Deep Dive Sessions
Here you can find more information about the Deep Dive Sessions at the conference. The sessions will be held in English. Information about the sessions will be updated continuously.
Sessions & Study Trip
Table of Contents
Day 1, 11 March 2026
Circular Lifestyles in Action: Key learnings from NiCE Pilots
In this session, we will present the local pilot actions from the NiCE project that have directly supported circular lifestyles and sustainable consumption in urban areas. We will also share the key results and lessons learned from all eight pilot implementations. Afterwards, we invite you to contribute your own experiences with pilot activities, good practices, and other relevant initiatives. The aim of the session is to learn from each other and to identify key success factors for promoting sustainable consumption patterns in city centres.
Host & organisation: NiCE project partners
Further information: NiCE project website
An Interactive City Walk: A Cross-Section of the AdNEB Project
“Advancing the New European Bauhaus” (short: AdNEB) links expertise from various disciplines at the German Environment Agency to address the question “How do we want to live in the future?” in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal. In a joint workshop, we would like to discuss thematic synergies and reflect on connections for future urban development. The aim is to sharpen awareness for the interdisciplinary interplay of blue-green infrastructure, mobility, architecture, climate adaptation, and environmental justice in the urban context for everyday situations.
Host & organisation: Karl Eckert, UBA
Further information: AdNEB project website
Re-use of Vacant Space in City Centers & Good Practices in Graz
Further information will follow.
Host & organisation: StadtLABOR Graz
Further information: StadtLABOR – Innovation for Urban Quality of Life
ESD on a Municipality Level – Biodiversity Education and Cultural Learning as Good Practice
The Education Office of the Municipality of Dessau-Roßlau will begin the session with an overview of ongoing ESD activities, goals, and networks, highlighting local approaches to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
Following this, the practical micro-workshop “The Art of Seeing Animals” offers a fast, hands-on experience linking biodiversity education with cultural learning. This format fosters key ESD competencies such as systems thinking, critical reflection, and aesthetic awareness, while encouraging a deeper understanding of our relationship with nature. Developed jointly by Dessau Zoo and the Anhalt Art Gallery, the workshop showcases local ESD expertise as a good practice example for schools and educational programs.
Host & organisation: Education Office of the Municipality of Dessau-Roßlau, Zoo Dessau, Anhalt Gallery of Paintings
Day 2, 12 March 2026
The NiCE Knowledge Platform: A Toolkit for Urban Circular Lifestyle Transformers
Join us for an interactive demonstration of the central legacy of the NiCE project: the Knowledge Platform. This workshop is ideal for anyone who would like to mainstream circular lifestyles in their city. The format will be an interactive guided tour and solution mapping, where you will discover the powerful "NiCE Solution Box", explore inspiring best practices via the Virtual Exhibition, and access expert insights to immediately translate circular lifestyle concepts into concrete action in your city or community.
Host & organisation: NiCE project partners
Further information: Circular Lifestyles
Addressing Barriers and Capacity Gaps to Strengthen Social Outcomes in Circular Initiatives
This one-hour session examines how social barriers faced by citizens and communities, such as low awareness and acceptance, rooted consumption barriers, and challenges in engagement, together with capacity gaps within public authorities, shape the success and reach of circular initiatives in cities. Short contributions from one or two cities will illustrate how specific social barriers emerged in practice, how they influenced who engaged and who benefited, and where internal skills or organizational constraints limited the ability to respond. An academic expert will build on these cases by highlighting the broader landscape of barriers, capacity needs, and emerging evidence on effective approaches for tackling them. In the second part of the session, participants will take part in a short interactive exercise to identify the social and capacity challenges present in their own contexts and reflect on how these affect the social outcomes of their circular initiatives. The session combines practical experience and peer exchange to support cities in strengthening both implementation and inclusiveness.
Host & organisation: Circular City and Regions Initiative
Further information: Circular Cities and Regions Initiative
Engaging Industrial Stakeholders in Circular Practices: Lessons from the REUSE2030 Project
This interactive workshop will examine how SMEs and industrial partners can become active drivers of the circular economy in European cities by adopting resource-efficient and low-impact practices. Building on insights from the REUSE2030 project, participants will jointly reflect on effective strategies for engaging resilient and often hard-to-reach stakeholders, including manufacturers, suppliers, and wider value-chain actors. The session will also explore how digital tools supporting circular economy practices can be upscaled into region-wide applications through tailored capacity-building pathways. Through facilitated group work, participants will generate concrete ideas on motivators, collaboration models, and training formats that can strengthen long-term commitment to circular transformation. Together, they will co-develop recommendations for scaling engagement and digital innovation across regions and sectors, contributing to stronger circular ecosystems in European cities.
Host & organisation: REUSE2030 project partners
Further information: REUSE2030
Repair in Europe's Cities
In this session, participants will learn about the current situation in the repair sector at the EU level and discuss its implications for cities and municipalities. They will explore which strategic levers and tools are available to promote repair services, reduce waste, and strengthen the local circular economy. Participants will also get to know the work of the “Right to Repair” network.
Host & organisation: Runder Tisch Reparatur
Further information: Round Table Reparing
Study Trip Dessau-Roßlau
On Day 2, 12 March 2026, we invite you to discover Dessau-Roßlau and its numerous offerings for circular lifestyles. Together, we will visit people and initiatives that want to make Dessau-Roßlau more sustainable. The walk is planned to last 2.5 hours.
