The Other Side of Climate Neutrality
POLIS' Climate Neutral Cities Mission Taskforce was established at the end of 2022 and POLIS started to work with cities more in concrete ways and supporting them with their work on climate city contracts, and developing goals and key performance indictors. This interview brings two associated members – research centres – into the spotlight, talking about the importance of climate neutrality and their perspectives on the crucial steps to becoming a climate-neutral city.
An interview with Georgia Ayfantopoulou and Stéphane Chanut, elaborated by Marko Stančec, with the collaboration of Maria Morfoulaki, Elpida Xenou, Vasilis Mizaras, and Afroditi Stamelou.
Embarking on the path to climate neutrality is no small feat. Recognizing the magnitude of this endeavour, POLIS launched the groundbreaking Climate-Neutral Cities Taskforce in November 2022. This visionary initiative aims to provide support to the membership as they strive to achieve ambitious transport decarbonisation targets.
With a collaborative approach, POLIS also has joined forces with esteemed research institutions, pooling their expertise and resources to drive transformative change in the field of transport. As we navigate the road to climate neutrality, it is indeed crucial to hear from the trailblazers themselves. That is why we sat down with representatives from esteemed research institutions, Cerema and the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), to gain a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
These visionary organizations shed light on their invaluable contributions to climate goals and targets, sharing their insights and expertise to shape the sustainable cities of tomorrow.
POLIS: The EU Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 is a big scale-up exercise with cities in the driving seat. What is your view, as a research institution, on the importance of the initiative?
Georgia Ayfantopoulou, Research and Deputy Director, Hellenic Institute of Transport of Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH/ HIT)
Georgia Ayfantopoulou: The EU Mission is a catalyst for developing an integrated policy/government approach and producing a powerful impact through combined actions for climate neutrality. Within this frame, the Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT) plays an active role in glueing together local authorities and the private sector. More specifically, HIT supports the Municipality of Thessaloniki towards its climate transition by drafting the Action Plan for the Mission. At the same time, the EU Mission facilitates the exchange of knowledge between European and Greek cities, which share similar goals and needs. HIT is a very active part of the broader European community of experts who are trying to transfer knowledge, and capacity building and guide the cities to achieve the goals of climate neutrality and smart mobility.
Stéphane Chanut: As a national expertise and research centre focused on ecological and energy transition for resilient and climate-neutral cities and regions, Cerema is following with great interest the EU Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030. We think this is a crucial step to pave the way to climate neutrality for Europe and even more (associated countries) with its 100 +12 (out of 377) selected Mission cities. Cerema is involved in the implementation of Climate City Contracts and wishes to play an important role in this mission alongside these first selected cities but also those who wish to engage in this process.
POLIS: What are the measures to reach climate goals?
Georgia: The development of both Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) and Sustainable Urban Logistic Plans (SULPs) at the regional level is an important mechanism for identifying the appropriate measures for a city’s unique typology and local ecosystem. Through the experience of several projects in this area, it became clear that even the simplest measure will bring a different impact in each city. What is very important is first to ensure that the relevant stakeholders have the needed knowledge and capacity to plan such a measure. Then, they should co-design and co-create each measure taking into account the needs of the citizens, the policy and business barriers, and the cultural particularities of each case. It is very crucial for reaching the goals of climate neutrality, to set communities that will ensure this lifelong capacity building and knowledge exchange on smart and sustainable alternative measures.
Stéphane Chanut, Head of Mobility, Public Spaces and Safety Activity, Cerema - Technical Direction for Regions and Cities
Stéphane: The set of measures may include further development and implementation of Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning. In France, since 2019, the reduction of transport-related greenhouse gases has been included in the SUMP obligations, which has contributed to strengthening its operational objectives, from deploying Low-Emission Zones (LEZ) — in France, all cities with a population of more than 150,000 must have one in place by 2025 — to reducing air pollution in port areas and helping households and businesses purchase clean vehicles.
POLIS: And how can we measure success and maximise the resources available to achieve these climate goals?
Georgia: The ex-ante, ex-durante, and ex-post evaluation proposed by CIVITAS should be adopted within the SUMP cycle as part of the measure plan and development. The ex-ante evaluation should take into account the experience of the cities that have already successfully developed this measure highlighting the prerequisites for its success.
Specific parameters regarding the administrative, policy, and business aspects should be clarified. The cooperation schemes, the needed infrastructures but also the citizens’ views and reactions should be taken into account for the ex-ante assessment of each measure. The ex-durante evaluation using quantification of each target should take place for any possible modifications to be decided before the full operation of the measure. Finally, the close monitoring of the measure results after its final development could also maximize its final impact.
Stéphane: The key is the assessment, we need to translate the objectives into evaluation criteria and to have reliable and shared tools. Two elements, in particular, seem to us to require evaluation: the impact of SUMP measures on CO2 emissions and the resources, especially financial, needed to implement these measures. The search for efficiency requires that these two points should be considered together. In addition, in the absence of true standardisation at the European level, it seems useful to be clear about the perimeters and evaluation methods used in the various national contexts.
