On the 26th of February, NEUTRALPATH hosted an online training session on Social Innovation as part of its Capacity Building Programme.
The session highlighted the importance of citizen awareness and engagement in achieving climate neutrality and supporting PCED implementation. Achieving climate neutrality is not only a technical challenge, but also social one that requires collaboration. Public administrations should integrate citizen perspectives into decision-making to ensure effective solutions. However, cities often face barriers such as low awareness, resistance to behavioural change and difficulties in engaging diverse stakeholders. The session provided a structured approach to overcoming these challenges through clear objectives, tailored engagement methods and continuous evaluation.
Case studies demonstrated successful strategies in action. The SUPERSHINE project in Latvia, Denmark, and Italy used phased engagement and digital platforms for citizen involvement. A scooter-sharing pilot in Sweden, Italy, and Belgium showed how user research and co-design boost adoption, while the One Planet initiative in Africa leveraged interactive workshops and playful engagement tools to simplify complex topics.
The session highlighted the need for cities to apply tailored engagement strategies, test small-scale pilots and foster collaboration. By monitoring key engagement indicators, municipalities can refine their approaches and create a more participatory model where citizens play an active role in the transition to climate neutrality.
For more insights, watch the recording here.
