City Challenges

Prague’s Institute of Planning and Development is crafting a Tool for Sustainable Urban Development to balance housing needs with climate action goals. While the tool emphasizes cross-departmental collaboration, broader citizen engagement remains underachieved. By participating in the Democracy Lab, Prague aims to develop innovative methods to involve residents in shaping and advocating for sustainable urban practices.

photo Jan Malý

In Bordeaux’s Ambès Peninsula, preserving the delicate balance between flood management and biodiversity conservation is paramount. The declining maintenance of key water drainage systems due to reduced agricultural activity underscores the need for a participatory governance model. Bordeaux seeks to develop sustainable, collaborative management practices to address conflicts of interest among stakeholders while raising public awareness about flood risks and environmental resilience.

Rotterdam’s groundbreaking citizens' assembly produced 22 climate recommendations, but sustaining this momentum within short political cycles poses a challenge. The city seeks to embed citizen participation as a lasting feature of the city’s governance model, ensuring the assembly’s diverse voices continue to shape future strategies. At the Democracy Lab, Rotterdam will explore frameworks to institutionalise this innovative participatory model.

The rural PETR Ariège region is witnessing contradictions as it navigates the inclusion of alternative and climate-resilient housing in local planning. Despite growing demand, local authorities often resist these innovations, labelling them “wild” or impractical. The challenge lies in fostering constructive dialogue among elected officials, civil servants and citizens to overcome stigmatisation and integrate these new housing models into a shared vision for climate adaptation.

Reykjavík is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 but faces challenges in engaging its individualistic society to embrace community-driven solutions. With 70% of emissions stemming from private cars, the city seeks to inspire a cultural shift towards public and active transport. Through the Democracy Lab, Reykjavík aims to develop tools to foster citizen collaboration and embed green priorities into daily life.

The Métropole Aix-Marseille Provence faces the dual challenge of addressing energy poverty in its social housing and deteriorating private housing stock, particularly in its most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. By integrating social equity into green transition strategies, the Métropole aims to lower energy costs, enhance residents’ quality of life, and encourage collaboration across departments. The Democracy Lab will assist in designing a plan for co-creating inclusive, resident-centred solutions to tackle these urgent social and environmental issues.