IN-PLAN PRACTICE
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The EU-funded PROSPECT+ project supports local and regional authorities in financing their sustainable energy and climate plans. The project offers training, peer learning and practical guidance for the capacity building of local and regional authorities seeking to strengthen their skills in accessing innovative financing mechanisms, EU funding and other external funding sources.
Reference: Home | PROSPECT+
The Climate City Capital Hub is an innovative initiative supporting cities in securing financing for sustainable urban development and climate neutrality. By facilitating both public and private funding, the Hub helps cities move from climate action planning to implementation. It provides technical assistance, offering tools for project development, financial feasibility, and investment readiness in partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB). The Hub focuses on aligning investment plans with the specific needs of municipalities, leveraging diverse capital sources, and promoting climate adaptation and decarbonisation projects. Additionally, it offers resources like a knowledge repository, finance guidance tools, and an interactive portal for collaboration.
Reference: Climate City Capital Hub – NetZeroCities
The EU Covenant of Mayors provides a dedicated Funding and Financing Guide to support local and regional authorities in identifying suitable funding opportunities for the implementation of climate and energy actions. The guide is specifically designed for municipalities that are developing or implementing Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) and other integrated climate strategies.
Life‑cycle assessments (LCA) and life‑cycle cost assessments (LCCA) are key tools for integrated planning, as they support decisions beyond upfront investment costs and highlight long-term financial and operational implications. While municipalities often secure funding for planning and initial implementation, they frequently struggle to finance long-term operation, maintenance, monitoring, and governance. To support this approach, several tools and methodologies are available to local and regional authorities.
Reference: The European Commission’s guidance on life-cycle costing in public procurement and OpenLCA
In June 2020, Križevci, Croatia launched a crowd-investing initiative for solar roofs, engaging local citizens in the city’s energy transition. Led by the Green Energy Cooperative ZEZ, in collaboration with the municipality, the Regional Energy Agency North, and Solvis, the project installed solar panels on the Development Centre and Technology Park. Through crowdfunding campaigns, €54,000 was quickly raised. This initiative promotes renewable energy adoption, community development, and environmental benefits, with investors receiving returns through monthly savings and a cooperative model. Despite challenges with legislative frameworks, the project has strengthened community engagement and established a local energy cooperative, KLIK, fostering further urban sustainability projects.
Reference: Krizevci_crowdfunding-solarPV_2020_en.pdf (energy-cities.eu)
HafenCity is one of Europe’s largest inner-city urban development areas. Through urban development contracts and land transfer contracts, private developers were required to contribute to climate mitigation and climate adaptation measures that go beyond individual building plots: They contributed to elevated building structures for flood protection and flood-resilient ground floors. Buildings were required to meet high energy efficiency standards and had to connect to district heating systems. In the underground car parks of private buildings, car-sharing system were set up for all residents and employees of HafenCity. (HafenCity Hamburg GmbH, 2026)
Reference: Urban development – HafenCity