Cities are leading on climate action but still face significant structural barriers. We support them by identifying and overcoming the root causes that hinder climate action at scale, creating better lives for citizens, their children and the planet.
BACKGROUND
Cities are in a prime position to spearhead climate action and develop innovation for the world.
Change can be difficult, and contemplating the climate crisis can be hard. But we believe that we need to lean into this transition and use it as a force for good. This is an opportunity to reconsider what we value, and how we’d like to live, work and interact with each other – all while creating new jobs and business models.
Cities are in a prime position to test new ways of working and living. Not only do they account for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions and are home to 75% of EU citizens, they are also centres of economic activity, knowledge generation, innovation and new technologies. Throughout history, cities have often been at the forefront of change and innovation, and now is no exception. We believe in cities and work with them to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, all the while ensuring decarbonisation efforts are equitable and contribute to the well-being of European communities.
EU POLICIES IN ACTION
EU cities at the forefront of EU’s response to climate change
Europe has pledged to lead on climate action and has set forth ambitious goals and directives to achieve that commitment. The Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe research and innovation programmes, the European Green Deal and other European Union policies and directives propel European Member States towards a 55% cut in emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050.
As part of the Horizon Europe programme, the EU has launched a Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”. The objectives of the mission are to achieve 100 climate-neutral and smart European cities by 2030 and to ensure that these cities act as experimentation and innovation hubs to enable all European cities to follow suit by 2050.
INTRODUCING NETZEROCITIES
NetZeroCities supports cities in putting their climate ambitions into action
NetZeroCities helps Europe in its ambition to achieve climate neutrality. The project comes in support of the EU’s Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030” and provides cities with world-class expertise and services tailored to their needs.
NetZeroCities assists cities to overcome the current structural, institutional and cultural barriers they face in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.
What is climate neutrality?
Climate neutrality “refers to the idea of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by balancing those emissions, so they are equal (or less than) the emissions that get removed through the planet’s natural absorption”, according to the definition by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Cities
Every ambitious city that wants to show the way forward towards an inclusive, thriving, climate resilient and sustainable future can get involved.
NetZeroCities provides various types of resources through several pathways. Start where you are and receive support to accelerate climate action in your city.
Practitioners
Researchers, corporates, startups, NGOs, civil society organisations… You can contribute to NetZeroCities and help cities reach climate neutrality by joining our Community of Practice.
By joining this community you will gain a better understanding of cities and citizen issues and will be able to explore new opportunities.
NetZeroCities Partners
NetZeroCities brings together 34 leading city networks and research organisations from 13 countries. The project is coordinated by EIT Climate-KIC, Europe’s largest public-private innovation partnership focused on climate innovation to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
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