EU #MissionCities Archives - Page 3 of 8

Building for the Future: How Warsaw’s Green Building Standard is Changing the City

Ella Morgan2025-09-25T12:33:43+02:00September 16th, 2025|

Author: Ayden Maher A library that set the tone Before it even opened its doors, the new public library in Warsaw’s Białołęka district was winning awards. Designed with solar panels, natural lighting, and spaces shaped by greenery, it became the first municipal building to be certified under the Warsaw Green Building Standard (WGBS). For the city, the library was more than just a local success; it was proof that climate ambition could be translated into tangible, physical spaces. “We cannot have a strategy that says we will protect biodiversity and then build as business-as-usual,” says Jacek [...]

What Happens When Cities Talk? Lessons from the First Online Discussion Groups

Anne-Charlotte Costabadie2025-07-10T13:32:31+02:00July 10th, 2025|

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 on ‘a path of profound change’ – Q&A with Mayor Stefano Lo Russo

Anne-Charlotte Costabadie2026-02-19T12:14:44+01:00July 7th, 2025|

Torino in northern Italy has been announced as host of the next EU Cities Mission conference on 27-29 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 [...]

European cities invited to join forces with leading peers on climate neutrality programme

Anne-Charlotte Costabadie2025-06-25T08:14:11+02:00June 25th, 2025|

PRESS RELEASE A unique opportunity for cities to accelerate their local climate action and learn from leading cities in Europe is now open for applications, as part of the Twinning Learning Programme. The programme is part of the EU Cities Mission and is facilitated by the Mission Platform, currently managed by NetZeroCities. Cities with a commitment to reaching climate neutrality by or before 2050 can apply to join as ‘twin cities’ with cities Aachen, Bristol, 2nd district of Bucharest municipality, Dunkerque, Eindhoven-Helmond, Elbasan, Gabrovo, Guimarães, Ioannina, Kozani, Liberec, Padova, Reykjavik, Sarajevo, Sofia, Stockholm, Torino, Umeå and Warsaw, offering successful applicants access [...]

6th NetZeroCities Seasonal School: Speeding Up the Energy Systems Transition to Climate Neutrality

Ella Morgan2025-07-07T11:58:41+02:00June 17th, 2025|

18 Mission Cities representatives gathered in Milan for the sixth edition of the NetZeroCities Seasonal School, hosted by consortium partners Politecnico de Milano from 3 to 5 June 2025. At the beginning of June, the sixth Seasonal School was held, entitled “Speeding up the Energy System Transition to Climate Neutral”. This edition of the Summer School was focused on the transformation of urban energy systems - complex, interconnected structures that shape how cities produce, distribute, and consume energy. City representatives from: Aarhus, Amsterdam, Bucharest, Copenhagen, Communaute Urbaine de Dunkerque, Izmir, Liberec, Limassol, Ljubljana, Milano, Miskolc, Porto, Rzeszów, Sofia, Torino, Umeå, Vilnius [...]

Over 100 European cities celebrate local climate successes together – and take home shared lessons for a climate-neutral future

Ella Morgan2025-06-11T14:19:51+02:00June 10th, 2025|

NEW: Watch the video from the EU Cities Mission Conference 2025 More than 100 cities across the EU and beyond, including in the UK, Ukraine, Turkey, and Israel, have supported their journey to climate neutrality and strengthened the tools they will need to get there at a major urban sustainability conference supported by the European Commission. Cities were represented by political leaders and staff leading their climate activities and made up part of the 825 total guests who met at the annual conference of the EU Cities Mission – the largest one yet – from 6-8 May in the European [...]

Cities Mission Times: Celebrating European Cities’ Climate Ambitions and Successes

Anne-Charlotte Costabadie2025-05-14T12:30:32+02:00May 14th, 2025|

At the recent Cities Mission Conference 2025, held in Vilnius from 6-8 May, attendees received the "Cities Mission Times," a newspaper dedicated to celebrating city successes and advancing climate action towards 2030. Packed with inspiring stories, interviews, and updates, it celebrates cities' collaboration, ambition, and progress on the road to climate neutrality. Inside, readers will discover local climate initiatives and citizen engagement stories, alongside features on finance, private sector action, smart cities, mobility, buildings and housing, energy, national coordination, and even the role of sport in the transition. Each section showcases how European cities are accelerating the journey to climate [...]

European Commission awards the EU Mission Label to 39 new cities

Anne-Charlotte Costabadie2025-06-18T16:26:40+02:00May 7th, 2025|

The EU Mission label was awarded to 39 new cities during the Mission Label Ceremony at the Cities Mission Conference 2025 in Vilnius. In total, 92 out of the 112 Mission Cities have now received the label. For more details, please see the European Commission’s press release below. PRESS RELEASE Today, 39 cities participating in the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities under Horizon Europe have been awarded the EU Mission Label. This recognition highlights their ambitious plans to reach climate neutrality by 2030 and is designed to help them unlock public and private funding to support this goal. Teresa [...]

‘We can’t act alone’ on meaningful climate action

Ella Morgan2025-05-02T14:49:04+02:00May 2nd, 2025|

The Lithuanian capital of Vilnius is known for its historic Old Town, but as host of the 2025 EU Cities Mission conference it will become a focal point for the future as hundreds of guests from dozens of cities across Europe meet there to discuss innovation and collaboration on climate action. The city’s mayor, Valdas Benkunskas, answered some questions for NetZeroCities ahead of this flagship event. Vilnius is welcoming hundreds of visitors for the EU Cities Mission conference – what motivated the city to host the it? This conference marks a crucial halfway point in the [...]

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 [...]

ABOUT NZC

CONTACT

NZC NEWSLETTER

RECENT POSTS

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA