Survey: EU mayors list climate action as top priority
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Climate change is a key concern for Europe’s local leaders, with a majority of mayors in 92 major cities across the bloc listing it as a top priority in a new survey published today.
More than half of surveyed mayors said they intend to pass green measures, and listed the creation of low-emissions zones and new green spaces among their key objectives, according to the survey conducted by Eurocities, a network representing more than 200 cities in 38 countries.
Over a quarter said climate threats posed a major challenge to their cities, adding that they are actively working on measures to mitigate extreme weather events and meet ambitious climate neutrality targets.
“The mayors’ strong commitment to climate action comes in contrast to a worrying trend we currently see among national and European politicians, many of whom are turning away from their commitment to a climate neutral Europe,” said Eurocities Secretary-General André Sobczak.
Some 23 percent of mayors also named sustainable mobility as a top goal, with a number of them saying they want to expand metro and tram networks and green municipal bus lines.
Mayors also expressed frustration that they don’t have the necessary funds to speed up cities’ energy transition and make building stock more energy efficient, and called for more direct dialogue between cities and the EU to help facilitate access to cash.
