The United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP28 – is taking place from today (30 November 2023), in Dubai. Exactly 8 years ago, at COP21, the world agreed to limit global warming to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels by 2050. To keep on track, carbon emissions need to be cut by half by 2030. The European Green Deal sets ambitious targets per sector to achieve this.

When the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) published their Gender Equality Index in October 2023, they put a special focus on exploring the links between gender equality and the European Green Deal.

According to the report, gender and intersecting inequalities shape the way in which individuals contribute to and are impacted by climate change.

CO2 emissions and the transportation sector: Where does the gender dimension come in?

Transport is responsible for nearly 30% of the EU’s total CO2 emissions, of which 72% comes from road transport. It is the only sector where emissions have risen since 1990. Looking globally, cities generate around 70% of carbon emissions, making them key drivers in the race to net zero.

Many cities have developed their own climate plans – sometimes more ambitious than the national targets. Given the dominance of road transportation in carbon emissions, a key pillar is shifting behaviour from personal car use to public transport. Here’s where the gender dimension becomes important: we know from URBACT’s Gender Equal Cities report that men and women use transport differently.

- Women use more public transport than men.

- Men drive more than women.

- Women have multiple stops per trip to a greater extent than men, who generally travel from A to B.

At the publication launch of the EIGE Gender Equality Index, URBACT’s Jenny Koutsomarkou shared how cities are at the forefront of the gender/climate nexus. She spoke at the EIGE webinar on ‘Moving towards a green and gender equal transport in the EU’ to share the practical ways cities can ensure their sustainable mobility plans are gender equal. “Cities need to take three aspects into account when it comes to urban mobility– safety, accessibility and affordability,” Jenny explained.

Imagine a world where men travelled like women...

For an enlightening example of sustainable, gender equal mobility, we can look at Umeå, who led the URBACT GenderedLandscape network. In this Swedish city, all planning and transport decisions are taken after looking into gender-disaggregated data. Their mobility survey informs the municipality of who travels when, where and by which means. So they know that 60% of the trips in the city are taken by sustainable means (walking, cycling, public transport), and the target is 65%. Yet, looking at the gender breakdown, Umeå saw that 66% of women travel sustainably, compared to 55% of men. So, if men travelled like women, the city targets would already be met.

This data has led Umeå to target their actions to male-dominated workplaces, to have the most impact. Through observational studies and interviews with businesses and workers, city staff explored infrastructure issues, like location of bus stops and regularity of services, but also wider issues around time-use, share of domestic responsibilities and family care, and how they are split between men and women. As a direct result of these findings, the city amended its bus timetable and created additional bus stops. Additional bike parking was created on business premises, and some companies give extra days holidays for those who travel sustainably. Ultimately, this improved cooperation between the public and private sector to shift norms with employees.

Umeå is one example, and evidently the interventions would play out differently in cities across Europe. Nevertheless, the emphasis on collecting sex-disaggregated data allows each city to understand the different dynamics at play, so that they can assess and monitor the gender-related impacts of the green transition.

Read more on gender equality in city planning and related topics:

- Why are we still talking about gender equality? FEMACT-Cities Action Planning Network

- Introducing gender-sensitive public procurement URBACT online training course

- URBACT Gender Equal Cities Report 2022

- WalknRoll URBACT’s resources on shifting the mobility paradigm in Europe

The URBACT University made its big return in Malmö, from 28 to 30 August 2023 for more than 400 city representatives involved in the 30 recently approved Action Planning Networks. Since its first edition in 2011, the event was established as a programme capacity-building milestone.

Designed for local stakeholders from URBACT beneficiary cities, the event aims to provide concrete examples and insights as to how the URBACT Method can be put into practice, so participants can go back home ready to set up their URBACT Local Groups and experiment solutions to co-develop their own local Integrated Action Plans.

Find out what was in stock for the participants during these three special days!

