Governing climate neutrality transitions at the urban level: A European perspective

Effectively addressing climate change in line with the Paris Agreement and the EU Climate Law requires the establishment of governance structures with the participation and coordination of all levels of government and where the local level plays a key role. This is evident with the emergence of city-to-city networks of urban policymakers and supporting initiatives such as the EU 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how approximately 400 European cities are shaping their governance structures to tackle the complexities of achieving climate neutrality, highlighting the key elements on which cities focus their efforts. This study analyses data collected through the Expression of Interest survey of the European Commission's 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, which contains inputs directly provided by local authorities responsible for implementing climate policies. The results reveal the significant progress cities have made in adapting their governance approaches to effectively address climate challenges through for instance the institutionalisation of climate change, and the introduction of enabling and participative forms of governing with the involvement of key stakeholders in the decision-making processes. It also highlights the challenges cities face concerning climate financing and the need to unlock private investments.