Looking back on three years of RECET, this reflection explores how ideas, partnerships and local initiatives have taken root across rural Europe. As the project comes to an end, these small points of light continue to grow into practical action for the clean energy transition.

Many municipalities have climate ambitions, but approved actions do not always make it into municipal budgets or implementation. The RECET Action Bank offers practical actions and guidance to help municipalities turn climate plans into concrete steps.

.The RECET Action Bank offers 49 practical actions to help municipalities move from climate plans to implementation. The workshop also highlighted the need for capacity, funding, prioritisation and continued collaboration.

Municipalities across Iceland face different circumstances, but many share similar challenges when moving from climate plans to action. The workshop brought municipalities together to exchange experiences and explore how RECET tools can support local implementation.

A need identified through RECET has led to NordWetCap, a new initiative exploring wetland restoration as a local approach to carbon offsetting. The project builds on work with municipalities in the Westfjords and explores both climate and wider environmental benefits.

Ten municipalities in Northeast Iceland are joining forces to strengthen climate action through a shared digital emissions accounting system, providing better data to support climate planning, reporting and decision-making.

RECET has come to an end after 30 months of collaboration across Europe, highlighting how rural communities can play a vital role in the clean energy transition and turn local ideas into practical action.

RECET has been featured in the latest issue of EU Research, showcasing the project’s approach to the clean energy transition and the importance of collaboration across regions and sectors. Ottó Elíasson, Managing Director of Eimur, shares his perspective on the project and its contribution to sustainable energy planning.

RECET supported Karlshamn in developing a new energy plan, using a 10-step energy planning approach. As many Swedish municipalities are now working with the final steps of the process, steps 9 and 10 will be the focus of RECET’s regional final replication event in Karlskrona on 17 September 2026.

What kind of neighbour is your municipality? A reflection on how stronger cooperation between municipalities can create new relationships, innovative solutions and greater capacity to act on the clean energy transition.

Municipalities are different – just like tomatoes. RECET shared key lessons from its work on energy planning at the IN-PLAN national final conference in Gothenburg, highlighting the need for tailored approaches and a stronger focus on turning plans into action.

From a standing start in 2023, all five municipalities in Blekinge are now actively working with energy planning. RECET has supported this progress through knowledge-sharing, collaboration and practical approaches tailored to local needs.

Postojna is advancing its green transition through workshops, funding exploration, and a Local Energy Plan aligned with the European Green Deal.

Postojna is advancing its green transition through workshops, funding exploration, and a Local Energy Plan aligned with the European Green Deal.

Menorca launched a targeted awareness campaign to address common concerns about electric vehicles and encourage more residents to consider EVs when buying their next car.