The 2025 edition of the International Conference on Urban Regeneration and Sustainability was held from 16 to 18 September in Ancona, organized by the Wessex Institute.

Sustainable City 2025 brought together participants from different countries and disciplines to discuss the environmental challenges that define urban areas—from the consumption of natural resources to waste generation and pollution—factors that also contribute to growing social and economic inequalities. With urban populations continuing to expand worldwide, both long-standing and emerging issues are becoming increasingly acute, calling for innovative solutions to create liveable cities without jeopardizing our shared future.

Within the special session “Cities at the centre of climate action: supporting mitigation and adaptation through transnational projects and initiatives”, Virginia Dicuonzo (AISFOR) presented the paper “Empowering Local Authorities Through Participatory Energy Planning”, co-authored with Federica Ragazzo (RETE ASSIST).

The contribution showcased the methodology developed within the European project ENTRACK, funded under the LIFE programme, which supports small and medium-sized rural municipalities in Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain in drafting inclusive energy transition plans.

The presentation highlighted three key dimensions of the ENTRACK approach:

• Mapping of social energy policies at European, national, regional, and local levels, analysing their interactions and identifying which elements were effectively transposed into local contexts and which were not;
• Self-assessment of local policies, which revealed knowledge gaps and the need to strengthen dialogue with vulnerable groups;
• A participatory co-design process, structured through progressive workshops to define key actions such as energy poverty assessments, the establishment of one-stop-shops and renewable energy communities, and the formalization of commitments through a Climate Rural Contract.

Concrete outcomes were also presented, with a focus on the Italian case study in Vico Equense and Piano di Sorrento, where the methodology is supporting the creation of a Renewable Energy Community.

Participation in Sustainable City 2025 emphasized how ENTRACK’s value lies in its participatory, inclusive, and replicable model for energy planning in rural areas. By connecting policies, practices, and citizens’ perceptions and priorities, ENTRACK provides a roadmap that enables local authorities to co-create fair, effective, and resilient pathways towards climate neutrality.