The European Climate Conference in April 2008 in Rovigo, Italy, built on the results of the conference ‘A future with Zero CO2 Emissions’ held in Stockholm in 2006. Rovigo 2008 focused on practical climate protection planning and actions in European communities, in particular those starting up in this important area. The main message of the event addressed communities and the need for local climate change mitigation and adaptation, using locally available renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency.