Klagenfurt is fighting for the title of European Green Capital 2026!

Klagenfurt is fighting for the title of European Green Capital 2026!

The city of Klagenfurt am Wörthersee is doing everything it can to secure the title of “European Green Capital 2026”. With a variety of measures, the city aims to increase the quality of life and minimize the ecological footprint. Motivated by this ambitious plan, Klagenfurt is listed as one of the finalists for the European Green Capital Award 2026 called.

But who are the competitors? Klagenfurt will compete against Heilbronn in Germany and Guimarães in Portugal. Together, these cities made it onto the shortlist, which also left other candidates such as Braga, Brașov, Córdoba, Linz, Riga and Rybnik behind. The finalists will present their communication strategies and action plans to an international jury in October 2024, which will finally announce the winner on October 24 in Valencia.

Sustainable initiatives

Klagenfurt is determined to score points with a comprehensive concept for sustainable urban development and environmental protection. The promotion ofGreen spacesas well as the expansion ofsustainable mobilitya central role. The city has already made significant investments in a sustainable transport network, including the introduction of electric cargo bikes. In addition, efficient monitoring of air quality was established in order to improve the living conditions of citizens and actively combat climate change kaernten.orf.at reported.

Another highlight is renewable energies, which are also supported. These initiatives are not only part of the competition for the title, but also an expression of a long-term strategy to make the city more environmentally friendly. The title “Green Capital” could not only give Klagenfurt recognition for its environmental concerns, but also boost tourism and investment.

Meaning of the title

Winning the title of “European Green Capital” not only brings prize money of 600,000 euros, the “European Green Leaf Award” also comes with 200,000 euros. EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius highlights that the finalists can serve as inspiration for other cities, underlining the importance of the competition. The title could also positively change citizens' perspectives on environmental issues and promote momentum for the necessary change in urban society.

The jury will evaluate the cities based on various criteria, including air quality, water management, biodiversity and waste processing. A positive assessment of these aspects can give a city a boost in the area of ​​environmental protection and the well-being of its citizens and make it clear that a good hand in urban development also pays off. Klagenfurt is on the right track and we can look forward to seeing whether the city can assert itself in international competition and what successes the sustainable measures will bring.