IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/trapol/v148y2024icp107-123.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Research and innovation paving the way for climate neutrality in urban transport: Analysis of 362 cities on their journey to zero emissions

Author

Listed:
  • Christidis, Panayotis
  • Ulpiani, Giulia
  • Stepniak, Marcin
  • Vetters, Nadja

Abstract

The EU Mission on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities is an ambitious initiative aiming to involve a wide range of stakeholders and deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030. We analysed the information submitted in the expressions of interest by 362 candidate cities. The majority of the cities’ strategies for climate neutrality include urban transport as a main sector and combine the introduction of new technologies with the promotion of public transport and active mobility. We combined the information from the EU Mission candidate cities with data from the CORDIS and TRIMIS databases, and applied a clustering algorithm to measure proximity to foci of H2020 funding. Our results suggest that preparedness for the EU Mission is correlated with research and innovation activities on transport and mobility. Horizon 2020 activities specific to transport and mobility significantly increased the likelihood of a city to be a candidate. Among the various transport technology research pathways, smart mobility appears to have a major role in the development of solutions for climate neutrality.

Suggested Citation

  • Christidis, Panayotis & Ulpiani, Giulia & Stepniak, Marcin & Vetters, Nadja, 2024. "Research and innovation paving the way for climate neutrality in urban transport: Analysis of 362 cities on their journey to zero emissions," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 107-123.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:148:y:2024:i:c:p:107-123
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2024.01.008
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X24000088
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tranpol.2024.01.008?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stanley, John & Ellison, Richard & Loader, Chris & Hensher, David, 2018. "Reducing Australian motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 76-88.
    2. Anastasios Tsakalidis & Konstantinos Gkoumas & Monica Grosso & Ferenc Pekár, 2020. "TRIMIS: Modular Development of an Integrated Policy-Support Tool for Forward-Oriented Transport Research and Innovation Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Antje Otto & Kristine Kern & Wolfgang Haupt & Peter Eckersley & Annegret H. Thieken, 2021. "Ranking local climate policy: assessing the mitigation and adaptation activities of 104 German cities," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 1-23, July.
    4. Monica Grosso & Fabio Luis Marques dos Santos & Konstantinos Gkoumas & Marcin Stępniak & Ferenc Pekár, 2021. "The Role of Research and Innovation in Europe for the Decarbonisation of Waterborne Transport," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-21, September.
    5. Kern, Kristine, 2019. "Cities as leaders in EU multilevel climate governance: embedded upscaling of local experiments in Europe," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 28(1), pages 125-145.
    6. Husain, Shaiara & Sohag, Kazi & Wu, Yanrui, 2022. "The response of green energy and technology investment to climate policy uncertainty: An application of twin transitions strategy," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    7. Anastasios Tsakalidis & Mitchell van Balen & Konstantinos Gkoumas & Ferenc Pekar, 2020. "Catalyzing Sustainable Transport Innovation through Policy Support and Monitoring: The Case of TRIMIS and the European Green Deal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    8. Nives Della Valle & Giulia Ulpiani & Nadja Vetters, 2023. "Assessing climate justice awareness among climate neutral-to-be cities," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    9. Otto, Antje & Kern, Kristine & Haupt, Wolfgang & Eckersley, Peter & Thieken, Annegret H., 2021. "Ranking local climate policy: assessing the mitigation and adaptation activities of 104 German cities," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 67(1-2).
    10. Juan Ramón López Soler & Panayotis Christidis & José Manuel Vassallo, 2021. "Teleworking and Online Shopping: Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Their Impact on Transport Demand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-24, June.
    11. Antje Otto & Kristine Kern & Wolfgang Haupt & Peter Eckersley & Annegret H. Thieken, 2021. "Correction to: Ranking local climate policy: assessing the mitigation and adaptation activities of 104 German cities," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 1-3, August.
    12. Giulia Ulpiani & Enrique Rebolledo & Nadja Vetters & Pietro Florio & Paolo Bertoldi, 2023. "Funding and financing the zero emissions journey: urban visions from the 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    13. Peter Newton & Niki Frantzeskaki, 2021. "Creating a National Urban Research and Development Platform for Advancing Urban Experimentation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, January.
    14. Lindholm, Maria & Behrends, Sönke, 2012. "Challenges in urban freight transport planning – a review in the Baltic Sea Region," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 129-136.
