Why is the EU looking to Stavanger?

As one of only 112 cities in Europe, Stavanger has received the quality stamp Mission Label – a proof that the city is part of the EU's ambitious effort to create 112 climate-neutral cities by 2030.

"Beyond the prestige, this gives us the funding and the expert network we need to fast-track our climate goals. By gaining direct access to advanced tools and learning from other European cities, we can test and scale green solutions more effectively than ever before," explains Gram.

This forms the basis for the project Empowered Governance, which is supported by the NettZeroCities EU with one million euros. The project is a close collaboration between Stavanger municipality, Trondheim municipality, the University of Stavanger, and DOGA.

"Through this allocation, all travel for learning and exchange of experience is also covered by the EU project, which gives partners the opportunity to gather insight from other European environments without local costs. The goal is to find out how strategic cooperation between public and private actors can speed up the climate transition," says Gram.

Three working groups

In Stavanger, the partners have established three concrete working groups that shall ensure a faster implementation of the climate measures. One group is preparing a strategic roadmap for carbon capture and storage in close cooperation with the industry. Another group is mapping instruments that promote the reuse of existing buildings. The third group is working with emission-free construction sites and looking at practical steps that cut emissions here and now.

In Trondheim, the municipality is collaborating with the Business Association in the Trondheim Region on circular economy, where they among other things are testing out models that make it profitable for private developers to choose reuse and sustainable solutions.

The door opener in Brussels

When the EU directs its gaze toward Stavanger, the city responds by connecting itself closer to the European machinery. A multidisciplinary delegation of 25 people from Empowered Governance recently visited Brussels and Leuven to gather inspiration and concrete methods. The group gathered representatives from both politics, business, academia, and the municipality to look closer at how European cities cut emissions and finance the green shift in practice.

The Stavanger Region European Office has ever since its establishment in 1993 contributed to connecting the region with central actors in Brussels.

"For projects like Empowered Governance, the office functions as a door opener toward institutions such as the EU Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB)," explains ECT project leader Anna K. Enerstvedt.

Here the delegation discussed financial tools and how the European Investment Bank can support the large investments required for Stavanger and Trondheim to reach climate neutrality.

"Mission Label is the entry ticket to the large financing schemes in the EU and at the European Investment Bank. This can help us on the way in heavy projects within carbon capture, emission-free construction sites, and circular buildings," says Leidulf Skjørestad, director for urban environment and development in Stavanger municipality.

The group also met representatives from the EU Commission. The theme was the significance of Mission Label in practice, and which opportunities lie in upcoming programs and calls.

Learning both ways

In Leuven, the delegation met experts from both Leuven 2030 and Helsingborg. These are two Mission cities that are considered best in class on green transition in Europe, and the goal was to learn from their experiences.

Gram highlights the Leuven 2030 fund, an innovative financing model between the public and private:

"The fund functions as a joint effort where the municipality, the business community, and investors share the costs and the risk of large climate measures. By the public taking a part of the economic risk, it becomes safer for private actors to invest in green solutions. This gives faster emission cuts and ensures that the whole city takes ownership of the climate goals," tells Gram.

Leuven 2030 is organised as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that functions as a collaboration platform between authorities, academia, business, and citizens. Through this model, ownership and decision-making authority are distributed equally between the parties, which makes the climate effort a shared societal project rather than a purely political initiative.

"Sharing our experiences allows us to replicate success, bypass dead ends, and fast-track the work in our city," concludes Gram.