The leading cities for achieving climate neutrality

Environmental policy and spatial planning experts, along with institutional representatives, gathered in Rome yesterday to delve deeper into key topics such as the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (NIECP), the relationship between the various levels of energy transition plans and the path towards climate neutrality undertaken by Italy’s mission cities.

The event, entitled “The Role of Multilevel Governance and Integrated Spatial Planning in Supporting the Energy Transition” was jointly organised by the Italian Local Agenda 21 Coordination and Area Science Park, the Italian partners of the NECPlatform and IN-PLAN projects, both funded by the LIFE programme, to discuss the crucial role of integrated planning and collaboration between different levels of governance in achieving national and European climate and energy objectives.

The day also marked the launch of the work to be carried out by National Coalition Group as part of the IN-PLAN project, offering a unique opportunity for various stakeholders to discuss and formulate recommendations on integrated planning, to later be shared with national policymakers.

Testimonies coming from various Italian cities provided concrete examples of participatory approaches and innovative initiatives, such as the Climate City Contracts, highlighting the importance of multilevel governance in energy and climate planning, the focus of the NECPlatform project.

Among the contributions, there were also those of the Italian “lighthouse cities” involved in the IN-PLAN project: the Municipality of Prato shared its experience in harmonising the new Municipal Structural Plan with the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, following the courses of action outlined in the Climate City Contract and the Municipality of Narni talked about the importance of interdepartmental collaboration in small to medium-sized municipalities in addressing the challenges of complexity, while the Municipality of Padua spoke of the difficulties of implementing ambitious integrated plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.

The Guideline to support municipalities in drafting, implementing and monitoring territorial plans that integrate energy, climate and mobility aspects, aimed at achieving climate neutrality from a multilevel governance perspective, was also introduced.

“The IN-PLAN Guideline suggests an integrated and collaborative approach that combines sectoral plans – such as those for renewable energy, sustainable mobility and climate adaptation – and urban planning in a single territorial planning strategy”, as Fabrizia Salvi from Area Science Park explained. “Furthermore, it promotes collaboration between local, regional and national levels of government, ensuring greater coherence and resources for climate actions. It aligns with European initiatives, such as the Green Deal and the EU Climate Law, and supports the goals of reducing emissions and climate neutrality”.

The day also featured the 6th meeting of the Italian Dialogue Platform for the NECPlatform project that, with Annalidia Pansini representing the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), had the opportunity to discuss horizontal and vertical multilevel governance, as well as the relationship between various plans – from national to local levels – for the full implementation of energy and climate policies.

Important ideas emerged and will be reported in the Policy Brief that the Italian Local Agenda 21 Coordination. This document will be propose to the participants of the Italian Dialogue Platform, presented to MASE and shared with the other projects with which we are collaborating The aim is  full promotion of climate policies in Italy and  the spread of methodologies, best practices and lessons learned.