Local Voices for Sustainability

The case for enough: how Lille Metropole is rethinking urban needs

How much is enough for a city to thrive? In this episode, we talk to Gilles Huchette, Deputy Director of Urban Planning for Lille Métropole, France, to discover what the concept of sufficiency looks like in practice. From water management to urban development, we discuss how cities can rethink their needs, make better use of existing resources and create more liveable communities without always building more. We also explore the SpaceUp project and its vision for more sustainable, inclusive use of urban spaces. Discover more about Lille Métropole.

How Malmö is making its circular economy work for people

How can cities design circular economy policies so that environmental and social benefits go hand in hand? In this episode, we hear from Emma Börjesson – Project Manager in the Circular Economy Team at the Environmental Department of the City of Malmö – about how the city is putting circularity into practice. As one of more than 90 cities to have signed the Circular Cities Declaration (CCD), Malmö offers a look at circular economy beyond waste and resource management. We explore Återbyggdepån (Reuse depot) and other initiatives, drawing on the Circular Cities Declaration Report to consider what other cities can learn from Malmö’s circular economy.

How do you build a city everyone can access?

What does the concept of “Mobility As A Right” (MAAR) look like in practice? In this episode, we head to Mannheim, Germany, to explore how the city is rethinking transport through the UPPER project. Mobility Coordinator and Policy Advisor to the Mayor Tim Neugebauer from the City of Mannheim leads us through the city’s multimodal transport system, which serves both its industrial needs and its aim to make mobility more accessible, affordable and inclusive – all while balancing local and global climate goals.

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How Grenoble is using street design to reshape everyday life

What if the journey to school could make cities healthier, safer and more social? In this episode, we head to Grenoble to explore how rethinking streets around schools can transform everyday urban life. Edwin Hatton, Project Manager for Grenoble City Council, and Lysa Sérot, intern with the city’s Public Space Planning team, take us inside the 'Breath of School' project — winner of ICLEI Europe's Local Sustainability Award in 2025. Together, they reveal how child-friendly urban planning can strengthen climate resilience, improve quality of life and inspire cities far beyond Grenoble.

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How Athens is using AI to detect and fight forest fires

As heatwaves intensify and wildfire risks grow, cities on the urban-forest edge face mounting climate pressure. In this episode, we head to Athens to explore how data, AI and collaboration help the city detect wildfire threats before flames appear. Vangelis Marinakis from the National Technical University of Athens and Lina Magoula from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens take us inside the DRYADS project, where environmental data, smart monitoring and research partnerships come together to strengthen forest resilience and protect nearby neighbourhoods.

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How Nantes is planting a sustainable future in its soil

Is soil just dirt – or one of a city’s most critical assets? In this episode, we head to Nantes to uncover how soil underpins climate resilience, biodiversity, and urban growth. Director of Territorial Strategy, Clément Le Bras-Thomas, reveals why putting soil at the heart of planning could transform Europe’s cities. Learn more about the SPADES project and the impact it is having in cities like Nantes and Gothenburg, and regions like Transylvania and Lombardy.

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How a historic Portuguese city is reinventing itself for a changing climate

When climate risk meets cultural heritage, cities have to make choices. In this episode, we head to Guimarães to find out how one of Europe’s oldest cities is rewriting its relationship with nature. Carlos Ribeiro, President of the Landscape Lab, takes us behind the scenes of fire prevention, riverbed restoration, and a green strategy that connects city, landscape, and community — just as Guimarães steps into the spotlight as European Green Capital and host of the European Urban Resilience Forum. Check out Guimarães' Mapa Verde (Green Map) here.

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How Paris is growing into a garden city

Paris is transforming into a greener, more liveable city—one street and biodiversity corridor at a time. In this episode, we sit down with Celeste Rouberol from the City of Paris about how the French capital is reimagining urban life through nature, from its ambitious Biodiversity Plan to new community-led green spaces. Learn about Paris' role as a Lighthouse City in the UNP+ project, here. Learn about the EU's Nature Restoration Regulation, here.

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How Do You Protect a Disappearing Island in a Changing Climate?

What does it mean to live on an island that may one day vanish? How can communities adapt to climate change, and what does staying – or leaving – really mean? In this episode, ICLEI Europe speaks with Dr. Catharina Greve about Neuwerk, a tiny island in northern Germany where climate change is no abstraction – storm surges, rising seas, and shifting tides define daily life. Greve introduces the RescueME project, which explores how cultural landscapes like Neuwerk can (or cannot) be preserved, and how residents are shaping their own future. From horse-drawn carts crossing tidal flats to “serious games” – where locals and policymakers test out future scenarios – this conversation dives deep into resilience, wilderness, and the tough choices communities face when home itself is at risk. Explore the work being done by ICLEI Europe's Resilience and Climate Adaptation team here.