1. Trying out the URBACT Method and tools

Once a day, for more than one hour, participants were introduced to techniques and tools that would not only help them create and maintain their URBACT Local Groups, but also to truly understand their local challenges, develop collective visions and plan actions to achieve their objectives. Split in hubs with different networks, discussions were then held in an enabling and safe space for exchange. Participants then moved to the Network@Work sessions, where within smaller groups, they did practical exercises and put into practice the lessons learnt on analysing problems and envisioning scenarios, getting all stakeholders on board and, finally, planning integrated actions.

All the materials that were used are available in the URBACT Toolbox and they will definitely come at hand during the action-planning journey. As one participant, Øystein Leonardsen from the City of Copenhagen (DK) said, "the more tools you have in your own toolbox, the better equipped you are to face different challenges". After all, if you only have a hammer at hand, all the problems you will encounter will be handled in the same way, regardless of any complexity or specific cause. "With a hammer, all you can do is to hit nails on the head". 

2. Meeting with peers from all over Europe

For many of the people who are involved with the newly approved round of Action Planning Networks, the URBACT University was the first time ever they could meet with all their project partners. Besides many coffee breaks and opportunities to chat, participants had the unique chance to be closer to their networks, notably during the Network@Work sessions. As Clémentine Gravier, Head of Unit - Networks and Capacity-Building at the URBACT Secretariat, said "after two editions of the URBACT e-Universities online, one in 2020 and another one in 2022, it was nice to finally be able to organise this in-person capacity-building event. The truth is nothing can beat real-life exchanges and learning from each other over three days".

3. Experiencing a low carbon event

It is no news that URBACT has a taste for low carbon events, this year’s University was no exception. With an entirely plant-based menu, measures were taken to prevent food waste. As some might have noticed, leftovers were safely re-used in different meals. Also, by supporting and campaigning for soft means of transportation, the programme has effectively encouraged participants to step out of their comfort zone. One participant partially biked from Rotterdam (NL) to Malmö (SE), while many others traveled by train, including a participant from Liège (BE).

Other than all the nice memories, new knowledge and the beautiful badges made of recycled paper full of wildflower seeds ready to plant, participants did not take anything else back home. Even the lanyards of the badges were left behind to be re-used for future URBACT events. Unlike previous URBACT Universities, no goodies or merchandises were offered. All the carbon footprint of the URBACT University will be measured and will be offset with financial compensations to afforestation projects and other green local initiatives.

4. Discovering Malmö's corners

On the very first plenary of the event, participants were warmly welcomed by Sofia Héden, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Internal services at the Malmö Municipality. During this session they also learnt that the main venue of the URBACT University, the Malmö Arena, will host next year’s edition of the Eurovision competition. This is just one among many interesting things that the city has lined up.

Participants at the train station ready for the "Attractive and active: Malmö's recipe for a vibrant city" site visit.

As in any URBACT University, the hosting city is a feature of the event itself. The programme takes great pride in showcasing local initiatives, existing projects and future plans. Malmö, in particular, has long been an URBACT beneficiary. The city was involved with the RESILIENT EUROPE (2015 – 2018) and the LET’S GO CIRCULAR (2023 – 2026) Action Planning Networks, both very environmental-led networks.

During the afternoon of the second day, participants had a glimpse of some of the cities’ hidden gems. Unsurprisingly, among the 12 site visits people could choose from, the majority focused on circular economy. But a few exceptions included the urban regeneration of the old and new parts of the harbour; gender equality and placemaking; and entrepreneurship and migrants’ integration.

5. Having plenty of surprises

As Eddy Adams, URBACT Methods and Tools’ Expert, mentioned during the event, his favourite part of Universities is the element of surprise. From Action Planning Networks taking over the stage to strike poses and taking pictures, to unexpected settings behind the curtains, the URBACT University in Malmö was not short on surprises. Even some of the National URBACT Points had a special part to play. Disguised as mayors coming from different EU countries, they visited participants’ sessions and invited them to consider the crosscutting themes of green, digital and gender to their reflections.

The event even counted with a rooftop unexpected dance class, something that alongside the new connections that were created, and the knowledge and skills that were acquired, will not be forgotten any time soon.

Swing dance class on the rooftop on the last day of the URBACT University.