UP2030 has entered a new and exciting chapter — the upscaling phase — where vision meets action on the ground. After extensive work in co-developing climate-neutral urban visions, our partner cities are now advancing from planning to implementation, launching a series of hands-on workshops aimed at scaling and sustaining their prototypes.

As part of this process, cities are exploring how their innovative approaches can grow beyond initial pilot areas, embed themselves into wider municipal practices, and continue to thrive long after the project ends.

Budapest: Building a Lasting Platform for Healthier Streets

In Budapest, the journey toward more people-centred public spaces is picking up pace. A recent workshop led by GGGI Hungary and the Municipality of Budapest focused on expanding the Healthy Streets Knowledge Centre, a hub designed to empower urban actors with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to redesign city streets with citizens in mind.

With founding partners including BKK (the city’s public transport operator) and BFVT (urban planning experts), the centre is poised to become a key resource for districts across the city. Workshop participants collaboratively shaped a 12-month development roadmap, strategies for long-term sustainability, and plans for a public-facing event this autumn. The vision: a durable, scalable platform that drives ongoing transformation beyond the UP2030 timeline.

Granollers: Turning Guidelines into City Policy

Granollers’ upscaling efforts centre around the "Guidelines for a Greener City with Opportunities for All", a key deliverable of its local pilot. During their recent workshop, stakeholders explored how these guidelines could be integrated into city-wide planning, scaled to other neighbourhoods, and supported through multi-level financing mechanisms.

Through facilitated group sessions, participants tackled questions of governance, funding, and institutional alignment. Discussions revealed a strong commitment to turning the co-created prototype into a practical tool for city departments. Granollers will now focus on formal adoption of the guidelines and ensuring they become a go-to reference for future urban development — rooted in equity, sustainability, and local ownership.

Lisbon: Scaling Climate Action Through Community-Led Solutions

In Lisbon, 42 stakeholders gathered in May to accelerate the city's shift toward climate neutrality. The focus: expanding the tested approaches from the Alvalade prototype, which has piloted sustainable urban interventions across four neighbourhoods.

The workshop showcased how solutions grounded in community engagement, climate resilience, and co-creation can be scaled without major financial inputs. Participants looked at how these local successes could be replicated city-wide, with a firm commitment to aligning with Lisbon’s Climate City Contract 2030.

Lisbon’s approach demonstrates that scaling isn't just about budgets, it’s about building strong, inclusive partnerships that can carry forward the momentum.

A Collective Effort Across Europe

The experiences in Budapest, Granollers, and Lisbon reflect the diversity and creativity of UP2030’s city pilots. Each city is adapting the upscaling process to their unique context, while contributing to a shared mission: to make climate-neutral, inclusive urban futures a reality.

As more cities move into this critical phase, UP2030 continues to serve as a platform for learning, exchange, and transformation. The journey of upscaling is just beginning, and the road ahead is rich with opportunity.