The German city of Heilbronn has been named the European Green Capital for 2027, securing a €600,000 prize for its comprehensive and integrated approach to urban sustainability. The award, presented in Vilnius, Lithuania, recognizes the city’s success in improving air quality, water management, and climate resilience through innovative projects. At the same ceremony, the Dutch city of Assen and Italy’s Siena were also honored with the Green Leaf Award, a distinction for smaller municipalities, for their own significant environmental achievements in waste management and sustainable transport.
Heilbronn earned the prestigious accolade for its forward-thinking environmental strategy, which addresses multiple challenges simultaneously rather than in isolation. Judges were particularly impressed by the city’s performance across five critical areas: air quality, water, noise, climate change adaptation, and the circular economy. This holistic vision is guided by ambitious frameworks like the Landscape Plan 2030 and a comprehensive Mobility Concept, which together create a cohesive plan for a sustainable urban future. The recognition places Heilbronn among an elite group of European cities celebrated for their commitment to environmental transformation.
Among the city’s standout initiatives is the revitalization of its Neckar River waterfront. This project transformed former industrial sites and polluted land into vibrant green corridors, complete with public parks and cycling paths that connect neighborhoods with the city center. Another impactful program focused on improving air quality around 30 schools by installing sensors and establishing car-free zones during peak hours. The initiative led to a measurable drop in pollution and improved health outcomes for children, encouraging families to adopt more sustainable transportation habits.
The city’s path to success included overcoming significant hurdles, such as initial opposition from local business owners concerned about pedestrian zones and public resistance to changes in waste collection systems. City planners navigated these challenges by fostering community engagement through public meetings, allowing residents to help shape the final policies. This collaborative approach proved essential in building consensus and ensuring the long-term success of the environmental programs.
The European Green Cities Awards also celebrated the efforts of smaller communities. Assen, in the Netherlands, was recognized for its advancements in the circular economy, including improved recycling collection for plastics and metals, and for promoting sustainable mobility by constructing a major cycling highway to the nearby city of Groningen. Siena, Italy, earned its prize for an exceptional waste management system that achieves a 99 percent recycling rate. The historic Tuscan city has also successfully integrated extensive green spaces and sustainable land use planning to preserve its unique heritage.
The selection process was conducted by a panel of experts from key European institutions, including the European Commission and the European Environment Agency. Other nominated cities included Debrecen, Hungary; Klagenfurt, Austria; Benidorm, Spain; and Saint-Quentin, France. European Commissioner Jessika Roswall noted that the winners now have a responsibility to serve as role models for other urban areas across the continent, where over 70 percent of the population resides. Heilbronn plans to use its year as Green Capital to host conferences and workshops, sharing its strategies to inspire widespread environmental action.