At 58 years old, Gérard Magnin has been Executive Director of Energie-Cités (www.energie-cites.eu) for nearly 15 years, after having been one of the original founders of this European network in 1990. Initially educated in electrical engineering, followed by economics and politics, he taught economic and social sciences for 8 years. He has been working for 25 years in this field of sustainable energy: in NGOs, thus in ADEME (French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management) and now in Energie-Cités.

A supporter of social innovation, he strives to integrate the energy and climate issue into the concerns of all of society’s stakeholders, especially those of local authorities. He regularly highlights the fact that the major innovations came from the ground and that the networking of experiments and those responsible for them is a powerful factor for change. He continues to persuade national and European levels to acknowledge the fact that none of the European Community’s objectives can be achieved without heavy involvement of the local authorities.

Energie-Cités is a network of Municipalities promoting a local sustainable energy policy. About 1000 European municipalities from 30 countries are involved in its activities.

Energie-Cités is chaired by the Municipality of Heidelberg, in Germany. The Board is formed by 11 municipalities from 11 countries. Based in Besançon (FR) and Brussels, the staffs are formed by 18 people from 7 nationalities.