As climate change develops, with most of the world population living in urban areas, decarbonisation of cities is among the greatest challenges of the coming decades. In the framework of the EU City-zen project, a number of so-called Roadshows has been organised in ten cities within and outside Europe in order to plan and kick-off their transition towards an energy- and climate-neutral economy. During the Roadshows, a group of experts is engaged to perform co-working activities and participative labs involving local stakeholders. These activities support cities in identifying their own decarbonisation pathways, mainly by combining three mutual processes, i.e. energy design, urban design and carbon accounting. The latter, in particular, has been used to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions of cities and neighbourhoods and to estimate the mitigation effect of a combination of measures towards the desirable condition of carbon neutrality. This exploratory and proactive design process has been successfully demonstrated through intensive workshops and can be potentially replicated in other cities. This paper provides a schematic overview of the main results achieved in the Belgian town of Roeselare, but more significantly it describes the techniques needed to make that cooperative process understandable, impactful and implementable. It is likely that 2050 European goals will drastically change urban environments and socio-economic dynamics in cities, due to the fragmentation of energy sources. Hence, from this standpoint there is a vital need for integrated technologies and infrastructures, a circular economy and community-based processes such as food production, sharing of facilities and valorisation of ecosystem services.

The City-zen Roeselare Roadshow brought over 300 stakeholders into the process of re-imagining and visualising their 2050 future city with these solutions. Stakeholders, with no particular expertise in carbon accounting or sustainability, would now have the capability of understanding and applying these solutions in a combined effort to meet the zero-carbon challenge. The approach is generally replicable elsewhere being highly visual, impactful, transferable, and multi-stakeholder friendly. Given that data are made locally available, the combination of this general approach, site-specific assessments and the involvement of both experts and local stakeholders (i.e. policy makers, citizens, etc) allow the transition to start by referring to any real city or neighbourhood. ... Read more

The natural ecotone between people, community and carbon reduction is the zero-carbon community. Over recent decades, the design of zero-carbon communities has focussed too greatly on carbon emissions and not enough on building communities. Anthropogenic climate change is a human problem, yet people are seldom placed at the centre of design solutions. The City-zen Roadshow is an intensive co-creational approach to creating zero-carbon communities, which places stakeholders at the very centre of the design process. The methodology uses an ‘urban-first’ approach and champions urban design as the main driver to deliver change. Carbon accounting and energy analysis sit in adjacency with the urban design proposals to deliver interventions that are net zero-carbon, low energy, low waste, socially rich, ecologically diverse, economically robust, resilient, fit for purpose and engaging. The paper describes this novel approach using one roadshow as a case study to illustrate the urban interventions proposed. Living in zero-carbon communities is not just about photovoltaic panels and wind turbines. It is, instead, about thinking differently about the way in which people live and the decisions they make, to provide people with alternative ways of living that are more desirable than those currently available. ... Read more

Following the Paris Climate Agreements, all European cities must undergo a transition towards asustainable, net zero-carbon energy system. This is an unprecedented challenge that will require a lot of knowledge and methodological support.For the City-zen project, under the coordination and execution of TU Delft, chair of Climate Design & Sustainability, as task within City-zen (WP4, T2), the City-zen Urban Energy Transition Methodology (in short: City-zen Methodology) was developed and tested on various Roadshows (WP9, T3.2) and finally used for the Amsterdam Roadmap (WP4, T2 too). The Amsterdam energy transition roadmap was published in 2018.The essence of the City-zen Urban Energy Transition Methodology is as follows: based on extensive research into energy characteristics of the city, planned near-future developments, stakeholder analyses and future scenarios, a sustainable city vision can be elaborated, after which a roadmap with different energy transition paths can be defined.Such a roadmap was already made for the city of Amsterdam; this report uses maps and images of that study to exemplify steps taken in the City-zen Methodology. ... Read more

The Roadshow travels with a team of internationally recognized experts, in the field of energy planning and design to help develop a sustainable agenda for cities and their neighbourhoods. The overall aim of the Roadshow team is towork closely with people from the hosting city, whether they be city leaders, energy planners, local architects, professionals, academics, students and citizens. The Roadshow spends 5 days in each hosting city to deliver energy and urban design fun-shops in which all local stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to join and to take ownership of the final outcomes, outcomes that will allow the cities resources, both people and energy, to be directed effectively, by highlighting the energy challenges and potentials to be found in their neighbourhoods, and to finally present a sustainable ‘City Vision’.The following report describes the activities and outcomes of the City-zen Preston Roadshow that took place in Lancashire (United Kingdom) between the 12th & 16th of November 2018. ... Read more

The City-zen Roadshow travels with a team of internationally recognized experts, in the field of energy planning and design to help develop a sustainable agenda for cities and their neighbourhoods. The overall aim of the Roadshow team is to work closely with people from the hosting city, whether they be city leaders, energy planners, local architect, professionals, academics, students and citizens. The Roadshow normally spends 5 days in each hosting city (in Amersfoort they were a compressed 3 days) to deliver energy and urban design fun-shops in which all local stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to join and to take ownership of the final outcomes, outcomes that will allow the cities resources, both people and energy, to be directed effectively, by highlighting the energy challenges and potentials to be found in their
neighbourhoods, and to finally present a sustainable ‘City Vision’.