    15. Zejin Liu & Steven Van de Walle, 2022. "The role of demonstration projects as policy instruments in the development of nonprofit organizations: Beyond instrumentality," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 42(4), pages 233-244, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kristine Kern & Janne Irmisch & Colette Odermatt & Wolfgang Haupt & Ingrid Kissling-Näf, 2021. "Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Development, and Climate Policy: Comparing the UNESCO World Heritage Cities of Potsdam and Bern," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Kern, Kristine & Irmisch, Janne & Odermatt, Colette & Haupt, Wolfgang & Kissling-Näf, Ingrid, 2021. "Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Development, and Climate Policy: Comparing the UNESCO World Heritage Cities of Potsdam and Bern," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(16).
    3. Kılkış, Şiir & Ulpiani, Giulia & Vetters, Nadja, 2024. "Visions for climate neutrality and opportunities for co-learning in European cities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    4. Erlwein, Sabrina & Meister, Juliane & Wamsler, Christine & Pauleit, Stephan, 2023. "Governance of densification and climate change adaptation: How can conflicting demands for housing and greening in cities be reconciled?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    5. Kern, Kristine & Haupt, Wolfgang & Niederhafner, Stefan, 2022. "Entwicklungspfade städtischer Klimapolitik: Bedeutung von Schlüsselereignissen und Schlüsselakteur:innen für die Klimapolitik in Potsdam, Remscheid und Würzburg," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 57(4), pages 32-49.
    6. Aboagye, Prince Dacosta & Sharifi, Ayyoob, 2024. "Urban climate adaptation and mitigation action plans: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    7. Reckien, Diana & Buzasi, Attila & Olazabal, Marta & Spyridaki, Niki-Artemis & Eckersley, Peter & Simoes, Sofia G. & Salvia, Monica & Pietrapertosa, Filomena & Fokaides, Paris & Goonesekera, Sascha M. , 2023. "Quality of urban climate adaptation plans over time," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 3, pages 1-14.
    8. Eichenauer, Eva & Irmisch, Janne & Ulrich, Peter, 2022. "Szenarien für eine Energiewende in ländlichen und städtischen Räumen. Teil 1: Regional vernetzt und gesellschaftlich getragen in eine klimaneutrale Zukunft," IRS Dialog 5/2022, Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space (IRS).
    9. Gkoumas, Konstantinos & van Balen, Mitchell & Tsakalidis, Anastasios & Pekar, Ferenc, 2022. "Evaluating the development of transport technologies in European research and innovation projects between 2007 and 2020," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    10. Irmisch, Janne & Haupt, Wolfgang & Eckersley, Peter & Kern, Kristine & Müller, Hannah, 2022. "Klimapolitische Entwicklungspfade deutscher Groß- und Mittelstädte," IRS Dialog 2/2022, Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space (IRS).
    11. Monica Grosso & Fabio Luis Marques dos Santos & Konstantinos Gkoumas & Marcin Stępniak & Ferenc Pekár, 2021. "The Role of Research and Innovation in Europe for the Decarbonisation of Waterborne Transport," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-21, September.
    12. Bhardwaj, Chandan & Axsen, Jonn & Kern, Florian & McCollum, David, 2020. "Why have multiple climate policies for light-duty vehicles? Policy mix rationales, interactions and research gaps," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 309-326.
    13. Miquel Salvador & David Sancho, 2021. "The Role of Local Government in the Drive for Sustainable Development Public Policies. An Analytical Framework Based on Institutional Capacities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, May.
    14. Vincent Wretling & Berit Balfors, 2021. "Building Institutional Capacity to Plan for Climate Neutrality: The Role of Local Co-Operation and Inter-Municipal Networks at the Regional Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    15. Behiri, Walid & Belmokhtar-Berraf, Sana & Chu, Chengbin, 2018. "Urban freight transport using passenger rail network: Scientific issues and quantitative analysis," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 227-245.
    16. Antje Otto & Kristine Kern & Wolfgang Haupt & Peter Eckersley & Annegret H. Thieken, 2021. "Ranking local climate policy: assessing the mitigation and adaptation activities of 104 German cities," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 1-23, July.
    17. Kinga Kijewska & João Guilherme Costa Braga França & Leise Kelli de Oliveira & Stanislaw Iwan, 2022. "Evaluation of Urban Mobility Problems and Freight Solutions from Residents’ Perspectives: A Comparison of Belo Horizonte (Brazil) and Szczecin (Poland)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-22, January.
    18. Laura Lakanen & Heli Kumpulainen & Olli Helppi & Kaisa Grönman & Risto Soukka, 2022. "Carbon Handprint Approach for Cities and Regions: A Framework to Reveal and Assess the Potential of Cities in Climate Change Mitigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-14, May.
    19. Idiano D’Adamo & Massimo Gastaldi & Jacopo Piccioni & Paolo Rosa, 2023. "The Role of Automotive Flexibility in Supporting the Diffusion of Sustainable Mobility Initiatives: A Stakeholder Attitudes Assessment," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 24(3), pages 459-481, September.
    20. Beckers, Joris & Cárdenas, Ivan & Verhetsel, Ann, 2018. "Identifying the geography of online shopping adoption in Belgium," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 33-41.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:148:y:2024:i:c:p:107-123. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/30473/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.