Local governments in Europe play a crucial role in achieving climate neutrality

Local governments in Europe play a crucial role in achieving climate neutrality Alina Safronova at the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, examines how local governments in Europe are one of the most important driving forces on the path to climate neutrality. Local governments in Europe are one of the most important driving forces on the path to climate neutrality. They set strategic directions for improving energy efficiency, developing renewable energy, and reducing local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Local governments also play a crucial role in engaging the public and local stakeholders – without changing their citizens’ habits and behaviour, sustainable change is impossible. However, in practice, the potential of local governments often remains untapped. It is limited by a lack of skills, insufficient tools, and difficulties in calculating emissions and developing future scenarios.