Viladecans has responded to the European Commissions’ 25 November 2021 announcement for cities to join the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. The aim is to achieve 100 climate-neutral and smart European cities by 2030. The selected cities will work together with citizens and local stakeholders and the support of the Mission Platform to develop a Climate Contract to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.
Become part of this initiative would be a great boost to the climate neutrality in the city, one of the main pillars of the Viladecans 2030 Strategy, aligned with the national and international agendas for sustainable development for this decade. Reduced emissions will mean less atmospheric and noise pollution and a considerable increase in air quality for Viladecans' residents.
Joining this mission will also represent a great boost for the city, placing it at the forefront of experimentation and innovation in sustainability, networking with other European cities, and facilitating access to certain European and national funding opportunities. The chosen cities will be part of the European network of climate-neutral cities by 2030 and will guide the rest of the cities on the same path until 2050.
Viladecans holds a strong position in its candidacy thanks to its long experience in the development of sustainability and ecological transition strategies. In 2008 the city approved Agenda 21 and joined the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Sustainable Energy, developing a series of plans aimed at reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. It also developed the Vilawatt energy transition project within the framework of the European Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) programme, which involved all citizens in the ecological transition and is currently being replicated in three European cities through the URBACT programme. In 2019 it approved the Local Declaration of Climate Emergency and committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2040 at the latest. And in 2021 it approved the new Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, as well as the Viladecans 2030 Strategic Framework in which the Ecological Transition is one of the main focal points.
Moreover, the City Council and the public company Vilawatt continue to work on energy transition and saving, public lighting transformation and photovoltaic panels installation in facilities.
Viladecans' candidacy is committed to moving towards climate neutrality by involving all stakeholders in the municipality, engaging citizens, users, producers, consumers and businesses through a system of co-governance.
