Project research dissemination
Dissemination of the SUSCOMNET project research – online event – January 28, 2026
A SUSCOMNET (projekt azonosító: 101138675)– Making Sustainable Communities: Network for Local Green Deals projekt online zárókonferenciája többéves kutatási és szakmai együttműködés lezárását jelentette, amely Közép-Európa városait kapcsolta össze. Az esemény központi kérdése az volt: milyen társadalmi feltételek mellett válhat a fenntarthatósági átmenet – különösen a helyi stratégiák, például a Local Green Deal – valóban működő gyakorlattá, és mely strukturális, mentális és intézményi tényezők lassítják vagy segítik ezt a folyamatot a vizsgált városi közösségekben.
The research covered the populations of six twin cities – Gyula, Komárom (Komárno), Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda), Covasna (Kovászna), Zrenjanin (Nagybecskerek), and Wągrowiec. The study did not only measure general environmental attitudes but also explored perceptions of responsibility-sharing, personal experiences related to sustainability, trust in institutions, and concrete willingness to act. This complex approach made it possible to interpret the social embeddedness of the sustainability transition not only in normative terms but also across behavioral and institutional dimensions.
At the conference, the survey results were presented in four major thematic blocks, followed by group and individual professional discussions after the longer presentations.
Sustainability Attitudes and Social Responsibility
Dr. Tamás Szilágyi's opening presentation examined the general structure of sustainability attitudes. One of the key findings of the research was that the vast majority of the population recognizes the importance of sustainability, and there is broad consensus regarding the central role of education. According to respondents, the next generation must be consciously prepared for a sustainable lifestyle, and school-based environmental awareness programs enjoy strong public support. This represents a clear social mandate for the development of sustainability education.
The everyday relevance of sustainability was also rated highly: respondents do not view it as an abstract ideological issue but rather as part of their own decision-making. A nuanced picture emerged regarding responsibility: the population primarily considers companies and collective action to be responsible, while the recognition of personal responsibility is more moderate. This does not necessarily indicate rejection; rather, it suggests that many people feel a lack of supportive frameworks and opportunities that would enable individual action.
A critical issue that emerged was the low willingness to engage in volunteering: alongside strong normative support, enthusiasm for concrete investments of time and energy declines significantly. Regarding the role of the media, a lack of trust was evident: although respondents consider its role in shaping climate awareness to be important, the level of trust is low, especially when it comes to local information. At the same time, perceptions of twin-city cooperation were distinctly positive, suggesting that horizontal, partnership-based communication may be more effective than traditional top-down forms of information dissemination.
Climate Adaptation, Nature Conservation, and Renewable Energy
Dr. Réka Dudok’s presentation focused on the issues of climate adaptation and nature conservation, pointing out the significant difference between awareness and preparedness. The frequency of personal climate experiences varies by settlement: in Hungarian cities, there is a particularly high proportion of people who have experienced heatwaves, droughts, or extreme weather events. These experiences make climate change a tangible and urgent problem.
The "climate adaptation gap" refers to the difference between recognizing the problem and being prepared for concrete action. Respondents perceive the problem but do not see solutions clearly, do not know the necessary steps, and are often unaware of local measures. The lack of knowledge, tools, and institutional support all contribute to this situation. At the same time, this represents a significant opportunity, as motivation is present—the task is capacity building.
In the field of nature conservation, similar contradictions were observed: while support in principle is strong, active participation is lower. Support for urban trees was outstanding: there was almost universal agreement regarding their role in improving air quality, providing shade, regulating temperature, and their aesthetic value. The vast majority of the population believes that the benefits far outweigh any potential drawbacks, which provides a strong social mandate for tree-planting programs.
Knowledge of renewable energy sources is closely linked to local investments. In places where visible infrastructure is operational—such as solar panels or the geothermal system of the Gyula spa—public awareness is higher. Nearly one-third of respondents already use some form of renewable energy, and a significant portion plan to make the transition. Komárom is outstanding in this regard, indicating favorable technological and institutional conditions.
Sustainable tourism
Regarding sustainable tourism, the population provided clear guidance: they support the development of tourism as long as it is in harmony with local values and the interests of residents. Models based on cultural heritage and ecotourism enjoy strong support, while there is little interest in mass tourism. The public considers it important for their opinions to be taken into account, indicating a demand for active participation. At the same time, the results pointed out that several settlements are not fully utilizing their tourism potential.
