WHAT WE STAND FOR, WE EMBODY EVERY SINGLE DAY
How we work matters just as much as what we achieve. Our environmental commitments, human values and vision for society guide everything we do, from the projects we lead to the everyday choices we make as a team.
Our history
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Our first mission was to address urban electricity challenges and develop solutions across Europe, pioneering the exchange of practical experience between cities.
Year: 1990 -
We officially became a network of 16 pioneering cities rethinking how energy is produced, used and governed locally.
Year: 1994 -
We broadened our scope beyond energy to include climate action and urban transitions, helping members develop and implement local policies and projects.
Year: Early 2000s -
We keep on amplifying local voices, nurturing bold ideas and helping innovative solutions grow.
Year: Today
Energy Cities now brings together over 2,000 cities across more than 30 countries in Europe and beyond.
What we do
We bring together the people making our cities better places to live for everyone.
Cities are on the frontline of the greatest challenges of our time. Together, we can, and we will find solutions that go further. By bringing together the people shaping our cities, we turn local efforts into a collective movement.
- We connect cities so they can collectively find solutions and build on what already works.
- We support cities with the knowledge, tools and resources they need to turn ambition into action.
- We represent cities, serving as a megaphone for bold local voices on national and European stages.
The future we want
We strive for a Europe where local communities have the power to shape liveable and welcoming places to call home.
Today, communities across Europe face many challenges: from climate change, energy insecurity and biodiversity loss to economic pressures and rising polarisation. We believe the way forward is by giving communities the means to shape their own future, through places that are fossil-free, resilient and fair. Local governments are central to making this vision a reality. They engage with residents, manage buildings, plan neighbourhoods, run public transport, and provide basic services. They have the power to work with communities to create better places to live.
Our values
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A workplace where everyone can contribute and grow
At Energy Cities, we organise our work through holacracy, a horizontal governance model that values every individual’s contribution.
This approach enables team members to share responsibilities, participate in collective decision-making and develop new skills. We encourage flexibility in roles, diverse activities and strong collaboration, always grounded in mutual respect and shared commitments.
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Every Voice Matters: Building an Inclusive Community
We believe that every voice deserves to be heard. Our gender-equity policy helps ensure a respectful and inclusive working environment and guides us in promoting gender balance in our activities.
Discrimination of any kind has no place at Energy Cities. We are committed to building an inclusive community where everyone can contribute, grow and thrive.
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Minimising our environmental footprint
We strive to reduce our environmental impact in our daily operations. We encourage zero-emission transport to the office and prioritise train travel whenever possible. We also favour local digital infrastructure (devices, software and data centres hosted nearby) and give preference to European providers whenever feasible.
Our organisation
Our network is guided by a board composed of local political leaders. Their role is to ensure that the interests and realities of cities remain central to European energy and climate policy discussions. Board members regularly engage with European institutions to amplify the voices of our member cities and strengthen the role of local governments in EU decision-making.
The network’s daily work is carried out by a dedicated team of around 40 professionals, based in Brussels (Belgium) and Besançon (France).
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Our Board
The Board members ensure the interests of cities stay at the heart of European energy and climate policies.
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Our Team
Our team works to reinforce municipalities’ ability to build a fossil-free, resilient and fair future in an impactful and lasting way.
Our funding sources
Energy Cities is a not-for-profit network.
Public funding enables us to remain independent and fully committed to supporting cities in building a sustainable and resilient future.
Join our team
Working for Energy Cities means becoming part of a collective effort to transform our societies. Together, we support cities in becoming more liveable, greener, healthier and locally empowered. If you share our ambition to turn this vision into reality, join our team.
