EUKI - European Climate Initiative

📬 Our May Newsletter is out!
In this edition, we look back at Hashtag , where the EUKI community gathered in Berlin to exchange ideas, best-practices, and impact stories to double down on climate action in Europe. Explore the highlights in our EUKICON26 report. Also, discover new blogposts and publications from EUKI projects.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂:
🌍 Explore the highlights of the Hashtag in the newly published conference report.
🎓 Register now for the 𝗘𝗨𝗞𝗜 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 (22–24 June). This interactive online training offers practical tools on leadership, communication, decision-making, and team management.
🤝 The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) recently launched its partnership with EUKI. ADA finances three projects in the Western Balkans.
💡 The EUKI-funded ELCA project shares lessons learned on strengthening local climate governance and turning climate strategies into action on the ground.
🏠 Discover how the EUKI project Invisible Buildings transforms vacant buildings in Greece, Croatia, and Slovenia into energy-efficient and affordable homes.
.. and more!

Discover more about the EUKICON26 key insights in our report 👇https://lnkd.in/egttdCtb

Sign up here for the upcoming EUKI newsletter 👇 https://www.euki.de/en/project-funding/

WiseEuropa Young Energy Europe Centrum pro dopravu a energetikuClean Energy Wire CLEWEcologic Institute Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave Energy Policy Group CEEweb for Biodiversity Eurosite - the European Land Conservation Network Michael Succow Stiftung Center for the Study of Democracy Energy Cities DOOR

The EUKICON26 report is out! Read it here ⬇️

At a time of growing urgency in climate policy and a shifting political landscape, the decarbonisation efforts of the EU and its industries face increasing pressure from external competitors. Security, resilience, and competitiveness have become a higher priority on Europe’s political agenda.

At the over 200 experts from climate policy and practice discussed how to double down on climate action in this changed political context. Together, we tackled questions like
🔹What is needed to make the EU stick with its strong climate targets and actually meet them?
🔹How can climate and security policy be aligned to achieve mutual benefits?
🔹How can European industrial, trade and investment policies harness climate action as a driver of sustainable growth and strategic autonomy?

Dive into the report to read about discussions, keynotes, and workshop outcomes at EUKICON26 that addressed these questions. 👉https://www.euki.de/en/euki-publications/eukicon26-doubling-down-on-climate-action/

Bundesumweltministerium European Environmental Bureau - EEB EU Environment Auswärtiges Amt Munich Security Conference WiseEuropa Young Energy Europe Centrum pro dopravu a energetiku Clean Energy Wire CLEW Corina Murafa Ecologic Institute Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave

How EU Member States can design effective methane mitigation plans 📋

Methane emissions are a critical lever for achieving EU climate goals. EUKI project 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 supports Lithuania, Poland, and Romania in developing tailored mitigation plans with knowledge, tools, and policy recommendations.

Their new publication "Methane Mitigation Action Plans – Guidelines for EU Member States" offers a structured framework for designing national action plans. It covers emissions quantification, target setting, and monitoring systems, while emphasizing cross-sector coordination and alignment with EU policies like the Global Methane Pledge.

👉 Read the full guideline here: https://www.euki.de/en/euki-publications/methane-mitigation-action-plans-guidelines-for-eu-member-states/

2Celsius WiseEuropa

✨ Welcome to the EUKI Community: Transforming Invisible Buildings 🏚️➡️🏡

The project Transforming Invisible Buildings reduces emissions by reactivating empty properties to avoid the need for new buildings in Zagreb, Ljubljana and Athens. This will create affordable housing and make these cities more resource-efficient.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:
✓ Reduced embodied carbon from avoided construction
✓ Tested policy instruments for reactivating empty buildings
✓ Strengthened One-Stop-Shop services
✓ Replication in six additional cities

👉 Learn more about this EUKI project: https://www.euki.de/en/euki-projects/transforming-invisible-buildings/

INZEB Energy Cities DOOR IRI UL

🌍 Join Our Team: EUKI Academy Intern at the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) Are you passionate about climate action, enjoy organising events, and want to help build capacity for climate actors across Europe? We are looking for an intern to join the EUKI Academy Team in Berlin from 𝟭 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘁𝗼 𝟯𝟭 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳.

In this role, you will:

📅 Support the preparation and implementation of networking events in Central & Eastern Europe
🤝 Assist in planning and conceptualising networking formats with partner organisations across Europe
💻 Help organise webinars and virtual expert events on climate and energy policy topics
💡 Conduct research on climate and energy policy in Central and Eastern Europe, including interviews with partner organisations
🎓 Contribute to designing and implementing EUKI Academy trainings

Applications can be submitted in German or English. German at C1 level is required. Apply by 8 June 2026 and help strengthen climate action across Europe 👉 https://jobs.giz.de/index.php?ac=jobad&id=78433&language=2

✨ Welcome to the EUKI Community: �BrightRoof – Solar Power for Public Buildings ☀️🏛️�

Municipalities in Bulgaria and Greece gain practical tools to deploy rooftop solar on public buildings. BrightRoof accelerates photovoltaic installations by addressing regulatory barriers, building capacity and demonstrating feasible solutions in pilot cities.�

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:
✓ Policy recommendations for national implementation
✓ Municipal capacity strengthened
✓ Practical guidance documents
✓ Pilot feasibility studies completed

👉 Learn more about this EUKI project: https://www.euki.de/en/euki-projects/brightroof-solar-power-for-public-buildings/

WWF Bulgaria INZEB Sofia Energy Agency Sofena WWF Greece

was packed with two days of conversations about the role of climate action in a new political reality. Let’s take a look at day two of the conference 👇

How to anchor Net-Zero in a sovereign European economy? 🏭 In her keynote, economist Elisabetta Cornago from Centre for European Reform analysed how Europe can use cleantech to its advantage. These five key ingredients are indispensable for her:
- strong European demand for green technologies,
- expanded European cleantech production,
- targeted investments using carbon tax revenues,
- trade strategies protecting European markets,
- and energy policy incentivising renewable, electric solutions.

