Newsletter n°6-January 2025-English version

Newsletter n°6 – Engaged citizens,

together, let us tackle the challenges of our time

Participation matters!

As COP29 concludes in Baku, Azerbaijan, the outcomes remain disappointing: a minimalist agreement that fails to effectively address the climate crisis. Meanwhile, unprecedented records in global warming continue to be set. In our societies, this harsh reality is accompanied by growing isolationism and polarisation. While such reactions are understandable, they lead nowhere. In this context, it is essential to resist fatalism. Even small-scale engagement, within one’s neighbourhood or town, can provide a concrete and constructive response.

With this first newsletter of the year, we aim to highlight the projects and initiatives supported by Transition Minett. For us, civic engagement is both a key to change and an antidote to the prevailing inertia. We extend our gratitude to all those who join us in our efforts and give them a platform to inspire further action.

Rediscover our three Esch-based community hubs, where citizens can experience daily contributions to the transition and propose their initiatives:

  • Facilitec, a hub dedicated to the circular economy
  • La MESA, a hub focused on the food transition
  • The Breedewee Community Garden, where citizens can cultivate together.

Find updates from the « Citizen Collective for Climate, » whose groups continue to work towards a sustainable future built in collaboration with the residents of Esch-sur-Alzette.

Additionally, in our ongoing quest to reinvent ourselves and expand local participation, we will further develop the idea of a permanent dialogue between the City of Esch and its residents through the continuation of the 2024 Citizen Climate Forum. This autumn, we also launched the ACTE project to support citizens in reducing their carbon footprint and engaging in ecological efforts across 13 municipalities in the cross-border Alzette Belval area.

At Transition Minett, we also believe the future and expansion of civic participation depend on new tools and interaction methods. That’s why we are launching an online participation platform (participation.transition-minett.lu) where you can share your opinions, submit your ideas, and have your voice heard regarding ongoing projects. This platform also ensures transparency for those who trust us: making participation processes more visible and providing spaces for broader public expression.

Together, let us rise to the climatic, ecological, and social challenges.

We invite you to discover six profiles of engaged citizens working with Transition Minett. We hope their inspiring stories will motivate you to join local initiatives, existing groups, or participate online. Every action and voice counts in building a resilient and engaged community.

What are you waiting for? It’s your move!


Citizens of Alzette Belval, the floor is yours!

What are your concerns about climate change? What are your ideas for making your community more sustainable? We’d love to hear them!

ACTE – Avec les Citoyens pour la Transition Écologique -« With Citizens for Ecological Transition » – is a cross-border Franco-Luxembourg initiative designed to make the Alzette Belval region more sustainable by enabling personal participation in shaping your territory’s future. In practical terms, we will address daily challenges together and imagine relevant solutions to collectively reduce our carbon footprint. We will support you in developing, collectively presenting, and sustaining your ideas in collaboration with participating municipalities.

ACTE: For our future, let’s ACT!

This project is part of the Alzette Belval functional area, supported by partners including GECT Alzette Belval, Transition Minett asbl, and the municipalities of Audun-le-Tiche, Sanem, and Villerupt. It is implemented with the support of the City of Esch-sur-Alzette, Interreg Grande Région, and the Meurthe & Moselle department.

How can you make your voice heard?

– Visit our website to explore the projects and events or to submit your ideas directly on our participatory citizen platform.

– Come meet us at La MESA or Facilitec.

If you live in Audun-le-Tiche, Aumetz, Boulange, Ottange, Rédange, Russange, Thil, or Villerupt in France, or Esch-sur-Alzette, Mondercange, Rumelange, Sanem, or Schifflange in Luxembourg, join us!

ACTE Website


Citizen Climate Forum: for a permanent exchange between citizens and public policies

In May 2024, the very first Citizen Climate Forum was held in Esch/Alzette, co-organized by the City of Esch and Transition Minett as part of the Climate Pact Conference.

The first objective of this Climate Forum was to address with the general public the issues raised by climate change and to explain the challenges we face on the different themes, as well as the policies that the City of Esch is implementing or will implement to respond to them.

The second objective was to discuss with citizens their ideas and needs in the face of these challenges and to build the foundations for dialogue and long-term citizen involvement.

The Forum was organized in the form of workshops co-hosted by experts from the City of Esch and Transition Minett, and the participants formulated no fewer than 70 proposals on the various topics given (urban development, mobility, energy, etc.).

Around fifty participants made this first edition a great success!

These proposals have since been submitted to the political leaders of the City of Esch. For our part, we invite you to discover them on our new online citizen participation platform under this link: https://participation.transition-minett.lu/fr-FR/projects/forum-citoyen-pour-le-climat

We will obviously continue to work on it – including during physical meetings – with all the citizens of Esch committed to an ecological and united transition in Minett.

To conclude, we are already giving you an appointment for the 2nd edition of the Citizen Climate Forum which will take place on Saturday, May 17 at the Ellergronn.


Citizens’ Climate Collectives (CCC): because together we are stronger

CCC, these 3 letters fit together like the links in a chain of solidarity.

But what does it mean? It’s when people come together to create more resilient, happier, more nourishing, more connected and more diverse communities.

How does it work in concrete terms?

