A Structured Library of Local Climate and Energy Actions to Support Synergy-Oriented Sustainable Urban Planning
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Local governments increasingly adopt climate and energy strategies addressing both mitigation and adaptation objectives, yet these domains are often treated separately, limiting integrated planning. This study develops a structured Climate–Energy Action Library to support more coherent local decision-making. The library was constructed through a systematic review and harmonisation of actions from European Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs), international repositories, and related frameworks, resulting in a taxonomy of 171 actions grouped into thematic bundles and policy categories. The methodology enables the identification of potential synergies among measures, and revealing consistent cross-sector interaction patterns. The strongest interaction potential occurs when technical measures are combined with enabling governance actions, including policy instruments, planning frameworks, and capacity-building. Cross-sectoral synergies are evident in building retrofit programmes linked with heat-stress adaptation and in nature-based solutions contributing to mitigation, urban cooling, and ecosystem services. These findings indicate that governance and ecosystem-based measures often enhance the effectiveness of sector-specific interventions. The proposed library provides a practical analytical reference for municipalities, supporting the design and evaluation of integrated climate strategies and helping bridge the persistent separation between mitigation and adaptation in local climate governance.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su18073397
Authors: Mia Dragović Matosović, Giulia Pizzini
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W7147303157