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The regions of Imereti, Samegrelo, Samtskhe Javakheti and Shida Kartli

Cooperatives promote gender equality and combat energy poverty in Rural Georgia

Many people in rural Georgia, particularly women, are affected by energy poverty. Relying on unsustainably harvested firewood for their energy needs is expensive and labour-intensive and leads to health-damaging indoor air pollution as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

Non-governmental organization Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF) and local partners have developed solar water heaters and energy efficient stoves that reduce the need for firewood and improve comfort and health, bringing down air pollution, unpaid labour and energy bills by 20–50 per cent.

How Mannheim is harnessing social innovation to master the energy transition

Characterised by its proximity to two rivers, the Rhine and the Neckar, as well as its heavy industry, the City of Mannheim in south-western Germany faces an urgent climate challenge. The city has committed to becoming climate neutral by 2050 and is looking into whether this goal can be achieved even sooner. The City of Mannheim is taking on this task, for example, with its Climate Action Plan 2030, climate impact adaptation measures and the provision of funding in cooperation with the Climate Action Agency. Together, they offer consultation, subsidies and a newly created City Lab where residents can get involved in the decision-making process.

Tampere: engaging housing co-ops and residents in the drive towards carbon neutrality

Tampere has always pioneered sustainable technologies in Finland and is using this experience to drive forward an ambitious programme to become carbon-neutral by 2030. Due to the high levels of heating required in this cool region, the city engages a variety of stakeholders to renovate residential buildings to improve energy efficiency, among other actions. These measures are already bearing fruit and moving the city closer to achieving its goal.