Dresden and Leipzig participate in the EU’s mission for climate-neutral cities
The EU Commission will spend €360 million over the next two years to help cities save energy. Saxony also benefits.
There will be great joy in the Dresden Town Hall. There is support from Brussels on the path to climate neutrality.
© Archive image: Christian Juppe
Mannheim, Munich, Frankfurt am Main, LeipzigDortmund, DresdenMunster, Aachen and Heidelberg are among the 100 expected by the EU Commission on Thursday selected citiesthat by 2030 al EU mission for climate-neutral and smart cities. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission, said: “The green transition can now be felt across Europe. But we always need pioneers who set themselves even more ambitious goals. These cities show us the way to a healthier future.”
75% of EU citizens live in urban areas. Overall, urban areas consume over 65% of the world’s energy and are therefore responsible for over 70% of CO2 emissions. It is therefore important that cities act as ecosystems of testing and innovation to support everyone else in the transition to climate neutrality by 2050, according to the European Commission’s communication.
The Cities mission will receive €360 million in funding this year and next under the Horizon Europe funding program to enable it to jump-start the innovations needed to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. Research and innovation actions will address mobility clean, energy efficient and green urban planning; it offers the opportunity to develop joint initiatives and enhance synergies with other EU programmes.
Cities are now developing climate city contracts
Dresden and Leipzig can now, with tailored advice and support, through a dedicated mission platform operated by NetZeroCities is managed, calculate. Additional benefits include additional funding and the opportunity to participate in large innovation activities and pilot projects. The Mission also provides opportunities to network, share best practices across cities, and help engage citizens.
In the next phase, the Commission will ask the 100 selected cities to draw up climate city contracts, including a master plan for climate neutrality in all sectors such as energy, buildings, waste management and transport, as well as the corresponding investment plans. Due to the clear and visible commitments that cities will make under the climate city contracts, they should engage with EU, national and regional authorities, but especially with their own citizens, to jointly develop this strategy to be elaborated, they recommend EU officials.
A total of 377 cities from all 27 member states have applied. This is evidence of an “overwhelming interest,” they say.
