“IMAGINE, the energy future of our cities is” a long-term initiative of Energie-Cités, that started in 2006. Its main purpose is based on the idea that we need to imagine a future energy model that is compatible with what the planet can cope with and reduce the energy and climate vulnerability of the territories and their habitants. Indeed, we think that:

  • issues relating to climate change and energy resources are closely linked and will in the future take on dimensions which are completely unpredictable today,
  • our current development model is not viable and the parts of the world which have been excluded from it now also want their share,
  • we, the so-called industrialised countries, will have to reduce our CO2 emissions a factor 4 by 2050, which involves reducing our energy consumption a factor 3,
  • this will only be possible if somewhat fundamental changes are implemented. It will also require the widespread implementation of existing solutions, even when these are today at a marginal stage of development.

Why not ?

The IMAGINE initiative aims at encouraging the European territories to prepare for their future by making them less vulnerable to energy risks and returning to them the responsibility for their energy consumption and its associated impacts on resources, climate and wastes.

Within the time horizon of one generation, IMAGINE responds to the obvious energy challenges of our civilization. History has shown that energy and the development of civilisation are correlated.

All of society - and each territory – must now envision its "desired future." IMAGINE is based on an integration of two imperatives: first, responding with clarity to our obvious challenges and, second, embracing participative democracy.

Taking into account the dynamic parallels, convergent or contradictory, and the broad range of actors influencing energy consumption and production within the territories, IMAGINE poses the territory as the place where integration can occur.

IMAGINE is also concerned with solidarity between the territories, and with the world scene, as the development of one part of the world depends on the energy behaviour of others.

To be more effective in practice, IMAGINE intends to be based on the one hand, an integration of the two imperatives (above) and on the other hand, practical learning from existing practices which can already help to show the way forward.