Om samfunnsoppdraget | Klimanøytrale byer

An EU Mission is a systematic and coordinated effort designed to solve major, complex societal challenges through measurable and concrete goals within a set timeframe. It is an ambitious approach that requires cross-sector collaboration, the involvement of diverse stakeholders—such as research communities, businesses, the public sector, and civil society—and often significant investment and willingness to take risks.

Key characteristics of a Mission include:

Bold and inspirational: The mission must be ambitious and engaging, with broad societal relevance
Clear direction: It must have clear, measurable, and time-bound goals
Ambitious yet realistic: The goals should be challenging, yet achievable through research and innovation
Cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral: It requires collaboration across different fields and sectors
Multiple solutions: The mission should stimulate a diversity of innovative solutions from various stakeholders

Missions differ from traditional innovation policy through their strong focus on concrete goals and deadlines to solve specific societal challenges, and by requiring a broad, coordinated effort from all parts of society.

1. Achieve 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030

This goal targets specifically the 112 selected cities and their pathways toward climate neutrality.

2. Ensure that these cities serve as hubs for experimentation and innovation, enabling all European cities to follow suit by 2050.

This goal targets all European cities and stakeholders wishing to participate in the Mission.

The Cities Mission will involve local authorities, citizens, businesses, investors, as well as regional and national authorities to:

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has the primary responsibility at the ministerial level for following up on the "Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities" Mission.

The Research Council of Norway and Innovation Norway serve as supporting agencies and National Contact Points (NCP) for the Mission. Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA) has been commissioned to develop the model for a national platform for the climate-neutral cities Mission, focusing on innovation, knowledge development, and dissemination. This work was initiated in 2024.

In the follow-up of the Mission, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development collaborates closely with the Ministry of Climate and Environment and the Ministry of Digitalization and Public Governance.

In addition, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Health and Care Services, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Transport participate in a steering committee for the Mission.

The Minister of Local Government and Regional Development has signed a statement of support for the cities' Climate City Contracts. This statement provides an overview of relevant existing national support mechanisms and details how the national government supports the Mission.

EUs Cities Mission

The EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities

The municipalities of Oslo, Stavanger, and Trondheim applied for and were selected by the European Commission to participate in the "Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities" Mission. This is one of five EU Missions under Horizon Europe, the EU framework programme for research and innovation.

Horizon Europe aims to solve major societal challenges by 2030. Together with 109 other European cities, the three Norwegian cities share the ambition to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. In addition to these 112 cities, other municipalities and societal stakeholders are participating in the Mission through various programmes and projects.