ExpectedOutcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
Cities are at the forefront of the transition towards greater sustainability. An increasing number of European cities are active pursuing the transition towards climate-neutrality, aligning with the objectives set by the European Green Deal Strategy. Furthermore, the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, calls for having at least 100 climate neutral cities in Europe by 2030. The Communication on the European Climate Pact calls for a large engagement of all relevant actors to build a greener Europe and support the achievement of the Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals[10], bringing together regions, local communities, civil society, industry, social partners and schools.
While willing to commit to start the path towards climate neutrality, cities are also being confronted with national, regional and local specificities, which create both challenges and opportunities. Member States and Associated countries are characterized by inherent diversities and needs when addressing legislations and regulations, funding and financing needs and opportunities, as well as geographical, climatic and socio-cultural peculiarities. The uniqueness of the European cities requires tailored national support, translating the European objectives into the local ambitions while keeping citizens needs at the core.
Specific national networks for these cities will support translating and tailoring the goals of the European Green Deal Strategy and all relevant initiatives launched within this framework to the local specificities in close collaboration with national and local authorities, stakeholders and citizens.
The proposal should:
In order to support cities in evidence-based policy making for climate-neutrality, such investigation could benefit from the experience of the Joint Research Centre and relevant initiatives as the Community of Practice on Cities[14] and the City Science Officers Initiative network [15]. The results should aim at supporting local authorities’ capacity building through dedicated activities such as: trainings, webinars and peer-exchange.
Applicants must take into account and assure that national hubs build on planned or ongoing national, regional or local activities aimed at achieving climate-neutrality in cities. The action should substantially raise the capacities and extend capabilities of existing national networks and hubs.
Cross-cutting Priorities:Social Innovation
Societal Engagement
[1]COM(2019) 640 final: The European Green Deal_https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML//?uri=CELEX:52019DC0640&from=EN
[2]COM(2020) 789 final: Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future_ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0789&from=EN
[3]https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12381-EU-Strategy-on
[4]COM(2020) 662 final: A Renovation Wave for Europe - greening our buildings, creating jobs, improving lives_ https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/eu_renovation_wave_strategy.pdf
[5]COM(2020) 788 final: European Climate Pact_https://europa.eu/climate-pact/system/files/2020-12/20201209%20European%20Climate%20Pact%20Communication.pdf
[6]COM(2020) 562 final: Stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition_https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0562&from=EN
[7]https://ec.europa.eu/futurium/en/urban-agenda
[8]https://ec.europa.eu/info/eu-regional-and-urban-development/topics/cities-and-urban-development/urban-agenda-eu_en#:~:text=The%20urban%20agenda%20for%20the%20EU%20addresses%20problems%20facing%20cities,pass%20better%20laws
[9]https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/brochure/explanatory_memo_eui_post_2020_en.pdf
[10]A/RES/70/1: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development_ https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E
[11]As described by the Horizon Europe Missions Work Programme 2021 call: HORIZON-MISS-2021-COOR-01 - Coordination of complementary actions for missions
[12]https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/lc-gd-1-2-2020
[13]https://ec.europa.eu/info/energy-climate-change-environment/implementation-eu-countries/energy-and-climate-governance-and-reporting/national-energy-and-climate-plans_en
[14]The Community of Practice-CITIES (CoP-CITIES) is an initiative of the European Commission (co-led by the JRC and DG REGIO). It is open to external stakeholders such as cities and networks of cities, international and intergovernmental organisations and research bodies. https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/communities/en/community/cop-cities
[15]The initiative aims to develop and implement and Urban Science Academy to better connect universities-cities and businesses. It is currently framed in the context of the Community of Practice on Cities. https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/communities/en/community/city-science-initiative