How LIFE is future-proofing European cities

The UN’s Urban October, which opens with World Habitat Day and runs through to World Cities Day, provides LIFE projects with a great opportunity to showcase their work future-proofing European cities. LIFE LOCAL IN-PLAN — which stands for integrated energy, climate and spatial planning — offers long-term support to authorities as they implement their sustainable living, working, mobility and environmental spatial plans. 

At the project’s heart is the IN-PLAN Practice, a practical guidebook which offers step-by-step recommendations and guidance for each stage of the planning process. It covers every aspect of spacial planning including climate action and adaptation, sustainable transport and renewable energy. As Katharina Höftberger of project partner Urban Innovation Vienna says, ‘To overcome the climate crisis, we need to pull out all the stops. The IN-PLAN Practice is a practical document which aims to draw attention to the many synergies and practical benefits of integrating elements of energy, mobility and climate adaptation into spatial planning.’ 

IN-PLAN is a member of the Sister Matrix Group, a community of 10 LIFE projects working together to advance the clean energy transition across Europe. The 4-year, €1.7 million project works closely with 15 local and regional ‘lighthouse’ authorities across Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Sweden which will act as test beds for new approaches and showcases for best practices. A further 30 pilot authorities will also partially benefit. 

‘Despite their ambitious climate neutrality goals, many local and regional authorities face persistent challenges in translating these targets into concrete actions,’ explains project officer Irene Biancani. ‘The IN-PLAN Practice will be indispensable. It equips cities and regions to take proactive steps toward a sustainable future, ensuring that climate targets are not just set but achieved through concrete, integrated actions.’ 

The 15 lighthouse authorities benefit from a ‘train the trainers’ programme involving more than 50 energy, climate and development agencies who then pass their knowledge on to local and regional governments. ‘We believe in an ongoing process of co-creation and learning to build sustainable, high-quality cities for the future,’ says Höftberger. The project has also set up an EU Coalition Group to promote the further adoption of spatial planning in Europe. 

Importantly, the IN-PLAN Practice does not seek to reinvent the spatial planning wheel, recognising that much valuable work has already been done. The guide ‘lists practical best practices from across Europe and offers a toolbox of technical and soft skill tools, instruments, and methods. Rather than developing new tools, the Practice contextualises existing ones within the planning process.’ 

LIFE LOCAL IN-PLAN is funded under the LIFE Programme’s €1 billion Clean Energy Transition sub-programme, which supports the delivery of the European Green Deal, the Fit for 55 package and the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Directives.