2nd Project Meeting for ESCALATE

SUSTAINABLE CITY participated in the 2nd Meeting of the European project ESCALATE, held on September 30 and October 1, 2025, in Vienna.

During the meeting, the project partners had the opportunity to discuss the progress of the implementation and to plan the next steps of ESCALATE, focusing on:

• capacity-building activities and support for municipalities in developing Heating and Cooling plans,
• sustainability policies and the exploitation of project results,
• collaboration with other European initiatives in the fields of energy and climate

The meeting’s agenda included workshops, presentations, exchange of experiences among partners, as well as a site visit to Vienna’s energy facilities, offering valuable insights and practical examples of sustainable solutions.

According to the new Energy Efficiency Directive, municipalities with a population of over 45,000 inhabitants are required to develop local heating and cooling plans, as these sectors account for approximately 80% of energy consumption in buildings, making them a key pillar in achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

The project’s pilot implementation in Greece will take place in the Municipalities of Alexandroupolis and Kavala, where plans and methodologies will be developed to support the Directive’s implementation and strengthen local authorities.

Through its participation in ESCALATE, SUSTAINABLE CITY actively contributes to promoting solutions for the decarbonization of heating and cooling systems at the local level, supporting the transition of cities towards a more sustainable and climate-neutral future.