Obtaining mandate and setting cooperation
Climate Budget Training Course: Module 2
This module introduces how cities can begin climate budgeting in ways that reflect their local mandate and context – while meeting key prerequisites for success. Participants explore how to lay strong foundations, build internal capacity and foster cross-departmental cooperation. Practical examples from the cities Riga, Vienna and Norderstedt illustrate how different sectors can contribute climate actions and how collaboration enables tailored yet effective climate budgeting approaches.
Recording of the training
Overview of Module 2 presentations
Module 2 focused on how cities can begin climate budgeting processes in ways that reflect their own local context, governance structures, and capacities. The module explored the foundations and requirements needed for successful implementation, while emphasizing the importance of internal cooperation, capacity-building, and cross-departmental engagement. This session opened with an introduction to the Climate-4-CAST project by Olena Zinchuk and Donald Alimi, highlighting how the project supports cities through the open-source Climate Action Decision Support (CADS) Tool. The training also introduced the C40 Climate Budgeting Framework, defining climate budgeting as a governance system that integrates climate targets into financial planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting processes across city administrations.
Kim Tatum from HafenCity University Hamburg and Hannes Anagrius from Uppsala University discussed different approaches to climate budgeting and emphasized that there is no one-size-fits-all model. The presentations highlighted that climate budgeting can begin through either informal dialogue-based approaches or more formalized governance structures integrated into municipal budgeting processes. Examples from Oslo and Tampere demonstrated how cities connect emissions considerations with financial decision-making. A key message throughout the session was that climate budgeting should be understood as a continuous and iterative process that evolves over time through assessment, review, and adaptation to local political and institutional conditions.
Practical city experiences from Riga and Vienna demonstrated how climate neutrality goals can be supported through collaboration across departments and sectors. Inga Pelša from the Riga Energy Agency presented Riga’s Climate City Contract process and emphasized co-creation, stakeholder involvement, and internal consultations as important elements in developing climate actions and shared ownership of climate goals. The presentation also addressed common challenges such as limited municipal resources, political expectations, and data availability. At the same time, participants were encouraged to view climate neutrality not as a sacrifice, but as an opportunity to improve quality of life, create cleaner urban environments, and strengthen long-term resilience.