Green cities magazine : November 2022.
Date: 2022-11-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment
Subjects: EU energy policy, EU environmental policy, carbon neutrality, climate change policy, environmental indicator, green economy, honour, smart city, sustainable mobility, town planning, urban transport

Green 
Cities
Magazine

November 2022

Valencia, Elsinore and 
Velenje will take the lead 
in 2024

On 27 October the European Green Capital 2022 Grenoble 

hosted the Awards Ceremony where the winners of the 2024 

The city has many plans in place with a view to 2030, such as 

their Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), the Sustainable 

Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), Missions Valencia 2030 

and the Valencia 2030 Urban Strategy, all of which aim to make 

Valencia a resilient and carbon-neutral city by 2030. 

Part of what makes Valencia successful in its initiatives is the 

emphasis on citizen participation. Missions Valencia 2030 grants 

citizens the opportunity to define main challenges that will be 

titles were announced: Valencia (Spain) will be Europe’s Green 

addressed by the City Council afterwards. The first mission 

Capital flanked by two smaller cities awarded the European 
Green Leaf titles: Elsinore (Denmark) and Velenje (Slovenia).  

is related to climate change and linked to the Climate Neutral 

and Smart Cities Mission of the EU. Discover more of Valencia’s 

achievements in an article further below.

Grenoble put up a fantastic Awards show for its citizens and 

stakeholders. It was also a good occasion for the green city 

networks to meet and welcome their new members. Mayors 

could experience the green transformations going on in the 

city. Applicant cities for the European Green Capital Award 

were assessed on twelve environmental indicators, while the 

European Green Leaf Award applicants were assessed on six 

environmental topic areas. Five cities made it to the final run 
last July: three cities were shortlisted for the European Green 
Leaf Award—Bistrița in Romania, Elsinore in Denmark, and 
Velenje in Slovenia and two for the European Green Capital 

Award—Cagliari in Italy and Valencia in Spain. 

Valencia achieved much in the field of sustainable tourism, 
climate neutrality, and a fair and inclusive green transition. 

These successes put the Spanish city on the  
European Green Capitals map:

The Danish port city Elsinore earned its award as a European 
Green Leaf by its focus on the current energy crisis and 

accelerating the energy renovation of buildings and heat source 

conversion. In regard to the environmental indicators such as 

Climate Change and Energy Performance, Elsinore’s greenhouse 

gas (GHG) emissions per citizen per year over 2008-2019 show 

a total decrease of 51% over the period. 

The Slovenian city Velenje won the European Green Leaf 
Award thanks to its transformational work phasing out coal 

while opening up new employment opportunities  in green 

job  sectors and cleaning up heavy pollution from the past. 

Other initiatives include Velenje’s Sustainable Urban Mobility 

Plan (SUMP) which focuses on cycling. Velenje has built 30 km of 

cycling routes that are being connected to a regional network. 

Finally, Velenje offers free public transportation.

Oslo 
NORWAY

Stockholm
SWEDEN

Lahti
FINLAND

Tallinn
ESTONIA

Copenhague
DENMARK

Bristol 
UK

Nijmegen
NETHERLANDS

Hamburg
GERMANY

Nantes 
FRANCE

Essen
GERMANY

Vitoria-Gasteiz
SPAIN

 Grenoble 
FRANCE

Ljubljana
SLOVENIA

Lisbon
PORTUGAL

Valencia
SPAIN

© Auriane Poillet Ville de GrenobleMore time means more ambition:  
Why there is no European Green Leaf in 2023 

The European Green Leaf Award is missing a winner for 2023 

and  it  is  for  a  good  cause:  the  Award  is  aligning  with  the 

European Green Capital cycle.

In the past years, the European Green Leaf title had a much 

shorter  preparation  time  than  the  European  Green  Capital 
title (14 months), as the cycles were a year apart. In an effort 
to align the cycles in 2024, the European Green Leaf had to 
forgo awarding a winning city in 2023. However, the benefits 

far outweigh the disadvantages. 

