image: ©Westersoe | iStock
Eight cities from across Europe have been shortlisted for the 2028 European Green Capital and European Green Leaf Awards
The 2028 European Green Capital and European Green Leaf Awards recognise outstanding achievements in urban sustainability and environmental leadership.
Selected from 27 eligible applicants, the finalists have demonstrated innovative approaches to tackling climate change, reducing pollution, protecting biodiversity and improving the quality of life for residents.
The winners will be announced on 8 October during a ceremony in Guimarães, Portugal, the current European Green Capital.
The European Green Capital and European Green Leaf Awards are organised by the European Commission and celebrate cities that are leading the way in creating cleaner, greener and more resilient urban environments.
Five cities compete for European Green Capital
The European Green Capital Award is open to cities with populations of more than 100,000. This year’s finalists are Aalborg, Denmark; Bielsko-Biała, Poland; Košice, Slovakia; Porto, Portugal; and Zaragoza, Spain.
Aalborg was recognised for its integrated approach to climate adaptation, combining resilience planning with strong public participation and an effective waste management system.
Bielsko-Biała gained recognition for significant reductions in emissions through more than 30 climate initiatives focused on heating systems and buildings. Improvements to district heating have also increased energy efficiency across the city.
Košice showed a balanced performance across all sustainability categories. The city actively involves residents in climate adaptation planning while encouraging businesses to reduce pressure on drinking water supplies through water stewardship initiatives.
Porto stood out for its achievements in water management and climate adaptation. Long-term investment in infrastructure, ecosystem restoration and community engagement has strengthened the city’s resilience while supporting broader sustainability goals.
Zaragoza impressed judges with its commitment to biodiversity and green infrastructure.
Three smaller cities are shortlisted for Green Leaf Award
The European Green Leaf Award recognises towns and smaller cities with populations between 20,000 and 100,000. This year’s finalists are Benidorm and Chiclana de la Frontera in Spain, alongside Estarreja in Portugal.
Benidorm demonstrated that environmental sustainability and tourism can coexist. The city has successfully reduced emissions while using green infrastructure to manage heat and improve water management.
Chiclana de la Frontera was recognised for its strong climate action framework, which includes carbon footprint monitoring, public energy information tools, and community initiatives that encourage residents to participate in the transition to cleaner energy.
Estarreja impressed experts with its progress in improving air quality and reducing emissions. More than half of local journeys are made on foot or by public transport, while urban regeneration projects are increasing energy efficiency and expanding green and blue spaces.
Final presentations in October
The shortlisted cities will now enter the final stage of the competition on 7 and 8 October, when they will present their long-term environmental vision, governance plans and communication strategies to an independent jury.
The European Green Capital winner will receive €600,000 to help deliver its sustainability programme in partnership with residents and local stakeholders. One or two European Green Leaf winners will each receive €200,000 to support environmental projects and community activities during their title year.
Every applicant receives expert feedback to help strengthen future environmental policies, while finalists gain international recognition for their achievements. For the eventual winners, the title is expected to attract tourism, encourage investment and inspire further progress towards creating healthier, more sustainable places to live.