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Buying with Impact: The Oslo Way to Ethical City Procurement

Public procurement isn’t just about getting the best price – it’s about shaping the greener and fairer cities of tomorrow. In this episode, we visit ICLEI Member City Oslo to learn how the Oslo Model is tackling social dumping, raising labour standards, and making public purchasing a tool for social and environmental change. 🎙️ Hear from Kjersti Koffeld and Espen Nicolaysen on how Oslo is applying socially responsible procurement in practice – and why tracking, supplier dialogue, and political will matter. Oslo also shares its experience in the Big Buyers Working Together initiative, where cities across Europe join forces to move markets in a greener, fairer direction. 🔗 Learn more: https://public-buyers-community.ec.europa.eu/about/big-buyers-working-together

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Co-creating a Greener Future in Łódź

Łódź, Poland is turning co-creation into climate action. In this episode, we speak with Aleksandra Sztuka, Deputy Director of Environment Management at the City of Łódź, who explains how the city is working with residents to green public spaces, tackle water scarcity, and rethink urban planning. It’s a fresh take on how cities can build fairer, more sustainable futures—together. Learn more about ‘The Power of Many’ here.

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The new EU Budget - what we’re hoping for

The last time the EU concluded its long-term budget negotiations was in 2021. Back then, COVID-19 was in full swing and defense and European cohesion were not the topics they are today. Priorities change. The new EU budget is expected to be announced this July. So, we wanted to know - what should we expect? What changes would benefit cities and towns? ICLEI Europe’s Senior Advocacy Expert, Goksen Sahin, provided us with her insight. Interested in learning more? Check out this position paper from The Local Alliance, which calls on EU leaders to develop a budget that is a robust and comprehensive tool for achieving a climate-neutral, just, and competitive Europe.

Rolling into the Future of Mobility in Europe

Sustainable mobility is key to building cities that are not only environmentally friendly but also accessible, smart, and resilient. In this episode, Sustainable Mobility Experts Andreas Piller and Elma Meskovic-Imsirovic from ICLEI Europe discuss how bold, forward-thinking decisions are reshaping the mobility landscape in European cities. They also dive into the EU's role in driving change and tackle some of the more contentious issues in urban mobility, including e-vehicles, scooters, and whether public transport should be free. Explore the work being done by ICLEI Europe's Sustainable Mobility team here. Is your city an ICLEI Member? Join our next Member Webinar on 10 April 2025, 11:00-12:00 on the topic of Mobility as a Right.

Cultivating Robust Food Systems in Freiburg

When was the last time you wandered through your local food market? How do the offerings at a market compare to those at a supermarket? In this episode, we explore the vital role of food systems in fostering a healthier, more sustainable city - from collaborative community projects to bridging the gap between urban and rural neighbourhoods. As a member of ICLEI Europe for more than 30 years, Freiburg, in Germany, stands as a leading example of connecting local food to communities. This conversation features Eva Coydon, Manager and Coordinator of major projects and financing for the Freiburg & Region Food Policy Council; and Anna Bruen, Senior Expert for biodiversity, nature-based solutions, and sustainable food systems at ICLEI Europe. To learn more about the Freiburg Food Policy Council, visit thewebsite. Photo by Marco Pregnolato on Unsplash.

Features: Biodiversity success at COP16 amid global challenges

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our November 2024 feature article is read aloud by Sarah Arfeen, of ICLEI Europe's Events and Project Communications team. The article dives into the results from COP16 and the successes for biodiversity that resulted in the midst of global challenges. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.

Reaching for the stars: sustainability management in Alba Iulia

What do sustainability projects have in common with the stars in the night sky? More than you’d think! In this episode, we turn our telescopes to the trailblazing city of Alba Iulia, where a radically new approach to managing the city’s sustainability efforts is taking hold. As the first city in Romania to sign a Local Green Deal, and a participating city in the Intelligent Cities Challenge, Alba Iulia is a sparkling example of small-town tenacity. This conversation features Maria-Elena Seemann, Coordinator of Foreign Relations, Partnerships development and Urban innovation from the City of Alba Iulia; and Niklas Mischkovski, Head of the Governance Innovation team at ICLEI Europe. To learn more about the Intelligent Cities Challenge, visit the website.

Features: The Aalborg Conditions and Europe's Path to Sustainability

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our October 2024 feature article is read aloud by Laura Schubert, of ICLEI Europe's Events and Project Communications team. The article dives into the Aalborg Conditions, launched at the 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns, and explains why they are a key framework for cities on their path towards climate neutrality. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe ⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠.

Closing the Food Waste Circle in Guimarães

The city of Guimarães (Portugal) is on a mission to make food waste management more sustainable. How? By focusing on circular economy, a model of resource production and consumption that emphasises sharing, recycling and reusing materials and products for as long as possible. In this episode, we sit down with Dalila Sepúlveda, Head of the Department of Environment and Sustainability for the city of Guimarães, to discuss how circular economy strategies are helping Guimarães to transition from a linear to a circular economy, as outlined in the Circular Cities Declaration.

Features: Building sustainable cities through smart solutions

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our September 2024 feature article is read aloud by Alis-Daniela Torres, of ICLEI Europe's Green Digital Transformation team. The article explores the potential of data and AI to help cities realise their potential on their journey to a sustainable future. To read the article and position paper for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe ⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠.

Features: ICLEI Europe calls for strengthened 2040 Climate Targets

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our August 2024 feature article is read aloud by Anna Westervelt, of ICLEI Europe's Strategic Communications, Membership and Advocacy team. The article explores the European Commission's 2040 Climate Target proposal and advocates for changes to better reflect the reality in cities and regions across Europe. To read the article and position paper for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe ⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠.