The Ready4NetZero project is bringing real change to local communities through initiatives that promote sustainable mobility, pollution reduction and education for a greener future. Two cities in Romania, Gheorgheni and Râmnicu Vâlcea, have hosted pilot actions designed to inspire and demonstrate the positive impact of small, everyday changes.
Gheorgheni: "Oscar, the Traffic Snake Game" - A Lesson of sustainable mobility
In Gheorgheni, the initiative took place in October 2024, engaging over 500 students and teachers from Fogarasy Mihály General School and Kós Károly Secondary School. The campaign, called "Oscar, the Traffic Snake Game", encouraged students to choose eco-friendly ways of getting to school, such as walking, cycling, or using public transportation.
For a week, students earned points for each sustainable trip, which were displayed on a banner to visually represent the community’s progress. The impact was clear: walking and cycling increased by around 20% and traffic congestion in the city became noticeably lighter during the campaign.
The project’s success proved that when schools and local authorities work together, real behavioral changes can happen. Looking ahead, the campaign aims to expand to more schools and support urban mobility initiatives, including the development of bike lanes and the introduction of electric transport options.
Râmnicu Vâlcea: "What do you see on your way to school?" - Learning through observation
In Râmnicu Vâlcea, the pilot action took place from September to December 2024, involving 205 students from grades II-IV at Anton Pann Secondary School and Goranu Secondary School. More than 17 teachers and local authorities actively participated in organizing and implementing the initiative.
Students kept a "travel journal," documenting their daily route to school and reflecting on their observations about the environment and traffic. At the end of the campaign, the most interesting entries were discussed during open class sessions held on December 10, 2024, with teachers and local officials in attendance.
This initiative demonstrated that engaging children in interactive activities helps develop sustainable habits from an early age. The Municipality of Râmnicu Vâlcea plans to continue the project annually, expanding participation and exploring new solutions to improve eco-friendly transport infrastructure.
Conclusion: Small steps, big impact
The Ready4NetZero project proves that local actions can make a real difference in urban sustainability. The pilot cities of Gheorgheni and Râmnicu Vâlcea successfully implemented innovative initiatives that are shaping both mindsets and behaviors. Through education, collaboration and active engagement, these cities are showing that the transition to a climate-neutral future is not just a distant goal - it’s something we can achieve starting today.
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.