The third thematic block of the conference focused on issues of sustainable transportation and urban planning. The presentation was held by Edit Hajnal, and the results revealed particularly sharp contradictions in public attitudes.
The importance of introducing car-free days was rated highest in Zrenjanin, yet the willingness to reduce individual car use is the lowest here among all the surveyed settlements. This contradiction clearly exemplifies the phenomenon where the population supports community-level measures but shows less readiness to change their own individual behavior.
In contrast, Wągrowiec presents a particularly positive picture. Residents of the Polish city are not only the most satisfied with public transport, but also show the highest willingness to reduce personal car use. The presentation characterized the Wągrowiec model as a best practice where reliable, comfortable, and accessible public transportation provides a real alternative and effectively influences public behavior.
The development of cycling infrastructure emerged as a high priority in all settlements, closely followed by the creation of pedestrian-friendly zones. The presentation emphasized that the population fundamentally desires a human-scale city: with slower, calmer, and safer forms of transportation. A remarkable result—specifically highlighted in the presentation—is that support for developing the electric charging network is relatively low. This suggests that respondents see the essence of sustainable transportation more in a shift between modes of transport (modal shift) rather than in the "greening" of motor vehicle technology.
In terms of urban planning attitudes, Covasna stands out with its strong commitment to sustainability. At the same time, satisfaction with green spaces shows significant variations: it is particularly high in Gyula, while low in the case of Miercurea Ciuc, which suggests structural deficiencies.
The presentation's recommendations included the launch of a joint twin-city bicycle path planning project, the adaptation of the Wągrowiec model, and the development of a comprehensive urban greening program for Miercurea Ciuc.
Dr. Fanni Dudok’s closing presentation placed the research results into a comprehensive strategic framework and outlined the possible directions for Local Green Deal cooperation between the twin cities. First, she drew attention to the fact that awareness of the European Green Deal shows significant variations among the surveyed cities: while nearly half of the population in Zrenjanin was familiar with the program, in Gyula, this proportion was only a fraction of that.
The presentation specifically addressed the issue of social inclusion and pointed out the significant gap between the level of support in principle and its practical implementation. This suggests that a just transition is not merely a normative expectation but a fundamental shortcoming of current practice. During the research, a city profile was created for each settlement, mapping the specific strengths and challenges of each municipality.
The speaker defined four strategic pillars for the implementation of the Local Green Deal. The first pillar is the creation of a joint educational platform, which includes school partnerships, student exchange programs, and adult education modules. The second pillar is the development of the green infrastructure network, with special regard to tree-planting programs, the establishment of bicycle paths, and the application of nature-based solutions. The third pillar is tourism cooperation, involving joint marketing activities, the creation of thematic routes, and the development of responsible tourism services. The fourth pillar is the sharing of energy-related knowledge, which can be realized through mentoring programs, joint grant applications, and professional-technical support.
In her closing thoughts, Dr. Dudok emphasized that the differences between the settlements are not weaknesses, but opportunities for learning. The patterns revealed by the joint research provide a clear strategic foundation for future cooperation. Local "blind spots"—whether they concern a lack of climate adaptation preparedness, dissatisfaction with transportation, or untapped tourism potential—are part of a recurring pattern: attitudes and values are strong, yet the conditions for action, infrastructure, and knowledge are often missing.
This realization defines the fundamental role of the Local Green Deal: the goal is not to convince the population of the importance of sustainability, as commitment is already present, but to provide them with opportunities for action, knowledge, and tools. The picture drawn by the respondents is clear: the social capital necessary for change is available, and twin-city cooperation can provide the institutional and relational infrastructure capable of transforming this potential into concrete developments, strategic decisions, and long-term partnerships.
According to the speaker's summary, the conference is not a conclusion but a starting point: the foundation of a learning network that continuously evolves, adapts, and shares knowledge to create sustainable communities.
The comprehensive lesson of the conference is that the social foundations for a sustainability transition are in place, yet implementation is hindered by structural and coordination challenges. The significance of twin-city cooperation lies in the fact that cities can become learning environments for each other, and the exchange of experience reduces risks. The empirical research of the SUSCOMNET project and the processing of results at conferences provide a stable foundation for this process.
One of the project's most important results is not the development of a single model, but the creation of a learning infrastructure that enables the sustainability transition to be implemented as a coordinated, knowledge-based process among participating municipalities, rather than as a series of isolated initiatives.
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