The following report will describe the activities and outcomes of the City-zen Amersfoort Roadshow that took place in the Netherlands from the 16th to the 18th of October 2019. ... Read more

The City-zen Roadshow travels with a team of internationally recognized experts, in the field of energy planning and design to help develop a sustainable agenda for cities and their neighbourhoods. The Roadshow visited 9 cities in total over a 5-year period who sort expert guidance on how to become more sustainable and wish to move towards energy neutrality. The overall aim of the Roadshow team was to work closely with people from the hosting city, whether they be city leaders, energy planners, local architect, professionals, academics, students and citizens. In Nicosia, the Roadshow spent 8 days delivering energy and urban design fun-shops to local stakeholders in order to encourage city participation and to take ownership of the final outcomes. Outcomes that will allow the cities resources, both people and energy, to be directed effectively, by highlighting the energy challenges and potentials to be found in their neighbourhoods, and to finally present a sustainable ‘City Vision’. The following report describes the activities and outcomes of the City-zen Nicosia Roadshow that took place in Cyprus between the 8th to 15th of May 2019. ... Read more

IIn the challenge for a sustainable society, carbon-neutrality is a critical objective for all cities in the coming decades. In the EU City-zen project, academic partners collaborate to develop an urban energy transition methodology, which supports cities in making the energy transition to sustainable lifestyles and carbon neutrality. As part of the project, so-called Roadshows are organised in cities that wish to take the first step toward zero-energy living. Each Roadshow is methodologically composed to allow sustainability experts from across Europe to co-create designs, strategies and timelines with local stakeholders in order to reach this vital goal. Following a precursory investigative student workshop (the SWAT Studio), Dubrovnik was the third city to host the Roadshow in November 2016. During these events the characteristics of Dubrovnik, and the district of Gruž in particular, were systematically analysed, leading to useful insights into the current problems and potentials of the city. In close collaboration with local stakeholders, the team proposed a series of interventions, validated by the calculation of carbon emission, to help make Gruž, and in its wake the whole city of Dubrovnik, net zero energy and zero carbon. The vision presented to the inhabitants and its key city decision makers encompassed a path towards an attainable sustainable future. The strategies and solutions proposed for the Dubrovnik district of Gruž were able to reduce the current carbon sequestration compensation of 1200 hectares of forestland to only 67 hectares, an area achievable by urban reforestation projects. This paper presents the City-zen methodology of urban energy transition and that of the City-zen Roadshow, the analysis of the city of Dubrovnik, proposed interventions and the carbon impact, as calculated by means of the carbon accounting method discussed in the paper. ... Read more

The City-zen Roadshow travels with a team of internationally recognized experts, in the field of energy planning and design to help develop a sustainable agenda for cities and their neighbourhoods. It will visit 9 cities in total over a 5-year period who are seeking expert guidance on how to become more sustainable and wish to move towards energy neutrality. The overall aim of the Roadshow team is to work closely with people from the hosting city, whether they be city leaders, energy planners, local architect, professionals, academics, students and citizens. The Roadshow spends 5 days in each hosting city to deliver energy and urban design fun-shops in which all local stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to join and to take ownership of the final outcomes. Outcomes that will allow the cities recourses, both people and energy, to be directed effectively, by highlighting the energy challenges and potentials to be found in their neighbourhoods, and to finally present a sustainable ‘City Vision’. 
The following report will describe the activities and outcomes of the Roeselare Roadshow that took place in Roeselare (Belgium), between the 23rd & 27th of April 2018. ... Read more

The City-zen Roadshow travels with a team of internationally recognized experts, in the field of energy planning and design to help develop a sustainable agenda for cities and their neighbourhoods. The Roadshow team work closely with people from the hosting city, whether they be city leaders, energy planners, local architect, professionals, academics, students and of course the citizens themselves. The Roadshow typically spends 5 days in each hosting city to deliver energy and urban design workshops in which all local stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to join and to take ownership of the final outcomes. Outcomes that will allow the cities recourses, both people and energy, to be directed effectively, by highlighting the energy challenges and potentials to be found in their neighbourhoods, and to finally present a sustainable ‘City Vision’. The following report will describe the activities and outcomes of the Roadshow (Sustainable Island Menorca ‘Roadshow’) that took place at the Institut Menorquí d'Estudis (IME) in Mahón on the island of Menorca, between the 24th & 28th of April 2017. ... Read more

