City-zen 2020: How Amsterdam & Grenoble combined forces on their way to carbon neutrality
Two cities, one goal
Back in 2012, a group of enthusiasts submitted a project proposal to the EU. Many talks, partner proposals, and city explorations later, City-zen was granted EU-funding “to develop and demonstrate energy efficient cities and to build a methodology and tools for cities, industries and citizens to reach the 20-20-20 targets”. The program, rooted in Amsterdam (NL) and Grenoble (FR), had its first official kick-off in March 2014.In the past five years, no less than 28 partners have been working on 20 pilot projects, aiming for an annual saving of an impressive 59,000 tonnes of CO2. Academics, industries and residents have been brought together to face the cities’ challenges. An integrated methodology has been developed, as have roadmaps to sustainability for Grenoble and Amsterdam.