The new policy brief from the ESCALATE project analyses the challenges faced by European cities in implementing the revised Energy Efficiency Directive, which will require municipalities with more than 45,000 inhabitants to develop local heating and cooling plans from 2026 onwards. The document highlights that, although many Member States are already adapting European legislation, significant obstacles remain related to the lack of specialised staff, funding, data and practical guidance needed to implement effective measures on the ground.

The analysis underlines that the decarbonisation of heating and cooling requires solutions tailored to each local context, taking into account factors such as urban density, existing infrastructure and institutional capacities. Countries such as France and Croatia are highlighted as examples of more ambitious approaches to local planning.

The report also stresses the need to strengthen training, simplify administrative procedures, and provide practical tools to enable local authorities to turn European climate objectives into viable and socially accepted projects.