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REALLOCATE joins the mobility renaissance at the CIVITAS Forum
9 October 2024
"Designing urban spaces that prioritise people and integrate innovative mobility solutions are crucial for a just transition. When executed thoughtfully, these efforts will lead to happier, healthier, and more resilient communities”.
These were just some of the reflections of Thomas Haddock, Coordinator of NetZeroCities, while cycling over 300km to Parma for the CIVITAS Forum last week! Upon his arrival Thomas and Andreas Piller, CIVITAS coordinator, signed an MoU, which outlines how the CIVITAS Initiative and NetZeroCities will work together to strengthen support for cities to develop sustainable mobility systems as a cornerstone of their transition to climate neutrality.
"Together we’re putting the wheels of climate neutrality in motion” emphasises Andreas, highlighting the essential role that active mobility plays in achieving climate neutrality.
The CIVITAS Forum, which took place between 1-3 October, is the flagship conference of the CIVITAS Initiative. REALLOCATE was also represented at the event by various partners in panel sessions as well as in the exhibition area together with sister projects Just Streets and Elaborator. By joining forces with 400+ sustainable mobility policymakers, practitioners, planners, academics and more, REALLOCATE contributed to sharing knowledge and collaborating towards three key streams:
- Climate-neutral and resilient mobility
- Smart, connected and efficient mobility
- Inclusive and safe mobility for all
Day 1 began with politicians from all over Europe coming together for the CIVITAS Politicians Exchange Forum. The focus was on implementing the EU cycling declaration at all levels. Some crucial elements discussed covered political leadership, ensuring a clear vision and financial resources to unleash the full potential of cycling. This lead to a key highlight of the event in the shape of the City of Parma commiting to the EU Cycling Declaration implementation. The document, which Gianluca Borghi (Parma Deputy Mayor for Environmental Sustainability, Energy and Mobility) signed in the closing ceremony on Day 3, outlines Parma's plans to set the wheels in motion for other cities to follow suit in implementing the European Declaration on Cycling.
Key themes highlighted by speakers and participants during the event covered financing, policy and infrastructure needs, as well as inclusion and collaboration. A delegation of youth representatives encouraged more youth involvement and diversity to better represent the needs of all in sustainable urban mobility planning. Gunta Anca, Vice president of the European Disability Forum, also reinforced the key message of the conference, that sustainable urban mobility is not only about green and active transport, but also about inclusivity and ensuring that no-one is left behind in the mobility transition.
View the photos from the CIVITAS Forum 2024.
Image: Lucy Russell / ICLEI Europe
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under grant agreement No. 101103924. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.


REALLOCATE is a project under the CIVITAS Initiative, an EU-funded programme working to make sustainable and smart mobility a reality for all, and contributes to the goals of the EU Mission Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities.