Climate change and housing are the main challenges for cities as European elections approach, according to mayors – POLITICO

For the second year in a row, climate change tops the list of the most important issues for European urban areas. More than a quarter of the bloc’s municipal leaders said global warming was the biggest threat to their city; more than two-thirds said they believed the majority of their citizens were demanding action on decarbonization policies.

But the mayors interviewed also worry about public anger over green measures that have been welcomed in cities like London and Brussels, where citizens have protested against initiatives to reduce car use and improve air quality. Thirty-eight percent of survey participants said they were concerned about the impacts of local climate policies.

Ninety-four percent said their biggest challenge in implementing climate change measures was access to finance. They varied, however, on how they would use the money if they had it: almost a quarter wanted more urban vegetation, while an equal amount looked to invest in energy efficiency and decarbonization. One in five people wanted to implement more nature-based solutions, and one in ten said adapting buildings was crucial.

The housing crisis hits our homes

Since last year’s survey, the number of mayors citing access to affordable housing as a top priority has doubled. More than a third cited housing as a major concern, up from 15% in 2023.

The findings mark a shift in the housing issue: once reserved for low-income residents, it is now also a concern for the middle class.

“We are facing a serious shortage of decent, affordable and adequate housing,” said Renaud Payre, vice-president of the Métropole de Lyon, an authority encompassing the city of Lyon and its suburbs. “Front-line workers who provide services essential to the functioning of our society — social workers, nurses, cashiers, maintenance workers, public transit drivers, etc. — no longer have access to housing in our cities. »