The European Union has agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to become climate neutral by 2050. This requires considerable investment: in 2021-2027, overall, 30% of the funds from the EU's multiannual budget and the Next Generation EU recovery package are expected to be spent on achieving carbon neutrality in the EU. Across Europe, cities and municipalities face the major challenge of successfully financing and implementing policy measures in this area, but at the same time they also have the opportunity to pursue an effective climate policy locally and use funding to achieve sustainable change for their inhabitants.

The PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions, the voice of social-democratic authorities at EU level, asks you to use two examples of best practice to show how progressive cities are already using EU funding to shape the green transition through innovative projects and initiatives, while at the same time ensuring that economic and social change do not fall by the wayside in the implementation of the European Green Deal.