By joining the Green City Accord (GCA), cities commit to taking action in five priority areas to achieve ambitious goals by 2030 and accelerate the delivery of the European Green Deal. As part of this commitment, signatory cities are expected to report their progress every three years, using a defined set of mandatory indicators for each priority area.
The five environmental areas include:
Air Quality
Air pollution is considered the number one health problem in the EU, contributing to a range of severe health conditions, including respiratory diseases like asthma, cardiovascular disorders and lung cancer. In 2021, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline level of 5µg/m³ was linked to at least 253 000 premature deaths across the EU.
Under the European Green Deal’s Zero Pollution Action Plan, the EU has set an interim target for 2030 to improve air quality and reduce premature deaths attributed to air pollution by 55%, relative to 2005.
The GCA monitors air quality performance by tracking the concentration of key air pollutants: PM2.5, particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Performance is measured against the standards in the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) (2024/2881) and the 2021 WHO global air quality guidelines.
| Limit value | ||
| EU standard until 31 December 2029 | ||
| PM2.5 | ||
| Highest annual mean | 25 μg/m³ | |
| PM10 | ||
| 24-hour mean | 50 μg/m³ not to be exceeded more than 35 days per calendar year | |
| NO2 | ||
| Daily concentration | 40 μg/m³ | |
Water
Water resilience is one of the priorities of the EU environmental action, to ensure the restoration of water cycle and the availability of the resource. Water scarcity has emerged as a growing challenge across Europe, primarily due to the rising risk of droughts driven by climate change. Water stress currently affects 20% of European territory and 30% of the European population each year, and these figures are expected to rise as climate change accelerates. The Zero Pollution action plan reviewed the standards for the quality of EU waters, including rivers and seas.
The GCA monitors water quality according to the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), the recast Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184, and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC).
Nature and Biodiversity
Urban biodiversity is vital for maintaining ecological balance and supporting healthy cities. By prioritising the expansion of green spaces, cities can create more resilient ecosystems that provide essential services, such as improved air and water quality, temperature regulation and flood protection.
The Green City Accord measures progress relative to the policy goals in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the obligations on urban green space and urban tree canopy cover established in the Nature Restoration Regulation (EU) 2024/1991.
The Urban Nature Platform provides guidance and knowledge to towns and cities to restore nature and biodiversity.
Waste and Circular Economy
The EU is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy, aiming to decouple economic growth from resource consumption to protect natural resources while boosting sustainable growth. By prioritising effective waste management strategies, cities can cultivate a culture of responsible resource use, extending product life cycles and minimising waste.
As one of the pillars of the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan provided a strategic roadmap to advance circular processes across sectors, promote sustainable consumption, create sustainable growth and jobs, and contribute to climate neutrality and preservation of biodiversity. The action plan ensures that waste is prevented and the resources used are kept in the EU economy for as long as possible.
The Clean Industrial Deal adopted in March 2025 intends to accelerate the circular transition and announces an Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act, a revised Public Procurement Framework and a Circular Economy Act to be presented in 2026.
Discover the latest EU developments on waste and circular economy.
Noise
Noise pollution is a major environmental health concern in Europe, with at least one in five people exposed to noise levels considered harmful to their health. Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can severely impact health, contributing to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality, while also affecting mental well-being by causing chronic disturbances, such as sleep disruption, stress and general annoyance.
The EU’s Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/ec) mandates national authorities to develop noise management action plans and encourages cities to move closer to the WHO Guidelines for Noise.
In the Zero Pollution action plan, the European Commission proposed a policy target of reducing the share of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 30% by 2030.
Related links
A step-by-step guide for EU cities on how to join a movement of leaders building a clean, healthy urban future.
Specific information for cities on the monitoring and reporting process of the Green City Accord.
Frequently Asked Questions