Two-Day Event in Šibenik – The Role of Public Transport in Achieving Climate Neutrality
On March 27–28, 2025, a two-day event titled “The Role of Public Transport in Achieving Climate Neutrality” was held in Šibenik. The event included a workshop, a round table, a study visit, and a pop-up activity, bringing together around 40 participants including representatives of ministries, cities, transport providers, scientists, and experts. It was organized by ODRAZ in cooperation with the City of Šibenik and the Polytechnic of Šibenik. In addition to exchanging knowledge and practical solutions for the development of sustainable public transport, participants identified challenges and concrete measures that can contribute to the modernization and increased use of public transport.
Urban public transport is a key element of sustainable development in urban areas, especially in the context of climate change and other urban challenges. Today, efficient and accessible public transport is essential for achieving climate neutrality and improving quality of life—especially when different modes of transport are integrated into a connected network accessible to all.
The first day of the event brought together about 40 participants at a workshop dedicated to jointly reflecting on the future of public transport in the context of climate neutrality. The goal was to explore the development of an efficient, sustainable, and inclusive public transport system.
Introductory presentations included:
• Presentation of the CLIMove project and upcoming activities by Magdalena Makar from ODRAZ. The project focuses on building capacity to create and implement sustainable mobility strategies in cities and municipalities in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It emphasizes the green transition toward climate-neutral mobility. In addition to workshops, a summer school, webinars, and a conference will also be organized this year.
A survey is currently underway to identify key challenges and opportunities for achieving climate-neutral and sustainable transport, based on which a training program “Climate neutal cities” will be developed.
- Ana Juras from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition presented a new Emissions Trading System (ETS 2) that encourages emissions reductions in buildings, road transport, and other sectors. The SCP prioritizes green investments that reduce energy consumption and future housing and transport costs. Finally, participants were informed of measures aimed at improving the accessibility of public transport in suburban, rural, and remote areas.
- Mateo Uravić from Ernst & Young presented public transport planning within the OPTI-UP project, which involved a comparative analysis of public transport systems in six cities. Among the findings were a lack of coordination between spatial and transport planning, data-driven planning in only one city, no consistent interpretation of operational and financial parameters, and a common lack of resources or capacity for planning public transport systems.
Participants then took part in an interactive workshop simulating the roles of different users and service providers to analyze system complexity, define a development vision, and propose modernization measures.
The workshop emphasized the need for a comprehensive, participatory approach—including citizen engagement, better planning, and cross-sector collaboration, alongside concrete infrastructural and organizational improvements. Cities shared best practices, enriching the experience with real-world examples.
A study visit to an example of the “renaissance of public transport” in Šibenik enriched the discussion and highlighted specific successful measures that could be applied in other cities.
Petar Mišura from the Šibenik-Knin County Institute of Spatial Planning presented the integration of mobility in the Šibenik area. Ivan Kundid from City Parking introduced the Šibenik public transport system and its transformation.
On the second day, a roundtable on the future of public transport in coastal cities was held at the Polytechnic of Šibenik. It was organized by the Department of Transport Studies of the Polytechnic of Šibenik, the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences of the University of Zagreb, and the organization ODRAZ. The discussion was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marko Slavulj and included representatives from the cities of Šibenik, Rijeka, Pula, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Split, and Zagreb.
Main topics of discussion included:
• Challenges facing urban transport systems: traffic congestion, seasonality, financial sustainability, and alignment with climate goals.
• Opportunities to improve sustainable, efficient, and modern public transport, focusing on integrating innovative technologies, improving connectivity, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
SPINE Project Pop-Up Activity
Pop-up activity as part of the SPINE project, where citizens shared their views on public transport in Šibenik was also part of this event. Positive comments indicate high satisfaction among passengers, which is expected to increase the number of users. New tools and services were presented, including the SI@ALL travel planning app, an interactive kiosk at the Šibenik port, and electric bicycle charging stations—all designed to further enhance the public transport system.
The two-day event in Šibenik offered valuable insights, knowledge exchange, and practical solutions for developing sustainable public transport. Participants identified challenges and concrete measures that can help modernize and increase the use of public transport in cities.
The workshop and study visit were organized as part of the CLIMOVE project, funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
The pop-up activity was part of the SPINE project funded by the Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 101096664.