This open access book examines the role of social innovation in cities as an important lever towards climate neutrality. Social innovations are people-centred collaborative solutions, activating the urban ecosystem for change and providing platforms for citizens, civic organizations, the private sector, and governmental institutions to collaborate towards the goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The book, based on work developed within the EU-funded project NetZeroCities, which aims to support over 100 European cities to be climate-neutral by 2030, outlines methods, cases, and pathways of social innovation in Europe. It presents social innovation design process pathways through methods, categories of actions, and related cases for developing and scaling social innovations at the urban level, contributing to a systemic approach to tackle the grand challenge of reaching net zero. Within these pages, researchers and policymakers can find examples of cities that have deployed innovative public administration practices by systemically embedding social innovation in varied fields of urban action plans, including energy, citizen engagement, and behavioural change for lowering carbon emissions and increasing well-being.

This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access Outlines methods and cases to foster social innovation for climate neutrality environments Is valuable to researchers, policymakers, public managers, citizens, and international organizations Showcases strategies and solutions to achieve climate neutrality and decarbonization in a socially inclusive way

Inhalt

The role of social innovation in climate neutrality.- Integrating Social Innovation in Cities' Portfolios of Action: Building robust ecosystems for (of) collective action and social impact.- Strategizing for Climate Neutrality. How to make Social Innovation relevant in the city's journey to climate neutrality.- Social Innovation Scaling at Urban Level.- Ten social innovation case studies to address cities' challenges: citizens engagement, energy and behavioral change.- Activating Ecosystems for Change by Enriching the Civic Soil for Social
Innovation. The Wiener Klimateam project as a case study.- Social Innovation Design Pathways and Methods toward Net Zero.- Advancing Social Innovation for a Carbon-Neutral Future: A Portfolio-based Approach for the New European Bauhaus.