EU #MissionCities Archives

An interview with Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz: The Cities Mission is transforming our cities, it deserves better political & funding support

Ella Morgan2025-03-24T17:44:41+01:00March 24th, 2025|

Hanna Gronkiewicz-Walz served a five-year term, between 2019 and 2024, as Chair of the Mission Board for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. She left the Board in October 2024 after being elected to the European Parliament. A politician, lawyer and professor of jurisprudence, her previous roles include Mayor of Warsaw, Chair of the National Bank of Poland, and Vice-Chair of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Mission Board member Jorn Verbeeck interviewed Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz on the achievements and future of the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, an initiative of the European Commission that the Mission Board helped design. She reflects [...]

Greek and Cypriot Mission Cities join forces to launch the ClimaNet Platform

Ella Morgan2025-03-10T14:07:07+01:00March 10th, 2025|

Greek and Cypriot Mission Cities are joining forces to facilitate nation-wide dialogue, collaboration, and acceleration to a shared climate-neutral vision. The ClimaNet Platform will aim to enhance national collaboration, share knowledge and best practices, and secure funding to accelerate climate neutrality efforts. This is a significant step for cities on their journeys for a shared climate-neutral future. The platform was formalised by Mayors Haris Doukas (Athens), Stelios Angeloudis (Thessaloniki), Nikolaos Sakkas (Trikala), Thomas Begas (Ioannina), Ioannis Kokkaliaris (Kozani), Athanasios Vasilopoulos (Kalamata), and Yiannis Armeftis (Limassol) at the 'Climate Neutrality and Resilient Athens: Green and Blue Interventions [...]

NetZeroCities Seasonal School: Fuelling Climate City Contract Implementation

Ella Morgan2025-02-06T15:38:06+01:00December 16th, 2024|

17 Mission Cities representatives gathered in Madrid for the fifth edition of the NetZeroCities Seasonal School, hosted by consortium partners Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Politecnico de Milano from 27 to 29 November. This event focused specifically on the implementation phase of Climate City Contracts (CCCs), supporting cities as they move from planning to accelerated action on their climate goals. The Seasonal Schools are a key part of the NetZeroCities Capability Building Programme, offering Mission Cities tailored support throughout the various phases of their CCCs. These outline cities’ climate strategies, including Commitments, Actions, and Investment Plans, [...]

48 European cities to advance climate neutrality ‘transformation’ via €22m programme

Ella Morgan2024-12-11T11:53:02+01:00December 11th, 2024|

Europe’s climate neutrality targets have been given a boost with 48 ambitious European cities set to receive a share of 22.6 million euros through the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. The cities will join the ‘Enabling City Transformation Programme’ and support sustainable urban development and Europe’s climate neutrality goals, including the European Green Deal, by creating practical, replicable solutions. Mission Cities were invited by the EU Cities Mission platform – currently managed by NetZeroCities –to propose innovative actions to overcome systemic challenges, which attracted over 40 applications from across 24 countries in the EU and Horizon-associated countries. Twenty-six [...]

Calling all cities who want to learn from the 112 Mission Cities and reach climate neutrality!

Marion Gonzales2024-12-09T10:23:06+01:00November 15th, 2024|

NetZeroCities is offering new peer-learning opportunities with Mission Cities and access to online resources to all cities in Europe and Horizon-associated countries who want faster progress on climate action. And no matter whether you’re already pursuing ambitious climate targets or have just begun to explore the possibilities, let’s connect! Get inspired by Mission Cities! As part of the EU Cities Mission, the Mission Platform managed by NetZeroCities is supporting 112 Mission Cities selected by the European Commission as they strive to reach climate neutrality by 2030. Building on this work, we are now offering unique opportunities for peer learning with [...]

Twenty more Mission Labels awarded to cities for ambitious climate plans

Ella Morgan2025-02-06T15:32:56+01:00October 22nd, 2024|

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 [...]

A new group of 20 cities receives EU Mission Label for their efforts towards climate neutrality

Ella Morgan2024-10-08T17:42:59+02:00October 8th, 2024|

A new group of 20 Mission Cities has been awarded the EU Mission Label by the European Commission for their plans to reach climate neutrality, bringing the total number of labelled cities to 53. For more details, please see the European Commission's press release below. PRESS RELEASE Today, the EU Mission Label was awarded to 20 cities that are part of the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, one of the EU Missions under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme. The Label recognises the cities' plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 and aims to facilitate access to [...]

19 more European cities will pair up with EU Mission Cities to find new urban climate solutions

Ella Morgan2024-09-16T12:41:52+02:00September 16th, 2024|

From September, 19 more cities from across Europe will gather speed towards climate neutrality as ‘Twin Cities’ on a knowledge-exchange programme delivered through the EU Cities Mission and the Mission platform, NetZeroCities. Through the Twinning Learning Programme, Twins are matched with a Pilot City or cluster of Pilot Cities that share common challenges and goals, emphasising collaboration and knowledge exchange throughout the 20-month programme. They will have access to support from world-class practitioners and experts to help them achieve their climate goals.  The 19 cities add to a growing network connecting with the EU’s Cities Mission – which aims to make [...]

From Climate City Contract to Implementation: What’s next for cities with the EU Mission Label?

Clea Prieto2024-08-09T10:32:40+02:00August 9th, 2024|

Authors: Lilybell Evergreen, Alan MacKenzie Cities have been working hard to form their Climate City Contracts, or ‘CCCs’ – an innovative governance tool that helps them to chart and navigate a path towards climate neutrality – and many more cities are now passing this important landmark in the EU Cities Mission. The creation of a CCC involves outlining interconnected Commitments, an Action Plan, and an Investment Plan, but it is more helpfully thought of as a process that helps cities to continually identify, investigate, and address obstacles to rapid transformation of their approach to climate actions [...]

Upscaling the EU Cities Mission: European Cities and Platforms Unite to Accelerate Climate-Neutrality

Capucine Pineau2024-07-18T14:14:48+02:00July 16th, 2024|

The Mission Cities of Spain and Sweden, alongside their national platforms citiES2030 and Viable Cities, have launched a Development Declaration aimed at upscaling the EU Cities Mission. This collaborative effort, endorsed by the Romanian Mission Platform M100, aims to propel the 112 Mission Cities towards climate neutrality by 2030, underscoring a unified commitment to achieve the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement. Key Aspects of the Declaration The Development Declaration underscores the need for further support and resources to ensure the success of Mission Cities in achieving climate neutrality. It advocates for a common strategy on "scaling as the [...]

ABOUT NZC

CONTACT

NZC NEWSLETTER

RECENT POSTS

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Categories