About EU Missions
EU Missions are a new way to bring concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges by 2030. Guided by the EU Adaptation Strategy(opens in new window) and supported by Horizon Europe, the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change(opens in new window) focuses on supporting EU regions, cities and local authorities in their efforts to build resilience against the impacts of climate change. The Mission’s objective is to accompany at least 150 European regions and communities towards climate resilience by 2030. The Mission Adaptation Portal(opens in new window) offers a diverse array of resources for tackling adaptation to climate change. Its Regional Adaptation Support Tool(opens in new window) tailors solutions for regional climate adaptation while a Funding Guide(opens in new window) outlines various financial opportunities to support adaptation projects. The EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities(opens in new window) aims to accelerate the transition of European cities towards climate neutrality while fostering smart, sustainable and inclusive urban development. The Mission’s objectives are to deliver at least 100 climate-neutral and smart European cities by 2030, and use the knowledge gained to put all European cities in a position to become climate-neutral by 2050. The Cities Mission platform(opens in new window), managed by the NetZeroCities(opens in new window) project, includes hands-on support for cities, pilot projects(opens in new window), a Twinning Programme(opens in new window) and peer-to-peer exchanges. The Mission’s central feature is Climate City Contracts(opens in new window) (CCCs) which each participating city is developing and implementing. These contain a Climate Neutrality Action Plan and a Climate Neutrality Investment Plan. If the CCC is reviewed positively by the Commission’s Joint Research Centre(opens in new window), the European Investment Bank(opens in new window) and external financial experts, the city receives a Mission Label(opens in new window), which is intended to facilitate access to other sources of funding and finance, in particular to private investment. Both EU Missions demonstrate what the European Green Deal(opens in new window) means at local level, showing how well-coordinated action starting in research and innovation can accelerate the necessary changes that lead to climate neutrality and produce tangible benefits such as clean air, safe streets and liveable and green spaces.
"Ambitious cities need inspiring and innovative projects that other cities and regions can learn from and that can be scaled up, to address climate change."
Patrick Child, Mission manager of the EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities
"I hope the 14 projects in this publication will inspire other cities and regions on their journey to achieving climate neutrality. The Cities Mission aims to not only deliver at least 100 climate neutral and smart European cities by 2030 but also turn these cities into experimentation and innovation hubs to put all European cities in a position to become climate-neutral by 2050."
"In the realm of the Mission on Adaptation, early deliverables have changed from innovative solutions to robust tools, all aimed at empowering regional and local actors to adapt proactively to a changing climate."
Elina Bardram, Mission manager of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change
"I trust the diverse projects showcased herein ignite the ingenuity of regions and cities across Europe and beyond, guiding them on their journey towards climate resilience. We need such pioneering initiatives to serve as beacons of preparedness for climate change, to illuminate pathways for others to follow and scale."