Skip to main content
Environment
News article22 July 2022Directorate-General for Environment

Urban sustainability: 5 cities among finalists for the European Green City Awards

The Commission announced today the finalists for the European Green City Awards. The European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards recognise the remarkable efforts of cities and towns to improve their living environment. Based on 12 environmental indicators for the Green Capital, and on six environmental topic areas for the Green Leaf awards, the following European cities have been selected as finalists.

The finalists for the European Green Capital Award 2024 are:

Valencia (Spain) and Cagliari (Italy).

The finalists for the European Green Leaf Award 2024 are:

Elsinore (Denmark), Velenje (Slovenia) and Bistrița (Romania).

Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries,Virginijus Sinkevičius, said:

“Cities are at the heart of our fight against the climate, pollution and biodiversity crises. It’s about tackling air pollution, advancing clean mobility, reducing energy consumption in buildings, greening urban spaces, and looking in a completely different way at waste management. You are showing Europe the way and leading efforts to deliver the systemic and long-term changes the European Green Deal calls for. I wish this year’s European Green Capital and Green Leaf finalists the best of luck on this path.”

What’s next?

In October, the finalists will present their cities to the Jury Panel chaired by the European Commission. The finalists will outline their communication strategy along with an action plan showing how the city will fulfil their European Green Capital year, if they win. The winners will be announced on 27 October 2022 at the Awards Ceremony in this year’s Green Capital, Grenoble in France.

The European Green Capital winner will receive a financial prize of €600,000 to implement their strategy and engage and mobilise their citizens and stakeholders. The title of European Green Leaf is awarded to one or two cities. Each winner is granted a financial prize of €200,000 to help organise their year and spark further transformational activities.

What are the benefits?

Being a European Green Capital or a European Green Leaf brings many benefits from increasing the city’s profile to building new alliances. Winning also creates a spirit of optimism, by boosting local pride and the feeling of belonging to a progressive environment. More background information can be found in our press kit.

For More Information:

Websites: European Green Capital AwardEuropean Green Leaf Award

Twitter: @EU_GreenCapital

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EuropeanGreenCapitalAward

LinkedIn: European Green Capital Award

EU Policy on Urban Environment: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/urban-environment_en

Details

Publication date
22 July 2022
Author
Directorate-General for Environment

EU Environment newsletter

Green landscape with person on bike, tree and buildings in the distance.

EU Environment newsletters deliver the latest updates about the European Commission’s environmental priorities straight to your inbox.