Author: Barbara Jarkiewicz Stories from Pilot Cities: The Hague is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period. When Petra Bijvoet from the City Hall talks about The Hague, she speaks with the urgency of someone who knows that time is running out. "We're the most densely built city in the Netherlands," she says, "and we sit right at sea level. If [...]

Author: Ayden Maher Stories from Pilot Cities: Marseille is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period. How businesses and neighbourhoods are building a climate movement together   When Marseille joined the Pilot Cities Programme, it wasn't to add a few more environmental projects to its to-do list. The ambition was bigger: to change how climate action happens in the city, by making residents, businesses, [...]

Author: Barbara Jarkiewicz Stories from Pilot Cities: Ioannina is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period. Ioannina, a vibrant university town by a shimmering lake surrounded by mountains, may not fit the Greek postcard stereotype, and that’s exactly what makes it the perfect place to reimagine the future of their climate neutrality. Through their participation in the Pilot Cities Programme, Ioannina is [...]

Author: Elisa Abrantes Stories from Pilot Cities: Trondheim is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period. “If we don’t address the issue of consumption, our emission reduction goals will never be enough,” says Chin-Yu Lee, reflecting on her experience of over a decade working in climate policy.  In Trondheim, Norway’s third-largest city, that systemic change is being put to the test [...]

Author: Elisa Abrantes Stories from Pilot Cities: Aarhus is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period. What happens when an entire area in a city becomes a test site for tackling climate change? In Spørring, a peri-urban community between the city and its rural surroundings, Aarhus municipality is rolling out new initiatives aimed at cutting emissions while using land more efficiently. [...]

Author: Barbara Jarkiewicz Stories from Pilot Cities: Klagenfurt, Gozo and Vilnius are part of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period. ‘How are we going to finance the transition?’ is the question echoing the corridors of town halls and policy meetings across Europe. Climate targets are set. Plans are drawn. But turning vision into reality often comes down to one of the key [...]

Author: Elisa Abrantes Stories from Pilot Cities: Umeå is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period. In the northern Swedish city of Umeå, where dark winters stand in contrast with almost around-the-clock daytime in the summer months, the climate transition is well underway. But it needs to go faster. The city is ramping up the speed through the North Star project, [...]

Author: Elisa Abrantes Stories from Pilot Cities: Drammen is a participant in the Pilot Cities Programme, an EU grant funded programme which focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period as part of the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities.  Encased in nature and situated at the junction of the Drams River and Drams Fjord, the warmest city in Norway has set its sights on reaching climate neutrality by 2030.  Once dominated by industry and struggling with pollution, the port and river city of Drammen has built a strong [...]

Author: Elisa Abrantes Stories from Pilot Cities: Lahti is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period.   On the banks of Lake Vesijärvi, once one of Finland's most polluted lakes, the city of Lahti is responding to the environmental damage. By 1979, the city stopped discharging domestic and industrial wastewater into the lake, kicking off decades of conservation work to reverse the [...]

Author: Barbara Jarkiewicz Stories from Pilot Cities: Malmö is one of the 112 cities participating in the EU Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Pilot Cities Programme – a component of the Mission that focuses on exploring and testing pathways to rapid decarbonisation over a two-year period.   Malmö, a Swedish city renowned for its ambition and innovation, is racing towards climate neutrality with unwavering commitment. The city's success stems from a systemic approach that embraces collaboration with various stakeholders, shaping innovative policies and fostering holistic thinking to drive sustainability forward. This article [...]