Another 20 Mission Cities received their EU Mission Label from Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, at a ceremony in Strasbourg today, in recognition of the cities’ plans to reach climate neutrality by 2030.
Following a successful submission of their Climate City Contract (CCC) to the European Commission, the award of a label marks an important moment for Mission Cities as they implement the plans from their CCC and seek investment, particularly from the private sector, to do so.
Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said:
“Congratulations to the 20 cities that have committed to becoming climate-neutral. You lead by example in making our cities more liveable and sustainable, and at the same time making Europe more competitive in the global cleantech race. The Commission will continue to support you in transforming your ambitious plans into concrete projects.”
Those plans, and the EU Cities Mission more widely, also serve the EU’s competitiveness agenda and the planned Clean Industrial Deal, as the needs of cities for clean products and services are strongly outlined for Europe’s clean tech industry, aiding planning and lowering prices.
Around 650 billion Euros will be needed by the 112 cities on the EU Cities Mission to deliver their climate plans, and those with the Mission Label will be the first to access the services of the recently-launched Climate City Capital Hub, which will provide financial expertise to cities, including linking city projects with potential investors.
A total of 53 cities now have a Mission Label (including the first 10 cities in October 2023 and 23 more in March 2024) and now include the following 20, as announced on 8 October: Aachen, Münster (Germany), Trikala (Greece), Miskolc (Hungary), Eilat (Israel), Bologna, Bergamo, Milan, Prato, Turin (Italy), Liepāja (Latvia), The Hague (the Netherlands), Porto (Portugal), Bucharest 2nd District, Suceava (Romania), Ljubljana, Kranj (Slovenia), Gothenburg, Gävle, Umeå (Sweden).
For more background and the European Commission’s press release you can go here.
Sibylle Keupen, Mayor of Aachen, Germany, said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded the EU Mission Label. We are teaming up with 100 cities in Europe to implement climate neutrality in the cities because climate protection is a joint task. With a solid plan, clear goals and, above all, a strong alliance in the city, we are boldly moving forward to make our contribution to climate neutrality.”
Filipe Araújo, Vice-Mayor of Porto, Portugal, said:
“The work carried out under the Climate City Contract is serious, multidisciplinary, and firmly committed to the present and future of Porto and its people. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of this century, and it is essential for Porto to be a leading city, setting an example among European cities.
“The Mission Label represents a collective achievement for the city, as demonstrated by the growing engagement of organisations and citizens in the Porto Climate Pact. This pact embodies the spirit of collaboration and action among diverse stakeholders, all working towards a shared goal: carbon neutrality by 2030.
“Let us continue moving forward together, as active agents shaping the future of our city, Europe, and the planet. Through our joint efforts, we can create meaningful change and build a more sustainable and resilient future for all.”
Markus Lewe, Mayor of the City of Münster, Germany, said:
“The Mission label is a huge honour for all people in Münster. With our climate protection strategy and our joint measures, both large and small, we are on the right track to achieving climate neutrality, and we would like to celebrate this together. The label is our incentive not to slacken in our efforts, but to continue consistently on our path to climate neutrality.”
Arjen Kapteijns, Deputy Mayor, Municipality of the Hague, the Netherlands, said:
“We consider the mission label as recognition of our efforts to achieve our climate goals by working together with the citizens and entrepreneurs in The Hague, who are partly organised as participants of The Hague Climate Agreement. Furthermore, we believe the label is a milestone both in establishing a strong collaboration on climate with the European Commission and the other Mission cities and affirms that the ambition for climate neutral is shared with other partners.”
Erik Eklund, Development strategist, Umeå, Sweden, said:
“Developing the CCC in Umeå has been a great learning process for the Umeå Team, one success factor I believe was to make it to our own plan/strategy for a climate neutral Umeå, fit for Umeå’s needs, and to see it as an iterative process, not about creating the perfect plan but taking crucial steps on the pathway towards climate neutrality. We have set high targets for climate neutrality, and being awarded the EU Mission Label confirms that we are on the right track. Now we can accelerate the transition together with our citizens, businesses and organisations.”
Assaf Admon, Head of Eilat-Eilot Environmental Unit, Eilat, Israel, said:
“As the only city in the country to be part of the Climate Neutrality Mission, Eilat carries both the unique challenges and the great honour of leading climate action in the country. Being part of this prestigious group alongside many pioneering cities in Europe is a major achievement. Receiving the label is a significant and important milestone for us, and a confirmation that we are on the right path. Although we are at an early stage in the process, we can already see how the mission affects the mindset of the city’s leadership – more and more decisions are made through the perspective of the mission and targeted urban investments in favour of meeting the goals.”
The city of Kranj, Slovenia, said:
“Receiving the EU Mission Label is a significant achievement for Kranj, as it represents recognition of a well-prepared, clear, and comprehensive action plan for climate neutrality.
“It not only validates Kranj’s vision for a sustainable future but also serves as a critical milestone that opens up opportunities for public and private funding, helping to turn these plans into actionable projects. Furthermore, it sends a powerful message to all local stakeholders that Kranj is serious and knowledgeable about addressing the climate crisis, positioning the city as a leader in climate action within the region.
