Madrid, Valencia, Vitoria, Valladolid and Zaragoza, awarded by the EU for their plans to reach climate neutrality in 2030

Madrid, Valencia, Valladolid, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Zaragoza are doing their job well in the fight against climate change. The five Spanish cities have been awarded the EU Mission Seal for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities, one of the Union's Missions in Horizon Europe. This distinction recognizes cities' plans to achieve climate neutrality as early as 2030 and aims to facilitate access to public and private financing towards that goal.. In addition to the Spanish, Sønderborg (Denmark), Mannheim (Germany), Klagenfurt (Austria), Cluj-Napoca (Romania) and Stockholm (Sweden) have also achieved the label.

The EU Mission Seal is a recognition of the success in the development of City Climate Contracts, which outline the global vision of climate neutrality of cities and contain an action plan and investment strategy. Cities develop their City Climate Contracts in collaboration with local stakeholders, including the private sector and citizens. A first group of cities submitted their Contracts in April 2023, which were reviewed by the Commission with the support of experts, including those from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Joint Research Center (JRC).

Following a positive review, cities receive an EU Mission Label, which aims to facilitate access to EU, national and regional funding sources and funds, in particular private investment.

These ten cities are paving the way for others to move more quickly towards a just green and digital transition

“These ten cities are paving the way for others to move more quickly towards a fair ecological and digital transition, and serve as an example for the inclusive co-creation of policies at the local level,” says the European Commission statement.. In total, 100 EU cities participate in the EU Cities Mission, with an additional 12 cities from Horizon Europe partner countries.

The community Executive, together with the Mission Platform, currently managed by the NetZeroCities project, will continue, it says, to support the effective implementation of the Cities for Climate Contracts. Cities that have received the EU Mission Seal can now use it as a sign of confidence in their climate neutrality plans, especially when approaching public and private funders. The Commission, through the Mission Platform, will continue to support cities “with practical advice and financing programmes, such as a €32 million pilot program combined with a twinning programme”.

Another call for pilot cities with a budget of 20 million euros is currently open until November 6. All cities that have submitted their Cities for Climate Contracts, whether or not they have obtained the EU Mission Label, are receiving information on areas that can be further developed, with the support of the Missions Platform.

Cities are responsible for more than 70% of global CO₂ emissions and consume more than 65% of global energy. Urban action is crucial for climate change mitigation and can significantly contribute to accelerating efforts to achieve the legally binding commitment to achieve EU-wide climate neutrality by 2050, as well as the EU's goal of reducing emissions. of greenhouse gases by 55% by 2030 and, more generally, comply with the European Green Deal.

“The objective of the EU Cities Mission is to help European cities achieve climate neutrality, offering their citizens cleaner air, safer transport and less congestion and noise,” concludes Brussels.