It’s an informal group that most often exchanges on Whatsapp to carry out activities together on various themes, it can range from making a meal at the Mesa with Foodsharing, from its vegan basket or a « serious game » treasure hunt to the Facilitec workshop… Sometimes a collective is born, offers activities and then structures itself into a non-profit organization like Haus Vum Vëlo and others disappear like « the artivists of the 4 seasons ».

Where does it come from? In 2020, the health crisis arrives, it is time to question ourselves. What are we doing to « re »mobilize citizens around the Transition? How can we re-create links? According to Rob Hopkins, the pioneer of the transition cities movement, we must not wait for permission to act.

This is how in December 2022, at the initiative of Transition Minett (TM), the iron metropolis is holding its first gathering of citizen collectives for the climate. Around 50 people met at Ellergronn to reform these collectives around Third Places (the Mesa, the Facilitec workshop and the Breedewee garden) and on themes such as culture, urban gardens, eco-construction, mobility, food, recycling, etc.

TM’s role for the CCCs: to accompany/support, to support the organization of events and the structuring of groups. It is not about: « doing instead of… », but about helping to realize citizen projects for a more ecological and united city.

On June 29, 2023, the CCCs are meeting for a joint festive event at the Jardin du Breedewee with the idea of ​​​​getting moving together. This made it possible to introduce both citizen initiatives and activities to all groups.

A year later, the CCCs are spreading throughout the city of Esch for a Festival of Citizens in Transition, showing their dynamism, their inventiveness, their diversity and their sense of celebration! During this beautiful day, we were able to discover the Transition locations and the partners, play treasure maps, dance the Capucine in the collective garden of the Nonnewisen district, parade by bike to promote soft mobility, cook garden produce to music, observe nocturnal wildlife, … and above all, cultivate joy and sharing.

What’s planned for 2025?

TM is putting together a collective design for a photo exhibition to make the CCC’s actions known to as many people as possible.

Come along on Tuesday, January 14 at Facilitec at 6:30 p.m. to create this event together!

Register at ericw@transition-minett.lu


Portraits of engaged citizens

Discover the portraits of six citizens engaged in the ecological transition in Esch-sur-Alzette.
These inspiring volunteers actively participate in various projects led by Transition Minett, thus contributing to building a more sustainable future for their community. Meet them through these testimonials and delve into their varied initiatives, bringing about change

“Do it. Hesitation is normal, but if you don’t try, you’ll never know what it can bring you. Don’t wait to be an expert. What matters is to participate, listen and learn.” Sraboni

“Change doesn’t happen in ten days, or even ten years. It takes time and requires reconnecting people with nature.” Guy

“Don’t wait. It’s always individuals who change the world and small actions make big differences.” Marie

“Seeing the recognition and smiles of those who manage to repair their bikes is a very motivating reward for the time spent on this project.” Jonathan


Transition Minett launches an online platform for citizen participation!

We can hear you already: « An online platform? What for? » Don’t worry, Transition Minett’s primary mission remains to bring citizens together “in person” for an ecological and social transition in the Minett region. But we also believe it’s essential to broaden our reach and engagement methods. We want your opinions and ensure real-time updates on local projects, all at the click of a button!

Currently available in French (and soon in other languages), the platform provides:

  • Information on ongoing and completed projects.
  • Opportunities to vote, share your views, and submit ideas on various topics.

Connect to the platform and contribute to new projects like ACTE. Stay tuned for more upcoming projects, such as the « Alternative Christmas Market » held in December at Pavilion 5 and discussions on the future of the pavilion itself.

See you soon on participation.transition-minett.lu.


MESA, la maison de la transition

More than just a vegetarian restaurant and bulk grocery store, La MESA is a hub for food transition at the heart of Esch. Offering a welcoming and inclusive space, La MESA encourages citizens to collaborate on sustainable food projects. Its vegan, organic, and local cuisine embodies a healthier and more accessible vision of food.

Don’t miss the carrot cake or inspiring workshops!

Address: 1 Rue du Moulin L-4251 Esch/Alzette


Facilitec, the hub of the circular economy

Facilitec is a place open to all that allows the realization of ideas. The latter meet the needs of the population for its adaptation to the environment. The users are therefore citizens, handymen, entrepreneurs, and employees of Transition Minett asbl.

We share knowledge, meeting rooms, computer equipment, tools, including digital ones, and a collaborative workshop to tinker, learn, divert, invent, borrow and repair.

Come visit us to realize your ideas and have a coffee!

Address: 37B rue de la Fontaine L-4122 Esch-sur-Alzette


Breedewee Community Garden

A participatory garden in the heart of Esch offers a local alternative to market gardening while encouraging exchanges between the neighborhood’s residents. By growing together, participants produce part of their food in a natural and seasonal way, share harvests, exchange recipes, and experience enriching moments of conviviality with people from all walks of life. This collective framework raises awareness of ecological gardening practices, the environment, and allows the perpetuation or rediscovery of vegetable growing methods while developing a concrete knowledge of the plant world. A true space dedicated to urban biodiversity, this garden is an oasis of learning and sharing in the heart of the city.

Address: Rue Large, L-4204, Esch-sur-Alzette


January Events Calendar