SECTION: IMAGINE ...
IMAGINE
... Energy for the Future of European Cities
IMAGINE is a long-term initiative of Energie-Cités, aiming to help communities to better prepare the energy future of their territories.
Evolution of the energy context on the one hand (persistent upward trend in energy prices and scarcity of fossil resources) and that of the climatic context on the other, are going to induce us to radically modify- and as of now- our way of dealing with the development of our territories.
- Issues relating to climate change and energy resources are closely linked and will in future take on dimensions which are completely unpredictable today
- Our current development model is not viable and the parts of the world which have been excluded from it now also want their share
- We, the so-called industrialised countries, will have to reduce our CO2 emissions a factor 4 by 2050, which involves reducing our energy consumption a factor 3
- This will only be possible if somewhat fundamental changes are implemented. It will also require the widespread implementation of existing solutions, even when these are today at a stage of development that is still marginal.
We need to imagine a future energy model that is compatible with what the planet can cope with and reduce the energy vulnerability of the territories and their habitants
Dealing with energy in a territory has to do with town planning, economics, technologies, the environment, cultural aspects, societal organisation etc. It involves the whole of society in an intergenerational way, including elected representatives, technicians, philosophers, artists, energy specialists etc. This is why this initiative aims to mix people from all walks of life, and not just the traditional actors of the energy sector or specialists in territorial management.
The document below will provide you with a complete description of the IMAGINE concept and strategy (updated May 2007):
IMAGINE combines foresight reflection with action in the field. It started concretely in 2006 with:
- a foresight seminar which takes place every year in November at the Royal Salt Works of Arc & Senans (FR),
- an exhibition “Beacon regions, cities, neighbourhoods…” of exemplary and innovative territorial practices,
- the preparation of a European-wide IMAGINE campaign to help cities achieving the goals of the European Union in the field of Energy efficiency and Climate protection.
A blog was created in 2007 to support the exchanges between the seminarists, before, during, and after, the meetings in Arc-et-Senans. For any further information on the IMAGINE seminar, please visit the blog and if you like, do not hesitate to add your own comments.
IMAGINE 3rd seminar: "Change course! Towards a sustainable… and desirable future"
The goal of the IMAGINE seminar is to continuously develop and refine the IMAGINE concepts that will sustain other actions of the initiative. It gathers every year about 40 people around a set of crucial issues on what could be "the energy future of our cities".
The third edition of the IMAGINE seminar was held in Arc-et-Senans from 18th to 20th of November 2008. The theme of the year was "Change course! Towards a sustainable… and desirable future"
Discover all pictures of the seminar on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/energie-cites/
Download the 2008 seminar materials:
The Royal Salt Works of Arc & Senans (FR) is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose history was closely linked to energy, from its beginnings until its demise. The Royal Salt Works is a symbolic site and a place of practical utopia. It is therefore a highly suitable venue for our exchanges. The place is lindly made available to us free of charge by the Conseil Général du Doubs (Doubs County Council). See all the partners involved in the IMAGINE initiative.
IMAGINE 2nd seminar: "Changing our mindsets: inspiration from sustainable districts"
Download the 2007 seminar materials:
IMAGINE 1st Seminar - November 2006
Download the 2006 seminar materials:
Contact: Blandine Pidoux
Travelling exhibition “Beacon regions, cities, neighbourhoods…”
Discover more about the IMAGINE Exhibition and make a virtual visit!
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Contact: Miriam Eisermann
IMAGINE Partners
The IMAGINE initiative receives the support of:
Conseil Général du Doubs (Doubs County Council)
Conseil Régional de Franche-Comté (Franche-Comté Regional Council)
the ADEME (French National Energy Agency)
and in partnership with the campaign "Faisons vite ça chauffe"
and the Philips Lighting Company.