Cities are trying to rapidly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and reach net zero, but why ‘net’ zero? This is where negative emissions come in. Paul Barton from NetZeroCities’ partner ICLEI Europe explains how critical these are for cities’ climate neutrality goals. A less considered part of the terms “net zero” and “climate neutral” is that they imply that some carbon emissions can’t be mitigated by 2030. These leftover or “residual” emissions therefore need to be cancelled out through actions that remove carbon from the atmosphere. Why do cities need negative emissions? The removal and storage [...]

More than 100 cities and hundreds of attendees from across academia, politics, finance and civil society came together in Torino to tackle the biggest sustainability issues facing cities – making the north Italian city the focal point of European climate action for three days in May.  By Alan MacKenzie  A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes, so take a look here and enjoy a great selection of all key moments from the 2026 EU Cities Mission conference in Torino!  Altogether, they tell a story of engagement and collaboration on a large scale – and the numbers support it. Over 650 guests joined the conference, including representatives from over 100 [...]

Most cities do not struggle with a lack of ideas but with the conditions that make it hard for good ideas to thrive and succeed. Marjolein Heezen and Tess Tjokrodikromo from TNO Vector explain how recognising and naming these problems can help cities overcome them.  By Alan MacKenzie  Across multiple European cities working on complex innovation challenges, the same obstacles can be seen again and again, regardless of the city’s size, geography, or ambition.   These challenges do not usually appear as dramatic failures. Instead, they surface as slow progress, unfinished pilots, frustrated teams, or promising initiatives that never quite become ‘normal practice’.  And when teams can point to a challenge, rather than a person or project, deliberate action becomes possible.  [...]

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  Michelle Coldrey from Gothenburg has been speaking to other Swedish cities about her city’s work with finance specialists from NetZeroCities.   “Why not? Give it a go,” she tells them.  Coldrey, who works on Gothenburg’s environment and climate programme, recognises that city staff can be hesitant about conversations that touch on finance, especially with external actors, if it isn’t their specific role or area of expertise.  Patience and perseverance, on all sides, is a must for understanding partners’ needs and what is possible.  “You have [...]

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 guest cities focus entirely on their climate priorities.  Torino’s path to climate neutrality is “collective and open,” while the city wants to be “an example at the European level,” says its mayor, Stefano Lo Russo.  In less than a month, Torino will play precisely that role as hundreds of guests representing dozens of cities will arrive under for the EU Cities Mission’s annual conference and two and a half days of collaboration and exploration, supported by NetZeroCities’ experts.  Torino [...]

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.  The construction sector is an “often overlooked” source of cities’ greenhouse gas emissions, but the good news is that cutting emissions in this sector might be less costly than anticipated, according to a report by SINTEF, a Norwegian research institute for sustainable development.  “This report shows that smarter design, the right choice of materials and increased re-use of material can cut emissions faster than many think,” says Audun Garberg, acting [...]