Authors: Olatz AzurzaIzaro Basurko, Estitxu VillamorOrtzi Akizu-GardokiAlvaro Campos, Iñaki Barcena

Thanks to the support of all the local authorities that have participated and are participating in mPower, we have been able to carry out the research “Urban Energy Transitions in Europe, towards Low-Socio-Environmental Impact Cities ”
The shared vision on the need for an energy transition towards a renewable, fair and democratic model is very necessary at this time, and the article makes it clear, for example, that the staff dedicated to the energy transition within the municipalities is vital for its achievement.

Abstract
Achieving the ambitious targets set by Europe in its 2050 roadmap, moving away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources, while reducing carbon emissions, will require a radical change in Europe’s energy system. Much of the action that will enable this energy transition to be realised in a democratic way is at the local level. It is at this level that many of the decisions regarding the energy transition desired by European citizens will have to be taken. The methodology used in this study is based on data collection, literature review, data validation and analysis. A part of this analysis will also be taken by the mPower project as a diagnostic baseline. The first finding of this research work is that energy transition data availability at the local level is quite low. Second, the local authorities are experiencing difficulties in decarbonising their energy consumption. Finally, the factor with highest positive relationships with other energy transition variables is the number of people employed in the field of energy transition. The results suggest that in order to lead a participatory energy transition, the workforce specifically dedicated to energy transition is a key factor, clearly differentiating it from staff working on the general energy field.

Download the full report here: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/21/11641/htm