On 28 April 2022, the Commission announced the 100 participating cities which will receive the Commission’s support in achieving the goal of Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030.
Discover the 100 cities selected for the Cities Mission
- 06 May 2022
On 28 April 2022, the Commission announced the 100 participating cities which will receive the Commission’s support in achieving the goal of Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030. The announcement followed the renewed commitment of the EU to the UN New Urban Agenda.
Our urban areas are home to 75% of EU citizens. Globally, urban areas consume over 65% of the world's energy, accounting for more than 70% of CO2 emissions. It follows that it should be cities that lead by example and act as experimentation ecosystems to help all others in their transition to become climate-neutral by 2050.
Enters “Cities mission”, one of five Horizon Europe research and innovation programmes for the years 2021-2027. Through this initiative the Commission supports 100 European cities to act as hubs of experimentation and innovation for green, digital and inclusive transformations. The cities span across all 27 Member States, with 12 additional cities from countries associated or with the potential of being associated to Horizon Europe.
The selected 100 represent 12% of European population. The Cities Mission will receive €360 million of Horizon Europe funding, throughout the period 2022-23. The funding will jumpstart research and innovation projects addressing clean mobility, energy efficiency and green urban planning with the objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2030.
How does it work?
The Commission will invite the 100 selected cities to develop Climate City Contracts, which will include an overall plan for climate neutrality across sectors like energy, buildings, waste management and transport, together with related investment plans. This process will involve citizens, research organisations and the private sector. The clear and visible commitments made by the cities in the Climate City Contracts will enable them to engage with the EU, national and regional authorities – and most importantly with their own citizens to deliver on this ambitious objective.
Climate City Contracts will be co-created with local partners and citizens, with the help of a Mission Platform run by the project NetZeroCities. The Mission Platform will provide the necessary technical, regulatory and financial assistance to cities.
What are EU missions?
EU Missions are a novelty of Horizon Europe designed to meet ambitious goals and deliver tangible results by 2030. Molded on the Commission priorities, Missions are a way to bring concrete solutions to some of our time’s greatest challenges.
The key feature of this new approach is to put research and innovation into a new role, one that draws from new forms of governance and citizens’ participation. In this vein, missions will “blaze the trail” towards goals like the European Green Deal, Europe fit for the Digital Age, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, An economy that works for people and the New European Bauhaus.
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