Romanian Cities to Participate in EU’s Climate Neutrality Mission

The Romanian cities chosen to participate in EU Cities Mission are Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Suceava. This project aims to create 100 climate-neutral and smart cities and towns selected to participate by 2030.

One hundred cities represent all 27 EU member states, with 12 more cities coming from nations linked to Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation program (2021-2027), or having the possibility to be connected, according to the European Commission.

The Commission’s list includes major European capitals and cities like Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Brussels, Munich, Dortmund, Lyon, Marseille, Milan, Athens, and Romanian towns.

According to an EC press release, the Cities Mission will receive EUR 360 million in Horizon Europe financing from 2022 to 2023 to begin developing innovative pathways to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. Clean mobility, energy efficiency, and green urban planning will be addressed through the research and innovation actions, which will provide opportunities to develop collaborative initiatives and expand relationships in synergy with other EU programs.

Cities will benefit from tailored guidance and help from NetZeroCities‘ dedicated Mission Platform, new funding and financing opportunities, and participation in significant innovation actions and pilot projects. The Mission also offers networking opportunities, best-practice exchanges between communities, and assistance involving residents in the mission.

In a Facebook post, Cluj-Napoca mayor Emil Boc said that his city is committed to “taking tangible and ambitious actions to reduce the city’s influence on the climate and improve the quality of life of its residents.” He stated that the city’s goal was to plant over 100,000 trees and lower the city’s carbon impact by 15% by 2030.