Green Cities Newsletter

Do not miss this year’s EU Green Week, which focuses on water resilience. The European Commission’s initiative is supported by 179 partner events across Europe, and will be spearheaded by the Brussels Conference from 29-30 May 2024. Join it online to follow the discussions on a systemic shift towards water resilience, creating a water-smart EU economy, ensuring clean and affordable water and sanitation for all, restoring and protecting the broken water cycle, cooperating internationally and across borders, governance and implementation of the water legislation. We will be there as well with our green cities stand – please come visit it, if you attend in person, or check out the partner events in your country!

Save the date for the upcoming events that will take place in June in Valencia, the current European Green Capital. The capital of the Valencian Community will host: 25-26 June - Annual Cities Mission Meeting 26-27 June - EnergyCities Annual Conference 26-28 June - European Urban Resilience Forum and on 27 June a Green Capital/Leaf Network meeting

The 2024 European Green Leaf winners, Elsinore and Velenje, have been displaying their great enthusiasm by organising various events since the beginning of the year.

A total of 21 cities applied for the prestigious green titles, nine of which nine are going for the European Green Capital Awards and twelve for the European Green Leaf Awards. The applications closed on 30 April 2024.

In its latest report, Urban Adaptation in Europe, the European Environment Agency evaluates the state of urban adaptation across Europe. The report highlights the actions cities are taking to address increasing climate risks and showcases successful strategies that are already in place. The press release and the EEA report are now available. The European State of Climate Report 2023, published in late April 2024, presents a concerning overview. The year was marked by extreme weather events across Europe, including severe heatwaves and widespread wildfires, as well as significant flooding and drought.

The LIFE Calls for Proposals 2024 was open on 18 April. It invites ideas for conserving nature, protecting the environment, taking climate action, and transitioning Europe to clean energy. This call gives high priority to actions to be implemented in urban areas, being a great opportunity for cities to contribute to a sustainable future.

Would you like to know more about water and its management at the EU level? The #WaterWiseEU campaign is being launched during the upcoming EU Green Week. Discover various policy solutions and learn how each of us can contribute to addressing water-related challenges.

Ljubljana just reached a new turning point in terms of waste management. In March 2024, the Ljubljana Regional Waste Management Centre gathered up to one million tonnes of mixed municipal waste and the city is now on course to meet its main sustainability goals.

The new edition of the European Capital of Innovation Awards was launched in Linköping, Sweden, the European Rising Innovative city 2023. This prize is awarded to the European cities that best promote innovation in their communities This year, the winner of the 2024 European Capital of Innovation category will receive EUR 1 million and the first two runners-up in this category will be rewarded with EUR 100 000 each. Deadline for applications is 18 June!

The EU Ecolabel was launched 30 years ago, and it is now the official label for products' environmental excellence. Discover how it helps citizens make informed choices with the EU Ecolabel’s 2023 Showroom on Wheels, which kicked off its 2024 tour on 15 April in Brussels. The EU Ecolabel Showroom on Wheels will be at the EU Green Week in Brussels on 30 May 2024.

From 11-13 June, the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) will take place online and in Brussels. Various stakeholders from all over Europe will come together to discuss the EU energy transition, including public authorities, private companies and NGOs. Participants can attend conferences and key sessions on various sustainability topics.

Get ready for the upcoming LIFE Awards 2024, which will take place in Brussels on 30 May and highlight inspiring projects in the fields of nature, environment, climate and circular economy.