EUCityCalc has officially launched its free, open source online platform that allows local councils and other stakeholders to visualise and simulate low-carbon scenarios for their towns and cities, as well as to assess the trade-offs related to available choices
Although the European Green Deal and the European Union’s other climate policy tools aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU by 2050, only a handful of European cities have been able to translate these commitments into precise and tangible transition plans. One reason for this is that city councils often lack the technology and knowledge to develop and assess these plans. This makes it vital that these cities are equipped with tools, information and skills that empower them to make those targets a reality.
“We believe that cities are frontrunners in the challenge of achieving climate neutrality. Cities are the heart of EUCityCalc, with its ambition of inspiring transformative solutions and strengthening links among, within and beyond territories” – Bénédicte Weber
, Project Manager, Energy Cities
Climate roadmaps
The EUCityCalc project, which is funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, brings together 10 pilot cities in different stages of their climate neutrality transition to empower them to devise locally owned and inclusive transition roadmaps. To help them chart this path, these local authorities have now gained access to the powerful new European City Calculator.
The tool was developed to empower cities around Europe to develop scientifically and actionable policy scenarios and transition pathways, not only in line with the 2050 EU targets but also underpinned by a cross-sectoral and territorial approach to decarbonisation.
The online platform allows local councils and other stakeholders to integrate their SECAP data as well as some key socio-demographic trends. The model underlying EUCityCalc completes the missing data (energy, emissions, activity data) thanks to a rich database at the level of each European country. The webtool provides public officials with critical insight and foresight into the implications and ramifications of various policy choices and investments at their disposal.
The European City Calculator provides cities with an overview of the different types of measures and their effects on emission reductions and indication of costs. Cities can build their own climate and energy scenarios, discover their impacts and compare them with their climate and energy targets. The web tool is ultimately designed to make the decision-making and implementation of their climate and energy strategies easier for European cities.
“A town can use the European City Calculator to simulate various measures, such as public transport initiatives and low emission zones. This approach enables the town to effectively identify and assess the best strategies for reducing urban emissions.” – Vincent Matton, Energy and Climate Change Consultant, Climact.
The EUCityCalc Learning Programme
Starting on 26 February 2024, cities will have the chance to enroll in the EUCityCalc learning programme to discover how to gather data and use the tool, organise and run co-creation workshops involving different stakeholders, as well as to understand the crucial role that local authorities can actively play in the national policy process.
Sign up to join the training!
