May 7, 2025. At the international NetZeroCities conference in Vilnius on May 7, 2025, the cities of Leipzig and Dresden were officially awarded the European Union’s “Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities” label. Economics Minister Dirk Panter congratulated both cities on this significant success on their path to climate neutrality.
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“This award is a strong signal – for Saxony, for Germany and for Europe. Dresden and Leipzig show how climate protection and forward-looking urban development can go hand in hand. This is not an end in itself, because every step towards more climate protection and digitalization improves the quality of life of local people. I would like to congratulate both cities on this success,” said Dirk Panter following the award ceremony.
“This award at European level is both a recognition and an incentive for us. With our energy and climate protection program, we have had a central instrument at our disposal since 2022, but its practical implementation requires broad acceptance from urban society and the participation of each individual. This is where the network we have established comes into play, successfully bringing together stakeholders from all areas and pooling their strengths. I am certain that this broad exchange is the only way to find tailor-made and viable solutions for shaping a climate-friendly future for our city,” emphasizes Leipzig’s Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung.
Dresden’s Lord Mayor Dirk Hilbert: “By receiving the mission label, Dresden is consolidating its position as an innovative and future-oriented city and at the same time strengthening cooperation with innovation partners – locally and throughout Europe. Despite these positive developments, Dresden is facing major financial and structural challenges. The ambitious goals of the EU City Mission must be realistically balanced with the existing local capacities. The support of the EU, federal and state governments is of central importance here. The mission label is recognition and a signal that Dresden should continue to develop as a climate-neutral and innovative city. However, this goal can only be achieved together with all political levels and local stakeholders.”
The EU Mission Label is part of the EU mission “100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030” under the Horizon Europe research and innovation program. With this award, the European Commission recognizes the ambitious commitment and concrete climate strategies of the award-winning cities. A total of 112 cities – including eight in Germany – were initially selected as so-called Mission Cities in 2022. Some of these cities have now received the official Mission Label – as a sign of particularly convincing climate city agreements and realistic transformation paths to climate neutrality. The Mission Label gives the city access to the Climate City Capital Hub, an international source of funding that was launched in June 2024 and supports cities in achieving greater climate neutrality.
“Being included in the circle of award-winning cities is not only a great recognition, but also an incentive. It opens up new funding opportunities and strengthens international networking for more climate protection. The fact that two of the German Cities 2025 come from Saxony and that their pioneering role is now also recognized internationally will also contribute to the transfer of knowledge of the best solutions for our Free State,” said Minister Panter.
Leipzig and Dresden have set themselves ambitious goals with their Climate City Agreements: Both cities want to become climate-neutral and are focusing on modern infrastructure, renewable energies, sustainable mobility and extensive participation of the urban society.
“This award is the result of forward-looking urban development, broad social dialog and determined municipal policies. I would like to thank everyone who has helped to shape this path – in the town halls, in the administration, in the private sector and in both urban societies,” said Minister Panter.
The European Union wants to become climate-neutral by 2050. Cities play a special role in this because they produce a particularly large amount of CO2. 75 percent of EU citizens live in a city, which is why special approaches are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas. Targeted measures, e.g. in the areas of transport, energy efficiency and urban planning, can contribute to more sustainable and environmentally friendly urban development. This is where the EU’s “NetZeroCities” mission comes in, which aims to help 100 selected cities achieve climate neutrality at an accelerated pace. “NetZeroCities” is part of the “Horizon 2020” research and innovation program and supports the EU’s Green Deal. Above all, it aims to promote structural change in the pilot cities and thus also remove barriers for the cities that follow.
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Photo: pixabay
