Informed Cities Newsletter - Climate collaboration starts when people are at the center

Accelerating climate action demands new and different strategies to engage with people to achieve a noble EU-led mission: reaching climate neutrality by 2050 or sooner. Transformation requires connection and cooperation. In the Re-Value project, nine waterfront cities are experimenting with a variety of methods to find the best-fit approaches to connect with their communities. They’re testing artistic missions, graffiti walls, theatre performances, festivals and parties, trees on bicycle tours, willow tunnels, climate baths, portable saunas, temporary uses in buildings and along streets, exhibitions in unusual places (nuclear fallout bunker, anyone?), and serious games like the NEB Impact Model Dominoes.

But it’s not all fun and games. Working towards a climate-neutral Europe is complex and demands shared purpose and coordinated effort. Genuine progress happens when citizens, governments, and businesses co-create solutions and share ownership of the journey. Meaningful collaboration means listening deeply, adapting continuously, and building trust over time. It’s the only way to ensure that climate action isn’t just done for people, but with them.

This edition of the Informed Cities newsletter highlights powerful collaborations that bring people together in a variety of ways to align efforts, share strengths, and unlock collective potential for lasting climate solutions.

Read our June 2025 Newsletter