POLIS: From inter-departmental cooperation to fostering essential exchanges among local and international stakeholders, how do researchers view the significance of transcending the conventional outlook on innovation and embracing collaboration that is at the core of the Mission's approach?
Georgia: The planning of any measure should consider the parties that should be cooperated to achieve the maximum effect as well as the needed policy modifications, the new business models, and more. The collaboration between the different sectors of the city administration, together with the industrial partners who will bring the technology of a new system under the guidance of a research expert, comprise the ideal combination for the introduction of successful innovative smart measures in the city traffic system.
People walking and riding bicycles on the seaside street of Thessaloniki. Credit: 22Images Studio, Shutterstock
The role of neutral partners such as research institutes also has great significance, as they can constitute the intermediate bodies among public and private cooperative schemes and secure the confidentiality and trust among the parties involved. Also, the exploitation of research institutes’ competence and digital infrastructure can support significant the mobility planning process.
One key example is that of the Thessaloniki Mobility Living Lab, operated by HIT, which fosters the triple helix for innovation and may become a cornerstone tool for the climate neutrality objective.
Stéphane: To achieve climate neutrality, cities and employers must collaborate across sectors to enhance the sustainability of employee commuting and work-related travel. It is also crucial to focus on improving urban logistics and freight services through river and rail transportation. In France, these concerns are addressed in the operational objectives of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs). To effectively tackle these challenges, collaboration with the academic sector is essential to foster reflection, share knowledge, and promote mobility management practices. This partnership ensures that expertise and insights are disseminated to drive progress in these areas.
POLIS: Could you please provide some insights into your work concerning sustainable urban mobility and achieving climate goals in city planning? Additionally, it would be valuable to know what kind of support cities can anticipate receiving from your organisation in these endeavors.
Georgia: HIT has developed an evaluation framework based on the proposed CIVITAS principles for assessing – through an ex-ante, ex-durante and ex-post procedure – the implementation of climate-neutral smart and sustainable mobility measures.
Additionally, specific frameworks, key performance indicators (KPIs), and monitoring tools were developed for the evaluation of the capacity-building procedures, the co-creation and co-develop methodologies as well as the engagement and marketing techniques that are used for maximizing the effects of the measures. The proper cooperation of the SSH with STEM experts is also monitored through this framework.
The knowledge gained by the above-mentioned initiatives is provided through the competence centre of HIT where all the relevant material, tools and methodologies are included. Some indicative examples are:
- The development of evidence and data-driven planning tools that will help the transition towards city-led innovative mobility planning;
- The development of online tools and methodologies for capturing the readiness of European cities in implementing city-led innovative policy responses and harnessing innovation;
- The development of data-driven system dynamics tools for capturing the impacts of a policy response to the city’s main sustainability areas;
- The development of dedicated guidelines for SULPs, European roadmaps, and updated SUMP guidelines;
- HIT may facilitate the data collection and analysis by operating CO2 monitoring platforms (for mobility and cross-sectoral) as well as by contributing to the local ecosystems with the mobility living lab.
Stéphane: To help cities to reach their climate goals, Cerema has developed a large range of tools and methods:
- To collect and analyse data (household mobility surveys, traffic surveys and data collection) modelisation tools and assessment tools, especially standardised methods (DEEM) to estimate energy consumption, local pollutant emission and greenhouse gas emission for each trip declared in the mobility survey;
Transport in Montpellier. Credit: Catia Rennesson, Cerema
- To better understand people’s behaviour and imagine innovative ways to change it toward more sustainable behaviour;
- To develop strategic mobility policies and plans for people and goods (urban logistics);
- To implement these policies and related actions (for example for active mobility).
Finally, as a research and resource centre for state and local authorities, Cerema aims to share tools, methods, data and best practices through its website and various types of publications most of which are freely available.
All references for CERTH are available in the full article.
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About the contributors:
Interviewer: Marko Stančec coordinates the Climate-Neutral Cities Taskforce, focused on the transport component of climate plans and just transition strategies. He has extensive experience in city networks and policy in mobility, sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs), management of urban space, and non-motorised traffic.
Interviewee: Georgia Ayfantopoulou has professional and research experience for over 25 years in transport systems management and optimization. Heavily involved in supporting policy formulation, implementation and policy assessment for sustainable mobility, she has good knowledge of the city’s challenges and of techniques for managing the change towards implementation of new mobility schemes.
Interviewee: Stéphane Chanut has been working in the field of mobility for 20 years. With a PhD in traffic modelling, he has led several programmes in traffic management, mobility strategies, and travel safety. He is currently in charge of Cerema's mobility activities, notably mobility planning, transport services, walking, and cycling.
