On April 3, the city of Cracow hosted the final conference of the Ready4NetZero project, a key project under the European Climate Initiative (EUKI), dedicated to empowering local governments to develop long-term strategies for climate neutrality. Over the course of the day, representatives from municipalities, regional authorities and NGOs gathered to explore how the cities involved in the project successfully embarked on the transition to a net-zero future.
The conference, organized by the Association of Municipalities Polish Network "Energie Cités" (PNEC) -project coordinator - was also attended by partners from the Ecologic Institute (Germany), Energiaklub (Hungary), Energy Cities Romania (OER) and the North-West Croatia Regional Energy Agency (REGEA). Together, these organizations led an ambitious effort to build local capacity, support pilot actions and facilitate the exchange of best practices across participating cities.
In the opening, Izabela Kusnierz from PNEC emphasized the importance of empowering cities with both knowledge and tools to implement transformational climate strategies. The project unfolded in four key phases: providing access to information on climate planning, capacity-building for municipalities, piloting actions at local level and widely disseminating results and tools for replication.
Turning ambition into tangible action
One of the central themes of the day was the need to move "from strategy to action". Speakers underlined that achieving climate neutrality by 2050, a key target of the European Green Deal, requires bold local visions and actionable pathways. As Ewa Iwaszuk from the Ecologic Institute noted, “Ten years ago, there was no clear narrative for NetZero. Today, over 130 countries have committed to it. Now it’s time for local authorities to lead the way.”
The idea of transformation pathways was further explored by Energy Cities Romania, who highlighted that there is no “one-size-fits-all” roadmap for cities. Instead, pathways must be tailored to local strengths, challenges and societal needs. Crucially, these plans must integrate climate adaptation and mitigation into all urban development processes, while ensuring broad stakeholder engagement and inclusive governance.
Representative of Szentes Municipality from Hungary has presented the details of the pilot action be as a tangible manifestation of Ready4NetZero project: the extension of the geothermal-based district heating system of the city, that can result in a CO₂ reduction of 726 tonnes/year in public institutions alone.
Panel Discussion: From strategy to action
A panel discussion brought together insights from Energy Cities Romania, Niepołomice and Krakow from Poland. Participants emphasized the value of peer learning, the strategic use of national and EU funding and the importance of sharing success stories between municipalities.
Examples from the field highlighted what action looks like in practice. Niepołomice is addressing energy poverty through energy cooperatives that promote citizen participation and local ownership. Krakow’s Climate Pact has created a platform for ongoing cooperation between public and private stakeholders, ensuring that climate goals are not only aligned, but achievable.
The conversation also turned to the foundations of effective climate management: leadership, legal frameworks, cooperation and above all, sustained community engagement. Contributors underlined the need to integrate climate considerations into every stage of decision-making, foster local trust and lead by example.
What future are we choosing?
As the conference concluded, participants reflected on the responsibility to act decisively today for the sake of future generations. “Do we want the freedom to drive an old car, or the freedom to breathe clean air?” was the question that echoed across the room.
Although the Ready4NetZero project is about to close, its message endures: the path to climate neutrality is local, collaborative and already underway. With the knowledge gained and partnerships formed, participating cities are not only ready, they are leading the way.
Ready4NetZero is a EUKI funded project coordinated by the Polish Network “ENERGIE CITÉS”, with a consortium formed of the Ecologic Institute from Germany, ENERGIAKLUB from Hungary, REGEA from Croatia and Energy Cities Romania. Ready4NetZero aims to support cities from the participating countries in developing and implementing 2050 climate neutrality strategies and seeks to do this by building capacity, knowledge and skills among local leaders, municipal staff and local stakeholders, facilitating experiences exchange and dialogue between local authorities.