UTM

The Urban Transitions Mission

Net-zero, resilient and people-centred cities

The Urban Transitions Mission

Net-zero, resilient and people-centred cities

Urban Transitions Mission Global Innovation Summit 2024

About Us

Delivering urban pathways to net-zero

The Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) will mobilise decision makers across all levels of government to prioritise climate-neutral and net-zero pathways enabled by clean energy and systemic innovation across all sectors and in urban governance.

By accelerating capacity-building and closing the gap between research, development and deployment, the Mission will empower cities to adopt innovative solutions and help reach tipping points in the cost and scale of those solutions for urban transitions.

Launched at COP26, the UTM is one of the seven missions of Mission Innovation. Mission Innovation is a global initiative catalysing a decade of action and investment in research, development and demonstration to make clean energy affordable, attractive and accessible for all.

Our Goal

UTM is currently working with 50 ambitious cities worldwide.
By 2030, these pathways will be validated by an additional 250 cities.

Our Global Innovation Alliance

We mobilise a Global Innovation Alliance of partners, and national governments to support cities to develop, pilot, and scale innovative solutions and approaches for urban transitions. The UTM is co-led by the European Commission, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, and JPI Urban Europe.

Our Approach

Engaging UTM Cities

The Cohort

The Mission has launched an open call for cities to join the UTM City cohort! Join the cohort of 97 cities already engaged in UTM, and apply to become part of the next 250 cities selected to engage with UTM starting from 2024. Apply now and join our frontrunners worldwide.

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UTMC

With the support of the Urban Transitions Mission Centre - a global knowledge exchange platform, our Mission empowers our cities to shape their own transition with a robust knowledge base and strong net-zero community of support and exchange.

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Our Pillars

Brokering solutions, approaches, and knowledge for net-zero transitions at each stage of a city climate action journey

Innovative Net-Zero Urban Transition

We help develop and mainstream an integrated approach for urban transitions, and achieve stronger multi-level governance to achieve the net-zero urban transition.

Capacity Building and Funding for the Net-Zero Urban Transition

We increase access to evidence, good practice, networking and funding opportunities for cities worldwide and establish a forum for international exchange and cooperation on urban transitions.

Research and Innovation (R&I) Needs for the Global Net-Zero Transition

We help cities to be solutions providers, and aggregate the demand for R&I at the global level, increasing the speed and scale of deployment of net-zero development.

Why join us ?

A globally designed framework
helping cities to strengthen their own climate plans and strategies, prioritise actions, and reap the benefits of systemic approaches to reach their net-zero target. Cities will showcase their innovation and progress via existing reporting commitments.

A global platform for knowledge exchange,
that provides cities with direct access to good practices, integrated solutions, peer-learning opportunities and guidance for each step of their city climate journey.

Help to identify needs-based solutions in partnerships with the UTM Global Innovation Alliance, other Missions and in collaboration with other cities across the globe, also granting high international visibility.

The opportunity to apply innovation, test, pilot and scale up solutions and to access dedicated capacity building and R&I funding, and to participate in the Annual Innovation Summit

Engagement with the national level to foster innovation, access climate finance and collaborative governance models.

GCoM and the Urban Transitions Mission at the Global Clean Energy Action Forum 2022

One year on from the launch of Mission Innovation 2.0, UTM joined the stage at the Global Clean Energy Action Forum 2022 to announce new commitments to dramatically accelerate innovation and cooperation

News & Events

Find out the Latest!

29Oct

Events

UTM at the World Urban Forum 12 (WUF12)

At the 12th World Urban Forum (#WUF12), the Urban Transitions Mission will lead and partner in a series of high-impact events dedicated to accelerating urban…

Cities on a Mission: making Urban Transitions happen

18Oct

NewsUTMC

Cities on a Mission: making Urban Transitions happen

“For transitions and implementations on the ground cities come in” stated Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director of Clean Planet at the European Commission, highlighting the…

UTM Global Innovation Summit 2024: A look back at key discussions and collaborations for a sustainable future

17Oct

News

UTM Global Innovation Summit 2024: A look back at key…

On October 7-8, 2024, the second edition of the UTM Global Innovation Summit, supported by the European Commission, Urban Transitions Mission Centre (UTMC), the Global…

Testimonials

What they says about us?

“Whether in Europe, Africa or elsewhere, cities around the world already feel the impact of the climate and biodiversity crises. The Urban Transitions Mission supports local administrations to take action and help accelerate efforts towards a green, clean, and healthy future for all their citizens.”

“Cities have fostered huge leaps in human progression throughout history. We must replicate this ambition to solve the pressing great human challenge of climate change. The Urban Transitions Mission is pooling the collective knowledge and experience of cities across the world, helping to catalyze action and decarbonise urban spaces for millions globally.”

“Despite limited resources and competing priorities, mayors around the world are pushing forward innovative solutions to secure jobs, drive economic development, and deliver climate-resilient communities for urban residents. It’s time we unlock the necessary support and tools to accelerate city climate progress and propel the world into a net-zero future.”

“Cities have long led on ambitious climate actions to reduce emissions and risks to urban residents. Projects like the Urban Transitions Mission provide critical support to enable cities to continue to pioneer towards greener and healthier communities for all.”