ROTTERDAM, 15 October 2025 — The European Commission has officially awarded Rotterdam the European Mission Label, a distinction that recognises the city’s ambitious and high-quality climate plans. With this label, Rotterdam joins one of only 100 European cities to receive the designation, confirming its place among Europe’s frontrunners in sustainability and climate action.
Access to European support and funding
The Mission Label serves as a quality mark for cities developing strong, credible pathways to climate neutrality. It gives Rotterdam access to exclusive EU resources — including expert support from leading research institutions, connections to financial networks such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), and priority consideration for future European funding and collaboration opportunities.
Why Rotterdam stands out
According to the European Commission, Rotterdam’s Climate Action Plan distinguishes itself through its focus on tackling energy poverty, supporting SMEs in the transition to sustainability, and reducing hard-to-abate emissions in sectors such as industry, transport and inland shipping.
The plan also highlights Rotterdam’s strong local partnerships and innovative initiatives aimed at achieving a climate-neutral future. These range from green infrastructure projects and sustainable energy pilots to social programmes ensuring that the energy transition benefits all residents.
A step closer to climate neutrality
Alderman Chantal Zeegers (Climate, Housing and Urban Development) expressed pride in the European recognition:
“In Rotterdam, we’re working hard to achieve a climate-neutral city. This label is a recognition of our efforts and will help us put future plans into action.”
Leading the way in Europe
Rotterdam is part of the European Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, a leading group of urban areas committed to achieving net-zero emissions. Knowledge gained from this initiative is shared with other Dutch municipalities, accelerating the broader national effort to create sustainable, resilient cities.
The City of Rotterdam continues to expand its network of partners across Europe through innovation, cooperation, and shared climate knowledge. For more on Rotterdam’s environmental programmes, visit rotterdam.nl/klimaat.
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