JustClimate project

Democratising Climate Governance for the Just Transition and Decarbonisation of the city of Szombathely.

JustClimate adopted a revolutionary approach to climate governance in Hungary, specifically targeting the municipality of Szombathely’s ambition to join the ranks of the first 100 climate-neutral cities. Climate transition is a systemic change, requiring proportional, fair, coordinated contributions from a multitude of actors, ensuring no one is left behind. This initiative was based on democratising climate governance, integrating network governance, and employing reflective co-monitoring to ensure a just and equitable transition.

The project was inspired by the successful replication of innovation ateliers in the ATELIER project and aimed to use the concept to establish a transition arena in Szombathely. This arena served as a collaborative platform where diverse stakeholders – including local citizens, NGOs, industry players, the municipality, and academic institutions – converged to share multifaceted insights on decarbonization. Members held climate policy workshops and co-innovate climate actions. A citizen observatory was designed for reflective monitoring, data sharing, and citizen science. The project was successful in paving the way for the municipality to leverage smart governance for just transition.

Central to JustClimate’s mission was the development of innovative urban planning tools and methodologies that prioritise climate change mitigation, adaptation, and the promotion of community-led projects. This approach aimed not only to transform municipal operations but also to instill a sense of shared responsibility and active participation among all societal segments.

ABUD’s tasks involved initiating and leading the transition arena, where we conducted systems mapping, identify needs, opportunities, perspectives, and risks related to decarbonizing the city. Our team was responsible for designing the framework for the citizen observatory, including surveying existing measurement activities and developing data models based on workshop results. Additionally, ABUD contributed to project management by analyzing documentation from the PED innovation ateliers, engaging in cross-learning activities, and implementing continuous risk management strategies.

This project has received funding from Scalable Cities Action Grant.