Valencia is the European Green Capital this 2024, the second Spanish city, after Vitoria-Gasteiz who manages to win this title. The European Comission announced some time ago that Valencia it would be the European Green Capital this year. She made it public at a gala held in the French city of Grenoble. Before Valencia got this title, Vitoria-Gasteiz It was the only Spanish city that had achieved the distinction in 2012. Now it has been the Valencian capital that has achieved the highest recognition, surpassing the other finalist, the Italian city of Cagliari.
The prize is worth 600,000 euros and is promoted by the European Comission since 2010 to recognize projects and commitment to urban ecology. They are also aligned to European Green Dealthe Biodiversity Strategy 2030 from European Union and the Sustainable Development Goals (ODS) of the United Nations. Valencia He managed to defend his candidacy very well with the city’s increase in green infrastructure. Specifically, it houses 594 hectares of purely urban green areas and 7.41 square meters of green space per inhabitant.
The European Green Capital It also has a sustainable mobility model, with almost 200 kilometers of bike lanes or cycle paths in Valencia. It has also recovered public space by making its most central squares pedestrian and has contributed to sustainable food, with its traditional garden and native production of fruits and vegetables.
How did Valencia become the European Green Capital?
Valencia was subjected to a demanding selection process to become the European Green Capital. His candidacy was evaluated on 12 environmental indicators: air quality, noise, water, land use, waste management, recycling, climate change, sustainable mobility and environmental governance, among others. Member countries of the Association can participate in the application. European Union and the official candidates to enter it: Türkiye, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania e Iceland. The territories of the European Economic Area (Switzerland, Norway y Liechtenstein).
Spaces need to have a minimum of 100,000 inhabitants just to be presented. Joan Ribóformer mayor of Valencia, collected the award some time ago and indicated what it represented for the city: “A commitment to work in a city that is increasingly sustainable and friendly to its citizens without leaving anyone behind. “We want to be a more resilient city in the face of climate change.”
“70% of the residents of Valencia “It has a green area five minutes from home,” said the leader.
What has Valencia done to become the European Green Capital?
Besides, Sandra Gomezformer vice mayor of the city, highlighted the actions that were carried out in Valencia to reach this instance, such as the 52-kilometer cycling and pedestrian route that connects the orchard with the sea, or the cycling routes to the natural park of The Albufera. The candidacy of Valencia got the support of Pedro Sánchez, Teresa Ribera, Ximo Puig and that of “practically all the councilors of the Valencia City Council”.
In it Valencia Agora, the jury’s decision was followed by hundreds of people, who joyfully celebrated the victory. The European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičiussaid that the Spanish capital managed to officially become the European Green Capital 2024 for its “ambitious sustainability strategy.” “He has learned from the lessons of the past. For many decades, the city has been driven by a bold civic movement that underpins genuine change,” she argued.
“Valencia will be the beacon of green policies Europa to build a more humane, more sustainable city and more prepared to combat climate change,” contributed the current Valencian mayor, María José Catalá.