In 2019, the European Commission launched the EU Mission: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities (the “Cities Mission”), selecting 112 Mission Cities with the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2030. The second objective of the Cities Mission is to enable all European cities to follow suit and reach climate neutrality by 2050.
Mission-minded cities, referring to cities with ambitious climate action, are eligible to benefit from the Mission’s support. The Cities Mission Platform provides an inclusive offer which is structured around three main components: tools and resources, capability building and peer learning.
Mission-minded cities concrete offer
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2025 - A year into the Mission´s Platform support offer for Mission-minded cities.
Online Tools & Resources
The NetZeroCities Portal is your gateway to all tools, services, and communities. The Mission Portal serves as the central gateway to all tools, services, and communities designed to support cities in accelerating their journey towards climate neutrality. All resources developed for Mission Cities are now accessible to all cities through the portal, offering a single entry point to connect, learn, and take action. Cities can connect with peers and experts via interactive feeds and thematic or geographic groups. They can learn through the portal’s extensive knowledge repository, which provides access to Climate City Contracts, best practices, case studies, technical fact sheets, and other key resources. To act, the portal offers a suite of online tools that empower cities to plan, implement, and monitor progress, including the Barometer, Engagement Strategy tools, Finance Guidance tool, NetZeroPlanner, Social Innovation Tool, Solution Bundles, and the Solution Outliner.
Curious to learn more about the Online Tools and Resources available? Navigate the NetZeroCities Portal.
Capability Building
Through structured programmes and flexible training options, your city can build internal capacity to plan, fund, and deliver climate action.
Online Planning Lab
Launched in September 2025, the Online Planning Lab is a free online course designed to equip local authorities with the essential knowledge and tools to develop their systemic action plans to climate neutrality. Structured as a project-based Lab, it incorporates digital learning modules, interactive live sessions, and peer-to-peer activities for cities.
The 2026 Online Planning Lab edition launching the 3rd of September 2026 will offer a flexible and practice-oriented learning experience to support cities in advancing their climate planning. The programme will combine:
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On-demand content you can follow at your own pace and,
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12 live interactive sessions to practice, reflect, and exchange with peers from different municipalities
Cities and individuals can also receive formal recognition for their participation through certifications issued by NetZeroCities and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
Curious to learn more about the Online Planning Lab? Learn more about the previous Online Planning Lab and sign up for the next round in 2026!
Learning Hub
The Learning Hub offers EU-specific learning resources and programmes in local languages, empowering public administrators, researchers, and the civil society through systemic approaches. It provides systemic, peer‑to‑peer and collaborative approaches, alongside practical tools and evidence‑based cases, to support the transition to urban climate neutrality and help navigate complex systemic change.
The main page of the Learning Hub is divided in two main categories:
Learn at your own pace: Which offers topic-specific resources that permit self-pacing, available for consultation at all times.
Learn together: Which allows to participate in group learning experiences that foster peer exchange and networking.
Tool Training Series
A dedicated programme designed to provide in-depth training on the tools available on the NetZeroCities Portal, as well as of key partner organisations. Each session features a comprehensive presentation of the tool(s), followed by a live demo, offering hands-on guidance and fostering an interactive environment for participants to explore the tool's functionalities. Where relevant and feasible, Mission Cities will share their experience, and the session concludes with an opportunity for participants to provide feedback.
Curious to learn more about the Tool Training Series? Join the NetZeroCities Portal Group for cities participating in the Tool Training Series and read more about the upcoming Tool Training Series sessions here.
Peer learning at the EU and national levels
Online Discussion Groups
Online Discussion Groups provide a structured online space for Mission-minded cities and Mission cities to exchange practical experience, discussion implementation challenges, and showcase concrete progress in climate action. The programme is structured around key thematic areas essential for decarbonisation and offer cities the opportunity to explore innovative climate-neutral solutions.
What is in for your city?
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Gain first-hand experience from leading Mission Cities, climate actions and projects and acquire practical insights from real-world examples.
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Showcase your city’s progress on climate action, and share practical implementation methods, enabling conditions and transferable solutions with peers.
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Access the NetZeroCities Portal and its resources on reaching climate neutrality.
Curious to learn more about the Online Discussion Groups? Find out more about the previous editions, cohort 1 and cohort 2, which brought together 180 participants and join the Portal Group for cities participating in Online Discussion Groups.
