Horizon 2020 City Mission - Climate-neutral and smart cities

Details are emerging of the EU's next research and innovation funding programme, which will replace Horizon 2020 from 2021.  

The Commission's proposal for Horizon Europe is an ambitious €100 billion research and innovation programme. Part of the programme will include research and innovation 'missions', which aim to increase the effectiveness of funding by addressing clearly defined targets. Each mission will have a dedicated mission board composed of 15 members and assembly, which will help to specify, design and implement their respective mission. 

One of the five mission areas is: Climate-neutral and smart cities

With half of the world’s population currently living in urban areas, which is expected to increase to 80% by 2050, the importance of this mission area cannot be understated. This mission, in particular, will help the EU meet the goals and targets set by international policy frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the Urban Agenda for the EU and the Habitat III New Urban Agenda. Actions in cities will play a key role in delivering all of these. 

For more information on the 'Climate-neutral and smart cities' mission area, please click here.

Another mission that will be relevant to urban mobility is the 'Adaptation to Climate Change and Social Transformation'. You can read more about this mission here.