Guide for Sustainable Urban Growth

A key element in driving a city’s transformation towards sustainability is its commitment and political consensus. Without a clear and sustained leadership over decades, it is impossible to drive projects that require a long-term vision, significant investments, and changes in the way people live. The political context is like the sun, clouds, and rain... Without the necessary meteorological conditions, farmers cannot work, or their work is in vain. In València, this political leadership is reflected in the previous timeline, which shows how various climate initiatives and commitments have unfolded over decades, with different municipal governments. Some of the most recent political consensuses include the bid for the European Green Capital, the approval of the Climate Mission, the adoption of the strategic framework for the Urban Strategy València 2030, and the proposal of Albufera for UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserve status. Practical advice: When approving climate commitments or strategies, involve all political representatives, incorporate their contributions, and make it clear that these initiatives belong to the whole city, thus achieving broad consensus.

Once we have an ambitious political mandate, we must provide the people, tools, and structures needed to carry out that mandate successfully and efficiently. Sustainability and environmental policies are transversal across many areas, so they require training, coordination, and teamwork. Internal governance refers to the tools we use to work. Without them, we are inefficient and burn out quickly. In València, various working spaces in the climate field have adapted to the progress of green policies, such as the Internal Coordination Group of SECAP, the Climate Mission Community, and the Technical Committee for the European Green Capital 2024. Moreover, the municipal foundation “València Clima i Energia” has helped build a technical team across various areas, launched innovative projects, and attracted European funding and knowledge. Practical advice: To integrate sustainability into the daily work of all municipal departments, they must incorporate sustainability in their direct work, under the leadership of the Mayor's Office, and for each department to be equipped with sufficient training and human resources on the subject.

Once the administration is organised, it's time to look outward. Becoming a green city and preparing for the future is not solely the responsibility of the City Council; it requires collective action from the entire ecosystem of public, private, social, and academic entities. The ecosystem is like the family and friends who accompany us. When we have common goals, the work is productive and satisfying for everyone. In València, various initiatives aim to establish collaboration networks with entities in the city related to sustainability, such as the Energy Transition Table, the Missions València 2030 Ambassador Entities programme, and the sponsorship and collaboration of different organisations with the European Green Capital València 2024, or the cooperation of society in the face of the floods caused by the DANA. Practical advice: When engaging other entities, it’s necessary to share power and responsibility. Collaborating and co-creating isn’t just about communicating results, it involves allowing other organisations to define the vision, objectives, and projects of the city in a collaborative manner.

Of course, the city’s transformation must be done by and for the citizens. The green city we seek must be a better place to live, and a safe city, prepared to cope with, manage and respond to extreme events. The citizens are exemplified by the people who work, participate, and enjoy the garden and its products. Their involvement is crucial for ensuring the city’s present and future. In València, citizen participation has been and is a central axis of sustainability policies, with very varied initiatives such as the urban gardens of Sociópolis or the promotion of Local Energy Communities. In addition, there are historical social movements demanding sustainability in the city, such as “El llit del Túria és nostre i el volem verd” or “El Saler per al poble”. Practical advice: Achieving an active and environmentally aware citizenry requires time, planning, and consistency. Participatory initiatives must have real outcomes to avoid frustrating participants.

The process of transforming the city must consider the most vulnerable people, so that the changes do not negatively impact them. On the contrary, these changes should improve their quality of life. Promoting a just social transition can be summed up in the idea of leaving no one behind, protect and improve the lives of all people. The just social transition is visible in various ways: local employment, promoting savings, social cohesion, and improved mental and physical health. In València, we maintain a vision of a just transition in all sustainability and inclusion-related projects and plans. Examples from the energy sector include the WELLBASED project, which works with families in energy poverty to improve their physical and mental health, and the POWERUP project, which facilitates the participation of vulnerable individuals in collective self-consumption initiatives in the city. Practical advice: When defining projects that address the needs of vulnerable groups, it’s important to collaborate with entities that are on the ground. Social Service Centres or local NGOs work daily with these people, can relay their needs, and have their trust to facilitate participation.

