Author(s)

MONICA SALVIA, ANGELA PILOGALLO, FILOMENA PIETRAPERTOSA, LUIGI SANTOPIETRO, PAOLA CLERICI MAESTOSI, MICHELA PIRRO

Abstract

As stated in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), urban climate planning plays a key role in making cities more resilient to climate change (CC), in terms of both adaptation and greenhouse gas mitigation. Since 2008, the European Covenant of Mayors (CoM EU) initiative has encouraged European cities to set ambitious climate targets. Signatory cities voluntarily commit to developing a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP). To complement this initiative, the European Union has launched the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, with the aim of accelerating the achievement of the EU’s climate neutrality target for 2050. As part of this EU Mission, 112 cities have been selected to trial strategies and practices for achieving climate neutrality by 2030. The aim is to pave the way for all other cities to follow suit by 2050. The main tool for achieving this ambitious goal and acting as a frontrunner in climate action is the Climate City Contract (CCC), an innovative planning tool developed by each city mission together with an investment plan, in alignment with the common guidelines provided by the EU Mission Net Zero City Support Platform. But what are the main characteristics of CCCs and SECAPs, and what are the key differences between them? This study analyses these two types of climate plan from a methodological perspective, focusing particularly on governance structures, stakeholder and citizen involvement, and the innovative aspects introduced by recent CCCs. The results could be useful for urban decision-makers, planners and practitioners seeking to develop more effective planning tools.

Keywords

urban climate planning, Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), Climate City Contract (CCC), cities, EU Mission on Smart and Climate-Neutral Cities, climate neutrality