Ideas for Europe — Europe of Cities

Representatives from all EU countries have agreed for the European Commission to be the sole enforcer of new tech rules and regulations, limiting the role of national antitrust watchdogs which had been sought. The DMA (Digital Markets Act), proposed by EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager last year, aims to curb the powers of the likes of Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon, in a bid to make the European tech market more competitive and allow better opportunities for new companies.

While much of the conversation surrounding COP26 has focused on coal, it is important to also remember that methane emissions, in particular, are responsible for as much as a quarter of current global warming. The European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, highlighted the danger of methane emissions in this respect, while the UNEP’s Executive Director, Inger Andersen, stressed the importance of strong actions in this field along with actions to decarbonise the energy system if we are to limit warming to 1.5C, and truly achieve the goals set for 2030 (slashing emissions by 30%) and 2050 (net zero).

Along with the ongoing expansion of smart communities throughout the world, every year we see more and more shining examples of sustainable urban living popping up. Northern Europe continues to buck the trend with many inspiring case studies, as was shown in recent research conducted by Disruptive Technologies which measured a number of factors when it comes to smart cities. These examples also lead the way in how to tackle Europe’s targets for limiting the impact of climate change.

The expansion of renewables is not a new subject on the EU’s agenda, yet it has recently come back into heightened focus as Europe is now facing a major increase in gas and electricity prices, much more pronounced than in previous years. Consumers with below average incomes become vulnerable as a result, and what is meant to be an accessible commodity of modern life to power and acclimatise our homes is becoming increasingly unaffordable to many