In early October, the Smart Cities Marketplace took part in one of Europe's most relevant events for urban sustainability, the 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns, hosted in Aalborg, Denmark and co-organised by ICLEI. This edition celebrated 30 years of the conference series that originated in Aalborg in 1994 and brought together a wide range of stakeholders from across Europe, including 500 attendees representing 163 cities and 33 countries. Over 40 workshops and site visits were held, with more than 30 mayors and deputy mayors engaging in critical discussions on sustainable urban development.
Smart Cities Marketplace at the Heart of the Action
The Smart Cities Marketplace contributed through various activities, including hosting a stand in the Marketplace Area and participating in a dedicated session on financing and investment solutions for climate resilience. These activities allowed the Smart Cities Marketplace team to engage directly with cities, showcasing how the Marketplace can help accelerate the transition to climate neutrality.
Marketplace Stand
On October 1-2, the Smart Cities Marketplace hosted a stand alongside other urban sustainability initiatives such as Spin4EIC, NetZeroCities, and several EU-funded projects. The Smart Cities Marketplace team showcased the Marketplace's comprehensive support services for European cities, mainly focusing on small and medium-sized municipalities. This stand was a hub of activity, fostering discussions on urban sustainability and collaboration opportunities.
Financing & Investment Solutions Session
One of the highlights of the conference was the Smart Cities Markeplace's involvement in a session focused on "Financing and Investment Solutions for Climate Resilience," held on October 1. The session brought together over 40 experts to discuss innovative financial approaches to climate adaptation. Ruslan Zhechkov from the Smart Cities Marketplace team delivered a presentation on leveraging the Smart Cities Marketplace to monetise climate neutrality and adaptation efforts. He emphasised how cities can turn climate action into economic opportunity by investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and smart mobility solutions. Zhechkov's message was clear: the Smart Cities Marketplace provides a robust framework to help cities secure investments, build public-private partnerships, and adopt data-driven approaches, making climate resilience a financial asset.
The highly interactive session included speakers such as Kit England (PWA), Konstantinos Dellis (AUEB), and João Dinis (City of Cascais). Together, they explored practical actions cities can take to create an enabling environment for investment, accelerating the just and resilient transition that Europe's cities urgently need.
Reflecting on Aalborg 2024
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns was a celebration of past achievements and a call to action for future urban transformation. The city of Aalborg, where the Aalborg Charter was signed 30 years ago, served as a fitting backdrop for these discussions. The conference tackled the most pressing challenges facing local governments today, from fostering shared governance to unlocking private finance for public projects.
The Smart Cities Marketplace's participation reinforced its role as a critical enabler for cities seeking to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.