When cities embrace bike-friendly design, they not only reduce emissions but encourage healthier communities, calmer streets and a culture of sustainability. Acting EU Cities Mission Board Chair Paulo Ferrão and board member Françoise Guaspare reflect on the significance of a citizen-driven initiative to promote the European Declaration on Cycling at COP30. For some cyclists, not all roads to COP30 in Brazil are to be found in South America’s largest country. At least, this was true for hundreds of riders in the COP Bike Ride, a citizen initiative that carried ten proposals to leverage cycling for climate [...]

As Europe’s cities accelerate their climate ambitions, the need for structured, practical collaboration is becoming increasingly essential. In response, NetZeroCities launched the first Online Discussion Groups in autumn 2024, a peer-learning initiative open to all cities designed to help them move from climate planning to delivery.  The initiative was specifically designed for cities that are not part of the 112 EU Mission Cities, but that share the same bold climate ambition and mission-driven mindset. These Mission-minded cities joined the Online Discussion groups to accelerate their transitions by learning from those already further along. Over the course [...]

Torino in northern Italy has been announced as host of the next EU Cities Mission conference on 28-29 May 2026. NetZeroCities caught up with its mayor to ask about the city’s own climate ambitions and why it wished to host the Mission’s annual event.  What motivated the city of Torino to host the 2026 EU Cities Mission conference?  Torino is deeply committed to the transition towards climate neutrality and hosting the Cities Mission Conference 2026 represents for us a unique opportunity to strengthen the dialogue between European cities that share the same vision. Being one of [...]