On 15 January, the newest ICLEI Member Grenoble (France) hosted a handover ceremony to help officially kick-off its year as the 2022 European Green Capital.
Every year since 2010, the European Commission has awarded the highly prestigious title of European Green Capital to a city that has shown exemplary commitment to, and progress toward, green transition. To date, 85 percent of European Green Capital winners have been ICLEI Members. At this weekend’s ceremony, the title was symbolically transferred from the 2021 winner, ICLEI Member Lahti (Finland), to Grenoble.
With the title of Green Capital comes funding and exciting opportunities to further develop sustainability transitions. At the handover ceremony, Lahti Mayor Pekka Timonen reflected: “In Lahti we had a great year. We brought our environmental solutions to the spotlight on a national and international level. CNN put us in the list of 20 places to visit because of this!”
Grenoble will be seizing this occasion, hosting a range of interesting events, taking on new initiatives, and otherwise looking to push sustainability forward during their Green Capital year. This work has already begun, with the city hosting two events alongside the handover ceremony: a conference on global warming in mountainous regions (like Grenoble), and a city-wide game structured around twelve themes they will explore in their Green Capital year.
It is, in many ways, no surprise that Grenoble has been recognised by the European Commission with this title. Over the past few years, the city’s commitment to sustainability – spanning circular economies, clean air and water, energy efficiency and sufficiency, and much more – has been clear. Grenoble was among the group of cities that first signed the ICLEI-led Circular Cities Declaration, and has committed to the Green City Accord, a movement of European mayors committed to safeguarding the environment and to take further action to make their cities greener, cleaner and healthier places. The European Commission is supported by ICLEI Europe, Eurocities and CEMR in developing and implementing the Accord.
Stay up to date with Grenoble’s Green Capital year, including its progress and upcoming events, at https://en.greengrenoble2022.eu/.