Sweden takes a lead in EU efforts for climate-neutral cities
Seven Swedish cities have signed a joint declaration on climate neutrality with cities in Spain and Romania. The declaration is a significant milestone for work on climate-neutral and smart cities within the EU Cities Mission.
The EU Cities Mission for climate-neutral and sustainable cities is one of the EU's five missions. The mission includes 112 cities that will all work towards the same goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2030. From Sweden, Gothenburg, Gävle, Helsingborg, Lund, Malmö, Stockholm and Umeå are participating.
On 26 June, Sweden, through Viable Cities, signed a declaration with counterparts in Spain and Romania. The aim of the declaration is to strengthen cooperation between the countries and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals.
“The declaration is a first step in aligning the work of cities within the EU Cities Mission, and it is gratifying that Sweden, through Viable Cities' work, can take the lead and show the way in this work," says Emina Pasic, program manager for Viable Cities at the Swedish Energy Agency.
The declaration underlines the need for a common strategy to scale up and replicate solutions between cities. It also includes twelve points to further drive the cities' mission and support cities in the transition process with continuous learning.
The joint declaration has been submitted to Patrick Child, Director of the Cities Mission at the European Commission. This took place at the Empowering Cities conference - The Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission in Action in Valencia on 26 June.
The Swedish and Spanish cities are now calling on more cities to get behind the declaration and support the continued development of the EU Cities Mission.
A common voice for European cities and platforms, Viable Cities
Climate city contracts a part of the EU Cities Mission
In Sweden, 23 Swedish cities have signed Climate City Contract 2030. The Climate City Contract was inspired by the EU Cities Mission and by being the first to establish a climate contract, Sweden is a pioneer showing the way for other European countries and the EU Commission.
The signatories are Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Lund, Växjö, Uppsala, Umeå, Järfälla, Enköping, Borlänge, Borås, Eskilstuna, Gävle, Helsingborg, Kalmar, Karlstad, Kristianstad, Linköping, Mariestad, Nacka, Skellefteå, Örebro and Östersund.
Six authorities have also signed Climate Contract 2030. These are the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas, Vinnova, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, the Swedish Transport Agency and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
The driving force behind the initiative is the strategic innovation programme Viable Cities.
