Green Cities and Local Governments in the European Framework

The chapter aims to describe the European Union’s increasing interest in cities in light of current EU policy efforts on territorial cohesion and environmental protection. Indeed, urban areas are at the core of economic and social development within the European territory. At the same time, demographic and industrial concentration implies that the highest levels of land use change, waste generation, and air pollution occur mainly within cities. This chapter briefly reviews the main hard and soft laws that have contributed to shaping the so-called EU “Urban Acquis” and the subsequent adoption of the 2016 Pact of Amsterdam, which encompasses the EU Urban Agenda. It also analyses the participation of local governments in preparing the NRRPs and the role they play in their subsequent implementation.