Overview
SmartEdge addressed the potential for greenhouse gas emission reductions that lie in the development of smaller cities within metropolitan areas.
Edge cities are an integral part of the existing metropolitan fabric and may be laboratories for smart, green, economic solutions and have the opportunity to play a crucial role in the low carbon economy. The overall objective of the project was to improve low carbon economy policies in edge cities and their metropolitan regions.
To achieve this, eight partners from the metropolitan areas of Akershus, Barcelona, Brandenburg, Ilfov, Krakow, Milano and Stockholm, and the Romanian Ministry of Environment exchanged experience, transfer good practices and facilitate learning between the partners on innovative tools for urban planning.
Transport and buildings represent the lion’s share of our emissions, and may be reduced through efficient policies on a local and regional level. Smart Edge in particular explored the potential for local renewable energy production, reduction of emissions from transport through renewable energy and energy systems ad reduction of emissions from buildings through renewable energy and energy systems.
Funding
Results
SmartEdge resulted in improved low carbon economy policies in edge cities and their metropolitan regions. In particular, the metropolitan regions prepared and implemented action plans to improved selected seven policy instuments by sharing solutions for Integrated Strategic Planning for edge cities and their regions, providing tools and methods for multi-level governance and participatory planning, actively including the edge cities and other stakeholders in the metropolitan areas, and develop policy recommendations. 205 million euros in Structural funds and 124,8 million euros of other funds are estimated to be influenced by the project. In terms of activities, the project has organised a total of 20 policy learning events.