On April 3, 2025, NordicHouse participated in the international conference “Climate Transformation of Cities” organized in Krakow, which was the culmination of the Ready4NetZero project implemented by SPCleantech shareholder member, the Association of Municipalities – Polish Network Energie Cites. The conference was organized in partnership with the European Climate Initiative (EUKI), and highlighted over two years of cooperation between project partners from Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Germany, who worked together to implement climate strategies in cities. In Poland, the cities that received support under the project were Cieszyn, Dzierżoniów, Piastów and Siematycze.
Conference objectives:
✔ Insight into long-term climate planning under the European Green Deal,
✔ Best practices from European cities on the path to net zero emissions,
✔ Discussions on governance, cooperation and stakeholder engagement,
✔ Interactive sessions and networking opportunities.
After the participants were welcomed by Ms. Anna Jaskuła, Director of the Association, Ms. Izabela Zygmunt from the European Commission Representation in Poland took the floor. In her speech, “Long-term climate planning and the European Green Deal”, she outlined the broader framework of the implemented directives and climate goals by 2030 and 2050, including the Fit for 55 Package. The course of action adopted by the European Commission for the coming years remains unchanged; given the limited resources and uncertainty of the global economy, the European market must remain competitive and resilient.
Ms. Izabela pointed to the important role of local government units in accelerating the processes of change at the local level. They are the ones who manage municipal buildings, which, in accordance with the EPDP building directive, must undergo thermal modernization and become completely zero-emission by 2050. It is local government units that can create such living conditions for their residents that will gradually free them from the need to travel by car.
In the further part of the conference, participants could also familiarize themselves with the connections proposed by the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region for their region. Ms. Justyna Mazurkiewicz, head of the Climate Team, presented the main areas in which the Region proposes support under the Regional Action Plan, i.e. agriculture, economy and education. She discussed the anti-smog actions taken, as well as support programs for entrepreneurs aimed at promoting the circular economy.
Then, long-term visions and transformation paths in individual partner cities and regions were presented. Ms. Izabela Kuśnierz described the cooperation model adopted in the pursuit of climate neutrality in Polish cities participating in the project. The support stages adopted in the project are: 1) Development of guidelines and guide 2) Direct support – development of competences 3) Pilot activities 4) Dissemination of results. Representatives of Romania, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia also spoke.
After a lunch break, certified energy management systems were presented and a panel discussion with all the speakers was invited. The event was an excellent opportunity for networking and direct exchange of experiences with representatives of partner municipalities and regions.
