The European Green Capital Award exists since 2010. Every year, it rewards a city of more than 100,000 inhabitants that meets several environmental criteria in an innovative way, such as waste treatment, air quality management or the implementation of sustainable urban mobility. In 2015, the title of European Green Leaf was created. It rewards the environmental policies implemented by smaller municipalities (20,000 – 100,000 inhabitants).

Last April, the finalists were selected. Last Friday, the summer winners were named. The Finnish city of Lahti is the winner of the European Commission’s European Green Capital Award for 2021. The title of European Green Leaf 2020 for smaller cities goes to the Irish city of Limerick and Belgian city of Mechelen.

Apart from the title, Lahti receives a €350k financial incentive from the European Commission to kick-start its European Green Capital year. Lahti is particularly strong in the fields of air quality, waste, green growth and eco-innovation, as well as governance.

Joint European Green Leaf 2020 winner, Limerick, was commended for its ongoing investments leading to improved air quality and noise levels in the city. And Mechelen was recognised for its dedication to sustainable urban mobility, nature, biodiversity, sustainable land use, and waste and circular economy.