#126 Bratislava, Slovakia: Bridging Ambition and Action

In this episode, recorded live at the Change Now Summit in Paris, where BABLE was a media partner, Marian Zachar, member of the Climate Office of the City of Bratislava, shares his journey from international relations and youth development to pioneering urban climate leadership. The conversation explores Bratislava’s evolving climate agenda, highlighting how long-term vision, systemic change, and pragmatic action are driving decarbonisation efforts. Marian discusses the city’s ambitious targets, strategies to engage businesses and citizens, and the importance of transparency, feasibility, and coalition-building in climate planning.   Episode´s Overview: [00:00:03] Teaser Question: “If Bratislava were an animal, which animal would it be and why?” [00:01:07] Our guest’s background [00:03:50] What climate change and decarbonisation mean for Bratislava [00:06:51] How priorities are selected and the 65-measure climate plan [00:10:17] Example: The Mayor of Bratislava Climate Challenge with local companies [00:15:19] Engaging citizens and promoting behaviour change through spillover effects [00:18:11] Reflections on the EU 2030 climate neutrality target—ambition vs. realism [00:21:20] Podcast Segment: Trial & Error – Lessons from missed opportunities in planning [00:24:39] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”   Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub