In the late-afternoon sessions, participants examined net-zero enablers such as carbon taxation and low-carbon infrastructure, explored a hands-on tool for social cost–benefit analysis of urban nature-based solutions, and discussed applications of BCA in municipalities. Case studies ranged from Nordic climate pollutants and Greek climate city contracts to suicide barriers and retrospective regulatory evaluations.
Chaired by Markos Tselekounis (University of Piraeus), this session brought together four complementary perspectives on how BCA can guide the Net Zero transition. Charalampia Mikropoulou (Panteion University of Athens) examined how integrating legal compliance and judicial cost–benefit assessment can address critical gaps in carbon tax policy evaluation. Krister Mars (Anthesis AB) presented updated damage cost estimates for Nordic emissions of short-lived climate pollutants and CO₂, providing new evidence for regional climate strategies. Dimitrios Koutsouroupas (University of the Peloponnese) discussed a cost–benefit analysis of Climate City Contracts in six Greek Mission Cities, using Kalamata as a reference case for the NetZeroCities 2030 framework. Finally, Markos Tselekounis analysed the social benefits of solar-powered 5G networks and their potential to reduce the carbon footprint of broadband in the EU. The session underscored how rigorous economic analysis can support concrete Net Zero choices across sectors, scales and governance levels.
The GSET – Social Cost Benefit Analysis GIS Tool workshop offered participants a hands-on experience with an innovative platform developed by the ReSEES Lab at the Athens University of Economics and Business within the Climate Impetus EU project. GSET brings Social Cost–Benefit Analysis and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis into a spatial environment, enabling assessment of 50 types of urban adaptation interventions across 10 major climate hazards, including flooding, sea-level rise, extreme storms, water scarcity, fires, biodiversity loss and health impacts. By integrating geospatial data with economic, environmental and social indicators, the tool supports cities in shortlisting nature-based solutions and designing robust action plans. Led by Dr. Conrad Landis (AUEB; AE4RIA) and Dr. Nikolaos Nagkoulis (AUT), the workshop demonstrated how GSET can underpin evidence-based urban climate planning and decision-making for resilient cities.
Parallel Session 14, chaired by Elin Vimefall (Örebro University), focused on how BCA can inform municipal and regulatory evaluation. Zenon Hanappi (Central European University) presented “The Hidden Ledger: Rethinking Cost–Benefit Analysis Through Capitals and Narrative Control”, offering a fresh conceptual perspective on how narratives and different forms of capital shape policy appraisal. Elin Vimefall discussed the economic evaluation of suicide barriers on bridges, providing evidence on how BCA can guide life-saving public safety interventions. Jonathan Gledhill (Policy Navigation Group) revisited a landmark case in “Retrospective Evaluation of the FDA’s BCA for the 1993 Nutrition Labeling Rules”, drawing lessons for the design and review of future regulatory impact assessments. Together, the contributions combined conceptual innovation with real-world policy relevance in municipal and regulatory settings.
