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Make the Fit for 55 package fit for cities

(EurActiv, 12 Jul 2021) Europe’s new and revised climate legislation needs to enable cities to reach climate neutrality by mid-century, including by encouraging more building renovation and driving the transition to clean energy, European mayors write.

The following open letter is signed by 10 mayors from across Europe (full list at the bottom).

The EU’s new target of reducing emissions by 55% by 2030 – and the 2050 climate neutrality goal – enshrined in the first European Climate Law, represent a positive and encouraging step towards Europe becoming the first climate neutral continent. Now, it is essential that the Fit for 55 legislation supports a green and just recovery and helps scale up proven solutions in the delivery of a greener and more equitable future.

As mayors of European cities, we are all on the frontlines of climate change and the past year has also shown how critical our city governments are to managing equally existential threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this unprecedented challenge, we have continued to act on our climate goals and on delivering the critical sectoral transformations we need, and which we hope can inspire the Fit for 55 package.

We have come together to champion a Fit for 55 package that is Fit for Cities and enables the development of compact, green and inclusive cities. A package Fit for Cities needs to be ambitious. We propose that the EU matches the level of ambition that cities are pioneering on the ground; collaborative, we ask that the EU and all member states make cities key partners in the fight against climate change; and just to ensure that the transition to a climate-neutral Europe creates good, green jobs and benefits all citizens equally.

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EurActiv, 12 Jul 2021: Make the Fit for 55 package fit for cities