Despite considerable progress in the past decades, ambient air pollution remains the number one environmental cause of death in the EU, still leading to about 400.000 premature deaths each year in the EU due to elevated levels of fine particles, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. Air pollution also continues to harm ecosystems as more than halve of the EU territory is exposed to excess nitrogen deposition (eutrophication) and ozone concentrations. This causes reduced biodiversity, crop yields and other material damage.
To address the challenges of climate change issues and environmental impacts of human activities, alongside the Sustainable Development Goals, European cities need to reconsider their resources management and consuming model, hence rethink the urban economy framework. Most of the consumption, waste production, and emission of greenhouse gasses occurs in cities. EU cities are heavily dependent on external resources to meet the demands of their citizens for food and energy for instance, while they have a high density of knowledge, data, and capital. This enables cities to drive the circular economy agenda forward and unlock related economic, environmental, and social benefits. Read more
Culture and cultural heritage
Integration of migrants and refugees
Urban poverty
Energy Transition
Jobs and skills in the local economy
Urban mobility
Housing
Climate adaptation
Digital transition
Sustainable use of land and nature based solutions
Demographic change
