In Europe, more than three quarters of people live in cities. Therefore densely built city centres and residential areas in ever expanding cities need to remain liveable into the future. The efficiency of the PROGREENcity technologies with regard to their micro-climatic effects (cooling, insulation, microclimate improvements) and their ability to absorb particulate matter were measured and simulated in three European cities representing different climate zones: Vienna (Austria), Bottrop (Germany) and Madrid (Spain). The results formed the basis of a focused planning strategy for the effective processing of urban environmental problems under site-specific circumstances. The intent of the project PROGREENcity (EU-Programm ERASME) was the provisioning of comprehensive greening for European cities. The largest unused areas are represented by the exteriors and rooftops of the building stock. Hence, for the duration of the project, existing innovative roof and vertical greening systems with ecological irrigation were developed for three different European climate zones, since PROGREENcity technologies aim to adapt urban areas to changes in climate and to reduce air pollutants.