On the panel, she discussed with Birgit Schwenk from the BMUKN, Marek Tiits from Balti Uuringute Instituut and Chris Heron from E-Mobility Europe about how Europe could embed climate neutrality in a coherent industrial strategy. 🤝

Policy frameworks like the Clean Industrial Deal Europe advance the European green transition but are not enough, the panelists agreed. Within the EU, manufacturing sectors face substantial restructuring and require just transition mechanisms. A fragmented global order intensifies global competition. Focusing on Europe’s reliability and applying targeted policy and investments could strengthen its sovereign industry.

Another valuable accelerator for the green transition is the EUKI community, as Birgit Schwenk put it: EUKI projects create and share best practices for climate solutions. They work hand in hand with communities that European policymakers struggle to reach. Policymakers profit from the work, data and knowledge of EUKI projects. 🌱💡

✍️ In workshops, the participants exchanged about practical solutions - from circular behaviour in cities and CCS in Central and Eastern Europe to peatland futures and the path beyond natural gas.

These two days demonstrated the strength of the EUKI community and made visible how EUKI projects create concrete impact. Keep up your great work!

We want to say thank you, to the panelists, speakers, workshop facilitators, to all the committed participants, to Marianna Evenstein for her great moderation, and to the whole event team!

Bundesumweltministerium EUREF-Campus Centre for European Reform Balti Uuringute Instituut Energy Policy Group CEEweb for Biodiversity Eurosite - the European Land Conservation Network, Michael Succow Stiftung Center for the Study of Democracy Young Energy Europe

180 participants from more than 20 European countries came together for the in Berlin to discuss how to double down on climate action. 🤝 Let's recap the first day of the conference:

One thing was clear, these are by no means easy times: Europe is facing growing challenges in upholding its climate ambition amid shifting political, social, and economic realities.

EUKI project representatives showed they are ready to take on this challenge. They generate research, engage vulnerable communities, and strengthen climate mitigation on the ground. As Niels Schuster from the European Commission's DG CLIMA noted, EUKI is exactly the right initiative for this moment and one that Brussels is following with great interest.

✍️ Through workshops and networking, the climate community exchanged ideas on: tackling climate scepticism, reducing methane emissions, enabling 15-minute cities, and advancing a just energy transition.

The afternoon panel tackled a tough question. How can Europe strengthen the synergies between security policy and climate action? Securing critical raw material imports will require difficult trade-offs. The panelists emphasized, that despite high upfront costs, cleantech is an asset for Europe. Fossils remain an ongoing vulnerability. The panel agreed that the expansion of renewable energy is vital for securing Europe's long-term independence.

Today, the conversation continues 🌍 How can Europe anchor a net-zero future within a sovereign economy?

🙌 Great to see so much engagement! What stood out to you on Day 1?




-Campus
Kralinski
European Environmental Bureau - EEB
EU Environment
Auswärtiges Amt
E3G - Third Generation Environmentalism
Munich Security Conference
Evenstein
WiseEuropa

Young Energy Europe
Mirovsky
Školníková
pro dopravu a energetiku
Clean Energy Wire CLEW
Murafa
Ecologic Institute
Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave

🌍 The has officially kicked off! We are excited to begin two days dedicated to climate action in Berlin! 🤝🌱

Thomas Kralinski from the BMUKN welcomed the EUKICON participants with a keynote, sharing three key points for successful climate action. First, climate action and economy need to go hand in hand. Renewable energy industries already show how an secure energy market could look like. Second, he underlined that climate policy needs to be stable and translated into concrete action on the ground. Last but not least, people need to first hand experience the positive impact of climate action. He pointed out that EUKI projects actively contribute to translate climate targets into concrete impact for every day life.

In the first panel of the day, “European Climate Action Under Pressure”, Thomas Kralinski discussed with Faustine Bas-Defossez from European Environmental Bureau, and Niels Schuster from EU Environment and Climate. They exchanged about how climate policy can remain a priority in Europe’s shifting political landscape. Climate action will be central when it is addressed on the EU, national and individual level, through people experiencing its immediate benefits. A green transition can only succeed together.

This afternoon’s panel, “The Climate and Security Policy Nexus in Europe”, will feature Holger Klitzing from Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) Germany, Tefta Kelmendi from E3G, and Julia Hammelehle from Munich Security Conference. They will discuss climate action as central to reinforcing Europe’s security, resilience, and sovereignity in times of shifting geopolitical landscapes.

📲 Unable to participate? Follow our facebook stories for live impressions from Hashtag

We are grateful for your participation! Let us know in the comments what you took away from the first panel discussion! 💭

European Environmental Bureau - EEB EU Environment Bundesumweltministerium Auswärtiges Amt Munich Security Conference E3G - Third Generation Environmentalism

✨ Welcome to the EUKI Community: Planning Renewable District Heating 🔥➡️🌿�

The project "Planning Renewable District Heating" supports municipalities in Romania and Latvia in transitioning away from fossil fuels. It develops heating and cooling plans, builds local planning capacity and designs geothermal solutions for coal-dependent regions.�

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:
✓ Municipalities equipped with actionable heating and cooling plans
✓ Geothermal district heating system planned for Gorj district, Romania
✓ Knowledge exchange between Romania, Latvia and Western Europe
✓ Transferable models for renewable district heating in coal-dependent regions.�

👉 Learn more about this EUKI project: https://www.euki.de/en/euki-projects/planning-renewable-district-heating/

Bankwatch Romania Zaļā brīvība