Different cities, shared needs and goals
As cities across Europe intensify their efforts to tackle climate change, SPARKLE stands out as a beacon of collaborative innovation and knowledge-sharing. Through its recent workshops, SPARKLE sheds light on the varied yet interconnected needs of local and regional authorities (LRAs), and outlines a dynamic, co-designed path to equip transition leaders with the tools they need for a successful energy and climate transition.
Assessing cities’ needs: a participatory process from the ground up
Between February and April 2025, five in-person workshops took place across SPARKLE’s leading cities – Albertville (FR), Calenzano (IT), Guimarães (PT), Poreč-Parenzo (HR), Vilnius (LT) –, supplemented by bilateral meetings between cities and our sustainability experts. The participation of 71 stakeholders—two-thirds from municipalities—ensured a robust and grounded needs assessment. Contributors ranged from local governments and intermunicipal communities to research centers, civil society organizations, and energy communities.
Participants were not mere respondents—they were co-creators. Their involvement went beyond consultation, feeding directly into the design of the learning formats, content, and delivery methods. Urban Lab Torino (ULT) played a central role, supporting or facilitating each workshop. A complementary multilingual survey further expanded participation and validated the findings, ensuring the training content would reflect real-world needs.
Shared needs, diverse realities
Despite differences in geography, governance, and urban development, cities involved in SPARKLE revealed common challenges: the urgent need to base decisions on data, translate complex strategies into actionable local plans, and communicate effectively across political and social landscapes. Key cross-cutting competencies—such as data literacy, political advising, storytelling, and system thinking—emerged as top priorities.
Yet cities are not homogeneous. While some focus on building renovations and fossil-free districts, others lean into community-led energy projects or regenerative food systems. These variations highlight the importance of tailored capacity-building programmes that remain flexible while grounded in common principles.
Sharing experiences to foster change
SPARKLE’s workshops provided a rare space for city representatives and civil society actors to voice concerns, share local challenges, and co-imagine solutions. The initiative was praised for offering practical insights, actionable tools, and above all, a community of peers facing similar hurdles.
Cities hope that SPARKLE will not only strengthen individual skills but also foster systemic change through peer networks, shared resources, and long-term mentorship.
As cities continue to grapple with the complexities of the climate transition, SPARKLE offers a model for co-designed, competence-based learning rooted in collaboration and tailored to local needs—proving once again that the future of Europe’s green transition will be written in its cities.
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Fuente: ENERGY CITIES
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