Cities Mission Conference 2025: Cities at the forefront of Europe’s Climate Action

Vilnius, 6-8 May 2025 - The fourth edition of the Cities Mission conference 2025 has officially kicked off. This annual flagship event brings together all European cities committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2030. Organized by the European Commission and the Mission Platform, this year's conference is being held in Vilnius, the 2025 EU Green Capital, and gathers over 800 participants, including policymakers, urban professionals, innovators, financial experts, and civil society representatives.

Under the theme "Harnessing City Successes: Advancing Climate Action for 2030", the conference focuses on how to capitalize on the progress made by the Mission Cities during the first three years of the EU programme and how to accelerate climate action over the next five.The event unfolds over three intensive days:

· Day 1 - Harnessing Successes: celebrating achievements so far, sharing success stories, and emphasizing the value of collaboration and innovation;

· Day 2 - Advancing Innovation: exploring innovative governance models, smart technologies, financial solutions, and mechanisms to scale local impact;

· Day 3 - High-Level Action for 2030: concluding with a high-level political dialogue among mayors, EU representatives, and stakeholders to outline concrete pathways toward achieving Europe's climate goals.

Representing Bologna at the conference are Councillor Anna Lisa Boni, on behalf of the City of Bologna, and Paola Papini, Project Manager of the Let'sGOv project and a member of the city's Climate Mission team. Papini's contribution on Let'sGOv is part of the session titled "Governance Innovation: Internal Transformation, Ecosystem Thinking & Regional Alignment", which focuses on innovation in multi-level governance.

Let'sGOv, the Italian pilot within the Mission, proposes tangible improvements in governance by strengthening coordination between local, regional, and national levels. Its goal is to align public policies, facilitate access to EU funding, and scale up best practices. The session will also reflect on how the 9 Italian cities involved in the Mission can build critical mass to influence national policies and engage with the European Commission-ultimately becoming replication hubs for other Italian and European municipalities.

The Cities Mission Conference 2025 represents a unique opportunity to exchange vital knowledge, strengthen administrative capacity, and promote strategic collaboration on a European scale. It is a pivotal moment to reflect on progress, tackle remaining challenges, and, above all, renew the collective commitment to a climate-neutral future.

 

Ultimo aggiornamento: giovedì 08 maggio 2025