What does it mean to live on an island that may one day vanish? How can communities adapt to climate change, and what does staying – or leaving – really mean? In this episode, ICLEI Europe speaks with Dr. Catharina Greve about Neuwerk, a tiny island in northern Germany where climate change is no abstraction – storm surges, rising seas, and shifting tides define daily life. Greve introduces the RescueME project, which explores how cultural landscapes like Neuwerk can (or cannot) be preserved, and how residents are shaping their own future.

From horse-drawn carts crossing tidal flats to “serious games” – where locals and policymakers test out future scenarios – this conversation dives deep into resilience, wilderness, and the tough choices communities face when home itself is at risk.

Explore the work being done by ICLEI Europe's Resilience and Climate Adaptation team here.

Public procurement isn’t just about getting the best price – it’s about shaping the greener and fairer cities of tomorrow. In this episode, we visit ICLEI Member City Oslo to learn how the Oslo Model is tackling social dumping, raising labour standards, and making public purchasing a tool for social and environmental change.

🎙️ Hear from Kjersti Koffeld and Espen Nicolaysen on how Oslo is applying socially responsible procurement in practice – and why tracking, supplier dialogue, and political will matter.

Oslo also shares its experience in the Big Buyers Working Together initiative, where cities across Europe join forces to move markets in a greener, fairer direction.

🔗 Learn more: https://public-buyers-community.ec.europa.eu/about/big-buyers-working-together

Łódź, Poland is turning co-creation into climate action. In this episode, we speak with Aleksandra Sztuka, Deputy Director of Environment Management at the City of Łódź,  who explains how the city is working with residents to green public spaces, tackle water scarcity, and rethink urban planning. It’s a fresh take on how cities can build fairer, more sustainable futures—together.

Learn more about ‘The Power of Many’ here.

The last time the EU concluded its long-term budget negotiations was in 2021. Back then, COVID-19 was in full swing and defense and European cohesion were not the topics they are today. Priorities change. The new EU budget is expected to be announced this July. So, we wanted to know - what should we expect? What changes would benefit cities and towns? ICLEI Europe’s Senior Advocacy Expert, Goksen Sahin, provided us with her insight.

Interested in learning more? Check out this position paper from The Local Alliance, which calls on EU leaders to develop a budget that is a robust and comprehensive tool for achieving a climate-neutral, just, and competitive Europe.

Sustainable mobility is key to building cities that are not only environmentally friendly but also accessible, smart, and resilient. In this episode, Sustainable Mobility Experts Andreas Piller and Elma Meskovic-Imsirovic from ICLEI Europe discuss how bold, forward-thinking decisions are reshaping the mobility landscape in European cities. They also dive into the EU's role in driving change and tackle some of the more contentious issues in urban mobility, including e-vehicles, scooters, and whether public transport should be free.

Explore the work being done by ICLEI Europe's Sustainable Mobility team here.

Is your city an ICLEI Member? Join our next Member Webinar on 10 April 2025, 11:00-12:00 on the topic of Mobility as a Right.

When was the last time you wandered through your local food market? How do the offerings at a market compare to those at a supermarket? In this episode, we explore the vital role of food systems in fostering a healthier, more sustainable city - from collaborative community projects to bridging the gap between urban and rural neighbourhoods. As a member of ICLEI Europe for more than 30 years, Freiburg, in Germany, stands as a leading example of connecting local food to communities.

This conversation features Eva Coydon, Manager and Coordinator of major projects and financing for the Freiburg & Region Food Policy Council; and Anna Bruen, Senior Expert for biodiversity, nature-based solutions, and sustainable food systems at ICLEI Europe.

To learn more about the Freiburg Food Policy Council, visit thewebsite.

Photo by Marco Pregnolato on Unsplash.

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our November 2024 feature article is read aloud by Sarah Arfeen, of ICLEI Europe's Events and Project Communications team. The article dives into the results from COP16 and the successes for biodiversity that resulted in the midst of global challenges. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.

What do sustainability projects have in common with the stars in the night sky? More than you’d think! In this episode, we turn our telescopes to the trailblazing city of Alba Iulia, where a radically new approach to managing the city’s sustainability efforts is taking hold. As the first city in Romania to sign a Local Green Deal, and a participating city in the Intelligent Cities Challenge, Alba Iulia is a sparkling example of small-town tenacity. 

This conversation features Maria-Elena Seemann, Coordinator of Foreign Relations, Partnerships development and Urban innovation from the City of Alba Iulia; and Niklas Mischkovski, Head of the Governance Innovation team at ICLEI Europe. 

To learn more about the Intelligent Cities Challenge, visit the website. 

