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EUKICON26

The sixth EUKI Networking Conference of the European Climate Initiative will take place on 19–20 May 2026 in Berlin. Visit the EUKICON26 website to find out more about this year's conference programme.

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#EUKIworks

EUKI funds climate action that delivers impact on all levels – from individual engagement and institutional anchoring to political change and measurable CO₂ reduction.

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Climate Action Connecting Europe

We support the realisation of ideas to accelerate climate action in Europe.

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Report of the EUKICON24

Here you find the EUKICON24 page with summaries of the workshops, panels, discussions, documents, publications and videos resulting from the EUKI Academy Networking Conference 2024.

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About us

The European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) was launched by the German Federal Government in 2017 to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and advance cooperation on climate action in Europe. Since then, we have funded 255 cross-border climate projects and created an active network with 468 organisations in 31 European countries.

About EUKI

Updates, Knowledge & Insights

Here you find news, publications and videos on European climate action

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news
18 February 2026

School-Based Mobility Campaigns Spark Sustainable Change

post
12 February 2026

From Community to Sustainable Mobility in Romania

news
10 February 2026

EUKI Interview: Driving Climate Action in Small Cities

publications
06 February 2026

EUKI Press Review 2025

publications
06 February 2026

Romania's Draft Penalty Rules for Violations of the EU Methane Regulation

videos
04 February 2026

How to address Mobility Challenges in Latvia?

post
30 January 2026

ELCA: Climate Action and Resilience through Nature-Based Solutions

publications
28 January 2026

Supply and Demand of Retail Sustainable Finance in Estonia

#EUKIworks

EUKI projects are advancing climate protection in Europe. Their work has an impact ranging from knowledge transfer to measurable CO₂ savings.

Energy Scouts from Volkswagen Poznań reduce Emissions thanks to Hydrogen

After delivering an 18.3 MW photovoltaic farm, Energy Scouts from Volkswagen Poznań launched another project to cut natural gas use at the Września plant. They identified the paint shop (responsible for 65% of gas consumption) as the main target and focused on a single dryer using over 10 GWh of gas annually. The team proposed integrating the dryer with an AEM hydrogen electrolyser to improve combustion efficiency. While technical work was outsourced, VW Poznań engineers led supplier selection, coordination, safety compliance, promotion, and certification. The solution is expected to reduce gas consumption by about 30%, saving 3 GWh annually and cutting CO₂ emissions by 600 tons per year.

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Socially Just Climate Action: Study has an Effect on Romanian Policy

The EUKI project "Distributing the Impacts of Carbon Pricing in Central and Eastern Europe" provided concrete data on social impacts for the first time in Romania. The results helped to overcome reservations about climate targets and were directly incorporated into policy: experts from the project presented their findings in parliament. The knowledge gathered was later incorporated into Romania's National Social Climate Plan (NSCP), a key basis for the allocation of funds from the Social Climate Fund (SCF) of the European Union. This made an important contribution to the just implementation of the ETS2 emissions trading System for low-income households. With the system the EU intends to make heating and refuelling with fossil fuels more expensive from 2027 onwards.

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Online Consultation Mechanism for Wind Energy Projects

The online consultation tool developed during the Wind4Bio project was presented to 63 participants. These included regional representatives as well as stakeholders from the private sector, local communities, and NGOs who attended three national workshops in Greece, Latvia, and Poland. The utilization of the tool will help environmental and civil society organizations to identify biodiversity threats during the life cycle of wind energy projects. The consultation mechanism allows an earlier identification of biodiversity threats, leading to a more effective and proactive risk mitigation strategy, through the involvement of local communities and environmental NGOs in monitoring and mitigating the impact of wind farms on biodiversity. As a result, the consultation mechanism is expected to increase transparency and curb local opposition to wind energy projects by making civil society an integral part of wind energy planning and biodiversity preservation. Following the workshops, the online mechanism will be pilot tested by Region of Western Greece Region in Greece and Zemgale Planning Region in Latvia, in the framework of the Interreg Europe project BIOWIND.

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Municipal energy management reduces consumption and emissions measurably

In the EUKI project "Municipal Energy Management", municipalities in Bulgaria, Germany, Lithuania and Slovenia demonstrated how structured energy monitoring contributes directly to climate protection. Using practical tools and training, local administrations were able to translate the energy data they collected into concrete measures. In 61 public buildings, optimised heating controls and more efficient lighting led to 1.5 million kWh of energy saved and 478 tonnes less CO₂ - a reduction in consumption of 7.3% and emissions of 8.5%. The impact is long-lasting: 13 municipalities have committed to introducing permanent energy management and further expanding their capacities - a sustainable impetus for climate-friendly municipal administration.

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Križevci launches Croatia’s first Climate Action Plan for Agriculture

Through EUKI project Smart Organic Food Initiative (SOFI), the city of Križevci has developed Croatia’s first Climate Action Plan for Agriculture. Officially adopted in February 2025, the plan proposes concrete measures for municipalities, producers, farmers, and consumers to reduce agricultural emissions and promote sustainable soil management.The project strengthened local actors’ understanding of the link between soil health, biodiversity, and climate change. A thesis by a student at the University of Križevci confirmed that SOFI significantly raised community awareness of sustainable agriculture and climate action.The plan supports environmentally friendly farming practices that help lower CO₂ emissions over time and serves as a model for similar initiatives across Southeast Europe.