One year as a 
European Green 
Leaf winner by 
Valongo, Portugal

“

I  moved  to  the  municipality 
of  Valongo  at  the  beginning  of 

2022  and  was  pleasantly  surprised  with  the 

number  of  activities  organised  in  the  region  that 

focused  on  the  environment.  In  my  line  of  work,  I  deal 

with environmental and sustainable matters, therefore it 

was  great  to  see  that  the  municipality  of  Valongo  is  aware 

and concerned with the emergent environmental issues and 

During  the  last  European  Green  Leaf  Network  meeting  that 

works  together  with  the  community  to  create  a  better  and 

took  place  last  October,  the  Secretariat  of  the  Awards 

greener city.

proposed  the  present  members  to  bring  past  winners 

into  the  spotlight  throughout  the  year  by  showcasing  the 

achievements of former winners. 

“

This is the testimony of one of the participants of GreenFest 

Valongo,  the  largest  sustainability  event  in  Portugal.  The 

event was hosted in July 2022 for the first time in Valongo as 

2023 will therefore have more than two cities in the limelight 

part of the city’s European Green Leaf programme.  

with a focus on the legacy of the Awards for past winners. 

We owe it to the European Commission and to this prestigious 

Outcomes of the European Green Capital 
& European Green Leaf networking 
meeting in Grenoble

Representatives  from  past,  present,  and  future 

European  Green  Capital  and  European  Green  Leaf 

finalist and winning cities gathered for a network 

meeting  in  Grenoble  on  28  October  2022,  right 

after the Awards Ceremony.

The  meeting  started  with  welcoming  the 

new  members  and  proceeded 

with  a  brainstorming  about  the 

upcoming year and the future 

of the Networks as follows: 

Award  that  gave  us  the  stage  to  show  that, 
even with few resources, it is possible 
to make a change. That change does 
not  depend  on  size  or  wealth  but 

on will, resilience, and motivation. 
Certainly,  in  Valongo  there  is  no 
lack of will and initiative.

Throughout  this  year  we  were 

able  to  implement  several  projects 

that  act  as  an 

incentive  for  the 

involvement  of 

local  and  European 

key  players:  we  promoted  native  forests, 

carried out several reforestation actions to combat invasive 

species, promoted urban biodiversity and created more and 

better  green  spaces  in  urban  settlements  through  parks 

•  Many  of  the  cities  in 

and organic gardens, encouraged sustainable tourism while 

the  network  agreed  with 
the  urgency  of  a  green 
transition  in  cities  under 
the  European  Green  Deal, 

spotlighting  the  Valongo  Mountains  (which  are  a  Protected 

Landscape  Area  and  part  of  the  Natura  2000  Network), 

cleaned rivers and streams, worked actively to promote the 

circular economy at a local level, involved the schools from all 

the brand of the Award should 

over the country in a unique way to talk about environmental 

be strengthened to gain more applicants.  

and  climate  change  issues  and  finally,  we  hosted  several 

•  The  concept  of  “sleeping  cities”  within  the  European 

Green Capital Network was also brought up and it was 
emphasised  that  those  cities  should  become  more 
involved in the network. The proliferation of European 
urban initiatives is supposed to give cities more choices 

and help them focus on priority areas.

• 

It  was  proposed  that  present  European  Green  Leaf 
members could spotlight the achievements of former 
and  present  European  Green  Leaf  winner  cities. 
Communication activities would be dedicated to them 

in 2023 as there is no specific winner city. 

national events related to sustainability topics.

2022  was  definitely  a  rich  and  prestigious  year  for  Valongo 

and  allowed  the  city  to  leverage  innovative  initiatives, 

involve the community, and promote together a greener and 

more inclusive Valongo.

Last but not least, our efforts won’t end at the end of this 

year. In the words of the Mayor of Valongo 

“

We will continue to be green ambassadors and 

honour the European Green Leaf Award, which the 
European Commission presented to us in 2021        

“

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A wonderful year as a European Green 
Leaf municipality—letter from the 
Mayor of Winterswijk, Netherlands

“

When we were preparing to take part in the European 

Green Leaf Award, we saw just how far ahead Winterswijk, 
and especially the people of Winterswijk, are in the field 

of sustainability. Our landscape is unique, we even give 

lessons on sustainability at primary schools and from our own 

sustainability centre, we tackle issues regarding energy, climate 

Thank  you  for  everyone's  commitment,  together  we  gave 

a  fantastic  showcase  in  Europe.  It  was  an  unforgettable 

experience. With the end of the Green Leaf year, our efforts do 

not end; the Winterswijk municipality continues to cooperate 

with  our  residents  towards  a  sustainable  municipality  and 

therefore  contribute  to  a  sustainable  world.  The  next  step 

is for us to use the SDGs as building blocks for our budget.

