From Ambition to Action
Cities across Europe have set themselves climate neutrality targets. But putting these ambitions into practice is a major challenge, even more when climate targets do not consider resilience and social justice as part of the same package. On November 3, “Cities in Action” showcased how integrated governance, inclusive participation, and targeted capacity building can drive systemic transformation in cities.
Drawing on the experiences of the 11 partner cities and tool providers in UP2030, the event featured keynotes, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and live tool demonstrations. Participants exchanged practical approaches to bridging policy and implementation, while exploring how data, design, and collaboration can accelerate climate transitions that leave no one behind.
Spotlight on UP2030
Cities in Action marked an important milestone of the UP2030 project, coordinated by Fraunhofer IAO. The project, which ends in December 2025 has been supporting cities for the last 3 years in driving socio-technical transitions toward integrated climate action through urban planning and design.
“To truly close the climate action implementation gap, support for cities must go beyond financing and project delivery. It must empower capacity building, human agency, and systemic upscaling of climate action” says Catalina Diaz Barrera, deputy project coordinator of UP2030 and scientist at Fraunhofer IAO.
Through the lenses of climate neutrality, justice, and resilience, UP2030 has collaborated with cities and tool providers across Europe to co-develop pathways for equitable climate action. With a consortium of 47 partners from different countries, the project results surpassed not only specific outputs in the 11 cities, but also tool development and resources for other cities as well.
Barcelona: A Living Lab for Climate Action
The Management Area for Mobility, Infrastructure and Urban Services of the City of Barcelona played a central role in the event, where they presented its bold approach to advancing climate justice and innovation, highlighting the urgent need to scale up from pilot projects to citywide adaptation and low-carbon transitions across all sectors.
Showcasing Results at Smart City Expo World Congress 2025
Following the conference, Fraunhofer IAO and partners will also present the UP2030 results at the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) in Barcelona. Project results will be showcased in two sessions. A delegation from Fraunhofer IAO will be part of the joint EU Representation booth in Hall 2 Stand D101, where they will be sharing results with other 22 european initiatives.
UP2030 Sessions at the SCEWC:
- Inclusive Innovation: Delivering Effective Solutions in Cities and Communities
4 November 2025
Stage: People First
- Bridging Implementation Gaps: Upscaling Pilots to Systemic Action
6 November 2025
Stage: People First
This joint participation strengthens collaboration between European research and innovation ecosystems and highlights how science-driven approaches and city-led initiatives can accelerate the transition toward sustainable urban futures.
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO