This FPA provides comprehensive programming and support for the European Commission’s Mission of 100 Climate-neutral and Smart Cities by 2030. It builds on the NetZeroCities (NZC) project, coordinated by CKIC. Combined, these two initiatives set out actions as follows: (a) Create and operate a Cities Mission Platform as a ‘one-stop-shop’ to access the expertise, capabilities, services, and solutions necessary to achieve climate neutrality. This Platform will provide tailored and intensive support to cities participating in the Mission and will ensure open access to the knowledge and resources of the Platform. (b) Help all Mission Cities with the co-creation and use of Climate City Contracts (CCC) to enable an ambitious pursuit of the goal of climate neutrality by 2030. This FPA expressly seeks to ensure all Mission Cities are supported and builds directly on the initial scope of NZC. In addition, support will be offered to additional cities seeking to follow closely the Mission. (c) Assist Mission cities in the development of tailor-made investment plans, project preparation and finance for the cities participating in the Mission; (d) Deliver substantial resources to Mission cities for ongoing research and innovation activities critical to achieving climate neutrality by 2030. This support will be in the form of ‘pilot’ funding to test and demonstrate actions needed to deliver climate neutral outcomes. This pilot activity will work together with the Platform and CCC processes in the cities, operationalizing emerging knowledge and insights about how cities can achieve the Mission objectives; and (e) Ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of cities in their progress toward climate neutrality and deploy peer-based learning to ensure full appropriability of the result from the Mission. The FPA periods extends through 2027 and provides for two planned Specific Grant Agreement (SGA) phases, where a precise plan, targets and metrics will be established.

The need: Despite their climate action, mission signatories still face major challenges in climate adaptation planning and implementation. Among specific needs to address the challenges and facilitate adaptation actions, the largest single need identified by 72% of the signatories was ‘knowledge’, replicated across most countries, geographical locations and types of regions. Strengths of the consortium: The REGILIENCE+ Consortium has demonstrated over the past 3 years its capacity to work together in providing coordination and support to climate adaptation Innovation Actions, as well as contributed significantly to the development of the Climate Adaptation Mission, the Mission Portal (e.g., inspiring and contributing to the tools database and the funding database). Expected outputs: Improved knowledge via 150 solutions in the form of case studies, adaptation options and tools included in online inventories (preferably Climate-ADAPT) and 70 multilingual communication products, services, and activities. Envisaged outcomes: Inclusion of inventory updates in mainstream climate adaptation knowledge platforms, and Use of communication products, services, and activities by MIP4Adapt, National organisations and initiatives (including National Adaptation Hubs), Regional and Local authorities, and other entities addressing climate adaptation. Established procedures for the inclusion of inventory updates are in place and used beyond the timeline of REGILIENCE+. Aimed impacts: Smarter, swifter and more systemic adaptation in European regions and local communities, due to improved access to and replication of available and actionable solutions.

Just Climate Resilience through Enhanced Adaptation and Capacity Harnessing (JustREACH) will advance just climate resilience by enhancing the capability of local and regional authorities, industries, and citizens to implement climate adaptation and smart specialization plans. By building on and connecting existing knowledge sharing platforms for local and regional authorities, the project aims to highlight overlapping opportunities in implementing local adaptation measures and meeting regional socio-economic policy objectives between climate adaptation and regional development. The project also empowers authorities to assess the impacts of adaptation and regional transformation measures with a focus on citizen well-being and awareness of maladaptation risks. JustREACH not only provides new tools but also equips authorities with the means to use them effectively within existing decision-making processes by working with pilot partners who themselves are decision-makers in their own regions. The training that will be developed as a result of JustREACH outputs and experiences will aim to strengthen the capacities of all local and regional authorities to identify and overcome barriers, and to co-design with and mobilize community leaders, businesses, and citizens to adopt and scale up context-specific initiatives. Most importantly, JustREACH helps authorities and citizens alike to overcome implementation goals while also linking these actions to their consequences for equity, ecosystem health, the just transition and social justice.

CapaCITIES 2.0 is designed as a support action for national and regional authorities to advance their governance structures for providing dedicated support for cities to achieve the EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission (EU Cities Mission) - answering to the Call HORIZON-MISS-2024-CIT-02-01. As a central initiative to foster and strengthen national narratives for the EU Cities Mission, it will coordinate actions across climate-neutral initiatives for cities in Europe, align and speed up efforts towards the goals of the Mission. CapaCITIES 2.0 will further shape a European environment conducive to urban climate neutrality transitions for national, regional and local authorities. It will initiate and strengthen national change processes to establish and mature national networks and platforms as well as multi-level governance in the entire EU, building on the experience of the CapaCITIES that already started setting-up national platforms in 15 EU countries. It provides dedicated support for public authorities to put enabling conditions and measures for cities in place to achieve the EU Cities Mission. Thereby, it contributes to reach (1) Increased preparedness and capacity of national, regional and local authorities in EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe to engage in cities’ transition towards climate neutrality; (2) Improved ability to effectively address country-specific challenges and barriers for cities to achieve climate neutrality related to current regulatory frameworks, funding and financing, and governance structures and promotion of best-practices through transnational exchanges and sharing of experience and (3) Enhanced synergies with R&I national/international communities, relevant initiatives, and partnerships such as the ‘Driving Urban Transitions to a Sustainable Future’ Horizon Europe Partnership and the NetZeroCities – the EU Mission Platform(NZC) for the implementation of the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission.

The JUST4CARE project aims to transform climate adaptation practices by integrating principles of justice, equity, and resilience into urban and regional planning. Through inclusive and innovative approaches, the project addresses the specific needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups, who are disproportionately affected by climate change in European cities. The project will be implemented in pilot cities such as Madrid, Ankara, Budapest, and Zagreb, where equitable, data-driven solutions will be developed and tested. These solutions will be co-created with local communities and stakeholders, ensuring active participation and the implementation of equity-oriented policies. Additionally, AI-driven models will be used to integrate climate justice principles into risk assessments. The project will foster collaboration between cities and regions, allowing for the replication of effective solutions. JUST4CARE aligns with the work programme objectives by identifying, developing, and demonstrating equitable adaptation actions that enhance adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability. It focuses on ensuring that the most vulnerable groups are meaningfully involved in the solution development process and directly benefit from them, promoting equity and climate resilience.