European city representatives are calling for the introduction of policies that help accelerate Europe towards a climate-neutral and competitive future, as well as create local markets for clean industries and jobs.
Mayors and other city representatives made the call at the 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT), which took place in Aalborg, Denmark this week.
The conference saw the establishments of the Aalborg Conditions, building on 30 years of progress from the Aalborg Charter (1994) and Aalborg Commitments (2004), which outline the need for integrated climate and sustainability strategies across Europe, to enable cities to deliver on global frameworks including the Paris Agreement and the EU Green Deal.
Creating Solutions
“In Aalborg, we don’t wait for solutions — we create them together,” commented Aalborg Mayor, Lasse Frimand Jensen. “Connecting communities across different contexts accelerates the green transition. Cities must lead, and I’m proud Aalborg is hosting this 10th edition of the conference”
The Aalborg Conditions identify three policy shifts that are needed at both EU and national level – shared governance, integrated finance, and a socially inclusive, cohesive transition.
‘A clear framework’
According to the event organisers, ICLEI Europe, the Aalborg Conditions present ‘a clear framework for the next EU legislative period’.
“All change is ultimately happening locally, but not all change can be achieved locally,” commented Wolfgang Teubner, Regional Director Europe at ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. “Ambitious strategies and action plans on the local level need supportive conditions for successful implementation.
“These have to come from the national and EU level. We need more flexibility in regulation and financing and an openness to respond to locally developed solutions in dialogue and cooperation between different levels of government and different actors. This is the spirit of the Aalborg Conditions.”
The Aalborg Conditions have evolved over the past three decades as part of the European Sustainable Cities movement, addressing global and European agreements and policies. Key milestones in this development include the Aalborg Charter (1994), which introduced local consultation processes, the Aalborg Commitments (2004) that set local targets, the Basque Declaration (2016) promoting systemic change, and the Mannheim Message (2020) that introduced Local Green Deals.
These conditions align with international frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, the New Leipzig Charter, and the EU Green Deal. More information about the ESCT Conference can be found here.
