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An Interview with the President of

Grenoble European Green Capital 2022 Agency

Maud Tavel

January 10, 2023

Having forged a career in public accountability since 2014, Ms. Maud Tavel has headed up several large-scale development projects. Today, she is the Deputy Mayor of Grenoble, President of the Régie Lumière and the Vice-President of Gas Electricity of Grenoble.

How have you—and the Green Capital programme—encouraged Grenoble's citizens and businesses to participate in the Green Capital programme?

 

The inhabitants and various organisations of Grenoble and its territory are mobilised around the European Green Capital Year through the thematic challenges and the events' programme that we wanted to be firmly diverse and participatory. The challenges are climate actions (listed on our website) which enabled the local stakeholders of Grenoble to take concrete actions around one or more of the themes of the year (Climate in January, Air in February, Energy, Nature and Biodiversity, Produce and Consume Differently, Inequalities, Water, Health, Mobilities in September, Food and Agriculture in October, Waste in November and Live in the City of Tomorrow in December to list them all). The extremely diverse program of events (artistic events, scientific conferences, guided tours of the eco-districts in Grenoble, for instance) touched all of the sectors of the city in order to raise awareness and to set into action the greatest number of inhabitants of Grenoble.

 

We have also organised a "Grenoble European Green Capital Partners' Committee" every quarter with the partners of the year, which bought together stakeholders from associations, public institutions and private companies. In total, more than 600 public and private partners have come on board and have worked together, sometimes for the very first time. We are immensely proud of this dynamic which must continue on beyond this European Green Capital year.

 

You are also President of the Régie Lumière and Vice-President of Gas Electricity of Grenoble. What do you see as Grenoble's biggest sustainability achievements in the areas of lighting and energy?

 

Grenoble has long been committed to social and environmental transitions. The Lighting Plan adopted in 2015 is one example. It was designed to reduce energy consumption and facilitate night-time travel. The light sources have been changed (LED bulbs whose brightness can be adjusted according to the time of day), and their location has been rethought. The consumption linked to public lighting has thus been divided by 2 in 6 years, and the feeling of security has been reinforced.

 

How has Grenoble benefitted from being European Green Capital 2022?

 

This title shines a light on the strong policies and actions we have been carrying out for a long time to fight against climate change. We have been able to raise awareness of environmental challenges, and to unite and mobilise all of the region's actors around transitions. The effects of our policies and actions have been multiplied. This title also commits us to carry out increasingly ambitious adaptation and transformation policies to meet the challenges ahead.

 

How do you think Grenoble can build on what it has achieved in its year as European Green Capital?

 

The title of European Green Capital 2022 is a springboard for pursuing the territorial dynamic around the issues of environmental and social transition. We must continue to work together, with the residents and organisations of the territory, to converge towards strong common objectives: to become a carbon neutral territory by 2040, to continue to significantly improve air quality...

 

As the European Green Capital of 2022, we are also committed to advancing the environmental transition worldwide. In particular, we will play this role by becoming fully involved in the network of European Green Capitals.