A new perspective for Energie-Cités and its partners

To achieve this goal, Energie-Cités is launching a prospective activity...

Because:

• issues relating to climate change and energy resources are closely linked and in the future will take on dimensions which are completely unpredictable today,
• the type of society we will be living in tomorrow will be strongly influenced by the energy model we are responsible for building on our territories,
• we need to invent a future energy model that is compatible with what the planet can cope with and reduce the energy vulnerability of the territories and their inhabitants,

... and proposes sharing it with a number of partners.

This activity will bring together a range of various partners: local authorities, motivated stakeholders, professional associations (architects, town planners, transport and housing managers, foresters, businesses, artisans, etc.), industrial and service companies, banks and insurance companies, universities, research centres and institutes, information specialists, methodologists, NGOs, artists, philosophers, sociologists, prospective analysts and various institutions.

This project will be known as ”IMAGINE” energy for the future of European cities [1].

First activities to take place... As early as 2006, this will include:

• an exhibition of exemplary territorial practices, accessible from a virtual location and reproducible across Europe,
• a first prospective seminar which will take place in France in a symbolic venue, the former Royal Salt Works, whose eginnings were linked to energy reasons (availability of wood) and whose demise in the late 18th century was precipitated due to an inability to adapt to a new energy context (coal).

Energie-Cités calls all interested public, private and community organisations to embark on this partnership venture!

Gérard Magnin
Executive Director