Vicenza, Lyon and Wroclaw named finalists for the Green Cities Europe Award 2024

Les Jardins du Pré Gaudry in greater Lyon Photo credit: Laurence Dannière.

Three outstanding landscaping projects in Vicenza (Italy), Lyon (France) and Wroclaw (Poland) will battle it out to win the Green Cities Europe Award 2024. The grand finale of the contest will happen at the forthcoming IPM Essen show on 29 January 2025.

Now in its 5^th year, Green Cities Europe is an initiative of the European Nurserystock Association (ENA) and its EU funded campaign that encourages the greening of public spaces by providing innovative ideas, information based on scientific research and technical expertise. The contest evolves around themes such as health, climate, economy, biodiversity and social cohesion. This time round, the 10 participating countries are Belgium (Urban Forest Genk), Bulgaria (Chengene Skele), Denmark (Karens Minde Axis), France (Les Jardins du Pré Gaudry), Germany (Green Bunker St. Pauli), Hungary (Complex Touristic Development of Zalakaros Health Resort), Italy (Parco della Pace), the Netherlands (Climate-proof neighborhoods), Poland (Greening of Nowy Targ Square) and Sweden (Grönare Möllan/Greener Möllevången).

Vicenza’s Parco della Pace Photo credit: Nicola Ughi.

After the judging process, Italy, France and Poland were found to have submitted the three best rated greening projects.

The final ranking of the projects and accordingly the winner of the International Green Cities Award 2024, will be announced at the IPM in Essen on 29 January 2025 during an official ceremony. This international trade fair for the horticultural sector provides a platform for companies, decision-makers and professionals to present and discuss the latest innovations in plants, horticultural technology and green city infrastructure. But also, this trade fair offers the opportunity to learn about international greening projects like these.

The submitted projects were assessed by an independent jury consisting of experts from each of the participating countries. The jury members assessed the projects on several criteria like: overall greenery and design; impact on climate, environment and economic factors; the (re)use of materials; innovativeness and reproducibility.

Wroclaw’s Nowy Targ square Photo credit: Filip Jędrzak.

The participating projects ranged from innovative greening of city districts to interesting initiatives related to biodiversity.

The Green Cities Europe Award highlights the importance of cooperation between countries and the general power of greenery to make cities more sustainable and liveable. All projects that have been submitted this year, serve as inspiration for other cities in Europe and beyond to further develop their own green initiatives.

For more information about the International Green Cities Award 2024 and the IPM in Essen, please visit  Green Cities Europe and www.ipm-essen.de