At the third EU City Mission Conference in Vilnius, the European Commission honoured the city of Dresden with the "mission label." This recognition highlights Dresden’s strong commitment to building a sustainable and climate-friendly resilient future.
“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 – both locally and throughout Europe.” – Dirk Hilbert, Lord Mayor of Dresden
Dresden is one of 112 European cities chosen as models for the EU City Mission initiative. The city is already taking action, especially at the neighborhood level, where projects are underway to create clean energy districts. These efforts combine smart heating networks, heat pumps, and energy-efficient building renovations. New mobility solutions are also taking shape, with technologies like flexible charging robots, self-driving transport, and traffic optimization through a 5G network. Public engagement is another key element, with new ways for residents to participate in local heat planning.
With its Integrated Energy and Climate Protection Concept (IEK), updated Dresden 2035+ mobility plan, and ongoing heat planning, the city is laying the groundwork for long-term change.
“With the IEK and the associated goal of climate neutrality in Dresden by 2040 at the latest, we are laying the foundation for the requirements of the EU mission. The path to climate neutrality is a process for society as a whole, which can only succeed through cooperation, the assumption of responsibility by everyone and the joint setting and pursuit of goals.” – Eva Jähnigen, Councillor for Environment and Climate, Law and Order
Broad commitment from urban society and business
Dresden’s transformation into a climate-neutral city depends on broad collaboration. Across sectors, people are stepping up. So far, 37 local and international organisations – including companies, universities, and cultural and sports groups – have signed a voluntary pledge to take concrete climate action. Dresden’s strength in high-tech industries, especially semiconductors, continues to position it as a European innovation hub.
SachsenEnergie, Dresden’s main energy provider, also sees the label as a crucial boost for sustainable investment.
“The path to complete decarbonisation is very challenging and particularly cost-intensive. SachsenEnergie has already implemented the first major projects to decarbonize Dresden’s district heating system. With several large heat pumps, electrode boilers, large heat storage systems, the use of industrial waste heat and the conversion of CHP generation plants to hydrogen, a large number of other major projects are in preparation and planning. We are delighted about the label and hope that this recognition can also provide support in accessing national and European funding, which is necessary for project implementation in many cases”. – Dr. Axel Cunow, CFO, SachsenEnergie AG
Challenges remain – support is crucial
Despite progress, the road ahead remains complex.
“We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but reaching our climate goals will require even more support. The EU mission label is a clear signal — Dresden is ready to lead, but we need strong backing from the EU, the federal government, and the state of Saxony.” – Dirk Hilbert, Lord Mayor
Background
Dresden joined the EU City Mission in 2022, after updating its climate strategy and smart city plans. Chosen from more than 370 applicants, Dresden is now part of a Europe-wide network working toward the shared goal of climate neutrality by 2030. Through the Horizon Europe funding program, the mission supports innovation and research tied to climate action. Dresden’s first major milestone: submitting its Climate City Contract to the European Commission in September 2024. This document lays out the city’s vision, strategies, and voluntary commitments from a wide range of local partners. Being part of this mission not only brings access to funding and expertise — it also raises Dresden’s profile as a city that’s ready to lead the way into a climate-smart future. And perhaps most importantly, it amplifies the call for fair legal and financial frameworks to help cities across Europe do the same.
Image credits: Regine Kramer – City of Dresden.
