The CEN/TC 465 Ad hoc Group on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and Communities was established to accelerate the integration of sustainability and digitalisation in Europe’s urban areas. Supporting the EU’s 2050 climate-neutrality objective, the group brought together experts from policy, industry, research, and local governments to translate high-level EU ambitions into concrete standardisation pathways. Over the course of ten months, the group conducted an in-depth exploration of how emerging urban innovation practices, such as local digital twins, urban data spaces, and digitally enabled solutions, can be supported and scaled through European and international standards. Eight city case studies from across Europe provided practical insights into how local transformation efforts can inform a future standardisation agenda, underscoring the important role of cities and communities in driving innovation.