About: cities
Connecting the dots to enable climate leadership at all levels
We are running out of time to achieve the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030, and need urgent and ambitious climate leadership. Cities are central to this effort – and it is crucial that we continue to enable our cities to address and solve climate challenges, writes Lars Tveen. VideoPromoted content
A city leaders agenda for Europe
The future of Europe depends on its cities. They are the place where the fight against climate change becomes real, where technological innovation can help boost the digital transformation, and where equal and inclusive societies are made.
No toying around with air quality for city dwellers
Vehicle access restrictions have come under fire from the FIA motor car users group, which argues they are a whimsical instrument that cities spontaneously decided to employ. In fact, it was the car industry that was playing with real-world driving emissions, writes Karen Vancluysen.
Clean energy innovation: How Europe can make a real difference
Public-private partnerships are vital to achieving the leap forward, deploying new clean technologies at scale and fast, writes Maroš Šefčovič.
Dieselgate – 35 million manipulated cars on our streets and still no action
Despite the European Parliament’s Dieselgate inquiry committee, the European Commission is standing by, hiding behind bureaucratic squabbling to avoid taking its responsibilities, write Claude Turmes and Zdzisław Krasnodębski.
Cities are partners towards a more positive future for Europe
The EU needs to listen more and engage more with its citizens. It can take inspiration from and use its cities for this purpose to find ways to create societies where people come first, argues Daniël Termont.
Cape Town shares lessons of record drought
Cape Town, South Africa’s second largest city, is experiencing its worst drought in 100 years. Gareth Morgan, trade and investment officer for the city, told EURACTIV.com that the crisis was also an opportunity to seek solutions which could be of use in other parts of Africa.
Cities are key players in the clean energy transition
Cities are often leaders in climate action and ambition. National governments need to recognise this and empower them with the financial and technical means to complete their transition away from fossil fuels, writes Abdeluheb Choho.
World Bank: Africa’s cities can learn from EU experience
EURACTIV spoke to Somik Vinaj Lall, the lead author of the World Bank flagship report Africa’s cities: Opening doors to the world. Meeting with EU counterparts, Lall identified areas where the EU experience could be valuable in the urbanisation of the African continent.
French urban development expert: ‘In 2050, 3 billion people will live in slums’
Slums develop as a response to poor city planning and a lack of affordable accommodation. While they exist all over the world, up to 90% of the population of the poorest countries live in these insecure settlements, Pierre-Arnaud Barthel told EURACTIV France.
Most cities see climate action as an economic opportunity
190 cities around the world have already taken action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, according to the annual Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), published on Tuesday (4 October). EURACTIV's partner Journal de l'Environnement reports.
Rotterdam’s lesson: From harbour to hub
Cities have a major part to play in ensuring all their residents have the skills they need to be active and integrated members of society. This is a challenge mayors should embrace, writes Ahmed Aboutaleb.
Philippe Orliange: ‘Cities must boost borrowing to finance climate action’
Local and regional authorities are stepping up their efforts to fight climate change, but limited access to finance often holds them back, Philippe Orliange told Cécile Barbière from EURACTIV France.
Cities demand central role in digital skills revolution
A network of major European cities has called on the EU to place its members at the heart of efforts to boost digital skills, tackle unemployment and prepare citizens for the high value jobs of the future.
Commission rapped for ‘cheating’ on energy efficiency finance
MEP Claude Turmes (Greens, Luxembourg), sharply criticised the European Commission for disregarding social aspects in energy efficiency and for not providing technical assistance for such projects.
Member states haggle over ‘low-carbon mobility’ goals
The European Commission is having “very intense discussions” with member states over the individual emissions reduction percentage that they will be assigned to reduce emissions in sectors not covered by the Emissions Trading Scheme, a top EU official told journalists today (31 May).
Milan mayor energises urban food sustainability movement
Cities across the world should improve their food culture and systems in order to adjust to the planet’s contemporary needs, Milan’s Mayor, Giuliano Pisapia, told EURACTIV.com.
How cities are using the green economy to solve Europe’s employment crisis
Green Week opens today with a focus on greener cities: how can we make our cities more sustainable and liveable, asks Anna Lisa Boni.
Spain’s Leganés lends a hand to the world’s most vulnerable
SPECIAL REPORT / For the citizens of the Spanish municipality of Leganés, in the autonomous community of Madrid, solidarity with the world’s most vulnerable populations is second nature. EURACTIV Spain reports.
EIB boss: Cities and regions have crucial role in ensuring climate investment
SPECIAL REPORT / Finance for developing nations will be central to successful negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference, said Jonathan Taylor of the European Investment Bank.
EU’s Energy Union will fail without cities and regions’ help
SPECIAL REPORT / Unless it recognises and supports the role of cities and regions, the European Union’s Energy Union strategy is doomed to failure, campaigners have warned.
Cities, regions and climate change
Cities and regions are leading the fight against global warming, calling for the EU to be zero carbon by 2050, as world leaders prepare for the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (COP21) in November.
Let’s get real with car emissions
We are doing our bit to protect air quality in our cities, but real improvements will only come with tougher emissions standards, writes Anna Lisa Boni.