The European Green Cities Awards ceremony took place on 2 October at the National Art Gallery of Lithuania in Vilnius. In total, participating cities received €1 million in sustainability grants, write Euronews.
Heilbronn, located in the Stuttgart region, received the highest scores thanks to its integrated urban planning, which combines noise and air pollution management in two key programs - the "Landscape Plan 2030" and the "Mobility Concept".
The European Commission also noted the city's ambitious goals for 2035 and partnerships at the regional level, which contribute to improving environmental performance.
For winning, Heilbronn will receive a prize of 600,000 euros, which will be used to expand current initiatives and implement new "green" projects.
Green Cities of Europe 2027
The Green Leaf Award, which is given to smaller cities with a population of up to 100,000, was presented at the same time. This year, it was won by Assen (Netherlands) and Siena (Italy), both receiving 200,000 euros.
Assen was recognized for its systematic approach to the circular economy and emission reduction, including its innovative plastic, metal and packaging (PMD) collection system and the Energy Garden project. The city also built a cycle path to Groningen, which reduces transport emissions.
Assen, Netherlands. Photo: Denise Jans / Unsplash
Siena shared the win thanks to its green areas, efficient land use and high levels of waste recycling - only 1% of waste ends up in landfills.
The finalists were evaluated by a jury consisting of representatives of the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, the European Environment Agency, the EU Coalition of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and the European Environmental Bureau.
Among the cities that received special awards for their contribution to sustainable development are Debrecen (Hungary), Klagenfurt am Wörthersee (Austria), Benidorm (Spain) and Saint-Quentin (France).
Main photo – Peter Schmelzle
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