“This mission label is a source of pride for the city and reinforces its commitment to continuing this inclusive and cohesive approach, from planning to implementation, as it moves towards a greener future.”
The municipality of Milan, Italy, said:
“Reflecting on our participation in the Cities Mission, we are proud of the initiatives unfolding in Milan. We have received an enthusiastic response from a significant group of stakeholders – currently 25 – from business, academia, banking foundations, cooperation, and grassroots environmentalism. All have been invited to join the inaugural edition of the climate city contract.
“The Cities Mission has significantly accelerated our efforts to develop a strategic vision that aligns with the city’s Air and Climate Plan. It has fostered collaboration among key stakeholders—local government, businesses, academic institutions, and community organizations—clarifying their roles in achieving our climate goals.
“This initiative has also raised awareness of environmental issues, leading to projects focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable transportation. As a result, we’ve cultivated a culture of sustainability, encouraging citizens to actively participate in local climate actions. Overall, the Cities Mission has transformed our approach to urban climate challenges, promoting a more resilient and sustainable urban environment.”
Liepāja, Latvia, said:
“Receiving the Mission Label is a testament to Liepāja’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and climate action. It symbolises that the municipality, citizens, and other stakeholders are taking climate neutrality more seriously and actively exploring new ways to benefit from this transition. This recognition not only validates our efforts but also opens up new opportunities for collaboration and support, helping us achieve our ambitious goal of reducing emissions by 80% by 2030. It also strengthens our position as a serious partner for other cities working towards similar goals.”
The municipality of Suceava, Romania, said:
“[The award of the Mission Label] means a recognition at a European level of our all efforts in the past 10–15 years on the local level in the field of implementation of actions, policies and measures for increased energy efficiency, sustainable mobility and development, and the reduction of CO2 emissions.
“We are proud to be the first Romanian city with full electric public transport (the only one in Romania so far), electric vehicles for the municipal fleet, charging stations for EV’s (with free charging for Suceava’s citizens), electric bikes and scooters, [and] we expect now to have more financing opportunities to continue our local investment in alternative energy production, energy efficiency, mobility and much more.”
The city of Ljubljana, Slovenia, said:
“The city of Ljubljana is proud to have received the Mission Label. This recognition by the EC is a significant achievement and also a great responsibility, as it places Ljubljana among the prominent group of cities across Europe that have the privilege to show the path to all other cities worldwide to more resilient, greener future and a better life for all. Ljubljana has already been acknowledged in the past for its environmental initiatives, including being named the European Green Capital in 2016. The Mission Label builds on this legacy and is a testament to the city’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and innovation. Receiving this label is a confirmation that Ljubljana is on the right path, not being afraid of the challenges that lie ahead.”
The city of Miskolc, Hungary, said:
“We are all gratified and delighted that Miskolc is the second Hungarian Mission City to be awarded the Mission Label, while at the same time we look forward to the challenge ahead of us until 2030. We take pride in the fact that Miskolc, along with 100 other European cities, has taken on a large-scale mission to shape the future, and we believe that, as in many other fields, we can also lead by example. Through the process of creating Climate City Contract, the participatory processes have been strengthened: nearly 200, companies, institutions and citizens committed to support and actively participate in the actions leading to climate neutrality in the city.
“We encourage all cities not to be afraid, to start on the road, to build partnerships, to involve people, institutions and companies in their city, to collect the data that will underpin decisions: one step after another and, because the ambition is high, to be happy with the partial results.”
The municipality of Prato, Italy, said:
“For the Municipality of Prato, receiving the Mission Label is a great honour and a significant milestone. We see it as the starting point for implementing our ambitious action plan, which was developed through the dedicated efforts of a transition team within the municipal administration. This plan, however, would not have been possible without the valuable contributions of the city’s citizens and stakeholders, whose engagement and input have been crucial in shaping the path toward a sustainable and climate-neutral future.”
The city of Bergamo, Italy, said:
“Acquiring the EU Mission Label is a great honour for Bergamo and represents a starting point to continue our efforts towards achieving the ambitious climate neutrality goals by 2030. This result is further confirmation that the path taken so far is the right one: the challenge of climate neutrality is a duty we have not only towards the planet which hosts us, but also towards the people who live and will live there. The diverse and dynamic urban ecosystem, consisting of more than 42 stakeholders, that has emerged around the Climate City Contract project and shared more than 200 actions, is a valuable asset that will assist us in overcoming this challenge. We are aware of the complexity of this path and we are working to include more stakeholders and financial resources, also through our digital platform comunedibergamo.forimpact.ai.”
The municipality of Trikala, Greece, said:
“Being awarded the Mission Label is a transformative milestone for Trikala. It symbolizes not just recognition of our commitment to climate neutrality, but a bold leap forward in our capacity to shape a greener, smarter, and more resilient future for our community. This distinction empowers us to build stronger partnerships and attract the necessary investments to scale up our efforts, turning ambitious climate goals into tangible actions. Trikala is now poised to become a model of innovation in urban sustainability, where climate action aligns seamlessly with enhancing citizens’ well-being and fostering sustainable economic growth. We are proud to lead by example and inspire other cities to join us on this path to a climate-neutral Europe.”
