Go to main menu Go to search Go to main content Go to footer
  • Smart
  • Green
    Green
    Climate change
  • Connected
  • Social
  • Citizens
  • Governance

Engaging communities in climate action

Engaging communities in climate action is crucial for European policymakers as it enhances policy effectiveness through local knowledge, builds public trust and support, and fosters innovative solutions while strengthening social resilience.

In the spotlight

Climate action requires people coming together to make a change. Policymakers play a pivotal role in bringing together stakeholders to drive meaningful change. By collaborating across sectors and borders, we can implement effective solutions that address the urgent challenges of climate change and ensure a sustainable future for all.

Policy brief

Empowering Citizens for Energy Communities

In this policy brief, you will discover how regional authorities can support the emergence of energy communities with a set of good practices and guidance drawn from the Interreg Europe community.
| By Platform
Story

Yes in my back yard!

Acceptance of renewable technologies has increased but large scale installations such as wind farms still face resistance from local communities.
| By Platform
Story

Citizens involvement for sustainable food systems

Discover European initiatives and Interreg Europe projects that work towards a sustainable food system and get inspired!
| By Platform
Story

Empowering local communities for their river resources

Discover how the town of Trebnje educated youngsters on response water resource management through a Community-Led Local Development initiative.
Workshop

Energy Communities: key learnings

On 4 December 2024, the Policy Learning Platform organized a  workshop in Budapest, Hungary, bringing together around 70 public authorities and Interreg Europe project partners to discuss Europe’s future of Energy Communities. Discover the key learnings.
Webinar

Climate adaptation: Coastal restoration

Watch the first episode of the climate adaptation webinar series, focusing on coastal restoration. Explore inspiring solutions, good practices, guidance and recommendations.
Webinar

Climate adaptation: Wetland restoration

In this webinar recording, you will discover how wetlands can be restored. You'll find inspiring solutions, good practices, guidance and recommendations backed by real-life examples of wetland restoration.
Matchmaking

Citizen participation models to increase local value creation for renewable energy

Discover key insights of citizen participation models for renewables generated by our matchmaking in Barnim

Expert support on engaging communities in climate action 

Explore how our expert team supported several regions on engaging communities in climate action. 

Flag this item
Matchmaking
Image of a connected city
Green

Mobilising local authorities to support energy communities

On 5 December 2024, the Policy Learning Platform organised a matchmaking at the request of ALEC, the local Energy and Climate Agency of Gironde, France.
| By Platform
Flag this item
Peer review
Group photo during peer review in Trento
Green

Territorial strategies to turn the Val di Fiemme into a green community

Read recommendations on the peer review to turn Val di Fiemme into a green community using transformative territorial strategies.
| By Platform
Flag this item
Peer review
Participants of the Asco peer review
Green

Supporting the development of Renewable Energy Communities

Read about recommendations made by peers from across the EU on the topic of developing and implementing Renewable Energy Communities
| By Platform
Flag this item
Peer review
Group picture - HDF
Green

Governance and policies against floods and droughts in Hauts-de-France

On 24-26 September 2024, the Policy Learning Platform held an onsite peer review for the Hauts de France Region, which requested advice regarding their policy challenge on governance and policy strategies for greater regional climate resilience against floods and droughts.
| By Platform

Good practices on engaging communities on climate action

Take a look at some of our good practices from Interreg Europe projects covering how engaging communities can support the climate action. 

Good practice
spring outflow

Spring monitoring by citizens to improve groundwater resources management

Volunteers map springs to provide missing data for scientists and water managers to improve cross-border monitoring networks.
25 September 2024 · Latvia
Good practice
The mail logo of Urban Heat Watch, an orange square with a sun graphic

URBAN HEAT WATCH. Urban Green and Climate Resilience Observatory

URBAN HEAT WATCH is a Participatory Research. It is an Urban Green and Climate Resilience Observatory, a knowledge node for urban green and heat inequalities.
13 December 2024 · Greece
Good practice
facade garden in Roeselare

Low cost actions to mobilize citizens in climate adaptation

Citizens can help shape the city's climate objectives. To this end, the city is running various actions in which citizens/neighbourhoods can participate.
30 October 2024 · Roeselare, Belgium
Good practice

Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) scheme for citizens

Co-creating and implementing a Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) scheme to promote sustainable and low-carbon mobility to reduce traffic emissions in Lahti
21 April 2020 · Finland
Good practice

PLAC, Local Climate Stakeholders Platform

PLAC is an innovative platform that brings together a range of local actors, who take concrete steps to reduce GHG emissions on their scale.
18 June 2020 · Portugal
Good practice

Provincial Water Board

Provincial Water Board is a panel of water experts and civil society representatives that designs consensual strategies to manage water, and its heritage.
12 May 2020 · Spain
Colors for quotes section

Get expert support

Are you looking for inspiration on community engagement in climate action for your region? 

Contact us and we can provide support with our expert support services!

Contact us

Astrid Severin round

The Paris Agreement aims at limiting global warming. Local communities need all hands on deck for implementing energy and climate actions on the ground. Every contribution counts.

Astrid Severin

Thematic Expert for a Greener Europe and Europe closer to Citizens

You might also be interested in...

Nature-based solutions
Energy communities
Waste prevention
Cycling cities