NetZeroCities: Preserving the past, building the future: Budapest’s climate challenge As a European crossroads of culture and a historical intersection of power, Budapest’s streets, food, ruin bars, historical monuments, castles, bridges and spas tell the story of Roman, Ottoman Turkish, Slavic, Jewish and Viennese influence. They have left their stamp on the city, the ‘Pearl of the Danube’, marking it with undeniable singularity and charm that captivates visitors from all corners of the globe. What is less apparent while strolling through the beautiful city, especially in the historic centre, are the climate consequences of Budapest’s built environment. This article looks at how the city is addressing some of the most impactful climate consequences through the NetZeroCities Pilot Cities Programme, led by Climate KIC. This article was originally published on the NetZeroCities website, here. Like many European cities, Budapest has a vastly outdated building stock, which is responsible for around 60% of the city’s carbon emissions. For Ada Ámon, Head of Department for Climate and Environmental Affairs in Budapest, tackling these has become a priority. “Budapest is a huge source of emissions in Hungary, responsible for around 16% of the country’s carbon emissions. Around 60% of those are attributed to buildings. That means that around 10% of the total Hungarian emissions are somehow connected to the buildings in Budapest. It’s a climate issue, but it’s also a health and air quality issue,” says Ámon. Building ownership vs sustainability? The historical buildings that are part of the city’s cultural heritage present their own specific difficulties, as retrofits to such buildings carry extra legal and technical challenges. For example, installing rooftop solar panels is often questionable because of their particular tiles, roof stability, and potential visibility of the installations. And the problems go beyond preserving historical buildings. Along with the challenges of upgrading