Cities4ZERO Approach to Foresight for Fostering Smart Energy Transition on Municipal Level

Merit Tatar, Tarmo Kalvet () and Marek Tiits
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Merit Tatar: Institute of Baltic Studies, research think-tank, Lai 30, 51005 Tartu, Estonia
Marek Tiits: Institute of Baltic Studies, research think-tank, Lai 30, 51005 Tartu, Estonia

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-30

Abstract: Smart energy transition efforts at the municipal level are gaining importance and go far beyond implementing single projects. Decarbonising cities involves complex strategic planning and needs system level thinking and changes. This has been increasingly realised at the municipal level, but challenges remain regarding the tools, involvement of stakeholders and on the development of policies. The focus of the research is on the use of participatory foresight for fostering smart energy transition on a municipal level, the key benefits and success factors that participatory foresight brings, and the replicability of this approach. Within the novel Cities4ZERO framework, an overarching methodology for a smart urban decarbonisation transition, guiding cities through the process of developing the most appropriate strategies, plans, projects, as well as looking for the commitment of key local stakeholders for an effective transition–foresight framework, was developed and tested in five pilot cities. Foresight as applied within the Cities4ZERO framework creates a participatory process which brings stakeholders together to achieve unified scenarios, and a common vision for future urban decarbonisation strategies. The methodology is replicable and increases the quality of strategic energy planning by fostering long-term system thinking.

Keywords: foresight; energy transition; strategic energy planning; integrated planning; system thinking; municipality; smart city; smart zero carbon city; zero-CO 2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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