A new guidebook is out now, which aims to support cities and regions by describing key planning process steps to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, along with important considerations to be taken on at each step. It also presents best practices to inspire cities and regions and to help them better design actions in the decarbonisation process.

The guidebook begins by outlining the context, identifying what it means to be carbon neutral, and why that should be a necessary goal for cities. It notes that cities consume 78 percent of the world’s energy, and produces more than 60 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Cities are, at the same time, particularly vulnerable to climate change and its associated costs, as well as well-positioned to play a key role in facilitating the implementation of sustainable solutions in many sectors, such as renewable energy production, building renovation, waste and water management, mobility and spatial planning.

The guidebook then goes on to explain how to set up a vision for a carbon neutral future, explaining that the decarbonisation pathway to 2050 starts with assigning roles and responsibilities, followed by understanding the local context, establishing a local vision, and gaining strong commitments to implement a mutually accepted plan.

Next, it is time to turn to action. The guidebook describes required steps (baseline assessment, designing actions and measures, implementation, monitoring and evaluation), and demonstrates examples and best practices from 11 countries (Austria, Croatia, Greece, Germany, France, Hungary, Latvia, Spain, Poland, Portugal and Romania).

The guidebook was created in the context of the C-Track 50 project, in which ICLEI Europe is a partner. C-Track 50 aims to mobilise and guide public authorities at the local and regional levels to achieve climate resilience and carbon neutrality by 2050. It focuses on strengthening multilevel cooperation between the EU and local, regional and national authorities, as well as capacity building, and supporting the development of Sustainable Energy & Climate Action Plans at the local and regional levels.

More information on C-Track-50 can be found here.

The guidebook can be downloaded here.