Abstract
Smart energy transition efforts at the municipal level are gaining importance and go far beyond implementing single projects. Decarbonising cities involves complex strategic planning and needs system level thinking and changes. This has been increasingly realised at the municipal level, but challenges remain regarding the tools, involvement of stakeholders and on the development of policies. The focus of the research is on the use of participatory foresight for fostering smart energy transition on a municipal level, the key benefits and success factors that participatory foresight brings, and the replicability of this approach. Within the novel Cities4ZERO framework, an overarching methodology for a smart urban decarbonisation transition, guiding cities through the process of developing the most appropriate strategies, plans, projects, as well as looking for the commitment of key local stakeholders for an effective transition–foresight framework, was developed and tested in five pilot cities. Foresight as applied within the Cities4ZERO framework creates a participatory process which brings stakeholders together to achieve unified scenarios, and a common vision for future urban decarbonisation strategies. The methodology is replicable and increases the quality of strategic energy planning by fostering long-term system thinking.
Highlights
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time for all levels of policymaking.The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change led to a consensus between 197 states to sign a Paris Agreement on mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [1]
The European Green Deal strives to transform Europe into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, where (1) there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, (2) economic growth is decoupled from resource use, and (3) no person and no place is left behind [2]
We propose a Cities4ZERO Foresight methodology for fostering smart energy transition on a municipal level
Summary
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change led to a consensus between 197 states to sign a Paris Agreement on mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [1]. Under this agreement, each country must plan and regularly report on the contribution that it makes to mitigate global warming. The European Green Deal strives to transform Europe into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, where (1) there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, (2) economic growth is decoupled from resource use, and (3) no person and no place is left behind [2]. The EU considers that the climate challenge calls for a holistic approach that covers environmental, economic and social aspects. In Europe, the vast majority of GHG emissions originate from the energy sector—from fuel combustion for public electricity, heat production and road transport [3]
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