both immediate needs and long-term ambitions, whether transitioning to district heating, adopting active mobility, or integrating renewable energy systems.
Amsterdam and Gävle were highlighted as examples of this complex journey. Amsterdam must transform its 5,000 streets, tackling lighting and heating upgrades at an ambitious pace of four streets a week. This systemic change requires not only financial resources but also shifting public behaviours and mindsets. Gävle in Sweden is a city with high sustainability ambitions and is nearly fossil energy-free due to investments in district heating. However, mobility remains a major challenge, with a focus on promoting active transport like cycling and reducing car dependency.
Holistic Support for All Cities
The session concluded with a discussion on creating a seamless support framework that accommodates cities of all sizes, geographies, and project stages. From drafting investment plans to obtaining technical assistance and securing funding, the approach must address cities’ broader needs while allowing for flexibility and adaptation.
Added Value for Cities
One takeaway resonated across the discussion: the immense challenges cities face in transforming their operations while ensuring day-to-day functioning. The holistic and collaborative approach offered by EU initiatives aims to ease this burden, providing cities with the tools, expertise, and partnerships needed to navigate their net-zero journey effectively.
This session underscored the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and continuous support in ensuring that cities across Europe can achieve their sustainability ambitions.