Deadline: 14-Sep-21
European Commission has invited the applications to support National, Regional, and Local Authorities across Europe to prepare for the transition towards climate neutrality within cities.
Scope
- Cities are at the forefront of the transition towards greater sustainability. An increasing number of European cities are active pursuing the transition towards climate-neutrality, aligning with the objectives set by the European Green Deal Strategy.
- Furthermore, the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, calls for having at least 100 climate neutral cities in Europe by 2030.
- The Communication on the European Climate Pact calls for a large engagement of all relevant actors to build a greener Europe and support the achievement of the Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals, bringing together regions, local communities, civil society, industry, social partners and schools.
- While willing to commit to start the path towards climate neutrality, cities are also being confronted with national, regional and local specificities, which create both challenges and opportunities.
- Member States and Associated countries are characterized by inherent diversities and needs when addressing legislations and regulations, funding and financing needs and opportunities, as well as geographical, climatic and socio-cultural peculiarities.
- The uniqueness of the European cities requires tailored national support, translating the European objectives into the local ambitions while keeping citizens needs at the core.
Funding Information
Grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000 except for:
- public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
- cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).
Expected Outcomes
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- National, regional and local authorities in EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe are well prepared for the transition towards climate neutrality within cities by national capacity and knowledge building in close co-operation with the Preparatory action ‘Coordination of complementary actions for missions’.
- Accelerated systemic transition to climate-neutrality for European cities by preparing local authorities to meet the overarching objectives of the European Green Deal and the specific targets established by the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, the upcoming New EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, the Renovation Wave for Europe Strategy, the European Climate Pact and the 2030 Climate Target plan.
- Enhanced synergies and common action points with the Urban Agenda for the EU in the areas of better regulation, funding and knowledge through interactions with the Urban Agenda Thematic Partnerships as well as the European Urban Initiative.
- Identification of country-specific challenges and opportunities in terms of regulatory framework, funding and financing, urban morphology and governance structures promoting exchange of best-practices.
- Enhanced synergies with R&I national/international communities and partnerships (such as the proposed ‘Driving Urban Transitions to a Sustainable Future’ Horizon Europe Partnership), including the City Science Initiative network promoting evidence-based policy making.
- Define user requirements, while disseminate and promote the use of self-assessment toolkits and mappings adapted to national, regional and local challenges and opportunities.
Eligibility Criteria
- Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.
- A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
- To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
- eligible non-EU countries:
- countries associated to Horizon Europe
- low- and middle-income countries
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3dNdCLO