To achieve successful climate action, a strategy is necessary to understand where we are, where we want to be, and how to get there. Defining this strategy involves gathering data, making sense of it, agreeing on a vision for the future, and prioritising action areas. All of this should be done collaboratively with the internal structure of the City Council, ecosystem entities, and citizens. Strategic planning is the soil from which our vegetables and fruits will grow. Preparing good ground will help us work better. In València, various plans guide long-term sustainability action, such as the strategic framework for Urban Strategy València 2030 and the commitments made in the Climate Agreement. These strategies are supported by data from Smart City VLCi, emission inventories, and future scenario projections. Practical advice: The moment of setting the city’s future vision is a very opportune time to seek broad consensus, as it allows all political representatives, city organisations, and citizens to feel part of the process and become excited about imagining the future city.

Once we have an ambitious and realistic strategy, it is time to define in detail the projects and actions that will help us achieve those objectives. Again, the exercise must be collaborative, as most projects require the direct involvement of other entities or people. Our action plan is the vegetables and fruits we harvest. Each project needs different times, resources, and care. In València, the action plan for the Urban Strategy València 2030, also developed in the Climate Agreement, offers a set of projects and policies that allow the city to advance towards sustainability. Practical advice: When defining the city’s action plan, it is important to incorporate projects that other organisations can implement or lead, not just those of the City Council. Also, treating the plan as a dynamic portfolio of projects and mapping the interconnections between different actions can help leverage synergies and avoid inefficiencies or inconsistencies.

A good strategy and action plan are useless without the necessary investment to carry them out. A crucial step in the city’s green transformation is ensuring that commitments and plans are directly translated into municipal budgets. However, the money from public administration is not enough to accomplish everything that needs to be done. Therefore, innovative financing mechanisms can allow companies, entities, or citizens to take direct action and invest in the sustainability of their homes, vehicles, or neighbourhoods. Investment is the water that nourishes our garden and allows everything we have been preparing to bear fruit. In València, the Climate Investment Plan developed in the Climate Agreement estimates that the savings and economic benefits of climate neutrality are 89% greater than the necessary investments. Practical advice: Conducting a good cost-benefit analysis can allow us to visualise the hidden profitability of certain actions. In this regard, estimating indirect benefits is especially important. For example, improving air quality reduces public health system costs, or promoting local green jobs provides a clear economic return.

It is important to emphasise that this process is neither linear nor static; in fact, everything usually happens at once and is constantly evolving: new budgets every year, participatory processes that are activated or deactivated, elections that may change the political landscape... Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate what is happening at all times and adapt to the needs and possibilities. Evaluation is represented by the paella we prepare with products from our garden. It allows us to taste the results and adjust for the future. In València, plans and strategies have indicator sets for tracking progress towards the objectives. In the case of the Climate Agreement, for example, iterations are carried out every two years to assess progress and reformulate future actions. Practical advice: Beyond evaluating indicators, it is important to maintain a culture of reflection and self-assessment. For example, it is useful to conduct interviews or periodic reflection sessions, where departments or entities can express their opinions on whether their expectations are being met and what they expect for the future.

Communication is a key element because it is essential for society to participate and lead the change. Specifically, three main objectives can be defined: 1. Raise awareness and educate about the importance and benefits of being more sustainable. 2. Highlight and make visible the well-done work and successful experiences. 3. Provide sufficient information and tools to motivate action. Communication allows us to make ourselves known and have an impact on our surroundings. In València, some of the most impactful communication campaigns in the field of sustainability have included personal stories, information on economic savings and grants, or details about specific neighbourhood projects. Practical advice: Communication is not something that happens at the end of the process; it should be planned continuously from the start. Moreover, we should focus on communicating all actions, projects and initiatives that have an impact on sustainable growth, energy transition and the improvement of the quality of life in cities.