Climate-Neutral, Sustainable, and Equitable Urban Communities

As climate change and urban challenges grow, so does the need for innovative and collaborative solutions. The Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (CNR-IMAA), the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Development (ENEA), and the Urban Europe Research Alliance (UERA) are pleased to host a conference (Feb 26-28, Rome) that will bring together experts to discuss and strategize actionable steps for climate-neutral, inclusive, and resilient cities. A key theme is citizen engagement, examining how local communities contribute to sustainability efforts, from climate action initiatives to participatory urban planning.

At the conference, our presentation "Citizen Science for Green Urban Transitions: Stories from Urban ReLeaf Cities" will highlight how local communities contribute to shaping urban greenspaces. Through citizen science monitoring campaigns, this IIASA-led initiative demonstrates how participatory approaches inform greenspace planning, air quality management, and climate resilience strategies. We will share real-world examples of how cities like Athens, Cascais, Dundee, Mannheim, Riga, and Utrecht are using community-driven data to drive urban policies and environmental action.

Inian Moorthy will present research findings from the NODES-led Urban ReLeaf project, developed in collaboration with Gerid Hager, Todd Harwell, and Sandra Brozek.