Cities4PEDs Atlas_November 2021.pdf

— The residents’ contribution should be
valued, either by payment or the feeling
of ownership. Otherwise, they are
inclined to drop out.
— When everyday problems of the district’s
residents, like humidity and mould in the
homes or the lack of a neighbourhood
centre and playgrounds, were addressed
in a framework strategy for energy
transition, the residents were grateful
and became interested in contributing to
the provided plans.
Organisation of local actors
The complex intertwined form of district
initiatives (BoTu, LEAP, Working Together
Agreement, exhibition) is a driver for innovation.
Nevertheless, some form of organisation is
needed. A problem is that the different levels
(district, city, region, federal) do not always
communicate and decision-making processes
are not connected to the neighbourhood level
enough. At the same time, it is important that
the formal and the informal processes do not
become one, as the formal processes could take
over and a lack of innovation can be faced. In
BoTu, the energy-district-table was installed
to make use of cross-benefits of different
initiatives working on the energy transition and
the municipal instruments. It comes together
monthly with paid representative citizens
and therefore can connect the active local
community with the municipal policy goals and
instruments.
Learnings & Success factors
• There is an informal structure, that is facilitated by a formal structure, which is facilitating the
many initiatives in the district. Like this, innovation is driven but the communication between
authorities and initiatives is complex.
• Implementation of different instruments to include inhabitants in the district transformation:
Exhibition, game, walks, (Asset Based) Community Building, internships, local jobs, participatory
budgeting, deep democracy.
• The vibrant network of local cooperatives and projects, where people are involved in different
projects and roles enables transformation processes with a strong community engagement.
• When everyday problems of the district’s residents, like humidity and mould in the homes or
the lack of a neighbourhood centre and playgrounds, were addressed in a framework strategy
for energy transition, the residents were grateful and became interested in contributing to the
provided plans, which shows how the energy transition can be a lever for socially-inclusive city
making.
Working document
• The assumption that people in poverty are mainly concerned with survival and therefore cannot
care about what is happening in the district was proved wrong. Everybody wants to be part
of a bigger goal and contribute to it. This is why imagining a better future through the energy
transition became a fundamental part in OOZE’s work in the district.
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