Europe's 8 greenest cities revealed: Which cities made the list

The greenest cities shortlist

Five larger cities are competing for the main title, while three smaller cities are finalists for the European Green Leaf award.

Experts assessed not only the environmental projects already implemented by the cities, but also the ambition of their plans to adapt to climate change, reduce pollution, and expand green spaces.

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

• Zaragoza, Spain

Zaragoza

Zaragoza received high marks for developing urban green infrastructure. The city is working to connect parks, river areas, wetlands, and other natural spaces into an integrated system.

The approach is designed not only to support biodiversity but also to help the city withstand the risk of flooding.

Zaragoza (Photo: Wikipedia)

Porto

Porto was particularly praised for its work on water management and climate change adaptation.

Over the past decade, the city has modernized its infrastructure, restored ecosystems, created parks capable of retaining rainwater during heavy rainfall, and begun using treated wastewater for irrigation and street cleaning.

Porto (Photo: Pinterest.com)

Bielsko-Biała

Bielsko-Biała has made notable progress in reducing emissions from heating and buildings. The city has implemented more than 30 targeted measures, while the modernization of its district heating system has helped improve energy efficiency.

Bielsko-Biała (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

Aalborg

Aalborg has focused on climate change adaptation, involving residents in decision-making, and developing its waste management system.

Aalborg (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

Košice

Košice, meanwhile, has shown consistent results across various areas of sustainable development. In particular, the city uses air quality data when planning urban development and involves residents in climate adaptation initiatives.

Košice (Photo: Pinterest.com)

The shortlist for the European Green Leaf award, which recognizes cities with populations between 20,000 and 100,000, includes three cities:

• Benidorm, Spain

• Chiclana de la Frontera, Spain

• Estarreja, Portugal

The finalists will present their environmental strategies to an international jury on October 7 and 8. The cities will outline not only the projects they have already completed but also the plans they are prepared to implement in 2028 if they receive the respective title.