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Short Abstract

Drawing on urban pilots across Europe, this paper explores how tools and methods are used to engage diverse communities in co-creating environmental data and innovation to support inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban development and inform decisions in underserved areas.

Abstract

As cities across Europe navigate the complexities of climate adaptation and sustainable development, citizen science offers pathways for broadening participation in environmental data collection, knowledge production, and sustainability innovation for resilient and sustainable urban areas, especially in communities that are often underrepresented in urban decision-making.

By drawing on experiences from ongoing real-world pilots, taking place in the autumn of 2025 in two EU-funded projects, GreenInCities and ULALABS, this paper explores how citizen science initiatives can support inclusive and sustainable urban development by enabling environmental data collection and participation in innovation processes. We examine how tools and methods, such as participatory mapping, mobile apps, and sensors, are deployed within Living Labs and testbeds across several European cities to engage a diversity of citizens in co-creating knowledge and innovation for inclusive, multifunctional and climate-resilient urban spaces. By focusing on co-creation and co-learning processes, we explore the interconnections between aims, inclusive participation, the use of tools and methods, and their implications for how citizen-generated data and participation is mobilized in decision-making. Furthermore, we will highlight barriers and facilitators encountered across the diverse contexts of the studied pilots and reflect on lessons learned for designing inclusive, ethical, and impactful citizen science initiatives.

By connecting ecological, social, and institutional systems through transdisciplinary approaches, this contribution speaks to the panel’s focus on how citizen science can strengthen urban resilience, democratize environmental knowledge, and inform inclusive and equitable urban planning and sustainability innovation, especially in communities and areas where conventional monitoring and participation in decision-making is sparse.