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Population: 229,000
Mayor: Dr Dieter Salomon (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Key Climate Targets: 50% less CO2 emissions by 2030; 100% energy from renewable sources by 2050
Freiburg, in the south west of Germany, is one of the birthplaces of the German environmental movement. Freiburg‘s sustainability movement began back in the 1970s with the successful action against the Wyhl nuclear power plant: one of the foundations of the alternative-Green movement.
Mayor Dr Dieter Salomon:
For me the label 'Green City’ stands for future-oriented development through sustainable policies and a sustainable economy that aims for social justice; climate and environmental protection; viable culture, housing and working; and solid finances.
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Population: 160,000
Mayor: Eric Piolle (Europe Ecologie – Les Verts)
Key Climate Targets: To make Grenoble an example to follow in terms of sustainable living in a big city, regarding energy saving, soft transportation, solidarity and the protection of nature within the city.
Grenoble is a very dynamic city, where its inhabitants are full of initiatives and willing to come join forces to turn their city into a pleasant place to live in, this in every neighbourhood.
Mayor Eric Piolle:
In order to become a real example to follow, Grenoble needs to build on its strengths, at every moment of its history: the capacity of the local inhabitants to mobilize the collective intelligence in order to look forward and achieve great projects. To succeed, Grenoble will have to move forward without forgetting anyone, and by activating all the talents that are putting the city on the move!
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Population: 65,000
Major: Lluis Tejedor (Iniciativa els Verds)
Key Climate Target: 50% saving, 50% energy supply renewable sources, 50% efficiency by 2050
El Prat de Llobregat is situated in the North East of Spain, in Catalonia. The city administration has developed many initatives under the 'Climate Change Local Plan' in order to provide a better environment and quality of living for its citizens.
Mayor Lluís Tejedor:
We must become a Carbon-neutral city as soon as possible in order to improve our economic situation, our environmental impact and our pride as a society. If we don't achieve it, who is going to do it?
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Population: 247,000
Deputy Mayor: Tine Heyse (Groen)
Key Climate Target: Climate neutral city by 2050
In January 2015, Ghent will launch a new Climate Plan 2014–2019, which will guide the city towards climate neutrality by 2050. To reach this target, the city will work with its citizens, companies and organisations through innovative approaches.
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Population: 600,000
Green leader: Karolina Skog, leader of the Green faction in Malmö's Red/Green government (Miljöpartiet de gröna)
Key Climate Target: Climate neutral city by 2020
With more than 600,000 inhabitants in the greater metropolitan area, Malmö is Sweden’s third largest city. The city is undergoing a major transformation – it was once a declining industrial centre with numerous brownfield sites, but now it's turning into a dynamic, Green and industrially efficient city.
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Population: 820,000
Key Climate Target: In 2010, Amsterdam developed ambitious environmental goals in its Amsterdam Energy Strategy 2040, aiming to reduce CO2 by 40% in 2025 compared to 1990.
In 2009, when the GroenLinks were part of the governing coalition, the city of Amsterdam sold its shares in energy company NUON. With €100m from the sale, the city created an investment fund (AIF) for climate, sustainability and air quality initiatives. These initiatives are focused on the reduction of CO2 emission, reduction of energy use and a healthy environment. Citizens, corporations and organisations can apply for the fund. In September 2014, the city of Amsterdam won a Climate Leadership Award for this fund.
