Cities across Europe are proving that ambitious local action can drive global sustainability - and now their achievements are in the spotlight. ICLEI Europe has released the report for the 2025 Local Sustainability Award, celebrating cities and towns pioneering creative solutions for a greener, fairer future.

The report offers a closer look into the innovative projects, the motivations behind local leaders’ actions, and the growing network of communities committed to sustainable transformation.

This year’s Award winner and runners-up showcase how cities are tackling urgent challenges such as climate adaptation, community resilience, and social equity, often finding solutions that other local governments can replicate. The City of Grenoble (France) was ultimately announced as the 2025 winner, for its Breath of Schools project. The City of Vilnius (Lithuania) and Barcelona Metropolitan Area (Spain) were runners-up for Revitalise Vilnius project and Sustainability Protocol project.

The report also features a foreword from ICLEI’s Directors, insights from the jury, and a complete list of all applicants, demonstrating the diversity of approaches being tested on the ground.

ICLEI’s Local Sustainability Award recognises cities, towns and regions taking innovative and ambitious sustainability action, while inspiring others. By sharing these stories, ICLEI aims to help cities learn from each other, scale solutions, and accelerate progress toward climate neutrality and sustainability goals.

As cities face mounting climate and social pressures, the experiences captured in the 2025 Award report offer practical examples of how local action can create real change - and why supporting local leaders is key to building resilient communities for all.

The report is available to explore here.