NEUTRALPATH shared practical lessons from Dresden and joined a discussion on how cities can make energy retrofits clearer and more trusted
Energy retrofits, district transformation and local climate plans can easily feel distant from everyday life. The path to climate-neutral cities often depends on one simple condition: making these changes understandable and trustworthy. This is becoming just as important as designing the technical measures behind them.
“Our discussion confirmed that successful retrofitting starts with trusted advice. When citizens receive independent guidance, transparent information and tailored support, renovation becomes a realistic choice rather than a complex challenge” commented Cecilia Sanz Montalvillo from CARTIF, coordinator of NEUTRALPATH project.
NEUTRALPATH’s contribution to the Cities Mission Conference 2026 focused on this angle, through two interventions closely linked to the everyday challenges cities face when turning climate-neutral plans into local action. Held in Turin from 27 to 29 May, the event organised by the European Commission, NetZeroCities and Città di Torino brought together Mission Cities, European institutions, researchers, businesses and civil society to discuss how Europe’s urban climate transition can move from plans to delivery.
During the Energy Transition Lab, Charlotte Sprengel, from Dresden Municipality, shared Dresden’s experience as one of NEUTRALPATH’s Lighthouse Cities, showing how the city is engaging residents in the energy transition. Her contribution highlighted how local participation can connect district-level transformation with people’s needs, concerns and expectations, making climate action more understandable and relevant to everyday life.
Alongside this, Cecilia Sanz Montalvillo, from CARTIF, co-hosted a discussion with the City of Velenje on energy retrofits. The exchange focused on how cities can support renovation choices with clearer information, independent guidance and transparent decision-making, helping residents and building owners navigate complex technical and financial options.
Both sessions reflected the wider goal of the EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, which supports 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 and aims to turn them into experimentation and innovation hubs for other European cities. In this context, NEUTRALPATH’s work on Positive Clean Energy Districts contributes to a shared effort to test local approaches that can be adapted, replicated and scaled across different urban contexts. NEUTRALPATH will continue to share lessons from its five pilot cities and city-to-city exchanges as partners move forward with local activities across Europe.
