Nine innovative ways European cities are taking climate action

Europe’s cities are on the frontline of climate change. With 75% of the continent's population residing in cities, the impacts of extreme weather events will leave millions vulnerable, while damage caused by climate change will come at a high cost.

To manage this, cities will need to urgently adapt to the changing climate and reduce their own environmental footprint in line with the targets of the Paris Agreement. This will require a transformation in sectors such as energy, transport and housing as well as the development of technology and innovation to achieve this at the scale needed.

This compilation of nine examples of climate and environmental action across cities in Europe brings a short overview of specific programmes in selected cities (Amsterdam, Braga, Florence, Helsingor, Lahti, Lisbon, Lund, Milan, Orebro) as well as external links to further detail. Issues covered include climate-adaptive rooftops; waste collection; smart cities; energy renovation; carbon accounting; heating solutions; and urban forests, for example. These case studies can serve as inspiration to other cities wishing to progress in their climate action journey.

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