In Short : Spanish cities including Madrid, Valencia, and Zaragoza are taking proactive steps to achieve climate neutrality. These cities have implemented various sustainable initiatives, such as expanding green spaces, promoting public transportation, and encouraging energy efficiency measures. By leading the way in adopting eco-friendly policies, these urban centers aim to reduce their carbon emissions and contribute significantly to Spain’s overall climate goals. Their efforts serve as examples for other cities globally to follow in the pursuit of climate neutrality.
In Detail : Ten European cities have been awarded for their plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.
The accolades, known as the Label of the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, were announced by the European Commission on Thursday.
Five cities in Spain received the honour, along with cities in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria and Romania.
The EU Mission Label aims to help cities get public and private funding for their climate goals.
Ten European cities awarded for climate neutrality goals
The European Commission announced on Thursday that the EU Mission Label has been awarded to Sønderborg (Denmark), Mannheim (Germany), Madrid, Valencia, Valladolid, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Zaragoza (Spain), Klagenfurt (Austria), Cluj-Napoca (Romania) and Stockholm (Sweden).
The award represents the EU’s ‘seal of approval’ for their efforts to become smart cities free of polluting emissions.
It also recognises the cities’ action and investment plans, known as Climate City Contracts, to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 – 20 years earlier than the EU’s aim for the rest of Europe.
Cities that have received the EU Mission Label will be assisted with access to EU, national, and regional funding and financing sources, in particular private investment.
The ten cities are “paving the way for others to move faster towards a fair green and digital transition,” the European Commission wrote in a statement, “and they set an example for inclusive co-creation of policy at the local level.”