Local government network, ICLEI Europe, together with Bertelsmann Stiftung, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the City of Aalborg, is proud to announce the three finalists for the inaugural Local Sustainability Award 2025. This award recognises the most ambitious and innovative sustainability action by local and regional governments across Europe.

From a strong and diverse pool of over 50 applicants, three finalists have been selected for their exceptional leadership, creativity, and commitment to the principles of the Aalborg Conditions - working toward a just, sustainable, and climate-neutral future.

The 2025 Finalists

• City of Grenoble: Breath of Schools project: this project - called Places aux Enfants in French - aims to transform the areas surrounding schools into playful and inviting public spaces, creating pedestrian zones, reducing air and noise pollution around schools, fostering child development and more. To date, 13 school streets have been transformed into safer, greener spaces, with co-designing engaging over 200 residents, benefiting hundreds of children across the city.
• City of Vilnius: Revitalise Vilnius project: this project aims to ease the process of helping residents and cities leave inefficient and wasteful residential buildings in the past and step into the future, by modernising and making tenements less resource-heavy and more sustainable. The project has so far supported the sustainable upgrade of 227 apartment buildings, improving living conditions for over 36,000 residents.
• Barcelona Metropolitan Area: Sustainability Protocol project: this project provides construction designers and technicians in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area with resources to address the Sustainable Development Goals, addressing climate, water, health and biodiversity. The project positively impacts 3.3 million people across 36 municipalities.

These projects exemplify the bold, practical steps being taken by local governments to address the climate crisis, while strengthening social cohesion and fostering societal transformation.

Looking Ahead

The three finalists will be celebrated at the 12th European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, from 25–27 June 2025, where the winner of the Local Sustainability Award 2025 will be officially announced.

As cities across Europe continue to rise to the challenges of sustainability, the Local Sustainability Award serves as a platform to amplify success stories, foster collaboration, and accelerate the transition to climate neutrality.

For more information on the award and the upcoming ceremony, visit the award.iclei-europe.org.

About the Award

The Local Sustainability Award 2025 is a new initiative led by ICLEI Europe and partners, celebrating transformative sustainability action by cities, towns, and regions across Europe. It recognises projects that demonstrate ambition and innovation in building a sustainable future for all.