#EGLA2022

@EU_GreenLeaf

Will your city be the next European Green Leaf winner?

EU-wide competition for towns and smaller cities

The title of European Green Leaf is awarded every year to recognise and promote the efforts of towns and smaller cities (between 20,000 and 99,999 inhabitants) towards better environmental management and outcomes. The first cities were awarded the title in 2015.

The European Commission is launching the competition to find the winner(s)1 of the European Green Leaf 2022 title. Each of the winners of this title will also receive a financial prize of €200,000 to enhance their city’s sustainability.

1There can be a maximum of two winning cities each year.

A message from EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius As a result of Covid-19, Europe is facing unparalleled challenges. For the European Commission, saving lives and protecting citizens is a top priority. With collaboration and determination, we can emerge stronger from this crisis.

But the pandemic is not the only challenge of our times. Over the next decade, we need to step up our efforts to tackle serious issues, such as high rates of biodiversity loss, the overconsumption of natural resources, air pollution, and the growing impacts of climate change.

The crisis has shown that even in the most difficult circumstances, rapid changes are possible. We can change our behaviour, and protect ourselves and our communities. Modern technologies allow many citizens to work from home, and to keep in contact with family and friends. We can continue to enjoy nature, to shop locally, and cycle and walk more.

As we learn to adapt, Europe’s cities will continue to play a vital role, implementing local solutions that take us closer to greater sustainability. And with the European Green Deal, cities will remain at the forefront of our efforts to become the world’s first climate neutral continent by 2050.

The European Green Capital Award, and the Green Leaf Award for smaller towns, both presented by the European Commission, recognise and reward cities and urban areas that are committed to sustainability. Past winners have shown how most of the solutions we need are already in place, and that it is possible to live in a cleaner, greener environment and protect citizens’ health with technologies that are already available today.

By demonstrating these achievements, award winners act as ‘ambassadors for change’, motivating and inspiring other cities in the EU and around the globe. They show that there are many paths towards becoming a modern, green city and that going green can go hand in hand with a thriving economy.

All EU citizens have the right to live in healthy towns and cities. I encourage all forward-looking cities to apply for the European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards, and to follow in the footsteps of our urban pioneers.

Virginijus Sinkevičius EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

Visit ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/europeangreenleaf/ for more information on how to apply or email info@europeangreenleaf.eu

Towns and cities ‘growing greener’ Today, about 70% of Europeans live in towns and cities and this number is predicted to rise. Urban areas concentrate most of the environmental challenges facing our society, but also bring together commitment and innovation to resolve them.

The European Green Leaf Award promotes and rewards towns / cities’ environmental efforts, recognising when they demonstrate a good environmental record and commitment to generating ‘green’ growth and new jobs to improve our urban living environment.

The competition for the European Green Leaf 2022 Award opened on 28 May 2020 and closes on 28 October 2020.

Financial prize2

The Commission will award €200,000 to each winning city of the 2022 European Green Leaf title, to enhance the town / city’s environmental sustainability and achieve its sustainability vision. All of the details regarding this financial prize and winning town / city obligations are contained in the Rules of Contest 2022, available on the website.

Who can apply?The European Green Leaf Award competition is open to:

• Towns and cities from EU Member States3, EU Candidate Countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

• All towns and cities from the countries listed above which have a population of 20,000 and up to 99,999 inhabitants.

Eligibility

• A ‘city’ is understood to be an urban area and an administrative unit governed by a city council or another form of democratically elected body.

• In countries where there is no city with more than 20,000 inhabitants, the largest city is eligible to apply.

Rules of Contest

• In any given year, cities can apply for either the European Green Capital Award or European Green Leaf Award, but not both at the same time.

• Past winners may not apply again after they have been awarded the European Green Leaf title.

2 Subject to the approval of the EU 2021 Budget and approval by the College of the 2021 Financing Decision for the EU LIFE Programme.

