Nine Italian cities in the EU project for climate neutrality

Looking forward to reaching the climate neutrality of the European Union by 2050, the tread mission has started which aims to accelerate the goal in the most important urban centres. In fact, cities contribute more than 70% of global CO2 emissions and consume more than 65% of the energy produced. In Europe urban centers occupy just 4% of the surface and host 75% of the population and for this reason, concentrating efforts on cities becomes indispensable.

The selected urban centers

For this, with the program “Mission City” there European Commission has decided to concentrate its initial efforts on 100 pilot cities which will have to pave the way for climate neutrality and smart city policies, with objectives such as adapting to climate change, living in greener centres, ensuring soil health to protect that of food, people, nature and climate, protect the seas, fight against cancer and much more. A good 377 cities participated in the tender and of these, 100 belonging to the 27 EU countries plus 12 from countries associated or potentially associated with Horizon Europe have been chosen for the mission. Among these, there are also nine Italians: Bergamo, Bologna, Florence, Milan, Padua, Parma, Prato, Rome And Turin.

New opportunity

As for those excluded, including the Italian cities of Arezzo, Assisi (with Bastia, Cannara, Bettona and Valfabbrica), Bagheria, Battipaglia, Busto Arsizio, Campobasso, Cinisello Balsamo, Ferrara, Genoa, Giugliano in Campania, L’Aquila, Lecce, Legnano, Lucca, Messina, Novara, Pavia, Pescara, Pordenone, Ragusa, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Salerno, Savona, Siena, Trento, the union of the municipalities of Romagna Forlì and Venice, the Commission is studying new support and new funding opportunities. “The green transition is making its way across Europe. But there is always a need for pioneers, who set themselves even higher goals – said the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen — and these cities are showing us the way to a healthier future. And we will support them.” Starting with funding for the program which for the current two-year period provides for 360 million euros from Horizon Europeto launch the innovation paths towards climate neutrality by 2030. The research and innovation actions will deal with clean mobility, energy efficiency and ecological urban planning, and will offer the possibility of building joint initiatives and intensifying collaborations in synergy with other EU programmes.

Tailored consultancy in a net zero perspective

Among the benefits for cities are tailored advice and assistance from a dedicated mission platform managed by NetZeroCities, funding opportunities and participation in major innovation actions and pilot projects. There “Mission City” it also offers networking opportunities, exchange of good practices between cities and support to involve citizens in the mission. Specifically, the contracts with the selected cities include a master plan for climate neutrality and related investments in all sectors, from energy to buildings, from waste management to transport, etc. “Cities are at the forefront of the fight against the climate crisis – he added Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President responsible for the European Green Deal – whether it’s greening urban spaces, tackling air pollution, reducing energy use in buildings or promoting clean mobility solutions, cities are often at the heart of the changes Europe needs to succeed in the transition to climate neutrality”.