Key takeaways from FLGD’s final event

 

“For our cities this project was like a trampoline!"

"New doors have opened with a very small push.

That makes us feel hopeful and motivated for more projects

and initiatives like this to try, test, and fail!"

City representatives at FLGD’s final event

At the conclusion of the implementation phase of the Fair Local Green Deals (FLGD) project, the ICLEI team and the city officials from Gent, Łódź, Valencia, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Wrocław gathered to reflect on their journey, share experiences, and envision a potential future for cities Local Green Deals (LGDs). We summarise here key takeaways from the event.

• Involving citizens is key when advancing participatory and democratic processes on the path towards climate neutrality. The discussions revealed that involving citizens directly in the planning and execution phases not only improved the relevance and effectiveness of green initiatives, but also strengthened community bonds and trust in local governance.

• Flexibility and trust are needed for managing such complex projects. Participants acknowledged that while it’s crucial to have clear goals, the path to achieving them often requires adaptability. Trusting the process and the stakeholders involved – especially the local communities – proved essential. This flexible approach allowed cities to respond effectively to unexpected challenges and leverage new opportunities as they arose.
• Co-creation and collaborative learning are valuable tools to improve communication, find a common ground and create synergies. Interactive sessions during the event allowed attendees to delve into what worked well and what didn’t, providing a rich exchange of lessons learned. This collective reflection helped identify best practices and areas for improvement, ensuring that future projects can build on these insights.
• Finding the right language is crucial to bring the messages across and ensure a stronger impact. Working with citizens, but also collaborating with different departments of the municipality, requires good communication skills, being open-minded when listening to others and observing existing initiatives and networks that can be stepped up.

Reflecting on the broader context of the project, some additional observations were shared by the partners:

Strategic partnerships provide necessary support and resources. The collaboration between all involved parties was instrumental in driving the FLGD project forward, enhancing the overall impact of cities’ actions on the ground.

Define the legacy of the project. Participants collaborated to articulate key messages for local actors, European cities, and policymakers, aiming to ensure that the principles and practices developed during the project will continue to inspire and guide future initiatives.

Strong commitment to maintaining the momentum gained and continuing to work towards sustainable, inclusive, and democratic local governance in future collaborations.

Drawings by Menah Wellen