The City-zen Roadshow travels with a team of internationally recognized experts, in the field of energy planning and design to help develop a sustainable agenda for cities and their neighbourhoods. The Roadshow team work closely with people from the hosting city, whether they be city leaders, energy planners, local architects, professionals, academics, students and of course the citizens themselves. The Roadshow spends 5 days in each hosting city to deliver energy and urban design workshops in which all local stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to join and to take ownership of the final outcomes. Outcomes that will allow the cities recourses, both people and energy, to be directed effectively, by highlighting the energy challenges and potentials to be found in their neighbourhoods, and to finally present a sustainable ‘City Vision’.
The following report will describe the activities and outcomes of the City-zen ‘Sevilla’ Roadshow that took place in Sevilla, between the 20th & 24th of November 2017. ... Read more

In the strife for a carbon-neutral society, making cities carbon-neutral is the greatest challenge of the coming decades. In the EU project City-zen, academic partners collaborate to develop an urban energy transition method, which helps cities to make the energy transition to renewables. As part of the project, so-called Roadshows are organised in cities that do not form part of the project but that have expressed the desire to become carbon neutral in due time. Dubrovnik was one of those cities, and in November 2016 a City-zen Roadshow workshop was held here, preceded by a SWAT Studio student workshop in October. During these events the characteristics of Dubrovnik, the district of Gruž in particular, were systematically analysed, leading to good insight into the current problems and potentials of the city. In close collaboration with local stakeholders, the team came up with a proposal for interventions that help to make Gruž, and in its wake the whole city of Dubrovnik, net zero energy and zero carbon. The vision presented to authorities of the city encompassed a pathway towards an attainable sustainable future. This paper presents the roadshow method, the analysis of the city of Dubrovnik, proposed interventions and the impact, as calculated via carbon accounting. ... Read more

The City-zen Roadshow travels with a team of internationally recognized experts, in the field of energy planning and design to help develop a sustainable agenda for cities and their neighbourhoods. It will visit 8 cities in total over a 4-year period who are seeking expert guidance on how to become more sustainable and wish to move towards energy neutrality invite the Roadshow. The overall aim of the Roadshow team, known as ‘Roadies’, is to work closely with people from the hosting city, whether they be city leaders, energy planners, local architect, professionals, academics, students and of course the citizens themselves. The Roadshow will spend 5 days in each hosting city to deliver energy and urban design workshops in which all local stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to join and to take ownership of the final outcomes. Outcomes that will allow the cities recourses, both people and energy, to be directed effectively, by highlighting the energy challenges and potentials to be found in their neighbourhoods, and to finally present a sustainable city vision. The following report will describe the activities and outcomes of the Roadshow that took place in Belfast between the 18th & 22nd of January 2016, in specifically in the neighbourhood of Colin (West Belfast). ... Read more

The City-zen Roadshow travels with a team of internationally recognized experts, in the field of energy planning and design to help develop a sustainable agenda for cities and their neighbourhoods. The overall aim of the Roadshow is to work closely with people from the hosting city, whetherthey be city leaders, entrepreneurs, energy planners, local architect, professionals, academics,students and of course the citizens themselves. The Roadshow devotes 5 days in each hosting city to deliver energy and urban design workshops in which all local stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to join and to take ownership of the final outcomes. Outcomes that will allow the cities resources, both people and energy, to be directed effectively, by highlighting the energy challenges and potentials to be found in their neighbourhoods, and to finally present a sustainable ‘City Vision’.
The following report will describe the activities and outcomes of the Roadshow that took place at the DURA offices in Dubrovnik, Croatia, between the 31th Oct & 4th Nov 2016. ... Read more

The City-zen Roadshow travels with a team of internationally recognized experts, in the field of energyplanning and design to help develop a sustainable agenda for cities and their neighbourhoods. It will visit 9 cities in total over a 5-year period who are seeking expert guidance on how to become more sustainable and wish to move towards energy neutrality. The overall aim of the Roadshow team, known as ‘Roadies’, is to work closely with people from the hosting city, whether they be city leaders, energy planners, local architects, professionals, academics, students and of course the citizens themselves. The Roadshow spends 5 days in each hosting city to deliver energy and urban design workshops in which all local stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to join and to take ownership of the final outcomes. Outcomes that will allow the cities recourses, both people and energy, to be directed effectively, by highlighting the energy challenges and potentials to be found in their neighbourhoods, and to finally present a sustainable ‘City Vision’.The following report will describe the activities and outcomes of the Roadshow that took place in Bornova, a municipality of the city of Izmir (Turkey) between the 4th & 8th of April 2016. ... Read more