European Green City Accord: progress and achievements 2020-2025

Cities across Europe are playing a pivotal role in advancing sustainability through the European Green City Accord (GCA). Established in 2020 by the European Commission, this initiative provides a framework for local governments to address critical environmental challenges. The recently published GCA 2020-2025 Report outlines the significant progress achieved over the past three years.

The GCA focuses on five key environmental policy areas: air quality, water management, nature and biodiversity, circular economy and waste, and noise reduction. To date, 124 cities have committed to these ambitious objectives, cementing the GCA’s status as a cornerstone of urban sustainability across Europe.

Summary of key achievements

The report highlights notable progress across all policy areas. In terms of air quality,  more than 90% of reporting cities met EU standards for particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), reflecting a strong commitment to improving air quality. Nonetheless, achieving compliance with the more stringent World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines remains an ongoing challenge. 

In water management, cities demonstrate steady progress. Over half (54%) of reporting cities already record domestic water consumption below the EU average in 2020, rising to 95% by 2030 if set targets are met. Leakage reduction is improving, with most cities achieving or targeting an Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) below 5. High levels of Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) compliance are maintained, with most cities aiming for full compliance by 2030.

As for nature and biodiversity, the report highlights how urban areas have prioritised expanding green spaces and increasing the number of bird species. The average tree canopy cover across signatories is 28.56%, which is equal to the EU average in 2018 (28.5%). Signatories have set ambitious targets for 2030, aiming to increase tree canopy coverage to 32.7%.

The results for waste and the circular economy are encouraging. A majority of cities (81%) generate less municipal waste than the EU average (0.511 tons/capita), and outlooks indicate progress in recycling and landfill diversion. By 2030, 84% of cities aim to achieve the 60% recycling target and nearly two-thirds plan to reduce landfilling below 10%, demonstrating stronger alignment with circular economy objectives. 

For environmental noise, data show that around 60% of cities are already below EU average exposure levels. Most cities have now established specific targets for reducing day-evening-night and night-time noise levels, as well as high sleep disturbance, signalling increased attention to noise as a public health issue.

Exemplary local Initiatives

The report further underscores the impact of innovative local initiatives undertaken by GCA cities. Florence has implemented an extensive air quality management plan while Malmö has achieved near-zero landfill usage, exemplifying excellence in waste management practices. Finally, Vilnius has launched an expansive urban greening programme, significantly enhancing biodiversity and community well-being.

While celebrating these significant achievements, the report also identifies areas requiring further progress to achieve the GCA’s environmental objectives. It highlights the critical role of sustained collective action in addressing urban environmental challenges and serves as a model of best practice for cities globally.

For a detailed overview of these accomplishments, access the full report.