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Cities reach climate-neutral mission milestone
Twenty-three cities have been awarded a Mission Label following the submission of their Climate City Contract as part of the EU Cities Mission programme.
Twenty-three cities participating in the EU Cities Mission 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 have received a ‘Mission Label’, following the submission of their Climate City Contract (CCC). The CCC defines the city’s climate commitments, action plan, and investment strategy to become climate neutral by 2030.
NetZeroCities, the platform supporting cities, has also announced that a Cities Mission Capital Hub is to be launched this year to help cities that have received the Mission Label translate their investment strategies into concrete needs and to prepare projects for investment as well as offer them neutral advice on the best financing solutions, and put them in touch with investors.
Realising climate action plans
The labels are a recognition of the city’s plans by the European Commission, which it is hoped will unlock investment, particularly from the private sector, to help realise their plans.
Detailed CCC documents also include input from citizens and stakeholders, which forms a key part of the process of engagement that continues after submission, as the city advances towards its climate goals and the CCC is developed further.
“Completing a CCC is a unique and challenging process. The Mission ambition for climate neutrality by 2030 requires cities to think and work differently”
As part of the CCC process, cities are given expert guidance during drafting and submission by the Mission Platform, currently managed by the NetZeroCities consortium.
Mayors and city representatives attended a ceremony on earlier this month to receive the award from Commissioner Iliana Ivanova at European R&I Days 24, the European Commission’s flagship event on research and innovation.
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The 23 cities awarded the label are: Ioannina, Kalamata, Kozani, Thessaloniki (Greece), Heidelberg (Germany), Leuven (Belgium), Espoo, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Tampere, Turku (Finland), Barcelona, Seville (Spain), Pecs (Hungary), Malmö (Sweden), Guimaraes, Lisbon (Portugal), Florence, Parma (Italy), Marseille, Lyon (France), Limassol (Cyprus) and Izmir (Türkiye).
The cities join another 10 awardees who received the first labels in October 2023.
Climate neutrality by 2030
The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) also announced that financial advisory services provided by the EIB for cities participating in the EU Cities Mission – and particularly those with a Mission Label – would be topped up by nearly €19m.
“The 23 cities receiving these awards deserve great praise for their efforts and I congratulate them all,” said NetZeroCities director Thomas Osdoba. “Completing a CCC is a unique and challenging process. The Mission ambition for climate neutrality by 2030 requires cities to think and work differently.
“The recognition of their plans with a Mission Label is a testament to their commitment and work with the citizens and stakeholders who are essential to make those plans a reality. The team at NetZeroCities look forward to supporting our cities further as they take their next vital steps as Mission Label cities.”
“Being part of the Mission gives the city of Thessaloniki the mandate to act, to incentivise and enable the stakeholders of the city to work collaboratively”
Deputy mayor Prodromos Nikiforidis of Thessaloniki, Greece, one of the cities to be awarded said: “Thessaloniki has a unique opportunity to set a common vision and develop a comprehensive and contemporary roadmap towards climate neutrality – not an easy task for a densely populated city.
“Having built the capacity from the participation in the Resilient Cities Network and the Resilient Strategy development, the Municipality of Thessaloniki addresses a participatory and cooperative approach in working towards main urban challenges. Being part of the Mission gives the city of Thessaloniki the mandate to act, to incentivise and enable the stakeholders of the city to work collaboratively. This commitment is valuable proof of Thessaloniki’s endeavour.”
NetZeroCities is a project consortium consisting of 34 partners from 27 European countries, managing the EU Cities Mission platform. The project supports the 112 European cities known as the Mission Cities in drastically reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to achieve climate neutrality.
The EU Cities Mission supports the European Green Deal in building a low-carbon, climate-resilient future through research and innovation.
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