Introduction to the Project

NetZeroCities supports the delivery of the Horizon Europe Mission on 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 and its ambition to achieve climate neutrality in Europe by 2050. Cities have been assigned the ambitious task to lead the transition to net zero emissions, and the NetZeroCities project is designed to help cities overcome the structural, institutional and cultural barriers by providing innovative support and solutions that will help them achieve their climate neutrality goals in a socially-inclusive way. The project builds on the expertise of its 33 partners, representing a wide range of actors from 13 countries.

Project Objectives

NetZeroCities works as a service-oriented one-stop-shop Mission Platform supported by world-class practitioners. It helps European cities by providing them with the support and solutions they need to achieve their net zero goal in a socially inclusive way.

New and existing tools, resources, information and expertise are developed and promoted into the platform, which is accessible to all cities through an online portal. The project designs and provides knowledge and services related to systemic change, citizen engagement and democratic governance, capital and financial structuring, and social innovation to support cities that are part of the Mission. In addition, NetZeroCities supports a series of Pilots to help drive rapid learning about how to achieve climate neutrality at city scale, and runs a Twinning programme to enable peer-learning between cities.

 

ERRIN's Role

ERRIN is supporting and contributing to several key project tasks and activities within the NetZeroCities project. ERRIN is leading the work on establishing strategic partnerships between NetZeroCities and existing initiatives, projects and other EU Missions. This includes a comprehensive mapping of initiatives and projects at European level and aligning them with cities’ partnership needs. ERRIN is also supporting NetZeroCities’ efforts on policy innovation, which is mission-driven and focused on accelerating cities’ transition pathways. In addition to partnership and policy development, ERRIN is supporting the Climate City Contract (CCCs) process. To enhance this work, ERRIN has brought on board two Climate Neutral Cities Advisors who collaborate closely with cities and provide assistance throughout the CCC process. ERRIN is also leading some of the project’s work around multi-level governance in the Cities Mission. This work includes mapping national and regional support structures for the Mission, analysing innovative governance instruments and approaches, and facilitating dialogues and collaboration between the different levels of government across European countries. Furthermore, ERRIN actively contributes to the NetZeroCities project’s efforts in citizen and stakeholder engagement, providing cities with tools to support them in bringing the different actors on board to achieve the Mission goals.

  • Heidi Johansson
  • Project Manager
  • Ryan Titley
  • Director of Projects
  • Pirita Lindholm
  • Director
  • Gianpiero Petruzziello
  • Project and Communications Officer
  • Julie Delcroix
  • Project and Policy Manager
  • Silvia Ghiretti
  • EU Missions and Policy Officer
  • Joanna Komperda
  • Project and Policy Manager

Benefit & Links

ERRIN’s work on the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities has over the past years been driven by the Smart Cities Working Group, with the involvement and input from a range of members from other Working Groups. ERRIN is driving its work in the NetZeroCities project through the Smart Cities WG by providing first-hand information to ERRIN members on the opportunities presented by the project and using the Working Group to feed back on activities in the project. The project provides an opportunity for ERRIN to work closely with its members and support them in developing and implementing their Climate City Contracts – both the members that are part of 112 selected Mission Cities as well as the wider membership.

Latest Updates

Image
  • By Heidi Johansson

ERRIN at the Cities Mission Conference and EURESFO 2024

This year, the Cities Mission Conference will take place in Valencia, Spain, on 25-26 June. ERRIN will participate in the conference as a partner in the NetZeroCities project, which manages the Cities Mission Platform. As the event is partly organised in collaboration with the European Urban Resilience Forum this year, ERRIN will also be there to promote its two Mission Adaptation projects: RESIST and Pathways2Resilience. 

Image
  • By Heidi Johansson

Cities Mission Enabling City Transformation call now open!

The Cities Mission Platform has opened a call for the Enabling City Transformation Programme. The Enabling City Transformation call invites Mission Cities to propose innovative actions to overcome systemic challenges faced when implementing climate action. This 18-month programme aims to foster large-scale, city-wide transformation, building upon and progressing beyond the Pilot Cities programme. The call is open until 14 October.

DS4SSCC
  • By Rodolphe Doité

Cascade funding available to deploy data spaces for cities and communities

The EU-funded project Data Spaces for Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities opened a call in June 2024 to select pilot projects for the deployment of Data Spaces.

ERRIN is looking for a Head of projects - Extended Deadline
  • By Teresa Vio

ERRIN is looking for a Head of projects - Extended Deadline

In view of the upcoming departure of ERRIN's current Director of projects, Ryan Titley, ERRIN is looking for a replacement to start in September 2024. The new colleague will work closely with the ERRIN Director on strategic planning, and lead the implementation and development of ERRIN's current and future project portfolio. Extended deadline: Applications are open until 26 May at 17.00 CEST.

Image
  • By Heidi Johansson

The Cities Mission Platform extends its support to all European cities

The Cities Mission Platform, supporting the work of the 112 Mission Cities towards climate neutrality, is now extending part of its support to any European city aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest. Through this programme, cities across Europe will be able to learn from the approaches implemented by Mission Cities, engage in online and in-person city-to-city exchanges at the EU and national level, and gain access to the online Mission Portal and its resources. To better tailor the programme to the needs of cities, the platform has developed a needs-assessment survey that is currently open until 17 May 2024.

Call image
  • By Heidi Johansson

Deadline extension: application for the Cities Mission Twinning Learning Programme

Deadline extended until 7 June! Cities across the EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply to join the EU Cities Mission’s Twinning Learning Programme between 8 April and 7 June 2024. Facilitated by the NetZeroCities project, in which ERRIN is a partner, the Twinning Learning Programme will pair applicants with the second cohort of Pilot Cities, who act as innovation hubs to pursue activities related to rapid decarbonisation.