The European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns (ESCT) returned to Aalborg, Denmark, for its 10th edition, bringing together over 1,000 local leaders to showcase cities’ efforts in driving sustainability and the EU Green Deal through Local Green Deals. Marking 30 years of the Aalborg Charter and 20 years of the Aalborg Commitments and now the Aalborg Conditions, the conference set the stage for ICLEI Action Fund projects to share their data-driven, community-focused approaches to climate action, fostering collaboration and scaling solutions to today’s urban challenges.
The ICLEI Action Fund is distinct due to its commitment to local empowerment and practical impact. Rather than a top-down approach, the Action Fund supports projects that use digital tools, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle local challenges on the ground. This unique model allows many ICLEI Members to build targeted solutions that address their communities' specific needs, such as high energy costs, air pollution, heat waves, etc. This session provided an interactive platform for projects to share challenges, successes, and ideas for scaling solutions. Five key outcomes emerged from the discussions:
Data Access and Quality: Projects like Climate Ready BCN in Barcelona (Spain) and MOBILAIR in Thessaloniki (Greece) stressed the importance of accessible, high-quality data emphasising how data is the project's backbone. They emphasised the critical role of data as a key enabler for informed decision-making in cities addressing climate risks. The projects demonstrated that ample data from both public and private sources can be effectively harnessed to achieve their intended outcomes.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: DE-CIST in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) noted the need to work together with different stakeholders to guarantee project development and the adoption of tools developed, while Dryads in Athens anticipated difficulties in collecting. Clear communication and defined roles are vital to success in such collaborations.
Citizen Engagement and Inclusivity: SUN4U in Rome (Italy) shared how involving citizens led to widespread interest in their renewable energy communities app stating that when citizens are involved, solutions scale beyond expectations.
Municipal and Public Buy-In: CATCH4D and Data2Resilience in Dortmund (Germany) shared insights into the relevance of securing support from municipal bodies and local citizens, emphasising the need for effective communication strategies.
Local Context for Technology: Projects like GEMINOA in Glasgow (Scotland) and ANN RADAR in Hamburg (Germany) underlined the importance of adapting technology to fit local needs with flexibility being key, referring to the challenges of deploying AI and sensors in urban environments.
The roundtable concluded by highlighting the value of collaboration in addressing climate challenges. With a focus on community, data, and local government engagement, the ICLEI Action Fund is a powerful impact and demonstration project for cities across Europe to foster climate action and create sustainable urban futures.