We are here to support your city on its climate neutrality journey. Start where you are. Act now.

What’s in it for my city?

We are here to support your city on its journey towards climate neutrality with beyond the state of the art expertise. Governance, social innovation, citizen engagement, finance: we seek to address all aspects of systemic change.

NetZeroCities works as a service-oriented One-Stop-Shop supported by world-class practitioners, in order to help European cities to achieve climate neutrality. NetZeroCities will support cities selected to be part of the EU’s Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities” with a dedicated platform providing online resources and tailored, in-person support.

NetZeroCities will also run a Pilots and a Twins programme to help cities test bold, innovative ideas to achieve climate neutrality at city scale, and replicate solutions that work. A set of online resources will also be made available to all interested cities.

TOOLS & SERVICES TO PUT YOUR CLIMATE VISION INTO ACTION

We will work as a One-Stop-Shop providing resources to cities to help them accelerate their journey towards 2030 climate neutrality. We will help cities amplify their capacities by providing knowledge and expertise, advancing a culture of transformative change, long-termism, strategic innovation, systems thinking.

We will tailor advanced capabilities related to the following aspects to ensure cities have access to the best expertise available anywhere in the world:

  • Systemic change

  • Citizen engagement

  • Democratic governance

  • Capital and financial structuring

  • Social innovation

  • Dedicated online portal

  • Access to world-class experts

TIMELINE

Join the EU Mission

Every city with a climate ambition can become part of the EU’s Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities”, by applying to the Call for Expression of Interest (November 2021-January 2022). Only one Call is foreseen.

A diverse cohort of 100 cities with different backgrounds and geographies will be selected all over Europe to lead the way on climate action and accelerate their journey to 2030 climate neutrality.

Cities joining the Mission will benefit from tailored support and world-class expertise. They will also get the opportunity to engage in a Climate City Contract (CCC) process. This process enables cities to receive a broad support from local stakeholders, making their transformation more sustainable.

25 November 2021 - 31 January 2022

Open Call for Expression of Interest

April 2022

Results of the call: cities joining the mission have been identified

June 2022

Onboarding of cities

September 2022

Launch of the Platform to support cities

September - November 2022

Open Call for Pilot Cities Programme

28 February 2023

Decision communication

March 2023

Publication of Call outcomes and selected Pilot Cities

Open Call for Pilots

Cities with an ambition to explore and implement pathways to decarbonisation by deploying possible innovation and transformation solutions, related to climate-issues, in city systems and at city level, can apply to the open Call for Pilots. Pilots Cities are there to test and implement innovative approaches to rapid decarbonisation.

An indicative number of 30 Pilots Cities will be selected through the open call and will closely work with the Mission Platform. Selected applicants for will receive funding and hands-on assistance to advance their work. Applicants can be cities or city-led consortia.

More details about the timing and process will be available in the coming months.

Open Call for Twins

This learning programme will help match European cities with Cities advancing pilots. Recruitment will take place after the pilots are selected to ensure learning needs are aligned, and it will not be required to be a Mission City to apply to the open Call for Twins.

‘Twins’ will benefit from pilot’s experience to replicate solutions that work. They will have access to peer-exchange, and replication support.

The twinning effort will allow more cities to benefit from the learnings of the Pilots. It will build inclusive participation in effective climate action, nurture just transitions and build social cohesion.

More details about the timing and process will be available in the coming months.

Early May 2023

Opening of the Open Call for Twins

3rd July 2023

Closing the Call for Twins

September 2023

Results of the Call for Twins are expected in September 2023