Municipalities often lack knowledge and support helping them with climate action although they can effectively reduce greenhouse emissions on a large scale. The project “Empower Climate” supported 12 Czech and Slovak municipalities in establishing aa Climate and Energy Management (CEM) to reduce local energy consumption. The CEM includes a Climate and Energy Capacity Training program, the certification of Climate and Energy Managers as “ambassadors” for climate action, and a Climate and Energy Management Network (CEMN). Through the network, Czech, German, and Slovak cities now share their experiences and help each other reducing greenhouse emissions.

Natural carbon sinks as forests play a crucial role in reducing atmospheric CO2. The project “Forests for Future” developed forest management guidelines for climate change mitigation and adaptation in Slovenia and reached almost 112.000 people, including forest estate owners and forestry professionals. More than 360 of them have also been trained in optimising and managing carbon sinks in their own forests. Cause in the end, that’s where climate change mitigation starts.

The project “Green Rural Deal” enabled residents of rural Greece, Kosovo, and Serbia to take the sustainable development of their home regions into their own hands. The Serbian municipality of Priboj developed, among others, a sustainability plan which includes the decarbonisation of the local public heating system and the construction of a bicycle track with charging stations for e-bikes and e-scooters. To evaluate these policies and measures, the project also developed two online tools which are already used by 22 other chambers of entrepreneurs, municipalities, universities, and other drivers of sustainability in the region.

While many scientists struggle to present their research in a simple way, journalists are often lacking access to scientific expertise. The project “Science & Journalism for Climate Action” paired the two groups and initiated partnerships between 152 journalists and scientists in Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, and Hungary. What a match! More than 90 media channels in South-eastern Europe picked up their joint research and published 370 TV reports, newspaper stories and online articles on climate action related topics. The project spurred the climate debate in the region and forged long-term cross-border collaboration between science and media.