SPARCS
SPARCS stands for Sustainable energy-Positive and zero-cARbon CommunitieS, and the project is supported by the European Union. SPARCS is a collaborative project of 30 participants helping European cities become sustainable, eco-friendly and carbon-neutral communities.
Reykjavík is participating in the project.
Why?
Sustainable, eco-friendly and carbon-neutral communities have many benefits:
- Improve people's quality of life
- Benefit the environment
- Boost the economy
- Reduce energy consumption and costs
- Eco-friendly transportation and short distances to shops and services
- Enhance resilience to climate change impacts
- Can serve as models for other European cities - and globally
The cities
Several cities participate in the project either as Lighthouse Cities or Fellow Cities. Extensive testing of new technology related to energy transition and improved energy efficiency in urban areas is conducted in Lighthouse Cities. Fellow Cities further develop methods tested in Lighthouse Cities to adapt them to new cities and conditions.
Espoo (FI) and Leipzig (DE) are the project's Lighthouse Cities, while the Fellow Cities are Kifissia (GR), Kladno (CZ), Lviv (UA), Maia (PT), and Reykjavík (IS).
SPARCS is helping Espoo in Finland achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and Leipzig in Germany reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 2.5 tons by 2050.
How?
SPARCS helps transform European cities into sustainable, eco-friendly and carbon-neutral communities by:
- Implementing smart energy solutions and systems
- Creating ecosystems that optimize distribution system management and maximize energy storage efficiency
- Improving and encouraging eco-friendly transportation to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions
- Strengthening dialogue and collaboration between residents, researchers, planners, city managers and businesses on urban sustainability
Further information
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 864242
The management of the project in Reykjavík is overseen by the Economic & Urban Development Team at the Office of the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer:
International research and innovation projects:
Team email: aron@reykjavik.is
Contact at Reykjavík City:
Sylva Lam, Climate Project Manager
Project Manager of Climate Issues, Project Leader of SPARCS
Phone: +(354) 760-8815
email: sylva.lam@reykjavik.is