Description
NetZeroCities is a four-year programme funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme that supports the European Green Deal in building a low-carbon, climate-resilient future through research and innovation. The initiative brings together 33 partners from 13 countries, led by the Resilient Cities Network, to support European cities in achieving net-zero emissions and delivering climate neutrality in an inclusive and socially sustainable way. NetZeroCities contributes directly to the EU Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”.
In this context, NetZeroCities and HSbooster.eu have established a strategic collaboration to explore the role of standardisation in accelerating the climate transition of cities across Europe. This cooperation is part of HSbooster.eu’s broader ambition to foster pan-European synergies with initiatives that can meaningfully contribute to the European and international standardisation ecosystem.
The primary goal of this partnership is to strategically assess how the learnings and practices from NetZeroCities can inform, shape, and benefit the European standardisation landscape, particularly in relation to sustainable and smart urban development. Through a series of focused workshops, both projects have jointly advanced the discussion on how standards can underpin and support the transformation of urban environments.
Key collaborative activities include:
- Workshop 1 - Climate-neutral Cities & Standardisation: an introductory webinar held on 23 September 2024 in collaboration with HSbooster.eu, setting the foundation for dialogue between city practitioners and the standardisation community.
- Workshop 2: an interactive session in October 2024 aimed at understanding the practical challenges and priorities of cities striving for climate neutrality.
- Workshop 3: a follow-up session in October 2024 focused on generating concrete recommendations for standardisation contributions, highlighting the pathways through which cities and NetZeroCities Task Forces can engage with standardisation bodies.
As a direct result of this cooperation, NetZeroCities has subscribed to CEN/TC 465 (Sustainable and Smart Cities and Communities), reinforcing its engagement with the formal standardisation system. The workshops also provided actionable guidance for how the Task Forces within NetZeroCities could contribute to the development of relevant standards.
By working together, NetZeroCities and HSbooster.eu are laying the groundwork for a shared understanding of how standards can facilitate more coordinated, effective, and impactful action across Europe’s cities, helping them navigate the path toward a climate-neutral future.