This report presents the initial version of the Inclusiveness and Diversity (I&D) Management Plan, which will be further developed and refined during the project. The plan aims to be both practical and applicable, serving as a living document that reflects our evolving understanding and commitment to inclusiveness and diversity.
These principles are embedded at all levels of the project:
in our internal processes and the way the consortium/partners collaborates,
in the methods we apply during partnerships, workshops, events, local processes among stakeholders in each city,
and most importantly, in how we approach our pilots and regreening in our cities—ensuring the involvement of all citizens and mostly communities in vulnerable neighborhoods in both decision-making and implementation phases.
Hence our strategy is structured according to these three different scales.
Inclusiveness is not limited to representation; it is integral to how our project consortium generates results and how it operates as a team. We believe that diversity means creating a setting where everyone feels welcomed and included. Furthermore we support that a lasting impact can only be achieved when the full range of societal diversity is acknowledged and embraced. At the same time diversity-related actions can only succeed if they are designed with concrete impact in mind.
An inclusiveness and diversity strategy of ClimaGen is a path to explore how the project engages various stakeholders, especially in our pilot areas that have characteristics of vulnerable neighborhoods. It will highlight the project's efforts to increase and improve public green spaces, involve local communities through co-creative measures, and ensure diverse participation in governance, planning, designing, and decision-making processes. All Inclusiveness and Diversity Management Plans will emphasize the project's commitment to use stakeholder diversity as a strength, fostering resilience, and promoting climate-neutrality through inclusive and collaborative approaches.
ClimaGen involves 9 urban areas working together to make the transition to climate-resilient and net-zero cities inclusive and sustainable. This report is co-created with and will be deployed by all ClimaGen cities and other partners. It highlights that ensuring Inclusiveness and Diversity is a central value to the ClimaGen project, to achieve alignment among project partners and stakeholders. We also aim to inspire other cities to implement co-creative inclusion methods in their transition towards climate neutrality.
ClimaGen is based on four pillars: Co-Creation, Social and Artistic Innovation, Open Science, and Resilience. These pillars will guide the development of integrated renaturing measures, local governance strategies, and knowledge sharing. Feedback from partners will be gathered to assess how they will implement these pillars. Future workshops will engage partners further, highlighting the links between I&D and various work packages. Communication and dissemination efforts will ensure the project reaches a wide audience with inclusive language and will try to invite the citizens to be part of its co-creative processes.
The project integrates the New European Bauhaus (NEB) values and principles as important aspects of inclusivity, especially the principle of “together,” both at the project level and at the level of participating cities. The NEB principle of togetherness is reflected in how ClimaGen engages all partners and stakeholders through co-creation and participatory methods, ensuring collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and communities. Aiming to consider the needs and priorities of our stakeholders, involve them in our work, and adapt to changes in the project or city context. How to implement the NEB principle of togetherness in practice is central to our Inclusiveness and Diversity Management Plan: through co-design workshops, citizen science approaches, artistic and social innovation, and inclusive governance processes, the project ensures that no group is left out, particularly vulnerable communities. ClimaGen fosters innovative solutions by applying these co-creation and participatory NEB principles in its methodology. The project uses NEB values and principles for collaboration, creating innovations, enriching decision-making processes, and contributing to inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient urban transformations.
Emphasizing Inclusiveness and Diversity (I&D) as core value is crucial because it enhances collaboration by bringing diverse perspectives, fostering innovative solutions and enrich decision-making processes, leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes. It promotes fairness and just by ensuring that all stakeholders, especially different vulnerable groups/people in communities and neighborhoods, have a voice and are actively involved in the project. Their differences can be related to visible factors like age and gender, as well as invisible factors such as economic status or mental ability.
Also this approach helps build stronger, more resilient communities by addressing the unique needs and strengths of different groups, fostering social cohesion and a sense of belonging and ownership essential for successful urban transitions. Additionally, diverse inputs allow the project to better anticipate and respond to changes in the local context, ensuring long-term success.
The remainder of the report is structured to provide both conceptual grounding and practical guidance. Section 2 introduces the project’s overall approach, theoretical framework, and methodological choices that inform the Inclusiveness and Diversity Management Plan. Section 3 presents a description of the nine ClimaGen cities and their specific neighborhood contexts, offering insight into the diverse urban and social conditions where the project will be implemented. Section 4 outlines the Inclusiveness Strategy, detailing guidelines at three distinct levels: internal processes among ClimaGen partners, collaborative activities such as workshops and events, and the implementation of pilot actions for urban regreening.
Download: