Frugal and (self) sufficient cities, by will or by force!
In the past decades, new energy sources in the European energy mix did not substitute but have been added to existing energy sources. The European Environment Agency highlights that we cannot continue to aim for growth and at the same time reduce CO2 emissions and resource consumption[1]. It is about changing the paradigm and not simply a question of limiting the impact we have on ecosystems.
The ecological emergency, in line with the economic consequences of the war against Ukraine, suppose a structural change of our production and consumption habits and radical measures. However, until today, public policies focused mainly on the production side and on technical changes, but did not question enough the demand-side, the needs and our way of living. Indeed, the focal point of climate discussions was the decoupling of production and emissions, while obsessed about the greening of production that could have actually been avoided in the first place.
The last IPCC report on Mitigation of Climate Change and its chapter 5 on Demand, services and social aspects of mitigation answers the question “what can we avoid, shift and improve in our societies to reduce emissions?” And it clearly states that ready-made solutions do not exist. They must be built collectively. So, we need to think and act together on what must be stopped or done differently.
For the launch of the ‘Resource-wise and socially-just local economies’ HUB, Energy Cities organises a webinar series that will provide alternatives and new narratives to inspire cities to rethink local social and economic models.
This webinar series will focus on SUFFICIENCY: How can local authorities avoid emissions, support only climate-compatible activities and shift local activities so that they respect the ecological and social boundaries of their territory?
#1 – What emergency energy saving measures should my city take? – 17 June 2022 (11:00 – 12:30) – Speakers:
ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies, author of the publication “demand-side solutions to address energy shortages”
City of Sredets (BG)
City of Lyon (FR)
#2 – How do we make sufficiency desirable? Changing cultures and organisations. September 2022 (more details to come)
#3 – Local ecological transition and jobs: Supporting only climate compatible activities and the creation of new local economic activities – October 2022 (more details to come)
#4 – New local compasses for territorial policies – How can new social and well-being indicators shape public policies? November 2022 (more details to come)
#4 – Overconsumption and degrowth – December 2022 (more details to come)
#5 – Using our (scarce) resources intelligently: pooling of equipment and buildings – January 2023 (more details to come)
#6 – Open debate on sufficiency and ideas for new discussions and concrete projects – February 2023 (more details to come)
[1] https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/growth-without-economic-growth
The post Frugal and (self) sufficient cities, by will or by force! appeared first on Energy Cities.
Fuente: ENERGY CITIES
Enlace a la noticia: Frugal and (self) sufficient cities, by will or by force!
