Networks and cities' news

What has been done in PUMA network in the first quarter of 2025?

How European cities are helping one another in advancing towards sustainable mobility

While the transport sector is a vital component of the European Union (EU) economy, contributing 5% to the EU’s GDP and employing 10 million people, it also presents a significant environmental challenge. Indeed, transport accounts for around 25% of the EU’s total CO₂ emissions, with road transport being the largest contributor, responsible for 71.7% of those emissions. Additionally, 23% of all transport-related greenhouse gas emissions come from urban areas (cities, towns and suburbs), where most EU citizens live.

Cities across Europe must thus strive to make urban mobility more sustainable and accessible to achieve a 90% reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with the European Union’s climate targets. One significant challenge is the insufficient public transport in smaller and medium-sized cities, which causes residents to depend more heavily on cars on a daily basis. In fact, larger cities (with over one million inhabitants) tend to offer more frequent public transport services and better-developed cycling infrastructure than smaller cities (with under 250,000 inhabitants). Overall, approximately 88% of European citizens still own a car.

“If we want to achieve our sustainability goals, then I believe that all European cities, also small and medium ones, have to focus on the more sustainable types of transportation,” explained Aksels Ruperts, PUMA Lead partner project coordinator.

PUMA project: one year on board – where are we now?

A year and a half ago, we set out on a journey to help cities across 8 European countries rethink urban mobility. The idea was simple: work together, share knowledge, and build sustainable solutions through Integrated Action Plans. Fast forward eighteen months, and we find ourselves at a crucial checkpoint.

So, what’s been achieved so far? What’s proving more complicated than expected? And most importantly, where do we go from here? Let’s take a deep dive into the first year of PUMA - the wins, the roadblocks, and the next steps.

PUMA activity in the last quarter in 2024

PUMA’s Summer 2025 Highlights!

Summer may traditionally be a time for relaxation, but for the PUMA (Plans for Urban Mobility Actions) network, it was all about keeping up the pace. While the sun shone and holidays were enjoyed, the PUMA partners continued to build momentum for their ambitious mobility projects.

Mapping mobility: GIS for designing smarter mobility plans