3 For British candidates or applicants: following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and having regard to the fact that these Rules of Contest cover the award of a title to a city for the period after the entry into force of the withdrawal agreement (2023 for EGC or 2022 for EGL), cities located in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland are not allowed to participate in this competition.

How to Apply The competition to find the European Green Leaf 2022 opened on 28 May 2020 and closes on 28 October 2020. To apply, cities must register to access the full set of application forms. Information on how to register and submit the application can be found at ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/europeangreenleaf/

If you think your town or city can be a ‘green ambassador’ that will encourage other cities to progress to better sustainability, as well as actively develop citizens’ environmental awareness and involvement, then you should apply!

Every applicant town or smaller city will be assessed based on their performance in the following six environmental topic areas:

1 Nature, Biodiversity, Sustainable Land Use and Soil

2 Air Quality and Noise

3 Waste and Circular Economy

4 Water

5 Climate Change and Energy Performance

6 Sustainable Urban Mobility

The Application Form has two sections per topic area:

• Describe the current situation and strategic approach.

• Describe citizen participation and public awareness.

Evaluation Process

A panel of 12 independent, internationally acknowledged experts carries out a technical assessment of the received applications and then provides a ranking of the applicant cities, along with a shortlist of finalists, who move forward to the next stage of the competition.

The European Green Leaf Award finalist cities will then be invited to present to the Jury (1) their achievements and future vision and (2) which projects / actions the city intends to set in place to enhance the city’s environmental sustainability. The Jury is chaired by the European Commission. At this presentation, the Jury assesses:

1 The city’s overall commitment, strategy and enthusiasm, as conveyed by the presentation.

2 The city’s efforts to communicate to citizens and the level of citizen engagement in environmental activities.

3 The city’s potential to act as a ‘green ambassador’, promoting environmental good practice and spreading the EGL concept further.

4 Projects/actions the city intends to set in place to enhance the city’s environmental sustainability and to achieve the city’s sustainability vision. Some examples are given in Annex 11 of the Rules of Contest.

The Jury makes its final decision based on the quality of this presentation. The findings of the Expert Panel and Jury are made publicly available on the website.

For inspiration, see applications from previous winners here: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/europeangreenleaf/egl-winning-cities/

••

GalwayLimerick

• Torres VedrasMollet del Vallès

European Green Leaf Winners to date • 2020 / Limerick

• 2020 / Mechelen

• 2019 / Cornellà de Llobregat

• 2019 / Horst aan de Maas

• 2018 / Leuven

• 2018 / Växjö

• 2017 / Galway

• 2015 / Torres Vedras

• 2015 / Mollet del Vallès

• LeuvenMechelen• Horst aan de Maas

•

• Växjö

Cornellà de Llobregat

Being a European Green Leaf brings many benefits including:

Access to the European Green Leaf Network of previous winners and finalist cities to share environmental knowledge and best practice

to inspire change in other European cities.

Positive international media coverage

Increased international profile, networking and new alliances

Momentum to continue improving environmental sustainability

More emphasis on environmental projects through sponsorship and grants

New jobs – a European Green Leaf is more attractive to foreign investors

Attracts public financial support

Increased tourism

Boosts local pride and generates a feeling of belonging

In addition, previous applicants have said that the application process itself proved beneficial in evaluating their environmental progress and benchmarking themselves against their peers.

2022 Award: Key Dates

28 May 2020: Competition opens

28 October 2020: Competition closes at 23:59 CET (GMT+1)

November 2020 - March 2021: Assessment of applications by the Expert Panel

April 2021: Announcement of finalist cities

June 2021: Finalist cities make presentations to Jury

June 2021: Awards Ceremony to announce winner(s)

The European Green Leaf and European Green Capital Awards (for cities with +100,000 inhabitants) are both initiatives of the European Commission.

All information on the Green City Awards, including past winners, how to apply, the selection process or any other questions, can be found on our website:

ec.europa.eu/europeangreenleaf

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020

© European Union, 2020

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