5UP Approach

The primary focus of this platform is on the upscale component, providing cities with financial mechanisms and governance recommendations that support them on upscaling. However, there are many prior steps to be taken to develop the initiative that is proposed to be scaled up, and it is often a winding process that is difficult to implement. The UP2030 project has developed a method to guide cities along this path.

In the UP2030 project, 11 cities from different socio-economic and geographical contexts have tested the 5UP methodology, which has been designed to guide cities in designing projects, plans and strategies that are aligned with their socio-technical transition to meet the objectives of climate neutrality, resilience and social justice.

The 5UP methodology (link to the MOOC video) consists of five interlinked phases:

Why is this methodology innovative?

Achieving climate justice and resilience requires more than isolated projects; it demands systemic change that centres communities in the transition. Conventional methodological approaches focus on testing a particular innovation (e.g., a digital solution) to achieve incremental change. In the contrary, the 5UP approach puts the city at its centre, rather than a proposed solution, offering an integrated strategy for multilevel action on identified leverage points.

So, how can this methodology be applied in your city? Check this workbook (attach workbook) to learn more about how to integrate climate neutrality, resilience and spatial justice into urban planning.