The European Union’s “Fit for 55” package puts in place a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Europe by 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). The plan includes measures related to transport and mobility, energy, emissions trading, and more. But how does social innovation fit it?

On 14 January, policy makers, advocacy groups and researchers came together (online) to discuss opportunities and challenges related to more prominently considering social innovation in energy in the Fit for 55 package. Read the event report online here.

What is social innovation anyway? People around the world are trying out new social practices – or reviving practices from the past – in the hope that those meet our needs better than existing solutions do. Those new (or revived) practices are social innovations. Social innovations in energy include: energy cooperatives; new funding schemes for energy retrofits; crowdfunding for energy saving projects; etc.

The results of this policy dialogue were captured by a graphic harvester and will inform a report on how policy makers – at the EU and other levels – can better harness social innovation in energy.

This event was hosted by ICLEI Europe under the banner of their flagship Breakfast at Sustainability’s event series, in cooperation with the SONNET project. Download the event report with all of the presenters’ slides here.