The CEN/TC 465 Ad hoc Group on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and Communities was established to accelerate the integration of sustainability and digitalisation in Europe’s urban areas. Supporting the EU’s 2050 climate-neutrality objective, the group brought together experts from policy, industry, research, and local governments to translate high-level EU ambitions into concrete standardisation pathways.
Over the course of ten months, the group conducted an in-depth exploration of how emerging urban innovation practices, such as local digital twins, urban data spaces, and digitally enabled solutions, can be supported and scaled through European and international standards. Eight city case studies from across Europe provided practical insights into how local transformation efforts can inform a future standardisation agenda, underscoring the important role of cities and communities in driving innovation.
Key contributions of the group include:
An integrated knowledge base mapping relevant standards from ISO, IEC, ITU-T, and national bodies, and identifying critical gaps.
A structured assessment of European policy frameworks - including Climate City Contracts and Local Green Deals - against standards such as ISO 37101, DIN SPEC 91607, and the ITU-T Y.4900 series.
City-driven insights highlighting challenges in data governance, interoperability, and capacity building, as well as opportunities for scalable, replicable solutions.
Six strategic recommendation pillars addressing the use of standards as policy tools, localisation and capacity building, stakeholder inclusion, links to research and innovation, digital infrastructure needs, and international alignment.
Based on this work, the Ad hoc Group proposes the creation of a new Working Group under CEN/TC 465, a revised business plan emphasising local digital twins, AI, and energy-positive districts, and stronger coordination with European Commission initiatives and international SDOs. The group also recommends formal integration of project outputs and blueprints - via CWAs, new work items, or harmonised specifications - and improved mechanisms to involve cities and communities in the standardisation process.
The report underscores the essential role of standards in bridging the gap between local innovation and long-term implementation. As European cities advance Climate City Contracts, Local Green Deals, Positive Energy Districts, and digital-innovation pilots, standardisation offers the coherence and continuity needed to scale these efforts across Europe and support international leadership.