Urban Mitigation: Policies and Innovative Solutions for Sustainability in Europe

Abstract

Urban climate mitigation requires more than isolated sustainable initiatives; it demands integrated, multi-scalar approaches capable of reducing emissions while addressing socio-economic inequalities. This paper investigates how urban policies in European cities concretely contribute to climate change mitigation, asking: To what extent do integrated urban strategies effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring governance coherence and social equity? Adopting a comparative case study method, the research analyzes four cities-Milan, Copenhagen, Freiburg, and Salerno-focusing on the effectiveness of policies related to green infrastructure, energy retrofitting, sustainable mobility, and digital networks. The study highlights both enabling factors (e.g., multi-level governance, spatial integration, citizen participation) and structural barriers (e.g., fragmented regulation, limited access to climate finance). Findings reveal that, while certain cities demonstrate replicable models of mitigation, challenges remain in ensuring policy coherence, socio-economic inclusion, and scalability. The paper contributes to the theoretical discourse on urban climate governance by proposing a multi-dimensional analytical framework and evidence-based recommendations for practitioners and policymakers.