Climate assessment of local authority budgets: synthesis

Across the EU, local authorities play a leading role in the climate transition. They have core responsibilities in the sectors that are central to reducing emissions, including transport and buildings. They are also major contributors to the public investment necessary for achieving carbon neutrality. When local authorities develop their climate transition plans, including for example to expand the public transport networks and retrofit public buildings to increase energy efficiency, they must also plan for significant public investments.  

Europe’s local authorities have a crucial role to play in meeting the EU’s objective for climate neutrality in 2050 and the critical milestones for emission reductions in 2030. They manage important building stocks and transport networks, develop climate strategies, action and investment plans, while engaging stakeholders and citizens in the climate transition. Turning climate policy ambition into reality, local authorities are responsible for implementing a lot of EU’s Green Deal legislative measures. The EU’s high-profile Mission for 100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 recognises this central role with a pledge for leading cities to trace a fast track towards a climate neutral urban future for others to follow. 

A comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the challenge of financing the low-carbon transition at the local level in France. Local authorities have a major role to play in achieving France’s 2050 carbon neutrality goals, as set out in the Stratégie nationale bas-carbone (SNBC). Due to their property and responsibilities, they must make numerous climate investments, implement strategies and action plans, and deploy initiatives to mobilise local actors.