This wrap-up has been compiled by the Programme
PROGRAMME 2021-2027
Priority 3 Climate-neutral societies
Objective 3.1 Circular economy
CCI4Change:
Wrap-up of project achievements
Encouraging people to reduce their energy consumption is one of the biggest challenges of the green transition. The Interreg CCI4Change project addressed it by bringing together municipalities, creative professionals, and local communities to inspire more sustainable energy habits using existing local resources rather than additional financial investments. The result is an open-access toolkit that helps others apply these methods in their own communities.
Highlights
CCI4Change
Highlights
BREC
The project CCI4Change has successfully addressed the challenge of reducing energy consumption by bringing together local authorities, culture and creative industries and citizens in Finland, Latvia and Sweden to find new ways to encourage more sustainable energy habits. Five creative, practical demonstrations/case studies that engaged local residents were selected by Local authorities and implemented by NGOs and companies in Kotka (FI), Jūrmala (LV), and Skåne region (SE).
Based on those case studies, the project developed a CCI4Change toolkit, containing a joint methodology to help local authorities and creative actors collaborate in engaging citizens toward more sustainable energy consumption behaviours.
In short, the project tested collaborative and creative approach to facilitate reduction of energy consumption in municipalities. It provided local authorities and creative actors with
o Toolset to facilitate forward citizen mindset and behaviour change for reducing energy
Download links
Project
Details
Project type
Small project
Project duration
August 2023 – July 2025
Contribution to the EUSBSR
PA Culture
PA Energy
Budget in million
EURO
Involved
Countries
Lead partner
Project partners
CCI4Change Toolkit
Best practice guidance for advanced wastewater treatment
The project developed the CCI4Change Toolkit, a practical, open-access resource that helps local authorities, creative professionals, and intermediary organisations work together to address climate-related challenges, with a particular focus on reducing energy consumption together with communities.
The toolkit is designed for public authorities looking for creative ways to engage people beyond traditional policy communication, creative professionals who want to contribute to sustainability through their work, and intermediary organisations that connect the public sector with the creative community.It provides a step-by-step collaboration model that guides users through four key phases: Identify, Plan & Learn, Act, and Evaluate, helping partners co-create impactful community initiatives.
The toolkit includes a wide range of downloadable, adaptable resources, such as the Action to Impact Wheel, the Roadmap for Collaboration, the Trust Radar, and practical tips for co-creation and citizen engagement to inspire local climate and energy-saving actions.
It also features five case studies from demonstration actions in Kotka (Finland), Jūrmala (Latvia), and the Skåne region (Sweden), showing how creative approaches can engage citizens and encourage them to reduce their energy consumption.
Get inspired
Pilot activities
Educational materials
Case studies were an important element of the toolkit:
- In Kotka (Finland), the “Energeezer” case study engaged high school students in the “Energy Gobbler in Kotka” game jam, where they developed ideas for an energy-themed character inspired by the city. Their concepts became the basis for a professionally designed computer game in which players help the Energeezer learn energy-saving habits. By turning energy efficiency into a game, the project encouraged young people to adopt more sustainable behaviours in an engaging and relatable way.
The Banja Media case study brought together students from Kotka’s educational institutions and a professional filmmaking team, including a children’s author, to produce five humorous and engaging videos promoting energy-saving practices at home. Covering topics such as reducing hot water use and lowering indoor temperatures, the videos combined educational messages with entertainment, inspiring both the students and filmmakers to continue creating content on energy conservation and environmental protection. - In Jūrmala (Latvia), the case study focused on the Kauguri district, where an arts and culture foundation engaged around 170 residents through meetings, guided walks, interviews, and conversations at the local market. By exploring everyday life, local challenges, and attitudes towards energy use, the project gathered insights that inspired an artistic installation reflecting the connections between electricity and community.
- In the Skåne region (Sweden), the On Standby case study transformed household energy consumption data into sound. Residents in Malmö tracked the overnight electricity use of their appliances, and the data, together with recordings of participants sharing their thoughts on energy use and daily routines, became a unique soundscape. Broadcast on local radio and shared online, the artwork encouraged people to reflect on their own energy habits and feel more connected to the topic of energy consumption.The Zero Sum Residency case study at the Ifö Center in Bromölla transformed a former ceramics factory into a creative space for exploring energy systems and sustainable living. Through artist residencies, community discussions, workshops, and a public exhibition using reused materials, the pilot brought together artists, designers, and local residents to inspire new perspectives on energy and sustainable living.
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Interreg pays off
CCI4Change
Interreg pays off: BREC
CCI4Change became a part of the energy transition Platform EnTra, where it will further use and promote the developed toolkit among the local authorities across the Baltic Sea region.
In numbers
9 organisations cooperating across borders
46 organisations directly benefitting from project solutions
Project Wrap-Up
Thanks to Interreg funding and transnational cooperation across Sweden, Latvia, and Finland, the project increased awareness, built trust, and strengthened connections between the public sector and creative professionals. It provided municipalities with an innovative and cost-effective way to engage citizens in reducing energy consumption. By making energy use tangible, engaging, and easy to relate to, the project demonstrated that cultural and creative actors can play an important role in encouraging more sustainable practices and energy-saving behaviours in communities and organisations.