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Budapest's Solar Cadastre: Clear as Day for the Energy Transition

The EUKI project "Low carbon investments in Budapest" has created the first comprehensive solar cadastre for Budapest. This has analysed the photovoltaic potential of 345,000 roof surfaces - a total of 5,000 MW of installable capacity. This data-based foundation significantly exceeds the city's previous expansion targets and enables targeted investments in a low-carbon future. By the end of 2023, over 100,000 people had already used the platform - a clear signal of public interest and the need for comprehensible tools for the energy transition.

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Less Emissions, More Altitude: Romania’s Path to Climate-Friendly Mountain Huts

The Carpathians are becoming an increasingly popular hiking destination – but they still lack sustainable huts for overnight stays. The Transylvanian Carpathian Tourists Association (SKV) and the Carpathian Section of the German Alpine Club addressed this challenge through EUKI project Reducing Emissions in Carpathian Mountain Huts. Project manager Marcel Șofariu and architect Nicolae-Daniel Tulban visited 25 huts across Europe to identify best practices for reducing emissions in sensitive mountain regions. The resulting 250-page guideline outlines how future huts can be built and operated with minimal environmental impact. It promotes a dual approach: minimising energy use and applying simple, low-carbon technologies. Twelve practical solutions show how local materials, solar power, or compact layouts can make huts more climate-friendly without compromising comfort. The project raised awareness among architects, engineers, and policymakers for sustainable building in high mountain environments – and has already inspired initiatives beyond Romania.

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WiseEuropa honored with Energy Transformation Leader 2025 Award

At a gala held by the Polish Climate Congress, WiseEuropa was honored with the Energy Transformation Leader 2025 award. The organisation received the award for its efforts to protect biodiversity in wind energy within EUKI project Wind4Bio. The Climate Congress is the largest business congress in Poland focused on investments impacting the achievement of climate goals. The Congress held the gala on March 25, 2025, in Warsaw to honor individuals and organisations driving the green transformation. These activities were recognized by esteemed Polish organisations such as the National Energy Conservation Agency and the National Center for Research and Development who are represented on the jury.

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Citizens' Energy: A Successful Model from Greece

Within the framework of the EUCENA (European Citizen Energy Academy) project two citizen energy projects were created that have contributed to combating energy poverty, promoting renewable energy, and strengthening local structures. CommonEn installed two solar systems in Ioannina (Greece) with a total capacity of almost 200 kWp, one of which was implemented after the project was completed. The project now has 63 members. It is supporting the municipality in establishing an office to tackle energy poverty and in developing Greece's first urban agrivoltaic project. To date, investments totaling €159,000 have been triggered, producing 273,000 kWh of clean energy annually, resulting in a CO2 savings of 108 tons. Another milestone is the establishment of the Greek Association of Energy Communities, which now represents over 4,000 members from across the country. It emerged from networking events held within the framework of EUCENA. The online platform "Community Energy Agora" also remains active.

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Energy Scouts Drive Efficiency in North Macedonian Steelworks

Two Energy Scouts, Eleonora Jovanovska and Tijana Shaleva, achieved remarkable energy and CO2 reductions at MAKSTIL steelworks in Skopje, North Macedonia. Through their project, they identified the potential to optimise the electric arc furnace (EAF) by implementing an Eccentric Bottom Tapping (EBT) system. This system significantly reduced energy consumption, saving 12 GWh of electricity annually and cutting CO2 emissions by 6,700 tons. The changes will also save approximately 2 million euros per year in operational costs, with an investment payback period of just 2.58 years. The project earned Eleonora and Tijana recognition as "Best Energy Scouts of the Year" in North Macedonia. Their work not only demonstrated practical solutions but also highlighted the role of Energy Scouts in driving industrial sustainability and efficiency.

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Upcoming Events

24. February 2026

Project Event
,

Online Conference: Supporting Natural Carbons Sinks in Agricultural Landscapes

05. March 2026

Academy Event
,

EUKI Academy Web Seminar: Just Transition – Engagement and Communication Strategies

17.03.26 - 18.03.26

Academy Event
Poland, PL

EUKI Networking Event on Finance Management

17.03.26 - 18.03.26

Academy Event
Warsaw, PL

Registration EUKI Networking Event on Finance Management

19.05.26 - 20.05.26

Academy Event
Berlin, DE

EUKICON26

21. May 2026

Academy Event
Berlin, DE

EUKI Academy Training on Purposeful Partnerships

16.06.26 - 17.06.26

Academy Event
Bucharest, RO

EUKI Communication Strategy Workshop 2026

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ForBioSink - Forests for Climate and Biodiversity

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Beyond Fossil Gas in CEE

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Transforming Invisible Buildings

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