Cities are full of stories, some visible, and many unheard. On the 20th of October, the Neutrality Story Maps (NSM) platform opened to the public, inviting citizens to map their experiences of climate change and urban transformation in our UP2030 cities.
Developed within UP2030, NSM is a digital platform where personal narratives meet spatial data. It is designed to discover and explore the lived realities of climate neutrality challenges and efforts, making room for voices that often go unnoticed in policy and planning.
A Platform Built with Cities, for Citizens
NSM was co-designed with ten pilot cities, each bringing its own challenges, priorities, and communities into the process. The result is a flexible tool that adapts to local contexts. Whether you use the tool to gather reflections from marginalized groups, to showcase grassroots initiatives or to spark dialogue around urban change, NSM can be adjusted for your purpose.
But NSM is not only a space for citizens to share their stories. It also enables cities to communicate how they are addressing risks, from heat stress to mobility exclusion, and to promote their initiatives to tackle these challenges. NSM offers an accessible format for multimedia narratives, allowing cities to build transparency, foster trust, and make complex climate strategies more relatable to everyday life.
Stories as Catalysts for Change
By linking stories to specific places, NSM helps cities raise awareness and understand how climate policies are felt on the ground. These geotagged narratives reveal patterns of resilience, exclusion, and innovation. They turn everyday experiences into insights that can inform more just and inclusive urban planning and climate action.
From Launch to Local Action
This public launch marks the beginning of a new phase. UP2030 cities will now begin integrating NSM into their engagement strategies, using it to start community dialogues and inspire climate neutral lifestyles. The platform is not just a repository, it’s a tool for social learning, trust-building, and collective imagination.
Whether you're a citizen with a story to tell, a city looking to connect with your community, or a policymaker seeking grounded insights, Neutrality Story Maps is ready for you. Explore the platform, contribute your voice, and help shape the climate-neutral cities of tomorrow.
Explore the platform on this link: https://m4d.services.iti.gr/up2030/app/test-city
Contact
Imec-SMIT VUB, email: Milutin.djuraskovic@vub.be
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This project has received funding from the Horizon Innovation Actions under the grant agreement n° 101096405.