UP2030 aims to guide 11 pilot cities through the technical and social transition needed to meet their climate neutrality ambitions and develop pathways and enabling environments for other cities to follow suit. This will be achieved through research, actions and initiatives involving communities, stakeholders, and local administrations.
The active and inclusive participation of communities is considered vital in this process to ensure that their real needs are properly considered and reflected in the vision created for each city. This is the only way to ensure fairness and equity in the energy and climate transition.
Problem definition
Cities are responsible for approximately 75% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Taking action in cities is therefore essential to meet the 2030 and 2050 emission reduction targets of the European Green Pact, established in response to the Paris Agreement. In addition, The European 2030 Climate Neutral Smart Cities Mission calls for even faster action by cities to achieve carbon neutrality.
Our role
Mapping for Change is responsible for City and stakeholder engagement, through the deployment of innovative, participatory and inclusive engagement activities, to identify the needs for updating policies and practice; the barriers in following best practices; and the drivers of change in each of the 11 cities where the UP2030 approach is being piloted. Our interactive Community Mapping platform will provide one of the solutions within which to engage different actors at a neighbourhood scale with the view to supporting spatial justice and participation. Mapping for Change will also act as the City Liaison for the Belfast pilot. and lead on the gender and equality analyses throughout the project.
Partners
The project is funded under Horizon Europe and led at the European level by FRAUNHOFER with 45 collaborating partners. The pilot cities are: Belfast, Budapest, Granollers, Istanbul, Lisbon, Milan, Münster, Rio de Janeiro, Rotterdam, Thessaloniki and Zagreb. The project will run for a period of three years from January 2023.
Related Projects
Putting Ourselves on the Map
Mapping for Change in collaboration with the Humanities Education Centre (HEC) and local specialist on learning and ‘place’ Maggie Hewitt, worked with three schools in Tower Hamlets (Columbia School Community Map, Arnhem Wharf School Community Map and John Scurr School Community Map) to pilot a brand new process in which Year 4 pupils develop personalised maps of their local area with their own likes, memories and views on change.
Ramp It Up!
‘Ramp It Up’ was a social media campaign aiming to increase awareness about the barriers people with limited mobility face on a daily basis. We called on communities to help their towns and cities become more wheelchair friendly by encouraging shops, restaurants or any building open to the public to use portable wheelchair ramps if more permanent solutions cannot be made.
Active CiTizenship and Social Housing (ACtS)
As part of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme, Mapping for Change were chosen to represent the UK in a learning exchange project with the University of Udine (Italy) and the University of Oulu (Finland).