Eindhoven & Helmond

Netherlands

Mission city Pilot city
Netherlands National Platform
Eindhoven & Helmond Mission City Label
Population 246k
City Area 90 km²
City active since June 2022

For Eindhoven and Helmond the (EU) Mission has a broader focus on the long term to realize the necessary transition. Eindhoven and Helmond are committing to a approach with three spearheads. A Climate Delta Plan Eindhoven-Helmond that sets the course for gradually working towards fossil-free, circular and climate-resilient cities by 2050 at the latest. An approach that goes further than just reducing CO2. An important milestone on the road to this ambition is of course to work towards climate neutrality, as both cities confirmed in the Expression of Interest.

Focusing on these ambitious climate objectives (fossil-free, circular, climate-resilient) inevitably raises various questions and poses challenges. The initial response might be, "we need to move faster and do more!" However, this issue requires a fundamental shift in thinking and action, moving away from traditional growth-oriented models to embrace a circular and sustainable economic model. This new economy prioritizes sustainability objectives, harnessing the economic opportunities that innovation and the scaling up of climate and energy technologies can bring to the region. It departs from the exclusive focus on economic growth, instead emphasizing a reimagined approach to resource extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and waste management—all while maintaining high levels of wellbeing and staying within the regenerative limits of Earth's ecosystem.

Achieving broad behaviour change requires strong leadership and a sense of responsibility (ownership), which can inspire others to take action. This can create a self-reinforcing movement, leading to turning points where lasting change becomes possible. The strategy focuses on six guiding principles that apply to all three spearheads—fossil-free, circular, and climate-proof—and are essential for reaching the goal of climate neutrality by 2030. These principles include leadership, ownership, behaviour, impact, inclusiveness, and innovation.

Key Learnings

KNAPHE - the Climate Action Platform Eindhoven & Helmond

Social innovation case study from Eindhoven & Helmond

Tree planting (urban forestry/urban trees), parks and (semi) natural urban green areas 

Greening cities is a transversal solution to numerous urban challenges, not only to support the transition towards climate neutrality, but also to improve biodiversity, social justice and resilience. Greening cities can include many diverse solutions, among them tree planting and the development of parks and natural urban green areas.    Tree planting and urban forest  Planting street trees, single line trees or group of trees, as well as trees in urban parks or urban forests trees represents an effective solution to maximize carbon capture and sequestration. It also contributes to regulating microclimate in dense urban areas, supporting water infiltration, and providing aesthetic, health and well-being benefits to citizens. Planting a diverse mix of tree species provides more diverse habitats for more animal species. Diversity also ensures that the urban forest is better prepared for pests or diseases which could eradicate an entire species of trees and severely affect other species in the ecosystem (see for example urban forest solutions in ClearingHouse).    Parks and natural Urban Green Areas (UGA)  While trees are an important component of parks and natural urban green areas, these areas also include other features to boost cultural and active recreation activities, such as sport playgrounds, benches and rest areas, and thematic and therapeutic gardens (see for example the solutions in the group of re-naturing urbanization in URBAN GreenUP).  Urban green area, Izmir, Turkey. URBAN GreenUp. Source: https://www.urbangreenup.eu/#lg=1&slide=3     While the World Health Organisation recommends all cities to guarantee access to UGA within 300 metres from residents’ houses, this is still far from being reached in many EU cities [1]. The benefits related to the re-design and improvement of existing parks and UGA or to the development of new UGA are related to all the spheres of human health and wellbeing ranging from metabolic disease to better cognitive development to increased psychological wellbeing [2].     Parks and UGA should be designed as multifunctional areas and this may call for participatory processes to co-design spaces and features to better respond to the needs of diverse target groups, including vulnerable groups, living in the city (see for example stakeholder and citizen engagement approach in UNaLab).  Co-creation of UGA and NBS in Eindhoven, Netherlands. UNaLab. Source: https://unalab.eu/system/files/2020-02/d22-co-creation-workshop-report2020-02-17.pdf.    MATURITY:     While trees and parks can be considered largely available on the market and mature to be implemented everywhere, it is crucial to reflect how to properly plan and design these kind of solutions, tailoring them to various contexts. Specific expertise is needed in park design, participatory processes, and in deciding which trees to plant, including in relation to future scenarios of climate conditions, for example. Public acceptance and care of UGA are crucial for effective implementation. 

Twinning Replication Booklet

Overview of Replications Plans submitted by Twin cities (Cohort 1, 2023-2025) The first cohort of the Twinning Learning Programme (Sept 2023 – May 2025) paired 56 Pilot Cities implementing 25 innovative climate-neutral activities with 37 Twin cities eager to replicate their approaches. Over nearly two years,cities engaged in a structured programme of online workshops, in-person visits, and facilitated exchanges, enabling Twin cities to closely follow pilot implementation and translate insights into Replication Plans tailored to their own contexts. The programme demonstrated that well-designed peer learning, anchored in real pilot projects, creates tangible outcomes. Twin cities developed Replication Plans across diverse areas such as sustainable mobility, energy decarbonisation, circular economy, and citizen engagement, while also contributing fresh perspectives that strengthened Pilot city efforts. The result is Europe’s largest peer-learning initiative under the Cities Mission, with 37 Replication Plans now paving the way toward climate neutrality across a broad range of local contexts.
View all Eindhoven & Helmond Resources

Latest updates from the city

Pilot project spotlight

The Netherlands' Pilot Activity: Dutch 100CNSC Cities Pilot

The District Investment Platforms are aiming to close the financial gap to invest into natural gas-free districts, in different neighbourhoods of the seven Dutch cities. With their respective business cases, the seven cities will jointly reach out to the unusual suspects of alternative funding to leverage investments from pension funds, insurance companies, etc.

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Read Eindhoven & Helmond Climate City Contract

External projects

City involvement in related European initiatives