Date: 08.05.2025

Theme/Focus: Transition to climate neutrality; scenario modelling tools for municipalities and individuals

Participants: second- and third-year bachelor students in environmental engineering

Brief description: The workshop was held in two parts, introducing participants to the results of the CommitClimate project – specifically, two scenario-modelling tools developed for use by both municipalities and individual users. In the first part, the workshop facilitator provided students with a focused theoretical introduction to the role of municipalities in the transition toward climate neutrality and the CommitClimate CO2 Simulator. In the practical session, students worked in groups modelling climate-neutrality measures for the city of Riga using the Simulator. In the second part, the workshop facilitator introduced students to the CommitClimate tool for calculating individual carbon footprints. During the practical session, students examined their own habits and explored opportunities for changes to reduce their CO₂ footprint. At the conclusion, participants came together to reflect on the exercises and discuss their key takeaways.

Key results and takeaways: 

• Increased understanding of municipal-level roles in achieving climate neutrality.
• Hands-on experience using two CommitClimate scenario modelling tools.
• Practical modelling of climate-neutrality measures for Riga city.
• Awareness raised about personal carbon footprint and potential reductions through behaviour change.

Looking for ways to reduce emissions and build more sustainable communities? Join us for a full-day conference in Malmö on 7 October and get inspired by practical tools, proven solutions, and real-life success stories!

What’s on the programme:
✅ Digital toolbox for climate-neutral industrial areas
✅ Certification of green industrial areas
✅ Sustainable cooperation examples from Kalundborg Symbiosis
✅ CommitClimate Simulator – explore future energy scenarios
✅ Local success stories from Trelleborg and Kalundborg
✅ Guided tour of climate-smart Hyllie

Who should attend: Environmental managers, energy and climate advisors, regional representatives, and companies interested in sustainability.

When & where:
📅 7 October 2025 | 08:30 – 16:00
📍 Kretseum, Arenagatan 2, Hyllie, Malmö

Participation is free!

🔗 Learn more & register (in Swedish) HERE.

Don’t miss the chance to connect, learn, and take your sustainability efforts to the next level!

Overview:

Country and municipality: Poland, Municipality of Pałecznica and Municipality of Raciechowice

Date: 17th of February, 2025

Theme/Focus: Tools developed under the CommitClimate project and various climate-related policies and actions

Participants: Representatives of the Association of Municipalities Polish Network “Energie Cités” (PNEC), municipal officials from Pałecznica and Raciechowice, and residents form both municipalities interested in climate and environmental protection topics

Brief description: On February 17, 2025, the Association of Municipalities Polish Network “Energie Cités” in collaboration with the Municipality of Pałecznica and the Municipality of Raciechowice, organised an online workshop for citizens of both municipalities. The workshop focused on tools being developed under the CommitClimate project and various climate-related policies and actions. The aim of the meeting was to engage local communities in climate action, exchange experiences, and present practical tools supporting environmental protection. The event, which took place on the Zoom platform, was attended by 44 participants.

Key results and takeaways: 

• The workshop introduced the CommitClimate project and emphasized the benefits of community engagement in climate action.
• Representatives from Raciechowice Municipality presented their climate initiatives, including wastewater treatment, green public procurement, citizen education, RES implementation, waste management, and the “Clean Air” program.
• Pałecznica Municipality showcased their Intelligent Energy Management Centre, zero-emission fleet, existing RES installations, and initiatives supporting residents in transitioning to clean energy.
• An individual carbon footprint calculator was demonstrated, helping residents measure and reduce their environmental impact.
• The CommitClimate CO₂ Simulator was introduced, enabling the analysis of various scenarios for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in municipalities.
• An interactive summary session was conducted, where participants discussed climate actions, challenges, and ways to enhance resident engagement.
• The workshop fostered an exchange of experiences and ideas on climate-positive actions, providing practical knowledge about environmental protection tools.
• The event emphasized the critical role of collaboration between municipalities and citizens in achieving sustainable development and climate neutrality.