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our October 2024 feature article is read aloud by Laura Schubert, of ICLEI Europe's Events and Project Communications team. The article dives into the Aalborg Conditions, launched at the 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns, and explains why they are a key framework for cities on their path towards climate neutrality. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe ⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠.

The city of Guimarães (Portugal) is on a mission to make food waste management more sustainable. How? By focusing on circular economy, a model of resource production and consumption that emphasises sharing, recycling and reusing materials and products for as long as possible. In this episode, we sit down with Dalila Sepúlveda, Head of the Department of Environment and Sustainability for the city of Guimarães, to discuss how circular economy strategies are helping Guimarães to transition from a linear to a circular economy, as outlined in the Circular Cities Declaration.

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our September 2024 feature article is read aloud by Alis-Daniela Torres, of ICLEI Europe's Green Digital Transformation team. The article explores the potential of data and AI to help cities realise their potential on their journey to a sustainable future. To read the article and position paper for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe ⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠.

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our August 2024 feature article is read aloud by Anna Westervelt, of ICLEI Europe's Strategic Communications, Membership and Advocacy team. The article explores the European Commission's 2040 Climate Target proposal and advocates for changes to better reflect the reality in cities and regions across Europe. To read the article and position paper for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe ⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠.

Barcelona gets a lot of sun - nearly 2600 hours, annually (for comparison, Brussels gets about half of that). It is also a city where 20% of households struggle with energy poverty. So, what to do with plenty of sun and not enough affordable energy? Build pathways that make solar power an attractive option for all! In this episode, we sit down with Sergi Delgado, from the Barcelona Local Energy Agency, to discuss tackling energy poverty via the Sun4All project, and how the many rooftops throughout the dense city will be key to reaching Barcelona's Climate Action Plan.

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our July 2024 feature article is read aloud by Arthur Hinsch, of ICLEI Europe's Sustainable Energy Systems team. The article explores Europe's transition away from fossil fuels and the important considerations needed to make this transition fair and just. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.

Last week, Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected as European Commission President, kicking off a mandate that will run until 2029. But what does this new term mean for urban sustainability? And is the European Green Deal safe? ICLEI Europe Senior Advocacy Expert, Goksen Sahin, joins us on the show to break down the new mandate, and explains how it will impact urban sustainability in cities and regions across Europe.

Learn more and register for the European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns, also known as #Aalborg2024, by visiting the conference website.

Image: Vadym Sarakhan | Dreamstime.com

Hey there! We're Jacob Broehm and Laura Schubert, the hosts of Local Voices for Sustainability⁠, the ICLEI Europe podcast. We want to know, what kinds of challenges are cities facing in their efforts to becoming more sustainable? What solutions are working? What aren't? But also, how are cities making sure that everyone is coming along for the ride? Join us as we sit down with city leaders from across Europe to tackle these questions. So subscribe now. Get Local Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our June 2024 feature article is read aloud by Stefan Kuhn, Deputy Regional Director⁠ at ICLEI Europe. The article explores the impact of elections on the future of the EU Green Deal and on local sustainability agendas. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe ⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠.

Register for the #Aalborg2024 conference, here.

The climate emergency has brought a whole host of challenges to waterfront cities worldwide. Danish city, Aalborg, is no exception to this reality. In this conversation with Steffen Lervad Thomsen, from the Center for Green Transition at the City of Aalborg, we discuss how the city is prioritising an adaptive approach. We also explore the idea of a "thriving" city - what does it look like, and what are the benefits?

Aalborg is the host city of the European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns - also known as #Aalborg2024. To learn more about the conference and to register as an attendee or exhibitor, please visit: https://conferences.sustainablecities.eu/

Photo credit: Lars Horn / Baghuset

Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our May 2024 feature article is read aloud by Philipp LaHaela Walter, Head of Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions at ICLEI Europe. Celebrating Biodiversity Day, it acknowledges the important policy frameworks and concrete solutions to help boost Europe’s local biodiversity and resilience. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe ⁠newsletter⁠.

What value does the European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) bring to European cities looking to be more sustainable? In this episode we sit down with the host cities of EURESFO 2023 and EURESFO 2024, Cascais, Portugal and Valencia, Spain. We discuss the unique opportunity of bringing together representatives of European cities and regions to explore challenges and opportunities to strengthen resilience in the context of sustainable urban development. 

João Dinis, Head of the Accelerating Urban Transition Office at Cascais Ambiente, reflects on the takeaways and surprises from last year’s event; while Emilio Servera, European Projects Officer at Valencia’s Climate and Energy agency, illuminates how the event has changed this year, as well as some tips for visitors.

To learn more about EURESFO, please visit: https://urbanresilienceforum.eu/.

To register for this year’s event from 26-28 June, please visit: https://urbanresilienceforum.eu/registration/.