This blog post comes from the original. By Vangelis Marinakis, Assistant Professor of the National Technical University of Athens Athens is on the frontline of climate change. With summer temperatures frequently soaring to dangerous levels, prolonged heatwaves and nights offering little relief, the city is experiencing first-hand the harsh realities of urban heat stress. Concrete surfaces trap heat, amplifying discomfort and health risks for residents. In this context, urban cooling is not a luxury; it is a matter of public health, quality of life and resilience. A City in Transition Over the [...]

A major modernisation of street lighting in the Baltic city will cut energy consumption and CO₂ emissions – and costs for citizens Cities across Europe with ambitious climate goals are looking to save emissions across many domains in a cost-effective way and use smart technology to maximise their impact. Through a major project to upgrade streetlights and in public buildings, the Mission City of Liepāja in Latvia is combining all these elements to produce significant gains for citizens.  In one part of the modernisation programme, over 13,000 outdated lighting fixtures have been replaced in 27 educational institutions across the [...]

Mountains of waste from ‘fast fashion’ have made it a byword for unsustainability – so how are manufacturers adapting to the need to reduce, reuse and recycle when it comes to textiles? Maria Giorda, a city advisor for NetZeroCities, outlines some of the innovative plans of a leading European textile district.   Prato in the Italian region of Tuscany is no stranger to the demands of the textile industry – its manufacturing heritage stretches back to the Middle Ages. Crucially, however, the city’s experience and tradition include not only manufacturing, but innovation and the circular economy.  From [...]

The path to climate neutrality is complex, but cities across Europe are not navigating it alone. Through the NetZeroCities Community of Practice (CoP), diverse stakeholders come together to share practical insights, explore real-world challenges, and co-develop innovative approaches to transformation. One of the most dynamic elements of the CoP has been its ongoing webinar series, which provides a space for open exchange between cities, climate neutrality practitioners, researchers, private organisations NGO’s and more! Each session highlights pioneering projects, tested strategies, and lessons learned from cities leading the way, alongside innovative solutions from experts who closely support cities in achieving their [...]

The EU Cities Mission aims to make cities in Europe and beyond climate neutral by 2030, but the path to this goal is complex. Urban transitions require more than just technological solutions – they demand a systemic approach that integrates technology, governance and social innovation. This is where research comes in. Morgan Cole Ricard, Emma Puerari (Polimi) and Ylva Reisnert (ERRIN) tell us more about how a recent NetZeroCities event underlined the importance of research institutions to climate action in cities.  Cities are at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis, and as we work towards [...]

The city of Milan has taken an intriguing approach to telling a complex story – its new podcast looks at an innovative but complex tool for cities, told via key local voices and expert navigation in each episode. What are its hopes for taking this tricky approach to communicating their climate work? Rossana Torri, the local project manager for the Mission in Milan, gives NetZeroCities some excellent insight in this Q&A for our latest blog post. A Climate City Contract is an innovative tool for cities aspiring to reach climate neutrality but isn’t an obvious topic [...]