Vilnius Named Green Capital of Europe for 2025
The European Commission has designated Lithuania's capital, the city of Vilnius, as the Green Capital of Europe for 2025. This prestigious title bestowed upon the Lithuanian capital recognizes its commitment to ecological sustainability and heralds a new era of environmental consciousness for the city. This announcement was made on the European Commission's website. The "European Green Leaf 2025" awards for smaller cities were also granted to the Spanish city of Viladecans and the Italian city of Treviso.
As a result, Vilnius will receive a prize of €600,000, while Viladecans and Treviso will each receive €200,000 to support their sustainable development efforts.
The evaluation of cities vying for this title was conducted by the European Commission's jury. It took into account seven criteria, including air and water quality, waste management and circular economy, noise levels, biodiversity promotion, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The jury highly commended Vilnius for its "grounded approach" and stated that its motto, "Vilnius - the greenest city in the making," is guided by a clear vision for development and concrete actions. The jury members acknowledged that the Lithuanian capital has reduced emissions through measures such as increased use of renewable energy sources and heating infrastructure upgrades. The city aims to become climate-neutral by 2030.
The judges also noted that Vilnius employs innovative technologies to engage citizens in urban life, including an app that allows residents to participate in city management and planning.
"Every year, we pay more and more attention to supporting biodiversity, mitigating the effects of climate change, enhancing sustainable mobility, and improving urban life management. Our city's development vision is to remain open, innovative, and unafraid to experiment," said Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas.
It's worth noting that The Gaze magazine has created a ranking of the top five places to visit in Lithuania, with the capital city Vilnius being among them. The city's highlight is its Old Town, filled with historic baroque architecture and numerous cobbled squares. This cultural and historical ensemble is considered one of the largest in Europe and is under UNESCO protection. Within the city, there are hotels, restaurants, and bars with a unique atmosphere characteristic of Lithuania.