About: cities
Cities’ empowerment initiatives risk being ‘paper exercises’, experts warn
Projects meant to give power to EU city dwellers risk being reduced to a 'box-ticking' exercise unless municipal leaders can convince as many of their constituents as possible to participate.
COVID highlights need for EU to regulate wildlife trafficking
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the need to regulate the trade in live wild animals, who could carry viruses. In Europe, the lack of regulation on this subject represents a major health risk.
Mayor: Cities are the atoms in the organism of the EU
Mario Rajn, the mayor of Križevci, a medieval city of 20,000 people northeast of Croatia's capital is pushing for his city to become energy independent by 2030. He explains what actions have been taken so far.
24 Turkish cities oppose Erdogan, support Paris Climate Agreement
Within the framework of the current COP25, 24 Turkish cities and municipalities committed themselves to the Paris Climate Agreement yesterday (9 December). Turkey is the only G20 country that has not yet ratified the Paris Agreement. EURACTIV Germany reports.
COP25: cities are no longer waiting around for nations, Milan’s mayor says
Because there is still a small number of nations blocking progress in implementing the Paris Agreement, and cities already feel their impact of climate change, they are ready to take the lead in fighting global warming, Milan's mayor and C40 network Vice-Chairman Giuseppe Sala told EURACTIV in an interview.
Fourteen mayors sign declaration to promote sustainable food policies in their cities
Fourteen cities announced on Thursday (10 October) that they would pay particular attention to the sustainable and healthy food supply in their cities in the future. This way, they aim to save 60% of the carbon emissions in the food sector. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Cities will be key in the fight against climate change, UN chief says
Mayors from all over the world are meeting in Copenhagen this week for the C40 World Mayors Summit. They have gathered to fight the so-called 'climate urgency' and are calling for a "Green New Deal" to be implemented worldwide. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Investing in zero-carbon cities will return $24 trillion by 2050, report finds
By investing US$1.83 trillion - about 2% of global GDP - per year in cutting urban emissions, national governments would generate annual returns worth US$2.80 trillion in 2030 and US$6.98 trillion in 2050, a report released Thursday (19 September) finds.
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.