Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SGA-NZC (Specific Grant Agreement n°1 to Scale the Cities Mission Platform)
Période du rapport: 2023-06-01 au 2024-11-30
This SGA provides comprehensive programming and support for the European Commission’s Mission of 100 Climate-neutral and Smart Cities by 2030. It builds on the NetZeroCities (NZC) project, coordinated by CKIC. Combined, these two projects set out actions as follows: (a) Create and operate a Cities Mission Platform as a ‘one-stop-shop’ to access the expertise, capabilities, services, and solutions necessary to achieve climate neutrality. This Platform will provide tailored and intensive support to cities participating in the Mission and will ensure open access to the knowledge and resources of the Platform. (b) Help all Mission Cities with the co-creation and use of Climate City Contracts (CCC) to enable an ambitious pursuit of the goal of climate neutrality by 2030. This SGA expressly seeks to ensure all Mission Cities are supported and builds directly on the initial scope of NZC. In addition, support will be offered to additional cities seeking to follow the Mission closely. (c) Assist Mission cities in the development of tailor-made investment plans, project preparation and finance for the cities participating in the Mission. (d) Deliver substantial resources to Mission cities for ongoing research and innovation activities critical to achieving climate neutrality by 2030. This support will be in the form of ‘pilot’ funding to test and demonstrate actions needed to deliver climate neutral outcomes. This pilot activity will work together with the Platform and CCC processes in the cities, operationalising emerging knowledge and insights about how cities can achieve the Mission objectives.
At the core of the SGA-NZC is a commitment to systemic transformation, equipping cities with the tools, frameworks, and collaborative structures needed to accelerate their climate transition. Efforts have focused on governance innovation, action and investment strategies, and cross-sectoral collaboration, ensuring that cities are not only developing ambitious climate roadmaps but also embedding resilient, scalable solutions into their decision-making processes. A key aspect of this work has been fostering peer-learning networks, mobilising expertise, and strengthening multi-level governance to drive impactful, long-term change. In this period was also conducted the implementation of innovative tools, the expansion of city support activities, and the alignment of city initiatives with broader EU policy frameworks.
The work carried out under NZC SGA has delivered results that significantly advance the state of the art in supporting cities on their pathways to climate neutrality. Through the Pilot Cities Programme, more than 100 European cities are testing innovative systemic approaches, integrating climate, energy, mobility, and citizen engagement solutions into locally tailored transition strategies. These pilots act as living laboratories, enabling cities to experiment with new governance models, overcome siloed approaches, and strengthen their investment planning capacities.
A major achievement has been the establishment of a comprehensive systemic innovation framework that combines tools, methodologies, and peer-learning mechanisms. This framework supports the co-design of Climate City Contracts (CCCs) and links them directly with financing and capital mobilisation strategies. It goes beyond existing practices by fostering deep cross-sectoral collaboration and creating a scalable model for replication across European cities.
Furthermore, the integration of a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework has enabled the project to adopt a sensemaking attitude. By systematically gathering insights from pilots and stakeholder engagement, cities and partners are continuously reflecting, learning, and adjusting their approaches. This dynamic learning process enhances the relevance, scalability, and impact of systemic interventions.
Finally, the creation of the Systemic Innovation Lab has strengthened the platform’s ability to identify, test, and replicate innovative solutions rapidly, ensuring that results from pilots inform broader Mission-wide strategies.
Collectively, these outcomes represent a step-change in enabling cities to plan, finance, and deliver transformative climate actions, moving beyond fragmented initiatives towards coordinated, systemic pathways to climate neutrality.
A major achievement has been the establishment of a comprehensive systemic innovation framework that combines tools, methodologies, and peer-learning mechanisms. This framework supports the co-design of Climate City Contracts (CCCs) and links them directly with financing and capital mobilisation strategies. It goes beyond existing practices by fostering deep cross-sectoral collaboration and creating a scalable model for replication across European cities.
Furthermore, the integration of a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework has enabled the project to adopt a sensemaking attitude. By systematically gathering insights from pilots and stakeholder engagement, cities and partners are continuously reflecting, learning, and adjusting their approaches. This dynamic learning process enhances the relevance, scalability, and impact of systemic interventions.
Finally, the creation of the Systemic Innovation Lab has strengthened the platform’s ability to identify, test, and replicate innovative solutions rapidly, ensuring that results from pilots inform broader Mission-wide strategies.
Collectively, these outcomes represent a step-change in enabling cities to plan, finance, and deliver transformative climate actions, moving beyond fragmented initiatives towards coordinated, systemic pathways to climate neutrality.