Cohort 3 will kick-off in 2027. Stay tuned!
Group Study Visits
Group Study Visits foster hands-on learning between Mission Cities and all other cities. They offer any city a chance to see real-world climate actions in Mission Cities, gaining practical insights and transferable solutions. Mission Cities share their expertise while also learning from other cities’ experiences. Through site visits, workshops, and action planning, the programme supports mutual learning, local adaptation of solutions, and stronger collaboration toward climate neutrality across Europe and Horizon Associated Countries.
Due to the limited number of places available, this service is subject to selection.
Curious to learn more about the Group Study Visits? Read a blogpost about the first cohort of Group Study Visits.
Curious to discover the transferable solutions cities identified through Group Study Visits with Mission Cities? Read the Action Plan Booklet from Mission-minded cities cohort 1.
Cohort 2 will soon begin - 27 Mission-minded cities will visit 10 Mission Cities in Fall 2026!
Twinning Learning Programme
Mutual learning between Mission Cities and other cities in the EU and Horizon Associated-countries is fostered through a 12-month Twinning Learning Programme. This programme guides Twin Cities in their learning and replication efforts, emphasizing the practical replication of best practices, systemic transformation methodologies, and innovative approaches implemented by Mission Cities on their journey toward climate neutrality.
Due to the limited number of places available, this service is subject to selection.
Curious to learn more about the Twinning Learning Programme? Read more about the Twinning Learning Programme and contact the Twinning Learning Programme Team at twinning@netzerocities.eu.
Stay tuned for the next cohort!
National Mission Ecosystems
National platforms offer tailored services to support cities in achieving their climate neutrality objectives in alignment with the Cities Mission. Acting as multi-stakeholder collaboration spaces, they provide a range of services adapted to national contexts, including political and policy support, convening power, innovation and breakthrough interventions, financial and tooling support, as well as learning and EU liaison support. Facilitated by national partners, these platforms help cities access relevant expertise, coordinate with different levels of government, and connect with peers through dedicated national groups and events available via the NetZeroCities Portal. Their structure and operations vary, but their shared aim is to foster ambition, trust, and collaboration for systemic transformation at local and national levels.
Curious to learn more about the National Peer Learning events? Join national groups on the Mission Portal.
Helpdesk and technical support
The Helpdesk supports Mission-minded cities in navigating the full range of services and resources available through the Mission Platform. It provides personalised guidance and structured onboarding through the following activities:
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Onboarding support: The Helpdesk guides cities through the Mission-Minded Cities Onboarding Guide, which introduces the Cities Mission, its methodology, and the available services. This includes:
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Step 1: Orientation – an overview of the Mission approach, service offer, and key concepts.
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Step 2: Registration – assistance with registering on the NetZeroCities Portal.
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Step 3: Exploration – support in identifying relevant support pathways, peer learning opportunities, and capability-building programmes.
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One-to-one consultations: Tailored calls are offered to help cities align the Mission Platform’s services with their local context, needs, and ambitions.
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Bi-monthly orientation sessions: A recurring series of two-part events that introduce the service offer, demonstrate how to navigate the portal, and share practical examples from Mission Cities.
The Helpdesk remains available throughout the onboarding process to ensure cities can make informed and strategic use of the resources at their disposal
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Curious to learn more about the services delivered by the Helpdesk?
- Check our three-step onboarding guide.
- Join the Orientation Group on the NetZeroCities Portal.
- Book a one-to-one with the Helpdesk.
- Contact the Helpdesk.
- Watch the recordings of previous sessions: Orientation session #1 (23 September 2025)
& Orientation session #2 (30 September 2025)
Technical support for Mission-minded cities
The primary aim of the technical support by the Mission-minded cities helpdesk is to provide cities with personalized technical support to address specific technical challenges locally. This includes offering guidance on the resources available through the NetZeroCities Portal and leveraging the specialized expertise of the NetZeroCities consortium partners.
In addition, one-to-one sessions with NetZeroCities technical experts are available after submitting the technical challenge via the form, allowing Mission-minded cities to present their requests in detail and receive tailored assistance during this one-to-one session with technical experts.
Curious to learn more about the technical support? Here you can find more information and here is the direct link to the Technical Support Request Form.
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