NetZeroCities Blog: Power up your city’s climate action story

Hey there, city changemakers.

Buckle up and get ready to take a deep dive into the world of climate-neutral cities!

This is the NetZeroCities Blog, your go-to for all stories of urban sustainability in Europe. We’re on a mission to supercharge sustainable development through collaboration, innovation, and sharing impactful yet energising knowledge.

City officials and sustainability champions, we want to hear from you!

Whether you’re deeply ingrained in a transition team, celebrating a small win, or just sharing the day-to-day challenges of making your city more sustainable, your story matters. We want it all, from those “aha!” moments to the nitty-gritty details of well-orchestrated and highly-planned projects.

We’re looking for all kinds of content, from the technical and granular to the social and policy side of things. Send us an email and we’ll follow up with everything you need! Let’s get your story out there.

So, if you’re a changemaker or expert from a Mission City, Pilot City, Twin City, or our very own NetZeroCities consortium, we invite you to join us! Contribute your story, subscribe to the newsletter, and become part of the movement making European cities greener, cleaner, and more equitable.

Sure, reducing emissions is a big deal, in fact, it’s the whole reason NetZeroCities exists. From a personal perspective, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’re talking about creating healthier, more resilient, and just plain cooler places to live for generations to come.

 This blog as a climate action hub

Think of this space as an inspirational climate action community centre – a perfect editorial pairing to run parallel with our NetZeroCities Portal. We’ll be showcasing the hands-on, grassroots efforts of European cities on the path to climate neutrality. Expect stories of innovation, challenges overcome (because, let‘s be honest, there will be some bumps, hiccups and hurdles), and the human spirit and radical collaboration that’s driving this whole movement of change. 

The perks of going climate neutral

Striving for climate neutrality isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for cities and people! We’re talking cleaner air, more vibrant urban spaces, a booming green economy and plenty more co-benefits. And whether you’re a city representative, urban sustainability practitioner, or concerned citizen, through this blog we’ll share the knowledge and experiences that can inspire and guide your city’s journey. Consider it your editorial cheat sheet to a sustainable urban future! ️

Join the NetZeroCities conversation! ️

This blog is more than just one-way traffic. We want you to be part of the conversation! Here’s how you can get involved:

  • Comment on our social media posts. Let’s get a discussion going!
  • Share our content on your social media channels. Help us spread the word! (We’re on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.)
  • Join the NetZeroCities Portal. It’s a treasure trove of resources and a great place to connect with other sustainability champions.

Get inspired by real, ground-level stories and content

With this blog, we are sharing some amazing stories from our contributors. Think in-depth case studies, quick updates, and everything in between. We want to show you the diversity of content and perspectives that make this blog a beacon of hope, a mechanism for action and a destination to reflect and share the complex realities of our journey, together.

‘We are one city’: Gothenburg has a strong climate goal, but how is it finding a shared language on finance to reach it?

April 28th, 2026|

The Swedish port city’s many departments and companies are led by a multi-year environment and climate programme until 2030, but close collaboration needs a shared journey, not only a common destination. With the help of NetZeroCities’ Capital Hub, steps towards green finance are opening up new conversations – even with existing partners.  By Alan MacKenzie  [...]

Dozens of cities prepare to meet peers on climate in Torino

April 28th, 2026|

The city of Torino, alongside local partners, the European Commission and NetZeroCities, are making the final preparations before the EU Cities Mission conference in May. With a large programme, many site visits, and collaboration and networking opportunities planned, their hard work aims to let [...]

Can construction be climate friendly and budget friendly for cities? A promising new report looks at the numbers in Oslo

April 21st, 2026|

Climate-friendly construction could be less costly than first thought, according to a new report, with some measures adding little or no cost.  Mission cities are learning from Oslo how this could be encouraged through public procurement. Sofi Halling, a senior adviser at Oslo Climate Agency, explains.  [...]

Climate neutrality lessons in Europe: learning across longitudes from Valongo, Prague and Marmaris to Bucharest District 2

March 24th, 2026|

Prague, Marmaris, and Valongo are separated by thousands of kilometres but have common sustainability and climate problems. To gain insight on energy projects, nature-based solutions, transport, and more, they met with counterparts in Bucharest District 2 to hear what the city is [...]