In European cities, climate action is most effective when it directly engages residents in shaping their everyday environment, from tram lines and courtyards to renovated apartment blocks. As Europe pushes toward its 2030 climate neutrality goals amid rapid urban growth, the Pilot Cities Programme has shown that cities progress fastest when citizens are treated as active partners in the transition, rather than relying solely on large budgets or high-tech solutions.
Across the first cohort of 52 Pilot Cities, more than 184,000 residents participated in initiatives such as citizen assemblies, neighborhood workshops, digital apps, and citizen hackathons. These activities were not merely supplementary but often critical to making climate policies functional and impactful.
Whether addressing deep building renovations, sustainable mobility, or urban cooling, the programme highlighted that technical solutions alone are insufficient. Significant progress occurs when residents feel ownership of the transition, recognize that it meets their needs, and have meaningful opportunities to influence how it unfolds.
The experiences from the Pilot Cities Programme, led by Climate KIC under NetZeroCities, provide practical examples of this citizen-centered approach. They also point toward a broader rethinking of climate policy in Europe, emphasizing collaboration, inclusivity, and community-driven action as central to achieving urban climate neutrality.
