The European Commission has officially launched the application process for the 2027 European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards, inviting cities across Europe to showcase their commitment to sustainability. Cities have until 15 April 2025 to apply and compete for these prestigious titles, which recognise efforts to reduce environmental impacts while improving the quality of urban life.
A Platform for Green Innovation and Leadership
These awards aim to highlight cities as trailblazers in sustainability, inspiring others to adopt greener practices. Winners will receive financial prizes to support environmental initiatives, with €600,000 awarded to the Green Capital winner (for cities with over 100,000 inhabitants) and up to €200,000 each for one or two Green Leaf winners (for towns and cities with populations between 20,000 and 100,000).
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, emphasised the importance of the awards:
“This is an opportunity to show how sustainable you already are and to share inspiring stories and best practices with other cities on becoming greener. Most Europeans live in cities, so let us make them healthy and pleasant places to live, work, and do business.”
Evaluation Criteria and Process
Cities interested in applying can register via the EU survey to access necessary documents and the application form. Applications will be assessed by a panel of urban sustainability experts based on seven key environmental indicators:
- Air quality
- Water management
- Biodiversity
- Green spaces and sustainable land use
- Waste and circular economy
- Climate change mitigation
- Climate change adaptation
Finalists, announced around June/July 2025, will present their sustainability strategies and vision to a jury, who will evaluate their governance and communication strategies. The winners will be announced in October 2025, granting them the opportunity to join an esteemed network of European cities leading the charge in environmental innovation.
A Legacy of Green Leadership
Since its inception, the European Green Capital Award has recognised 17 cities for their sustainability leadership, while 19 smaller cities have been honoured with the European Green Leaf Award. These awards align with the European Green Deal, positioning cities as central to Europe’s environmental, economic, and social transformation.
Cities that participate not only gain visibility and financial support but also receive personalised feedback on their applications, fostering continuous improvement in urban sustainability efforts.
Source: European Commission
Details
- Publication date
- 28 January 2025
- Author
- European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency