On 29 September 2025, ALDA’s Environment & Climate Hub held its first online exchange with members, under the title “Exchange with the Environment & Climate Hub: Your Voice in Our Work”. This initiative brought together organisations from across Europe and beyond, strengthening collaboration in the fields of environment and climate and shaping the Hub together.
The event represented a milestone for member participation, in line with ALDA’s Strategy 2024–2028. Its goal was twofold: to inform members about the Hub’s priorities and activities, and to carefully listen to their needs, expectations, and proposals. In doing so, it laid the groundwork for new tools and future activities, ensuring that members’ voices remain central in the process.
Participants included local authorities, civil society organisations, and staff from ALDA and ALDA+, alongside the Environment & Climate Hub team. They engaged in interactive discussions to share experiences, best practices, challenges, and needs, while also deepening their understanding of the Hub – its priorities, projects, and tools for members.
Members reflected on the Hub’s priorities and shared experiences related to Green Skills and Environmental Education, Circular Economy, the Inclusive and Just Transition, and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. Transversal themes such as energy, water, and the gender–climate nexus were also at the centre of the exchange.
Members confirmed that Green Skills and Environmental Education are the top priorities driving the Hub’s future work
The exchange revealed that Green Skills and Environmental Education stand out as top priorities for members. Organisations stressed the importance of accessible, inclusive, and innovative approaches to environmental learning. Circularity and energy transition were also highlighted, particularly in relation to local public buildings and the construction sector.
The event was above all an opportunity for members to meet one another and exchange ideas and initiatives implemented at the local level. What emerged most clearly was the members’ need to connect – not only with ALDA, but also among themselves – and their strong interest in advocacy, especially in bridging grassroots innovation with higher-level policymaking. ALDA and the Hub can respond to these needs by acting as a connector between local initiatives and the European level, helping members to maximise their impact locally while also creating more spaces for exchange and visibility.
Members also expressed their wish for the Hub to strengthen its tools for networking, training, and project co-design. The event confirmed their desire to move from dialogue to action: 90% expressed interest in collaborating on project proposals, while over half were interested in the Hub newsletter (60%), communities of interest (50%), online meetings on specific topics (50%), and a dedicated mailing list for Hub-related opportunities. One particularly innovative proposal was the creation of a platform to connect members, enabling them to better understand each other’s initiatives, expertise, and activities, and to collaborate more effectively.
The insights gathered during this exchange will feed directly into the next steps of the Hub, including the in-person event in Brussels on 23 October 2025, entitled “Beyond Awareness: How Civil Society Shapes the Green and Smart City”.
Register here to take part in the development of the Environment and Climate Hub!
By listening to its members and providing the tools they need, ALDA’s Environment & Climate Hub is building a strong foundation for collective action towards a just and sustainable future.
By listening to its members and providing the tools they need, ALDA’s Environment & Climate Hub is building a
