For a strengthened European Green Deal with an urban and social beating heart

To the president-elect of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen,

As mayors of major European cities and members of the C40 Cities network, we are dedicated to leading the transition towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for our communities. Cities are setting the example by integrating quality green jobs, developing sustainable buildings and transportation, and fostering vibrant neighbourhoods that enhance health and quality of life. We have decreased per capita emissions that contribute to climate breakdown by 29% since 2015 and have protected the health of our residents by reducing harmful air pollutants like PM2.5 by 7% since 2017. Between 2015 and 2020, 71% of us reduced our per capita emissions faster than our respective national governments.

We know that taking decisive action to address the climate crisis will save lives, create better economic and social conditions, and reduce the cost of living, but we also know that there is a cost to the transition. This investment must be borne by those responsible—fossil fuel companies, the ultra-wealthy as suggested by the G20, and those who have gained the most from the actions that caused this crisis. 

Science tells us that to avoid climate breakdown, we need to cut global fossil fuel usage. We are in an emergency, with frequent extreme weather events – like deadly heatwaves in Greece and the severe storms in Germany of June 2024 – impacting European residents, especially the most vulnerable.

The next five years are the most critical ever for the health and prosperity of our planetary ecosystem and the human race. According to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “It all depends on the decisions those leaders take or fail to take, especially in the next 18 months.” 

The new leadership of the European Union has a significant responsibility to take strong action now. It’s also an opportunity to address energy poverty, strengthen Europe’s workforce and industry, unlock the potential of healthy and thriving European cities, and ensure an equitable future for all.

We must prioritise climate action by strengthening the European Green Deal, ensuring it has a strong urban and social beating heart that benefits everyone, everywhere. 

We urge for the following points to be the priority of the next European Commission mandate:

  • A renewed commitment and a strengthened European Green Deal: Secure ambition, provide certainty, and give a clear signal to all stakeholders on how the European Green Deal can fully deliver benefits for the economy, the environment, and people while facilitating the crucial role of cities in implementing local solutions for a climate-neutral and fairer Europe. The European Green Deal should be the cornerstone of European multilevel climate action, accelerating the move away from fossil fuels, enhancing climate resilience, and delivering an ambitious and science-based 2040 climate target in line with the Paris Agreement. At the same time, it must provide stronger support for local communities, workers, low-income families, and leading businesses – all of whom are at the forefront of implementation. 
  • Put fairness and justice at the centre: Future climate policies must have justice, inclusion and fairness at the core to overcome the cost of living crisis and guarantee health, affordable housing and economic security for all. Mayors stand united with workers and families and are committed to ensuring the benefits of the climate transition are accessible to all, especially those who need them most. This includes supporting a just and inclusive transition, improving labour rights, and ensuring social dialogue. In our cities, there are already 2.3 million green jobs, with sectors like energy and construction comprising around 20% of green employment. Investing in skills training is critical to ensure no one is left behind. By building local capacity and helping cities develop a workforce with the necessary skills, we can speed up the delivery of climate-neutral projects.
  • Boost funding for climate and the just transition and phase out fossil fuel subsidies: We need a future European Union budget that is fit to achieve a socially just and competitive transformation towards net zero, with additional resources to directly fund local action in cities. Direct funding and financing should prioritise local-level activities that support marginalised and low-income communities, the most vulnerable, and those affected by the transition. These funds should be easily accessible and well-distributed. The European Commission should enhance and improve the EU Recovery Fund to facilitate increased investments in key industries and regions. Critical to this is working with national governments to reallocate subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy storage, clean energy systems, and workforce development. Across C40 cities, investing €1 million in building retrofits and residential solar panels would generate six times as many jobs as similar investment in new fossil gas plants. Europe should strengthen its global climate leadership role and foster international cooperation. This includes developing global partnerships and collaborations to address cross-border challenges such as climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and social inequities. Finally, Europe should also provide support to developing countries in their sustainability efforts, including doubling adaptation finance by 2025.
  • Recognise cities as crucial delivery partners: Cities and regions have the biggest responsibility in implementing the European Green Deal legislation. However, their involvement in its design and the support provided have been insufficient. Cities can be effective partners, leveraging the leadership we have already demonstrated and addressing people’s concerns—but we cannot do it alone. We need to strengthen multilevel governance solutions, give mayors a more direct voice in EU policymaking and establish a single point of contact for urban affairs in the European Commission. Globally, the Advisory Group on Local and Regional Governments launched by the UN Secretary-General serves a similar purpose.

    In line with the Committee of the Regions’ opinion, we encourage the European Union to endorse the Coalition for High Ambition Multi-level Partnerships (CHAMP) as a sign of its leadership and readiness to work with cities and regions. The European Commission should encourage all Member States to enhance internal planning, processes and structures to involve and consult all levels of government and ensure decisions are people-focused, place-based and environmentally responsible.

We, the mayors of leading European cities, hope that our work can inspire and contribute to developing your political priorities. We are ready to collaborate with the European Commission and other European institutions to achieve a climate-neutral and just Europe.

In the next five years, the opportunity is huge: a European Green Deal with a renewed ambition on climate action centred on people and cities, guaranteeing the benefits from its implementation reach everyone, everywhere. This can ensure Europe positions itself as the global climate leader that the world needs. In your first mandate, you have skilfully managed to provide an ambitious and intelligent head for the European Union’s climate leadership framework. Now, together, let’s build its heart.

On behalf of C40 European cities:

Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, C40 Vice Chair for Innovator Cities
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, C40 Vice Chair
Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, C40 Vice Chair
Eirik Lae Solberg, Governing Mayor of Oslo, C40 Vice Chair for Innovator Cities
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