Since the middle-ages Ghent evolved from a rich city in a feudal setting to a vibrant cultural and economical hub in Flanders with approximately 240.000 inhabitants nowadays.

According to National Geographic Traveller Ghent is the 3rd most authentic destination in the world.  Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2011 guide mentioned Ghent as ‘Europe's best kept secret'.

Ghent pilot
Founder of the Ghent Climate Network to which many local stakeholders signed up; historic city; renovation of monuments to low energy buildings.

The City of Ghent has signed the European Covenant of Mayors and hereby declared to curb its CO2-emission beyond the 20% target by 2020, set in the EU Climate Action and Renewable Energy Plan. Ghent wants to define whether and how a 50% CO2-reduction is possible in 2030, but also when CO2-neutrality will be an option. Therefore Ghent needs to develop a suitable approach and instruments in order to define a long term vision and transition agenda. 
For the elaboration of a long term vision Ghent will involve different stakeholders and inhabitants of the city making use of the Transition Management approach and IGuess application. A major pilot of the GIS support tool will be applied in Ghent. Experiences will be shared and discussed with other MUSIC partners.
Ghent will use different events to proclaim the energy saving message, such as the Energy Month (series of activities in October), Light festival 2010, ‘6-daagse van Gent' (famous regional cycle race) and ‘autoloze zondag' (day without any use of cars in the city centre).

Weblinks
www.gent.be
www.gentsklimaatverbond.be