Photos:

Downloads/Resources:

• Benefits of engaging local communities in climate action and brief introduction to the project [available in Polish]
• Climate initiatives and long-term strategy for climate neutrality in the Municipality of Raciechowice [available in Polish]
• Local climate actions and resident support mechanisms in the Municipality of Pałecznica [available in Polish]

How to organize a similar workshop: 

Organize an online workshop using platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or Webex, involving municipal representatives, experts, and interested residents. The agenda should include presentations on local climate initiatives, tools supporting climate action (e.g., carbon footprint calculators, CO₂ emission simulators), and interactive summary sessions to encourage engagement and feedback

How to engage local citizens: 

Highlight the value of involving local communities in climate action by showcasing tangible initiatives and user-friendly tools like the carbon footprint calculator. Foster discussion and reflection on shared responsibilities, potential barriers, and opportunities for joint action.

Lessons learned from our experience: 

Online workshops are an effective way to reach a wide audience. The involvement of experts and municipal representatives who share their experiences is essential. Practical demonstrations of tools, such as the CO2 simulator, help raise awareness and motivate participants to take action. Discussions and interactive summary sessions foster the exchange of ideas and contribute to a deeper understanding of both challenges and potential solutions.

Feedback and Contact:

Would you like to run a similar workshop in your city? Contact us – we’d love to share our experience!

E-mail: biuro@pnec.org.pl

Phone number: +48 124291793

A key segment of the workshop introduced the CO2 Simulator developed under the Interreg CommitClimate project, demonstrating its functionality. This simulator is designed to assist municipalities in decision-making by modeling the impact of various policy scenarios on future CO2 emissions. Participants also tested the household CO2 footprint calculator, which offered a clear and precise measure of individual contributions to climate neutrality goals. The calculator was recognized as an effective tool for enhancing public understanding of climate neutrality in a more accessible way.

The workshop attracted representatives from multiple municipalities, including Cēsis, Gulbene, Riga, and Limbaži, underscoring the significance of energy management at the municipal level across Latvia. Local government representatives emphasized that such models play a crucial role in data-driven decision-making and strategic planning, facilitating the development of action plans, priority assessments, and strategies for reducing CO2 emissions while advancing sustainable development and climate neutrality.

In January 29th, 2025, residents of Jokkmokk municipality, Sweden, participated in an exciting workshop that put them in the driver’s seat of climate action. Using the two simulators developed by the CommitClimate project, participants explored both their personal carbon footprint and the energy use of their entire municipality. The Footprint Calculator allowed individuals to input their lifestyle habits and see how everyday choices affect their climate impact, while the Municipal Simulator gave a clear picture of community-wide energy use and CO₂ emissions, letting users test energy-saving measures in homes and transport sectors.

Over two hours, attendees actively engaged with these tools, reflected on their results, and participated in discussions about local climate priorities. A striking insight was how actions in transport, like switching to electric vehicles, could dramatically cut emissions, while energy savings in buildings had a smaller but still important effect. At the end of the workshop 65% of participants claimed to feel more confident engaging with municipal climate policies, and over 80% reported better understanding of their personal and community impacts.

Participants suggested adding practical energy advice, such as home insulation tips, and called for a Swedish version of the simulator to improve accessibility. They also emphasized the need for more time to explore the complex tools fully. This hands-on workshop proved that combining simulation with dialogue and practical guidance can inspire meaningful climate action at all levels.

Interested in organizing a similar event in your municipality? Contact us to learn how you can engage your community with CommitClimate tools and turn awareness into action!

Overview:

Country and municipality: Sweden, Jokkmokk

Date: 29^th of January 2025

Theme/Focus: test the tools developed by CommitClimate in effort to educate municipality residents about their environmental impact and gather feedback regarding potential climate action practices and improvements to the tools

Participants: municipality residents 

Brief description: 

In the workshop, residents were invited to test two types of simulator developed in the CommitClimate project. The Footprint simulator focuses on personal consumption and carbon footprint, allowing participants to input their current lifestyle habits, receive a personalized climate impact overview, and explore various actions to reduce it. The CommitClimate Simulator provides an overview of energy use and emissions at the municipal level, enabling participants to simulate various energy-saving measures in sectors such as private homes and transportation. The workshop was structured in steps where participants could actively engage with the tools, reflect on the results, and discuss challenges and opportunities for energy efficiency in their community. A key part of the workshop was the dialogue on how municipalities can support residents, for example through energy advisory services.

