Driving urban transport towards climate neutrality: a study of 362 cities on the path to zero emissions
Caption: Comparing the locations of the 314 candidate cities from the EU with the heatmap of participants in H2020 projects related to transport and mobility reveals a significant correlation. Cities closer to research activities are more likely to be candidates for the EU Mission.
This article examines how research and innovation activities enhance cities' climate preparedness in general and in the transport sector. Results show a strong link between cities' proximity to R&I clusters and their candidacy for the EU Mission on climate neutrality.
How is knowledge on impacts and adaptation used at territorial level?
Focusing on emissions reduction in cities, the 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission is an initiative aligned with the EU’s climate adaptation objectives. As part of the JRC’s support to the Mission, this study integrates cities' insights with data from CORDIS1 and TRIMIS2 to explore how research and innovation (R&I) activities can enhance a city's climate ambition. Results show a strong link between cities' proximity to R&I clusters for transport and mobility and their probability of turning a candidate for EU Missions under Horizon Europe. Cities that have previously took part in H2020 projects appear to be more ambitious and better prepared for climate neutrality challenges, indicating the impact of previous R&I efforts in the transport sector (notably in the realm on smart and digital solutions) shaping a city's readiness for ambitious climate policies.
Useful insights for the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change
The paper underscores the significance of innovative measures in smart mobility for successful climate actions. It highlights the need for coordinated interventions involving various stakeholders - including transport operators and energy distributors - to enhance the effectiveness of urban climate policies.
Regarding funding, Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe projects dominate the reported EU R&I projects from cities (45.1% of total occurrences), followed by 'Structural Funds' and FP7 projects. 'Connecting Europe Facility' (CEF), 'Joint Programming Initiative' (JPI) Urban Europe, FP6, and DIGITAL projects are less common.
Improving knowledge uptake: strategies and approaches
Horizon Europe Missions lead in integrating the latest insights on climate impacts and adaptation into policy and practical use. They generate knowledge used to pinpoint and tackle gaps in technology, regulatory frameworks and capacity building. Moreover, they shape the development of services, tools, and datasets aimed at enhancing resilience, reducing emissions, and fostering targeted funding opportunities and financial instruments.
Horizon Europe initiatives also play a key role in aligning research efforts towards common objectives, anticipating and managing potential challenges, and fostering synergies among EU initiatives dedicated to sub-national actors. To facilitate the assimilation of this knowledge, it is vital to cultivate communication networks and collaborative platforms for peer-to-peer learning. These platforms allow cities to share best practices, address challenges, and propose innovative solutions.
Additionally, establishing accessible databases and forums for knowledge exchange can assist cities in discovering and navigating the tools and information necessary to confront their unique climate challenges.
From science to policy: key take-away messages
- Research and innovation drive climate policy success: cities with a strong background in transport research and innovation are better equipped and more ambitious in pursuing climate neutrality. Proximity to research clusters influences a city's approach to climate policy, with smart urban mobility emerging as a key differentiator.
- Local pilot programs and demonstrations play a crucial role in advancing innovative measures for urban climate neutrality strategies. They allow for the evaluation of applicability and raise awareness and acceptance among users. One example could be the metropolitan area of Nantes that tested new smart mobility concepts Life and Economy in the mySMARTLife H2020 project.
- Establishing collaborative learning and governance frameworks for cities within the same region, involving regional governments can be advantageous, especially in decarbonising the transport sector, where responsibilities often extend beyond urban boundaries. Experience and learning of Mission Cities would be valuable and inspiring to mobilise sub-national governments in the same quest.
- There is no one-size-fits-all solution for achieving transport-related climate neutrality in cities. Policy mixes must be customized based on city size, existing infrastructure, funding availability, and local priorities, combining technological solutions with planning and smart applications.
Reference: Christidis, P., Ulpiani, G., Stepniak, M. and Vetters, N., Research and innovation paving the way for climate neutrality in urban transport: Analysis of 362 cities on their journey to zero emissions, TRANSPORT POLICY, ISSN 0967-070X, 148, 2024, p. 107-123, JRC133432.
