The Smart Cities Marketplace took part in the EU Covenant of Mayors webinar “The Jungle of Bonds: Innovative Finance for Cities in Transition”, held online on 12 February 2026, contributing expertise on green finance instruments and investment readiness for cities.
The webinar attracted strong interest from local and regional authorities across Europe, with 133 registered participants and 46 active participants joining the live session. The level of engagement underlined the growing demand from cities for practical guidance on accessing innovative financing solutions to support climate-neutrality objectives.
During the session, the Smart Cities Marketplace presented its role as a resource for cities, city-led consortia and investors, highlighting how it supports the identification, shaping and scaling‑up of smart city projects. The contribution focused on how cities can move from strategy to implementation by strengthening project maturity and improving access to finance, particularly in the fields of clean energy, sustainable mobility and digital solutions.
A central part of the webinar explored green and climate bonds as a financing tool for urban transition. Participants were introduced to the fundamentals of bond-based finance, recent European examples of municipal green bond issuances, and the key steps required to prepare a credible green bond framework. The presentation also addressed common barriers faced by cities, including limited access to funding, fragmented responsibilities and gaps in financial and technical capacity.
The webinar also featured practical insights from European cities with hands-on experience in bond financing:
- Leuven (Belgium) presented its Climate Fund, outlining how a structured financial approach can support long-term climate transition objectives.
- Östersund (Sweden) shared its experience with issuing green bonds, including strategic preparation, internal coordination and implementation lessons.
The Smart Cities Marketplace showcased how its matchmaking activities, thematic webinars and tailored advisory services can help cities connect with investors and develop bankable projects aligned with EU climate and sustainability goals.
By contributing to the Covenant of Mayors’ financing webinar series, the Smart Cities Marketplace reinforced its commitment to supporting cities in navigating the increasingly complex landscape of sustainable finance and mobilising private capital for the urban climate transition.