Filipe Araùjo, Deputy Mayor of Porto and Vice President of Energy Cities, has laid out a compelling vision for how resilient cities can drive Europe’s energy and environmental goals, even as the EU’s discourse shifts from the Green Deal to competitiveness. This pivot, Araùjo argues, is both a challenge and an opportunity for European cities striving to balance economic prosperity with environmental sustainability and public health.
At the heart of Araùjo’s vision is the concept of community wealth, where local economies thrive by meeting the needs of their inhabitants, preferably through local actors. This approach, he believes, is crucial for building resilient cities that can withstand crises and contribute to the EU’s competitiveness. “A city that is thriving is a place where there is community wealth,” Araùjo asserts, emphasizing the need for local economic systems and social bonds to be reinforced.
In the energy sector, this translates to increased renewable energy deployment, not just to combat climate change, but also to ensure stable and affordable energy access for all. However, speeding up renewable energy deployments requires widespread support. “Not in-my-backyard behaviours (NIMBY) are still a reality many local leaders are confronted with,” Araùjo acknowledges. To tackle this, Porto is championing local ownership of renewable energy, seeing it as a way to address NIMBYism, tackle energy poverty, and boost local economies.
Porto’s ambitious plan includes integrating all municipal social housing, around 12% of buildings in the municipality, into community energy projects. The city aims to install 6MW of solar power, providing clean, affordable electricity to vulnerable families. Some projects are already underway, like the energy community in the Agra do Amial district, which has been active since May 2024 and is providing renewable energy to its members, with around 50% of the energy generated consumed by vulnerable families.
However, Araùjo doesn’t shy away from the challenges. Cities often lack the staff and financial resources to lead participatory processes, especially when engaging vulnerable households. Burdensome administrative processes and challenging legal frameworks at the national level can also hinder innovative projects. Porto’s experience is a case in point, with it taking two years to connect social housing units to solar panels.
To overcome these hurdles, Araùjo calls for capacity-building programmes, local One Stop Shops to inform and engage citizens, and energy literacy programmes. He also stresses the need for multilevel governance, allowing cities to participate in decision-making processes that affect them. The upcoming Citizens Energy Package, Clean Industrial Deal, and EU Cohesion Policy reform present a unique opportunity to align the EU’s approach to competitiveness with its energy and environmental targets, Araùjo argues.
As the new EU Institutions take office, Araùjo’s insights serve as a clarion call for policymakers to prioritize resilient cities in Europe’s energy and environmental agenda. By doing so, they can ensure that the pursuit of competitiveness doesn’t come at the expense of public health, safety, and environmental sustainability. The coming period will be crucial in shaping the future of Europe’s energy landscape, and Araùjo’s vision offers a roadmap for a more resilient, democratic, and sustainable Europe.