Key Findings from Participants, based on evaluation form answers:

• Improved Understanding: 80.5% of participants felt their understanding of the municipality’s climate policies improved after using the tool.
• Empowerment to Engage: 65% of participants felt empowered to engage with the municipality on climate issues after the workshop.
• Perception of the Tool: 82.5% agreed that the simulator helped them better understand their personal impact on CO₂ emissions.

Valuable Insights

• The workshop improved participants’ understanding of energy use and CO₂ emissions at both the community and individual levels, particularly how different actions affect final energy use vs. actual GHG reductions.
• It helped illustrate the cumulative impact of climate measures, showing how individual and community-level changes add up.
• The simulators sparked valuable discussions about where to focus local climate action.

Suggested Improvements

• Practical Guidance: Participants suggested combining the workshop with applied energy counseling, such as insulation advice for homes.
• Language Accessibility: A Swedish translation of the main simulator would make it more accessible.
• Usability and Time Constraints: The simulator is complex and requires improvements to be more user-friendly. Additionally, participants wanted more time to explore the tool during the workshop.

Methodology descriptions:

Step 1: Comparing Energy Savings in Buildings and Transport

• Participants simulated energy efficiency measures in residential buildings and private transport and compared the results.
• A key insight was that heating in Jokkmokk is already largely based on low-carbon energy sources. While efficiency improvements in buildings led to significant energy savings, their impact on CO₂ reduction was relatively small.
• In contrast, the transport sector remains highly fossil-fuel dependent. Measures such as shifting to electric vehicles or reducing car travel had a high impact on CO₂ emissions and, on their own, were almost sufficient to meet local climate targets.
• This led to a discussion about municipal priorities—whether to focus on broad energy savings or emphasize CO₂ reduction by targeting fossil-intensive sectors.

Step 2: Exploring Individual Climate Impact

• Participants used the Footprint Calculator to assess their personal emissions based on consumption patterns.
• They compared their footprint to national averages and tested different lifestyle changes to see their potential for emission reduction.

How to organize a similar workshop:

1. Set clear learning objectives: Focus on helping participants understand both individual and community energy use and CO₂ emissions, and how actions translate into real climate impact.
2. Use the CommitClimate simulators: Incorporate both the Footprint Calculator (individual level) and the Municipal Simulator (community level) to demonstrate cumulative effects of climate actions.
3. Structure the workshop: Guide participants step-by-step through data input, exploring results, simulating actions, and reflecting on outcomes. Allocate sufficient time to explore the tools fully.
4. Provide support materials: Prepare clear, easy-to-follow instructions and examples to assist participants in using the simulators effectively.
5. Combine with practical advice: Where possible, pair the workshop with energy counseling (e.g., home insulation tips) to connect simulation insights with real-life solutions.
6. Facilitate group discussions: Encourage dialogue about priorities for local climate action based on simulation results.
7. Train facilitators well: Ensure workshop leaders are familiar with the simulators and can provide technical help and encourage participant engagement.
   

How to engage local citizens:

• Promote through multiple channels—local media, community groups, and social networks—to reach diverse audiences. Alternatively, work with a specific group like teachers in a school, one local NGO etc and adapt to their specific needs.
• Highlight how individual and municipal actions combine to create impact, making the workshop relevant and empowering.
• Provide a welcoming and interactive environment that encourages questions and group sharing.
  

Lessons learned from our experience:

• The workshop enhanced participants’ understanding of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, clarifying the difference between reducing energy consumption and achieving actual emission cuts.
• Simulators are effective tools for illustrating how small individual and community actions accumulate to significant local benefits.
• Participants valued the opportunity to discuss where local climate efforts should focus, sparking meaningful conversations.
• The workshop should allow ample time for exploration to avoid rushed experiences.
• Practical, applied energy advice alongside simulations increases participant motivation and impact.
• Offering the simulator and materials in the local language greatly improves accessibility and engagement.

