On 3 June 2026, the Urban Agenda Public Procurement Partnership (UAPP) formally welcomed the CO₂ Performance Ladder as its newest partner.
Procurement as a lever for urban policy goals
The UAPP promotes the use of public procurement as a strategic instrument for achieving urban policy goals, supporting social, economic and environmental impact. Through the adoption of Green Public Procurement (GPP), partners can accelerate decarbonisation, support local economic development and deliver higher-quality public services, while creating long-term value for citizens and communities.
The Partnership brings together more than 40 members from cities, regions, expert organisations, and European institutions, such as the European Commission, Eurocities, and ICLEI, with the shared objective of improving public procurement practices to deliver innovation, sustainability, and public value.
Shared mission
This mission closely aligns with the objectives of the CO₂ Performance Ladder, a widely used procurement instrument and CO₂ management system that helps organisations reduce their emissions through procurement processes. By rewarding ambitious climate action, the Ladder gives greener bidders a competitive advantage in public tenders. Its effectiveness has been proven in the Netherlands over the past 15 years, where certified organisations have reduced their CO₂ emissions at approximately twice the rate of the sector average – a model now being adopted across Europe.
Working together across Europe
The CO₂ Performance Ladder brings extensive expertise in GPP and in implementing the Ladder and is committed to working closely with Urban Agenda partners to further advance GPP best practices.
Both organisations aim to strengthen collaboration, exchange knowledge, and scale impactful procurement approaches across cities and regions in Europe.