European cities are at the forefront of the green and just transition — turning high-level EU ambitions into tangible local action. This was the central message of the “Sustainable Urban Futures: Navigating Energy, Environment, and Resilience” session at the Barcelona Smart City Expo, co-organised by DG ENER and DG ENV (Green Leaf / Green Capital).
Moderated by Bright Adiyia, Coordinator of the Smart Cities Marketplace, and introduced by Georg Houben of DG ENER, the session brought together a diverse panel of city leaders and policymakers, including Luisa Salgueiro (Mayor of Matosinhos, Portugal), Viorica Beregoi (Mayor of Truseni, Moldova), and Marc Serra Sole (Provincial Council of Barcelona, Spain). Around sixty participants attended the lively discussion.
Houben opened the session by highlighting how cities sit “at the front line” of Europe’s climate and energy transition, translating ambitious EU policies — such as the Affordable Housing Plan and the Citizen Energy Package — into practical measures that enhance resilience, affordability, and wellbeing.
Each city shared its unique approach to sustainable transformation:
- Matosinhos showcased its adaptation and cooling strategies, flood prevention measures, and “one-stop shop” for citizen engagement — all designed to ensure climate neutrality translates into improved quality of life and reduced inequalities.
- Truseni described its path toward energy resilience, investing in insulation, heat pumps, and local energy solutions following the regional energy crisis. As part of the Covenant of Mayors and NetZeroCities initiatives, the municipality is implementing cleaner mobility schemes, reforestation programmes, and waste management improvements as it prepares for closer EU integration.
- Barcelona emphasised the importance of climate justice, social equality, and citizen participation in its urban agenda. The city’s Renewable 2030 Programme, energy communities, and climate shelters illustrate how local governments can drive major transformations when political will aligns with citizen co-creation.
The discussion also highlighted examples from across Europe, such as Copenhagen’s district heating network and Rotterdam’s nature-based solutions, illustrating how integrated approaches can simultaneously tackle energy efficiency, environmental protection, and social inclusion.
The session closed with a shared message: technology and infrastructure alone are not enough — people must be at the centre of the transition. As Mayor Salgueiro noted, “Climate neutrality is only meaningful if it improves people’s lives.” By empowering citizens, fostering peer learning between cities, and promoting synergy among European initiatives such as the Covenant of Mayors, Green City Accord, and Smart Cities Marketplace, Europe’s cities are leading the charge toward a resilient, inclusive, and climate-neutral future.