Tomorrow, the Estonian city of Tallinn will officially become the European Green Capital for 2023, taking over from the French city of Grenoble. The opening ceremony will take place in the capital of Estonia, in the presence of Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Tallinn’s mayor Mihhail Kõvart and Grenoble’s mayor Eric Piolle.
Commissioner Sinkevičius said:
The title Green Capital of Europe is reserved for the best – the cities at the forefront of change. I would like to congratulate Tallinn for having deserved it and wish the city a successful year full of events that make a difference to its citizens and give example to others. My special congratulations also go to Grenoble for a very successful year as the 2022 European Green Capital.
Tallinn gained the title of sustainability and innovation champion due to their systemic approach to green governance and interlinked strategic goals, which reflect the ambitions of the European Green Deal. One of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tallinn is also characterised by a diverse and mosaic nature of landscapes which also serve as habitats for rare species. During the Green Capital Year, Tallinn's main themes will be biodiversity, sustainable governance, and climate and green innovation. With over 60 events planned for 2023, the Tallinn European Green Capital programme offers environmental activities for the city residents and visitors: from formulating sustainability goals together with other European cities to taking impactful actions and showcasing green innovation.
Why Tallin?
- The city has adopted an ambitious development strategy “Tallinn 2035”. The plan addresses carbon neutrality, climate adaptation, innovation, health, mobility, biodiversity, circular economy, sustainable energy and food production.
- To boost biodiversity, the city is planning so called GoGreenRoutes where citizens can co-design nature-based solutions and urban gardening. A 13km pollinator highway is in the making, a natural meadow through the city for nature to flourish.
- Tallinn is committed to climate adaptation and resilience. Numerous relevant measures, such as stormwater management systems and remodelling of streets are in place and new actions are planned, for example Green Twins, a project to better take urban greenery into account in city planning.
- Tallinn is the first European capital to offer free public transport to its citizens (since 2013). Another goal for urban mobility is that its citizens should be able to reach all necessary infrastructure within 15 min via soft transport modes.
- The city is also exemplary in their use of digital tools to optimise nature-based solutions in renovation projects.
- Finally, the idea of a European Green Capital was originally conceived in Tallinn back in 2006.
The call for applications for the next cycle of awards – EU Green Capital andGreen Leaf Awards 2025 - has just been announced, with the deadline of 30 April 2023.
Background
The EU recognises that cities play a crucial role in achieving the aims of the European Green Deal, to deliver a low carbon, resource-efficient, sustainable and resilient society. With over 70% of Europeans living in urban areas, cities play an important role in the environmental and economic transformation.
The European Commission has launched the European Green Capital Award in 2010 to encourage cities to become greener and cleaner, and to improve the quality of life for their inhabitants. With over two-thirds of Europe’s population living in cities, cities play a leading role in the protection of the environment and will be important in implementing the European Green Deal locally.
Fourteen cities have won the European Green Capital Award to date: Stockholm (2010), Hamburg (2011), Vitoria-Gasteiz (2012), Nantes (2013), Copenhagen (2014), Bristol (2015), Ljubljana (2016), Essen (2017), Nijmegen (2018), Oslo (2019), Lisbon (2020), Lahti (2021), Grenoble (2022), Tallinn (2023), and Valencia will be the Green Capital holder in 2024.
For more information
European Green Capital website
Call for applications for 2025 Awards
Twitter: @EUGreenCapital
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EuropeanGreenCapitalAward
LinkedIn: European Green Capital Award EU
Certainly! The European Green Capital initiative celebrates cities leading the charge in environmental sustainability and innovation. Tallinn, the 2023 Green Capital, embodies a remarkable commitment to sustainable practices across various domains.
First, let's address Tallinn's initiatives:
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Green Governance and Strategic Goals: Tallinn's recognition stems from its systemic approach to green governance, aligning with the ambitions of the European Green Deal. Their strategic goals focus on sustainability, innovation, and governance, resonating deeply with the Green Capital's ethos.
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Biodiversity and Conservation: Tallinn stands out due to its diverse landscapes, including well-preserved medieval areas and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These spaces serve as habitats for rare species, and the city plans to emphasize biodiversity, reflecting its commitment to ecological conservation.
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Sustainability Themes and Events: Tallinn's Green Capital program for 2023 concentrates on biodiversity, sustainable governance, climate action, and green innovation. Over 60 events are planned, engaging residents and visitors in environmental activities and showcasing green initiatives.
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Development Strategy (Tallinn 2035): The city has a comprehensive development plan addressing carbon neutrality, climate adaptation, innovation, health, mobility, biodiversity, circular economy, sustainable energy, and food production.
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Urban Planning and Mobility: Tallinn has pioneered free public transport for its citizens since 2013, aiming for residents to access necessary infrastructure within 15 minutes via soft transport modes. Additionally, the city integrates digital tools into urban planning to optimize nature-based solutions in renovation projects.
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Nature-Based Solutions: Tallinn is implementing initiatives like GoGreenRoutes, where citizens can co-design nature-based solutions and urban gardening. A 13km pollinator highway is being established, promoting nature's flourishing within the city.
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Climate Adaptation and Resilience: The city focuses on measures like stormwater management systems and street remodeling. Projects like Green Twins aim to enhance urban greenery in city planning for better climate adaptation and resilience.
Now, a broader view:
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European Green Capital Award: Launched in 2010 by the European Commission, this award motivates cities to become cleaner, greener, and enhance their inhabitants' quality of life.
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European Green Deal: This overarching strategy aims for a low-carbon, resource-efficient, sustainable, and resilient society, where cities play a pivotal role in its implementation.
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Role of Cities: With over 70% of Europeans residing in urban areas, cities significantly impact environmental and economic transformations. They serve as key actors in implementing the European Green Deal locally.
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Previous Awardees: The European Green Capital Award has recognized cities like Stockholm, Hamburg, Copenhagen, and Lisbon for their sustainability efforts before Tallinn took the 2023 title.
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Upcoming Awards: The call for applications for the 2025 EU Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards was announced, signifying the continuous encouragement for cities to strive for sustainability.
The European Green Capital's official website, social media platforms, and the EU policy on the urban environment are valuable resources for further information and engagement with this initiative.
