Empowering cities in the energy transition in Romania: takeaways from our latest national workshop

The city of Brașov served as the ground for innovative energy policies by hosting the Annual Conference of the Energy Cities Romania Association (OER) last week, on March 11th, 2025. As Covenant Coordinators, OER used its Conference to gather Romania municipalities, including Covenant signatories, and other key stakeholders to discuss opportunities and challenges for the local energy transition in Romania.

Built around the theme "Cities as Energy Consumers: Challenges and Solutions for the Future", the event brought together key actors from the central government, regional and local authorities, as well as civil society representatives, to discuss pathways towards a sustainable energy horizon for Romanian cities. The conference was a dynamic platform for dialogue, collaboration and inspiration, highlighting a shared commitment to tackling the challenges of climate neutrality and energy sufficiency.

The event opened with an overview of Energy Cities Romania’s ongoing initiatives such as Clean Energy Transition Assistance Centres, Renewable Energy Communities and Community Mobility Cooperatives, emphasising OER's commitment to climate neutrality through carbon reduction strategies and innovative renewable energy solutions.

Interactive workshop: Local Challenges, Collective Solutions

The main focus of the conference was the Covenant of Mayors interactive workshop, which addressed important topics including green public procurement, citizen engagement, waste management, renewable energy production and sustainable mobility. 

Approximately 20 local and regional authorities worked together to identify practical solutions for common challenges. The proposed solutions included educational campaigns, the implementation of eco-friendly public transport and the promotion of partnerships between local administrations and civil society. 

Some workshop highlights included discussions around:

• Green Public Procurement & Public Lighting: Towns explored strategies such as phased financing and outsourcing procurement to meet sustainability goals.
• Citizen Participation in Decisional Processes: Cities shared successes in engaging NGOs, businesses and community groups in local decision-making.
• Sustainable Transport & Mobility: From eco-friendly public transport to metropolitan rail systems, innovative ideas were championed by different local authorities.
• Waste Management: Educational campaigns and energy recovery from clean waste fractions emerged as key solutions for towns and cities.
• Building Renovation: Participating communities debated existing legislation prioritizing nearly zero energy buildings to reduce consumption.
• Local Renewable Energy Production: Local authorities shared worries over potential imbalance and under-dimensioned energy systems, proposing various technical solutions.

Mrs. Iudit Bere-Semeredi from Timiș County Council captured the essence of the session with her statement: "These solutions are not merely ideas; they are living examples of what cities can achieve when ambition meets action, exemplifying how collaboration can drive sustainable policies.” 

The workshop fostered a sense of unity, with participants sharing insights and exchanging best practices. As one attendee noted, "The solutions may differ, but the spirit of collaboration unites us".

Inspiration from the Covenant of Mayors

The session was also the opportunity for Romanian stakeholders to discover opportunities and good examples from the Covenant of Mayors' network, empowering cities to adopt tangible climate actions. 

Cities found out more about the ongoing Cities Heat Detox campaign, on heating decarbonisation, aiming to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in urban heating and cooling systems. 

They also were informed about the personalised support for small and medium-sized cities, "From idea to action", offering tailored technical assistance to transform city plans into executable strategies, addressing governance, planning and financing hurdles.

The conference underscored the importance of political commitment, active citizen participation and cross-sector collaboration in achieving energy transition. By fostering inclusive strategies, mobilising investments and ensuring continuous dialogue across all societal levels, Romanian cities could drive transformative changes toward sustainable energy.