Transitioning to Climate Neutrality: Exchange of Best Practices Between Cities

The Local Authority of Cluj-Napoca, in partnership with the National Hub M100, organized a dedicated event on the transition to climate neutrality as part of the Net Zero Cities project. Representatives from local administrations in Suceava, Sector 2 of Bucharest, Oradea, Brașov, Alba Iulia, and Timișoara gathered to share best practices and strengthen collaboration in this critical field.

Cluj-Napoca mayor Emil Boc opened the event by emphasizing that the “green approach” is not just a public policy but a matter of quality of life and well-paid jobs, both now and in the future. Communities that successfully implement these policies in a balanced way have the most to gain. With this, he reinforced the local administration’s commitment to accelerating the green transition and fostering sustainable development.

Ovidiu Cîmpean, member of Parliament, and Marius Cristea, expert at the World Bank, stressed the importance of cooperation between local administrations to achieve climate neutrality goals and implement sustainable solutions in Romanian cities.

Key Discussions and Activities from the Event

The event included several sessions focused on practical solutions and ongoing projects. The participants presented their initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, showcasing the steps already taken to advance sustainability goals. 

Consortium partners from the project provided insights into their activities and progress, such as:

• The city’s first hydrogen-powered bus, developed by UTCN – a major step toward cleaner public transportation.
• Urbanect’s successfully launched the Net-Zero Caravans, bringing educational programs and eco-friendly solutions directly to neighborhoods.
• The Digital Twin initiative, developed by Transilvania IT Cluster and Evozon, is helping Cluj-Napoca use data and technology to optimize city planning and environmental impact.

To bring these ideas to life, participants visited key climate initiatives in Cluj-Napoca. The visit began on Universității Street and Mihail Kogălniceanu Street, recently transformed into pedestrian-friendly areas. Next, they visited Ion Luca Caragiale Park, a newly modernized urban space featuring newly planted trees, an expanded shared-space pedestrian zone, a highlighted Roman wall, and a revitalized, uncovered section of the Canalul Morii. The tour concluded with a walk along the Green-Blue Corridor by the Someș River, a sustainable mobility route seamlessly integrated into the metropolitan landscape.

Discussions followed regarding the current status of implementing the Cities Climate Contracts (CCC) for Cluj-Napoca, Suceava, and Sector 2 of Bucharest. A roundtable session was also held to explore future collaboration opportunities between the cities that have signed the CCC. One key idea was to create a shared platform where cities can work together, exchange ideas, and support each other in accelerating their progress toward climate neutrality. 

Next Steps Towards a Greener Future

Cluj-Napoca remains dedicated to advancing climate neutrality through collaboration and innovation. The city representatives agreed to continue discussions through visits and similar initiatives aimed at strengthening collaboration between cities.

Building on the momentum of this event, the city will organize the International Carbon Neutrality Summit 2025 on May 21-23. This gathering will bring together key stakeholders to discuss challenges, share strategies, and reinforce partnerships for a greener future. Further details on the summit will be announced soon.