The second call for expression of interest of the Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) of Mission Innovation is now open for the participation of cities worldwide. The call aims to expand the current UTM cohort of 48 cities, selected under the first call for expression of interest and announced at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, to up to 300 cities. The 250 new pioneer cities selected under the second call of expression of interest are planned to be announced at COP28 in Dubai.
Cities from Europe and all world regions, signatories of the Global Covenant of Mayors, with a population of minimum 50,000 inhabitants and a comprehensive climate and energy plan, are eligible to apply. To express their interest to join, cities need to fill in a brief questionnaire and submit it by 21 August 2023. The assessment criteria, the value proposition to cities and their expected commitment are detailed in the City Info Pack and FAQ Document.
The selected cities will receive support to advance their climate and energy action planning and to implement systemic and innovative approaches for net-zero, resilient and people-centred transitions. The solutions and the net-zero pathways tested within the framework of the Urban Transitions Mission will be shared with the alliance of 12,500+ GCoM signatories to inspire all cities in their decarbonisation journeys and accelerate the net-zero urban transition globally.
About the Urban Transitions Mission of Mission Innovation
Mission Innovation (MI) is a global clean energy initiative of 23 countries and the European Commission (on behalf of the European Union). Its seven Missions bring together delivery-focused alliances between countries, corporations, investors and research institutes that set ambitious goals and provide momentum to make sure more net-zero innovation happens, more rapidly.
The MI Urban Transitions Mission was launched at COP26 in Glasgow by its co-leads: the European Commission (DG Research & Innovation), the Global Covenant of Mayors and the Joint Partnership Initiative Urban Europe. The global mission builds on the European Mission on 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. As such, it receives support from the Urban Transitions Mission Centre, a centre for global knowledge exchange on cities and climate launched in December 2022 with EUR 2 million in EU funding under Horizon Europe. The centre facilitates two-way learning and exchanges between European and international climate initiatives and stakeholders, including via an Annual Innovation Summit.
The Urban Transitions Mission also relies on expertise and support from its Global Innovation Alliance. In addition to the co-leads, the growing alliance includes Austria, India, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden and the MI Innovation Community on Affordable Heating and Cooling of Buildings as core members. The UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub, IEA, IRENA, ICLEI, EIT Climate-KIC, ENoLL and Student Energy participate in a supporting role.
Source: European Commission I Research and Innovation (https://shorturl.at/cdiUV)