Europe’s cities at the heart of climate action: The climate‑neutral and smart cities mission
How data and innovation are helping cities lead Europe’s transition to climate neutrality
What would your city look like if it were climate‑neutral? Quieter streets, cleaner air, smarter transport, and neighbourhoods designed with people at their centre. Across Europe, cities are starting to turn this vision into reality. Through the EU Cities Mission, urban areas are becoming living laboratories where climate solutions are tested, improved, and shared for the benefit of all European cities.
The mission, launched under Horizon Europe, aims to support 100 European cities in becoming climate‑neutral by 2030, while ensuring they act as experimentation and innovation hubs so that all cities can follow by 2050. Selected cities work closely with citizens, businesses, investors, and public authorities to design Climate City Contracts. These contracts outline concrete pathways to climate neutrality, covering areas such as energy systems, buildings, mobility, waste management, and investment planning. Cities that complete this process receive the EU Mission Label, helping them access funding, technical support, and financial expertise through initiatives such as the NetZeroCities Mission platform.
Reliable and accessible data underpins every step of this transformation. Cities use data to measure emissions, monitor progress, and test smart solutions in real urban environments. Open datasets on mobility patterns, energy consumption, air quality, and land use allow cities to compare approaches, learn from one another, and scale what works. The European Data Portal plays a role by providing access to thousands of open datasets that support evidence‑based policymaking, innovation, and research linked to sustainable urban development.
Curious to see how cities across Europe are putting climate ambition into practice? Explore the European Commission webpage with information about the EU Cities Mission and visit the European Data Portal to discover open data that helps drive smarter, greener, and more liveable cities across Europe.
For more news and events, follow us on X/Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to our newsletter. You can also connect with other users through our collaboration channel.