I hope to greet you in Winterswijk soon.

Mayor Joris Bengevoord 

“

and sustainability together with residents, entrepreneurs 

European Green Leaf municipality of Winterswijk

and organisations which are distinctive, according to the 

acclaimed jury report.

Promoting sustainability

Having been European Green Leaf Award winners for almost a 

year now, our pride in our beautiful municipality has only grown. 

Together with you, the Winterswijk municipality 

looks back on a great year, in which we 

encouraged not only our own residents 

but also other municipalities throughout 

Europe to do more about sustainability. 
We were able to explain all over Europe 

what we do in Winterswijk and why 
it makes us proud.

A selection  
of our activities

We doubled the Green Leaf prize money 

with our own funds, expanded our international 

Joris Bengevoord
Mayor of Winterswijk

network and gave away hundreds of rainwater tanks 
and compost bins. All over Europe, we held presentations about 

the European Green Leaf Award, in as many as five languages! 

We invested almost 50,000 euros in residents' sustainability 

initiatives, and together with municipalities near Winterswijk in the 

Achterhoek region, we are the first UN Sustainable Development 

Goals (SDG) region in the Netherlands. The absolute highlight was 

our two-day international sustainability congress in October. 

Promoting the Award requires time, money, and attention. It 

requires commitment from an inspired team and effort from 

all Winterswijkers, but in return, it gives back so much energy 

and inspiration!

Tallinn is gearing up to make the most 
of 2023 and accelerate the green 
transition

Tallinn was awarded the European Green Capital title in 2021 

for its systemic approach to green governance and interlinked 

strategic goals (Strategy Tallinn 2035) that faithfully reflect 

the ambitions of the European Green Deal and the United 

Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

“

Tallinn is very proud to hold the title 
of  European  Green  Capital  2023, 

especially because the idea of a European 

Green Capital was born in Tallinn in 2006 

when 15 cities signed a memorandum for 

the title of European Green Capital in our 

city. We want every citizen of Tallinn as well 

as our guests to benefit from the European 

Green  Capital  year  and  the  accompanying 

developments because our goal is a greener city 

with a better environment and urban space

- Mihhail Kõlvart, the Mayor of Tallinn.

“

During its European Green Capital year, Tallinn intends to initiate 

change and new sustainable activities, accelerate sustainable 

processes, eco-innovation and green growth, engage citizens 

and organisations in becoming more sustainable and bring the 

city closer to the people.

Tallinn, capital city of Estonia

Winterswijk, the Netherlands

3

Several flagship projects will focus on nature and 
biodiversity as follows:

Tallinn is also known to be a hub of information 
technology and eco-innovation:

•  The Pollinator Highway – a vibrant 14 km long linear park 
is an excellent example of the co-existence between 

•  Think globally, test in Tallinn – is the motto that 
encourages companies and local universities to test 

biodiversity and urbanisation. Built along an old railway 
dam, the corridor will become a species-rich natural 

their smart and eco-friendly products and services 
in the city.

environment, a green corridor and a safe space for 

walking or cycling.

•  The restoration of Pääsküla bog – A bog is a means to 
offset carbon dioxide which is an asset in reaching Tallinn’s 

target to become climate neutral by 2050. In view of this, 

the city plans to create many man made dams so that 

the level of water rises.

•  The publishing of an online plant catalogue which rates 
900 plants according to their value for pollinators. This is 

the first such tool in Estonia that will allow gardeners and 

city developers to make better choices for green spaces.

•  Next autumn Tallinn will host the Cleantech Forum 

Europe and Tallinn Green Expo.

•  Prioritising green investments: environmentally-

friendly buses and trams, solar panels for municipal 

buildings, implementation of nature-based 

solutions, etc.

Sustainability governance is at the heart of Tallinn’s 2023 programme. The city strongly believes the successful implementation 
of green transition requires a governance model that supports it, and states that change must come from within the city’s 
government.

In summary, Tallinn planned over 60 projects, events and initiatives, including 17 international events starting with a sustainability 

conference on 20 January and the Green Capital Opening Ceremony on 21 of January 2023. See you in Tallinn!

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Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2022

© European Union, 2022

Reuse is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

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ISBN 978-92-76-50184-8               doi:10.2779/550124               KH-08-22-095-EN-N

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