Within the new EED framework, where Local and Regional Authorities (LRAs) are encouraged to consider and define a transversal approach to the local heating and cooling needs, the Plan4COLD project has the following Strategic Objectives: – Raise LRAs awareness to the new EED and to the obligation to define Local Heating and Cooling Plans (LHCP) for municipalities with more than 45.000 inhabitants, involving national entities. – Support a distinct and integrated approach to Southern European municipalities with distinctive H&C needs and supporting infrastructure. – Strengthen the competences of LRAs professionals, providing them with the necessary capacity building resources to define, implement and monitor LHCP. – Accelerate the energy transition process of the H&C sector, supporting the definition of SLHCP driven by energy efficiency and renewables. – Capitalize on specialized knowledge generated by previous (and ongoing) projects and/or working groups devoted to the H&C market.

R2M aims to assess existing resources, customize tools and resources for Southern Europe cities and align them with synergetic sectors such as electricity grid and grid flexibility (cooling is electricity), mobility, energy communities (H&C communities).