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Dear Reader,
Welcome to the fourth edition of the NEUTRALPATH newsletter.
This issue focuses on how European cities are moving from experimentation to implementation of climate-neutral solutions. Through our latest journalistic article and two new podcast episodes, we explore key themes such as scaling Positive and Clean Energy Districts, affordable housing and sustainable urban mobility, highlighting concrete experiences from cities involved in the project.
A central highlight of this edition is the NEUTRALPATH City Alliance, supporting small and medium-sized cities in advancing their sustainable district initiatives. Building on the experience of NEUTRALPATH cities, the City Alliance promotes peer learning, capacity building and hands-on support, with a strong focus on governance, citizen engagement and locally driven transition processes.
We also look back at recent activities, including the NEUTRALPATH General Assembly in Ghent and our participation in a joint workshop on Positive Energy Districts innovation. Capacity building remains a cornerstone of the project, with a dedicated session of the NEUTRALPATH Capacity Building Programme focusing on innovative business models to support the long-term sustainability of PCEDs.
This newsletter also features new video interviews from the pilot cities of Dresden and Zaragoza, alongside voices from the follow cities Ghent, Istanbul and Vantaa, sharing practical experiences, lessons learned and future ambitions. Finally, we recap past events and present upcoming opportunities to engage with NEUTRALPATH and its growing community of cities.
Thank you for being part of this journey!
Follow us on X, LinkedIn and YouTube to stay up to date.
Best regards,
Cecilia Sanz Montalvillo
NEUTRALPATH Project Coordinator
CARTIF |
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Beyond the experiment: how Europe’s cities are scaling climate solutions |
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Europe’s cities are no longer just testing ideas—they’re building models for the future. From energy-producing districts to cross-sector collaborations, they’re reshaping urban life to meet net-zero goals. But as climate deadlines loom, the real challenge is now turning successful experiments into standard urban practice. Before it’s too late. |
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The road to climate neutrality: reshaping urban mobility |
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Through the voices of Luke Bojcev (Smart City Manager, City of Dresden), Theodoros Gkiourkas (Region of Western Macedonia, Kozani), Tanya Hristova (Mayor of Gabrovo) and Ruxandra Aelenei (urban mobility expert and lecturer at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences) the podcast shows how local authorities are piloting new technologies while dealing with driver shortages, funding constraints and complex regulations. |
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Affordable housing for climate-neutral cities |
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Featuring insights from Paloma Bozman (Zaragoza Vivienda), Blanka Tarsoly (energy transition expert), Tommaso Buso (Bankers Without Boundaries), Michal Kuzmič (Czech Technical University), and Mayor Tanya Hristova (Gabrovo Municipalilty), the episode focuses on people-centred policies and financing solutions that can drive more sustainable, climate-neutral urban development. |
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A hands-on approach to climate-neutral district planning |
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The last meeting of project NEUTRALPATH combined participatory planning tools, turning exercises into practical, actionable knowledge. |
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Positive and climate-neutral news
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Zaragoza: Building a Greener and Smarter City |
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Víctor Serrano Entío, Councilor for Urban Planning, Infrastructure, Energy and Housing at Zaragoza City Council, explains how Zaragoza City Council and Zaragoza Vivienda, through the NEUTRALPATH project, are testing innovative solutions in mobility, green infrastructure, water management, and building renovation. |
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NEUTRALPATH Fellow Cities: How Vantaa, Istanbul & Ghent drive urban decarbonisation |
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Vantaa, Istanbul and Ghent are joining forces with the lighthouse cities of Zaragoza and Dresden to support and share their journey towards decarbonisation by 2030, paving the way to meet the same long-term goals. |
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NEUTRALPATH took part in a joint workshop on Positive Energy Districts (PED) innovation |
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On the 11th of June 2025, our project NEUTRALPATH joined a webinar organised by the Scalable Cities community and the PED Cluster - a space where several EU-funded projects came together to share idea on the creation of sustainable, people-centered energy districts in Europe. |
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NEUTRALPATH Capacity Building Program – Business models |
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On 24 September 2025, from 10:30 to 11:30, NEUTRALPATH held an online training session on Business Models as part of its capacity building programme. |
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Joining forces towards climate neutrality
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Small and medium size towns to get extra help to go green |
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NEUTRALPATH is expanding its 'City Alliance' to support small to medium size towns in scaling up their sustainable district initiatives. |
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Community of Practice webinar on Positive Energy Districts: Designing Public Spaces. |
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On Thursday, 23 October, NEUTRALPATH, in collaboration with ASCEND and NetZeroCities, hosted an Community of Practice webinar on Positive Energy Districts: Designing Public Spaces. The session explored how cities can bring together citizens, local businesses, and industry to co-create vibrant and sustainable public spaces. |
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European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2025 |
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At the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2025, held from June 10-12, Zaragoza’s Managing Director of Housing, Lorena Reula, represented the NEUTRALPATH project during the policy session hosted by the Covenant of Mayors. |
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European Climate Horizon (ECHO) 2030 Days |
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NEUTRALPATH was represented by CARTIF and ICONS at the European Climate Horizon (ECHO) 2030 Days, the closing conference of the Scalable Cities initiative, held in Lyon, France, from 26 to 28 August 2025. |
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Sustainable Places 2025 |
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At Sustainable Places 2025, NEUTRALPATH showcased its model for citizen labs, empowering local voices to drive climate change in European cities. |
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Urban Transitions Mission Centre |
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NEUTRALPATH joined the Urban Transitions Mission Centre final conference to discuss what comes next for climate-neutral cities. |
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Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 |
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NEUTRALPATH participated in the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, contributing to the joint session “Future-Proofing Cities: Sustainable Innovations for Liveable Urban Spaces” together with ASCEND, oPEN Lab, ARV, IURC, RESPONSE and the MOBILITIES FOR EU project. |
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- Public webinar on PCED Zaragoza - April 2026
- Capacity building Day in Vantaa - May 2026
- NEUTRALPATH at EU Cities Mission conference in Turin - May 2026
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 Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or REA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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