Eurocities Environment Forum 2023

Eurocities Environment Forum 2023 

The urgency of a just transition to a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 has been repeatedly emphasized, given the current turbulent times we are facing. The climate and biodiversity crises, the pandemic, and the global energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have all highlighted the pressing need to address climate change.

To address these issues, cities from across Europe recently convened at the 2023 Eurocities Environment Forum hosted by Ghent, organized by Eurocities. The forum took place on 26-28 April and was focused on the collaboration between cities and private industry to move beyond the energy crisis, with participants sharing inspiring ideas and discussing ongoing challenges.

Representatives from industry and the European Commission also attended the forum to work with cities and enable their efforts to combat climate change and improve energy efficiency. Discussions included the impact of proposed European initiatives on funding for local infrastructure and strategies for future-proofing the workforce. The forum emphasized the vital role of collaboration among stakeholders to achieve climate neutrality and create a sustainable future.

Additionally, the European Solar Rooftops Initiative was presented at the forum as a unique opportunity to maximize the impact for cities and citizens by promoting the combination of green infrastructure and solar installations on every rooftop and impervious surface where feasible. Biosolar installations, which combine green roofs and solar energy technologies, were highlighted as a game changer for our urban environment.

Dusty Gedge, the President of the European Federation of Green Roof and Living Wall Associations (EFB), took part in the event and presented the Metabuilding platform. The digital platform brings together stakeholders from the construction sector and emerging industrial sectors such as recycling and circular economy, additive manufacturing, nature-based solutions, and the digital industry. The platform provides a meeting place for innovation actors in the construction sector to stay updated on the latest innovations, find collaboration partners for development or business activities, showcase innovative products and solutions, and get innovation, testing, and certification support for their projects.

The discussions and ideas shared at the forum serve as an inspiration for cities across Europe to continue collaborating towards a more sustainable future. The role of cities in the matrix of solar industry stakeholders, green roof manufacturers, system providers, and architects is crucial in the fight against climate change, and the European Solar Rooftops Initiative provides an exciting opportunity for cities and citizens to promote sustainable practices.

You can watch a recording of the keynote speeches on EU policy from the live online broadcast, held on April 27, and the public political debate here.