The winners of the 2019 CIVITAS Awards were revealed yesterday during an award ceremony in Graz (Austria), as part of this year’s CIVITAS Forum.

Among the winners were ICLEI Members Antwerp (Belgium), Bremen (Germany) and Stockholm (Sweden), who walked away with Europe’s most prestigious prizes for clean, green mobility.

This year’s “Citizen and Stakeholder Engagement” award was given to Antwerp for its public-private collaboration, smart use of data and progressive public communications. Through its Smart Ways to Antwerp brand, it is raising awareness, supporting the development of innovative mobility solutions, and driving real behavioural change.

Koen Kennis, Antwerp’s Alderman for Mobility, commented: "The City of Antwerp has united all stakeholders and partners behind an ambitious project that is not only solving existing traffic problems, but also changing the way the city looks, feels, moves and lives. Receiving this award for Smart Ways to Antwerp is truly an honour.”

Already at the vanguard of clean mobility, Stockholm triumphed with the CIVITAS “Legacy” award – with big steps on low and zero-emission vehicles, EV charging infrastructure, and safe walking and cycling paths for citizens. All this forms part of the city’s “clean mobility package”.

”We are delighted and proud to receive the CIVITAS Legacy Award”, commented Eva Sunnerstedt, Manager, Clean Vehicles in Stockholm, City of Stockholm. “It recognises 25 years of dedicated work to reduce air pollution, cut greenhouse gas emissions and enable travel by sustainable modes. The European cooperation that CIVITAS facilitates helps improve local processes, test new ideas and learn from others.”

Bremen took home the final prize, the “Transformation” award, after impressive efforts to reduce car use through car sharing and integrated public transport and by offering alternatives to car ownership.

In 2009, Bremen adopted the world’s first Car-Sharing Action Plan and 80 percent of car-sharing users own no car. Bremen has also become a true cycling city. A 2019 German Cycling Federation survey named it Germany’s most cycle-friendly city: over 4,000 safe cycling parking spaces and a network of premium cycling routes have been added in recent years.

Dr Maike Schaefer, Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Mobility, Urban and Housing Development, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, said: “The way Bremen combines car sharing with a host of alternatives travel modes to cars is special. Over 5,000 people have already got rid of their cars, whilst reclaimed street space makes the city more liveable. We are thrilled that CIVITAS has recognised our achievements.”

For more information about the CIVITAS Awards and the 2019 winners, click here.