Cities on a Mission: how UPPER and NetZeroCities are supporting cities in taking true climate action

In June 2024, UITP joined mayors, city practitioners and urban sustainability experts in Valencia for the Cities Climate Week. In the Spanish city, which in 2024 holds the title of “European Green Capital”, we exchanged with key urban mobility stakeholders during the Cities Mission Conference and the 4^th General Assembly of UPPER, the EU-project led by UITP aiming to unleash a public transport revolution.

Our message was twofold. Firstly, public transport plays an undeniable key role in the sustainable transition; and secondly, true impact can only be realised through exchange and replication of strategies and measures among cities, reinforced by strong European collaboration.

Cities account for more than 70% of global CO₂ emissions and consume over 65% of the world’s energy, thus urban action is crucial for climate mitigation. In 2021 the European Commission launched its mission to achieve “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030” and by March 2024, 33 cities have already received their “EU Mission Label”. This label can be used as a sign of confidence in cities’ climate neutrality plans, especially when approaching public and private funding.

To support cities in realising their climate quest, the NetZeroCities project provides cities with world-class expertise and services tailored to their needs for achieving their climate objectives. Within NetZeroCities, UITP proudly co-carries the public transport baton, supporting cities’ modal necessary shift to public transport, walking and cycling.

Now, how does the UPPER project fit into the Cities Mission? In Valencia, links between both were made crystal clear during a meeting with Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director of the Clean Planet Directorate in the European Commission’s (DG R&I).

The exchange highlighted how UPPER serves as catalyst for the Cities Mission, creating a roadmap on how to include mobility into innovation and helping other cities to replicate the UPPER measures that advance public transport. Van der Vlies emphasised how the Cities Mission is a vehicle that helps Member States comply with climate regulations. “Currently there are many rules in place that cities need to comply with in light of the Green Deal. The Cities Mission will support Members States with achieving these. Here, a cross-sector approach is key.”

With its past and current achievements in the field of sustainable tourism, climate neutrality, as well as fair and inclusive green transition, choosing the city of Valencia as backdrop for the Cities Climate Week was no coincidence. 97% of city’s inhabitants live within 300 metres of green urban areas, and Valencia has proven commitment to improving air quality and restoring nature ecosystems. In Spring 2023, Valencia was one of the first 10 cities awarded the Mission Label.

Valencia’s commitment to sustainability was also highlighted during the UPPER General Assembly, graciously hosted by the City of Valencia (Ayuntamiento de València) and UITP member company EMT Valencia.

As keynote speaker, Valencia Deputy Mayor of Mobility Jesús Carbonell pointed out the city’s firm commitment to achieve a public transport system that is not only sufficient and attractive, but is constantly improving to also go hand in hand with other modes and meet mobility citizen’s needs. “Projects such as UPPER are essential to the administration and PTOs to achieve great levels of service,” he said.

Manuel Martínez, CEO of EMT Valencia explained how their 2024 -2028 investment plan is optimising the transport offer through new electric buses, the electrification of bus depots, and a new ticketing system, while also meeting the rising demand (which between 2020 and 2023 has gone up with 48%). Daily, 380,000 trips are made by public transport. “Regarding EMT’s supply and demand evolution, 2023 was the year that we presented one of the best results in history (the third one), with an offer optimised to the needs of citizens. Valencia and EMT have a strong commitment towards public transport, and your presence fromall over Europe to this GA shows its importance in our society.”

In this new wrap-up video of the UPPER GA, experience the essence of teamwork, collaboration, and innovation that goes into this flagship project.

During the GA, the UPPER Team experienced first-hand the measures that Valencia is applying to advance public transport.

EMT Valencia showed during the technical visit how it will transform one of its main corridors (Blasco Ibáñez Avenue), where public space is used mostly by cars, to increase accessibility to public transport while adhering to the ‘Mobility as a Right’ concept. For this measure, EMT València and the city will work together to implement a BRT infrastructure in part of the avenue while providing more space for pedestrians and cyclists. Two multimodal hubs will be created in the avenue, integrating various transportation modes to encourage modal shift and better integration between sustainable modes of travel.

The creation of dedicated bus lanes also goes hand in hand with increasing bus frequency, while traffic light priority for public transport fleets will ensure efficient BRT lane performance.

Not coincidentally, all the 10 sites where measures are implemented in the UPPER project are part of the Cities Mission. They are considered the ideal places to cut transport emissions and encourage a modal shift away from private cars. Add to that their urban density and existing public transport networks as springboard to implement sustainable mobility measures, et voilà: it will be these cities leading by example.

Check out the UPPER website to explore all measures cities are taking.

Explore all the Mission Cities here.