During the event, good news about the cities was also shared: Spanish cities continue to establish themselves as leaders in urban sustainability at the European level. In the latest edition of the European Green Capital and European Green Leaf 2028 awards, the European Commission has selected Zaragoza as a finalist for the European Green Capital title and Chiclana de la Frontera as a finalist for the Green Leaf award, which recognizes medium-sized municipalities that are particularly committed to the ecological transition.
The commission has highlighted the strengths of each city. In the case of Zaragoza, it is particularly important to focus on urban biodiversity, green spaces, and sustainable land use. The city has launched a Green Infrastructure Master Plan, which sets out various strategies to enhance and connect green spaces throughout the city.
In the case of Chiclana, the city has a robust climate change mitigation framework and a well-established monitoring structure, supported by a carbon footprint calculation tool and a public energy information platform. Its “Zone of Positive Emotions,” which we learned about at the Meeting, as well as the workshops on electricity bills and the “Chiclana Sosteniblole” Local Energy Community, are good examples of successful citizen engagement campaigns.
The European Commission’s European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards are among the leading initiatives recognizing cities that are leading the transition toward more sustainable, resilient, and healthy urban models. Beyond winning the award, participating in this process allows cities to assess and highlight their progress through reviews by independent experts, share best practices with other local governments, and strengthen their position as leaders in urban sustainability. Furthermore, this European recognition helps attract investment, promote sustainable tourism, and strengthen citizens’ commitment to climate action, creating a lasting legacy that fosters continuous improvement in quality of life and the sustainable transformation of urban environments.