Achieving Climate Neutrality: 15 Innovative Services from 7 Energy Agencies

Spanning regions from the green landscapes of Ireland to the mountainous terrain of Croatia and the industrial heartlands of Austria, these services cover a wide geographical area and offer tailored support to local authorities, businesses, and citizens. From engaging workshops that harness the power of emotion to strategic roadmaps that guide long-term climate action, these agencies provide the tools, expertise, and innovative approaches needed to achieve a climate-neutral Europe.

Here’s a closer look at how these agencies are leading the charge toward a sustainable future.

1. Emotion-Based Storytelling Workshop (Tipperary Energy Agency)

Tipperary Energy Agency has introduced a transformative communication service through their Emotion-Based Storytelling Workshop. This service is designed to engage communities by tapping into the deep-seated emotions that drive climate action. Through role-playing and storytelling, participants explore future climate scenarios—ranging from optimistic to catastrophic—and harness their emotional responses to inspire climate leadership and collective action.

2. Climate Neutrality Service for Irish Regions and Municipalities (Tipperary Energy Agency)

In addition to its innovative workshop, Tipperary Energy Agency offers a multi-step service aimed at supporting climate leaders in local governments. This service helps develop and implement climate neutrality roadmaps for regions, ensuring a structured and design-thinking approach to achieving long-term sustainability goals.

3. Integrated Energy, Climate, and Spatial Planning (North-West Croatia Regional Energy and Climate Agency)

REGEA has developed a cutting-edge approach that integrates energy and climate planning with spatial planning. By embedding climate goals directly into regional spatial plans, this service ensures that all future developments align with a territory’s energy and climate ambitions, elevating voluntary actions to mandatory requirements.

4. Climate Neutrality Roadmap Consulting (North-West Croatia Regional Energy and Climate Agency)

REGEA’s consulting service provides local and regional authorities with comprehensive guidance on developing Climate Neutrality Roadmaps. This service not only identifies impactful, location-specific measures but also engages communities through online questionnaires and public meetings to gather essential feedback.

5. Training Programme for Energy Transition Implementation (Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria)

ESV has launched a 3-day training course tailored for municipalities. This program enhances local knowledge on energy topics, covering critical areas such as energy management, photovoltaic systems, and e-mobility, all aimed at guiding municipalities towards climate neutrality.

6. Simplified Energy and Climate Check for Local Businesses (Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria)

ESV also supports local businesses through a simplified energy and climate check. This service provides SMEs with a quick assessment of their carbon footprint and highlights areas for improvement, fostering greater involvement in the municipal climate neutrality efforts.

7. Development of Climate Neutrality Roadmaps (Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria)

In line with its commitment to supporting municipalities, ESV has developed a service to create detailed Climate Neutrality Roadmaps. Through a collaborative process, ESV works with local decision-makers to identify key areas such as renewable heating and public infrastructure, providing tools and templates to track and achieve climate goals.

8. Supporting the Development of Municipal-Driven Energy Communities (Escan Consulting)

Escan has crafted a service that guides municipalities in the creation of energy communities. This service offers comprehensive support, from developing business models to navigating legal and technical challenges, empowering local authorities and citizens to take control of their energy futures.

9. Implementation of Climate Neutrality Roadmaps (Escan Consulting)

Escan also aids municipalities in implementing their Climate Neutrality Roadmaps. This service supports the execution of various measures, ensuring that municipalities are on track to achieve their climate neutrality targets by 2050.

10. One-Stop-Shop for Climate Neutrality Actions (Energy and Climate Agency of Podravje)

ENERGAP has established a One-Stop-Shop (OSS) service that provides municipalities with all the necessary resources to advance climate neutrality. From regulatory advice to financial planning, this OSS service is a comprehensive resource for public organizations seeking to accelerate their climate actions.

11. Development of Climate Neutrality Roadmaps (Energy and Climate Agency of Podravje)

ENERGAP further supports municipalities by offering a specialized service for developing Climate Neutrality Roadmaps. This service addresses every aspect of the roadmap process, from organizational and policy considerations to financial and technical support, ensuring a holistic approach to climate action.

12. Training Course on Sustainable Transportation/Travel (North Sweden Energy Agency)

The North Sweden Energy Agency has developed a half-day training course focused on reducing transportation-related emissions in municipalities. This course covers essential topics such as sustainable commuting, vehicle fleet management, and regulatory compliance, equipping municipalities with the tools needed to reduce their transportation footprint.

13. Development of Climate Neutrality Roadmaps (North Sweden Energy Agency)

In addition to its training course, the North Sweden Energy Agency offers a comprehensive service for developing Climate Neutrality Roadmaps. This service includes a one-day Climate Leadership Program for politicians and integrates policy, financial, and technical aspects to support municipalities in their climate neutrality journey.

14. One-Stop-Shop for Climate Neutrality Actions (Regional Energy Agency of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region)

The Regional Energy Agency of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA-EE) provides a One-Stop-Shop service in partnership with a regional air quality monitoring organization. This joint effort ensures that municipalities have access to the necessary training and resources to address both climate change and air quality issues simultaneously.

15. Development of Trajectories in Line with Regional and European Objectives (Regional Energy Agency of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region)

Finally, AURA-EE offers a service that helps local authorities develop trajectories in line with regional and European climate objectives. Using the TerriSTORY® tool, municipalities can simulate scenarios, forecast actions, and assess the socio-economic impacts of their climate strategies, ensuring alignment with broader sustainability goals.

These 15 services, developed by leading energy agencies across Europe, represent a comprehensive toolkit for achieving climate neutrality. By offering tailored solutions, expert guidance, and innovative approaches, these agencies are empowering communities, municipalities, and businesses to take bold action towards a sustainable, climate-neutral future.