New techniques and measures to reach the EU-climate targets of 20% CO2 reduction in 2020 are increasingly available and implemented. However. to mainstream these techniques in urban policy and consider them as business as usual. technique alone is not enough. A transition to innovative thinking about urban planning is needed. in which all stakeholders are involved. The MUSIC-partnership is composed of five frontrunner-cities (Rotterdam. Gent. Ludwigsburg. Aberdeen. Montreuil) and two renowned knowledge institutions (DRIFT: on governance. CRP Henri Tudor (LUX): on GIS systems). that aim to tackle their climate challenge together. Aim of MUSIC is to stimulate Mitigation (actions to reduce CO2 emissions) in Urban areas and create Solutions for Innovative Cities. Objectives: 1 Mobilising stakeholders to take action towards CO2 reduction - development of a transnationally applicable Transition Management Strategy (WP1). TM is an innovative approach to changes in society. based on a multi-stakeholder learning process. In MUSIC. these stakeholders will include local governments. hospitals. school boards. businesses. building owners and energy agencies. 2 Integrating Energy in urban planning and enable monitoring of effects - development of a Geospatial Urban Energy Information and Support System (WP2). Development and testing of a GIS-based system for developing energy maps and scenarios to obtain an insight in opportunities for energy reduction in urban planning and to keep track of impact of measures. The system will facilitate transnational comparison and formulation of joint transnational strategies. 3 More effective energy reduction measures in cities: testing and improving methodologies and tools developed in WP1 and WP2 by implementation of innovative pilots (WP3). Pilots to put the strategies and tools developed in WP1 and WP2 into practice in different national contexts. Lessons learnt will be taken forward to the European level. Achievements: The aim of MUSIC is to stimulate actions to reduce CO2 emissions in urban areas and create solutions for innovative cities. The main achievements to date for the three main interventions are:1. Development of an urban sustainable energy vision, strategy and action plan for each city with the use of the transition management method developed by DRIFT.In MUSIC, the methodology used to reach this common perspective and to mobilise stakeholders is Transition Management (TM). TM is an innovative, scientifically underpinned methodology. The methodology has been developed by the Dutch Research Institute for Transitions (DRIFT).TM is implemented by a unique series of multi stakeholder workshops, in which long term ambitions and short term innovative actions go hand in hand. Each city in MUSIC goes through the same process. The whole TM process takes about between one and two years, during which there will be a series of five transnational workshops and TM workshops in each city. Each city applies the same generic framework, which is adapted to the local circumstances. The five MUSIC cities have all now implemented the TM process for CO2 reduction and have developed a vision for their city. The cities have started implementing the actions and ideas of the action plan. DRIFT has started to collect the lessons learnt, has published the draft Urban Transition Management (UTM) Manual and has presented the MUSIC UTM Approach at various international conferences and seminars with a very positive response. 2. Integrating Energy as a layer in urban planning: development of an information system (iGUESS) to enable the incorporation of energy data in GIS maps and urban planning.To integrate energy in urban planning, it is crucial to have insight in the energy consumption of buildings and suitable locations for energy saving and production. The MUSIC partner cities are in urgent need of more comprehensive geospatial energy data and additional IT tools to develop and implement their CO2-reductive planning and policies and to monitor the progress they make. This will be facilitated by the development of an innovative Integrated Geospatial Urban Energy Information and Support System (iGUESS).The iGUESS system, which is being developed by Henri Tudor, is gaining stability and provides a good framework for integrated modelling based on distributed data sources and modular approach. Overall iGUESS gains a lot of international visibility. Exchanges via conferences, and COST networks help to upscale iGUESS to EU level. iGUESS also develops already into new project ideas and topics for FP and Horizon 2020. 3. More effective energy reduction measures in cities.MUSIC includes 5 innovative pilots in the cities of Aberdeen, Rotterdam, Ludwigsburg and Montreuil. These pilots all concern the implementation of energy saving measures in public buildings. The construction of the district centre in Ludwigsburg has been finished, and the construction of the positive energy school in Montreuil is progressing well. In Aberdeen, the PV panels have been installed on the school. In Rotterdam, the Green Building programme and the Green Roof programme in Rotterdam are succesfull and serve as examples to other cities.