The EU-funded SUN4Ukraine project has taken a significant step forward with the official launch of its Partnership Programme
The initiative began its activities during a workshop held in Munich, bringing together Ukrainian municipalities and European Mission Cities committed to climate neutrality and sustainable reconstruction.
The event was the start of a collaborative effort designed to help Ukrainian cities rebuild with a strong climate focus while fostering knowledge exchange across Europe.
Connecting cities for climate-neutral reconstruction
Twelve Ukrainian cities were selected through a call for expressions of interest and paired with fourteen EU Mission Cities participating in the EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. These partnerships will support Ukrainian municipalities in developing Climate Neutrality Plans that integrate immediate reconstruction needs with long-term environmental goals.
During the workshop, participating cities outlined their expectations and began planning joint activities. Mission Cities will provide practical insights based on their work implementing Climate City Contracts, strategic plans designed to guide European cities toward climate neutrality.
Ukrainian municipalities, meanwhile, will contribute their own experiences in crisis management, rapid recovery, and rebuilding essential urban systems amid wartime challenges. The mutual exchange aims to enrich climate planning on both sides.
Twelve cross-border city partnerships
With Munich and Oslo serving in advisory roles, the following city pairings have been established:
- Chernihiv – Amsterdam
- Chernivtsi – Mannheim
- Dnipro – Budapest
- Kalush – Rzeszow
- Kharkiv – Izmir
- Konotop – Lappeenranta
- Kyiv – Leipzig
- Mykolaiv – Barcelona
- Novovolynsk – Aachen
- Pervomaisk – Parma
- Vinnytsia – Dijon Métropole
- Zviahel – Utrecht
These partnerships will operate as practical, problem-solving collaborations. Each pair will focus on developing tailored pathways to climate neutrality, addressing areas such as sustainable mobility, energy-efficient reconstruction, renewable energy planning, resilient infrastructure, and local climate governance.
As the programme progresses, partners will organise exchanges, technical workshops, and joint assessments to strengthen municipal capacities.
Building a foundation for broader impact
One of the long-term goals of SUN4Ukraine is to ensure that lessons learned do not remain limited to the participating cities. To expand the project’s reach, SUN4Ukraine will establish a Ukrainian Climate Cities Hub.
Launching in the second half of 2026, this platform will share insights, methodologies, and best practices with cities across Ukraine. The hub will support municipalities that are not directly part of the partnership programme but are striving to integrate climate goals into their reconstruction and development agendas.
The initiative aims to create a ripple effect, enabling Ukrainian cities of all sizes to benefit from European expertise while also drawing on the unique experiences of local authorities working under exceptionally challenging conditions.
Background and outlook
SUN4Ukraine (short for Sustainable Urban Net Zero Network for Ukraine) is a four-year project funded under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.
Led by EUROCITIES, it contributes to Ukraine’s broader post-war recovery strategy and the country’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. By aligning reconstruction planning with climate objectives, the project seeks to support a modernised, resilient, and sustainable urban future for Ukraine.
