How can we translate the EU Green Deal into local action? This was the main questions of the third session called “Local Green Deals: resource efficient, resilient, low-carbon and socially responsible” at the conference for Mayors “Translating the EU Green Deal into local action” organised on 15 March 2024 within the framework of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU. The government of the Flanders region of Belgium invited 550 mayors from across Europe to discuss the translation of the EU Green Deal into local action. The Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) is very much dedicated in supporting the crucial role of local authorities in the dual transition.
The conference started with a plenary session in the morning discussing the needs of governments, what’s needed to empower them and showcased the impact of the energy union to the livelihood of citizens and companies. The final declaration of the conference underscored the commitment of local governments to the objectives of the Green Deal and emphasised the importance of mutual learning and collaboration in achieving its goals. In the words of Gwendolyn Rutte (Flemish Vice-Minister-President and Minister for Interior), the declaration is a call from local administrators to the European Union to “make more use of us” in the battle against climate change. In the afternoon the event held several parallel in-depth sessions featuring the local dimension of the EU Green Deal.
The methods to realise the Green Deal’s ambitions are diverse, but they all take concrete shape locally: in our cities and municipalities. It's time to bring these local governments together, to learn from each other's successes, and to scale up mutually reinforcing partnerships at all levels. The recent conference not only highlighted the important role local administrations play in the implementation of the Green Deal but also showed that these municipalities must work together and gain insights from each other.
Insights into Local Green Deals
At the parallel session on Local Green Deals, diverse speakers gave their insights into the several strategies available for implementing the European Green Deal at a local level. Some of these insights aligned very well with the commitments of the different cities in the ICC. Joanna Drake, Deputy Director of DG RTD, European Commission, emphasized the importance of local dealmakers who believe in carrying instruments, targets or objectives through creatively. Underscoring the central role of local authorities, Drake stated: “You (cities and regions) are the driving seat of the dual transition”.
Lasse Frimand Jensen, mayor of Aalborg (Denmark), one of the ICC mentor cities, emphasised the importance of using Local Green Deals (LGDs) as a tool to deliver impact along the whole value chain. To stay on the path to sustainability we will need to create ownership within the local businesses and community. There is a need to create collaborative efforts and drive the LGDs with a bottom-up approach. Transparency is another key point, with Mayor Jensen advocating for clear communication so citizens can see if targets are being met.
This motivated citizenship is also prevalent in Freiburg (Germany). Martin Horn, mayor of Freiburg, talked about this motivation in his city but also pointed out that these same motivated citizens are losing their trust in politicians. For Mayor Horn, it is therefore crucial to talk about the social dimension of LGDs, for example, the Dietenbach project in Freiburg where the city administration will create housing for 16,000 people by 2025.
Anna Athanasopoulou, Head of Unit for Proximity, Social Economy and Creative Industries of DG Grow, European Commission, wrapped up the discussion by reminding everyone that the social agenda is everyone's responsibility. She highlighted the ICC's role in helping small-medium cities make deals with local businesses and accelerate action through partnerships on the ground.
Local governments united
The recent conference served as a reminder of the critical role local governments play in the dual transition. The speakers highlighted the different approaches to realise the Green Deal’s ambition, but they all converged on one point: cities, municipalities and local businesses will play a crucial role in its implementation. It is on the local level that European ambitions will take concrete shape. Insights from European mayors underscored the importance of Local Green Deals as tools to deliver impact along the value chain and foster ownership within local industry and communities. They also addressed that LGDs go further than streamlining the dual transition of cities but can also address important social dimensions in local communities as the Dietenbach project pointed out.
Our main takeaway from the event organised by the Flemish government was that the path to a successful dual transition lies in unity. The event which brought together mayors from across Europe showed the importance of bringing local governments together, learning from each other, and scaling up partnerships to turn the ambitions of the European Green Deal into reality. The ICC remains committed to supporting this journey, providing the necessary support to facilitate local action. Together local administrations will build a greener, digital future.