Networks and cities' news

Shaping rural and urban mobility together: how community action drives practical change

On a chilly morning in Bram in southern France, families gather as the community-run Vélobus sets off. Children cycle together instead of adding to traffic at the school gate. Meanwhile, in Treviso in northern Italy, residents step into Piazza Duomo during a temporary car-free trial and experience their historic centre differently. And in Szabolcs 05 in Hungary, a small painted crossing near a village school has become one of the most valued improvements of the year.

Across Europe, these modest scenes show how small and community-led experiments can influence the way rural and semi-urban places approach mobility. They reveal that a shift in everyday travel patterns does not always require major projects. It often begins with simple actions that respond to local routines.

Municipalities as Democratic Facilitators

Eight partner cities, one network, and multiple hours of collaboration across national boundaries. After 2½ years the COPE project is coming to an end. To mark the conclusion of the project, the COPE network presents the publication Municipalities as democratic facilitators of a green and just transition, which brings together experiences from eight European cities.

Citizen Engagement – a Democratic Necessity

A just and green transition of cities is key in achieving carbon neutrality in Europe by 2050. The purpose of the COPE (Coherent Place-based Climate Action) network is to unlock the green potentials of citizen action through a place-based approach, recognizing citizens and local action groups as fundamental stakeholders working to accelerate the green transition. By actively engaging communities that have traditionally been left out of climate action, COPE increases the scope and impact of municipal policies. 

Citizen Engagement in Pombal's Green Transition

Pombal is turning its Historic Centre into a living laboratory for sustainability — and citizens are at the heart of this transformation. Through the URBACT COPE network, residents, shop owners, local associations, and municipal teams have co-created solutions for greener public spaces, energy-efficient homes, and sustainable mobility. From planting trees and installing shading structures to testing pedestrian-friendly streets and creating reward systems for eco-friendly behaviors, every action reflects a shared vision: a vibrant, inclusive, and climate-resilient city. By combining open governance, adaptive leadership, and community-driven innovation, Pombal proves that the green transition starts locally — with people shaping the future of their own streets.

Citizen Engagement in Saint-Quentin's Green Transition

Saint-Quentin is reshaping its neighborhoods to face the realities of climate change with ambition and community spirit. Through the URBACT COPE programme, residents, institutions, and local partners co-create greener, cooler, and more resilient urban spaces. From schoolyard renaturing to urban gardens and soft-mobility initiatives, the city is turning transition into a local, collective success. This work brings together strategic goals, concrete actions, and citizen engagement for a fair and sustainable future. Saint-Quentin is proving that climate adaptation begins at neighborhood level, by and for its people.

United for Climate Action in Sønderbro

Together we create a neighborhood with green communities, cozy city gardens, more recycling and energy-efficient homes.