Feedback and Contact:

Would you like to run a similar workshop in your city? Contact us – we’d love to share our experience!

E-mail: info@videszinatne.rtu

Phone number: +371 67012444

Country and municipality: Poland, Raciechowice

Date: 7th of May 2025

Theme/Focus: “Good practices – inspirations” are workshops for local government officials, focused on proven solutions in the field of climate protection, energy saving and energy efficiency.

Participants: municipality residents, local authorities, members of associations

Brief description: During the meeting, participants learnt about inspiring examples of pro-ecological activities – both at the individual and institutional level – and jointly developed ideas that can be implemented in everyday practice. The workshop was interactive and facilitated the exchange of experiences, building awareness and finding real ways to reduce the carbon footprint.

Key results and takeaways: 

Cooperation between municipalities brings real benefits – it is worth sharing experiences and creating support networks in the field of pro-climate activities.

Investments in energy efficiency, such as thermal modernization of public buildings or modernization of street lighting, are among the most effective actions with a quick economic and environmental return.

Engagement of the local community (e.g. through educational campaigns, ecological competitions, social consultations) significantly increases the effectiveness of implemented solutions.

Small steps matter – even small changes, such as monitoring energy consumption or promoting bicycle transport, translate into specific savings and emission reductions.

There are numerous sources of financing available (national and EU), but local governments often need advisory support in preparing and implementing projects.

Ecological and energy education should be a permanent element of local policy, addressed to both residents and employees of offices and public institutions.

How to organize a similar workshop:

1. Define your goal and target group.
2. Plan your workshop program.
3. Take care of a practical format.
   

How to engage local citizens:

• Involve residents in decision-making.
• Give specific options for action.
  

Lessons learned from our experience:

• Engaging municipality residents takes time and consistency.
• The most effective actions are local, focused on specifics.

Feedback and Contact:

Would you like to run a similar workshop in your city? Contact us – we’d love to share our experience!

E-mail: halina.zajac@raciechowice.pl

Phone number: +48 123725203

Interactive Experience with the CommitClimate Simulator

The workshop kicked off with an introduction to the CommitClimate project and the Citizen Carbon Footprint Calculator. Participants had the opportunity to test the simulator firsthand, allowing them to measure their carbon footprint and explore various reduction strategies. The tool provided different measures, enabling participants to select feasible actions for their lifestyle.

Engaging Discussions and Key Takeaways

Following the individual simulator experience, participants engaged in group discussions. Each section of the simulator was analyzed separately, with teams sharing their insights afterward. The most debated topic was transportation, where participants suggested additional features for the simulator, such as options to switch to smaller engine cars, hybrid vehicles, and biofuels. Many were surprised by the significant impact of switching to electric vehicles, given Estonia’s electricity mix still relies heavily on oil shale. Other key transport-related insights included:

• Expanding tram networks
• Improving park-and-ride facilities
• Enhancing bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian pathways
• Making public transportation more convenient

Beyond Transportation: Waste, Energy, and Business Responsibility

Participants also addressed waste management, suggesting that sorting waste should be more user-friendly and universally standardized. They recommended that stores separate biodegradable and packaging waste, and that usable food be donated instead of discarded. In the business sector, attendees emphasized the need for companies to take more responsibility. Suggestions included organizing transport to events, using more recycled materials, promoting tool rental services, and establishing more repair workshops to extend product lifespans. The energy sector was seen as the most challenging to influence at an individual level due to the high costs of implementing changes. However, participants recognized its immense potential impact on overall emissions.

Positive Feedback and Future Outlook

The simulator was well received, with participants finding it user-friendly and informative. Feedback indicated that the workshop helped clarify local climate policies, with most attendees expressing interest in contributing more actively to shaping them. Moreover, participants recognized how their personal choices impact local greenhouse gas emissions and expressed willingness to join similar events in the future. On the technical side, the simulator functioned smoothly for most users, with only minor issues such as slow loading and occasional glitches reported.

Conclusion The CommitClimate simulator workshop successfully provided an engaging and educational experience, empowering participants to understand their carbon footprint and explore effective ways to reduce it. Events like these play a crucial role in fostering climate awareness and encouraging community-driven environmental action.