Valencia kicks off 2024 as new European Green Capital
València, having been awarded the title of European Green Capital 2024 in October 2022, stands as a beacon of environmental commitment and sustainable development. This designation is the highest recognition a city can achieve for its dedication to implementing environmentally friendly practices and policies associated with ecological transition. As the European Green Capital in 2024, València aims to be the foremost European forum for reflection and the definition of urban sustainability strategies, with a focus on designing healthy and livable cities for its citizens. In response to this significant challenge, the City Council of València is actively preparing a program of events and activities to unfold throughout the upcoming year.
The inauguration ceremony, scheduled for January 11 and 12, will be followed by the meeting of the European Green Capital Network, inaugurated by València's mayor, María José Català. Mayor Català emphasized that this designation "serves as an incentive, including in the fiscal realm, for companies to engage in this project and encourage public-private collaboration. Vitoria-Gasteiz, the first Spanish city to be a Green Capital, achieved this, and we call for the same consideration," stated Català. She further expressed, "If we want our city to have more green areas, if we want our farmers to have a future, and if we want our companies to advance in sustainability, we need everyone's involvement." Catalá reclama que el Govern declare la Capitalitat Verda Europea com a esdeveniment excepcional d'interés públic (valencia.es)
In her inaugural speech, María José Català expressed gratitude for the presence of representatives from European green cities, especially Tallin and Vilnius, the latter taking the baton in 2025. She also acknowledged the Green Leaf cities for 2024, Velenje and Elsinore, and the previous mayor, Joan Ribó, "for his efforts in making València a greener city."
Throughout 2024, over 400 activities will take place slides-diseño_val (valencia.es), making València the focal point for Europe's green policies, aimed at constructing a more humane, sustainable city better prepared to combat climate change. Notably, in June 2024, València will host the annual conference of the 112 cities striving to become climate-neutral before 2030, following the 2023 edition held in Brussels. In the context of the climate emergency, València is participating in Missions 2023, an innovation and governance system seeking to improve people's lives in the city MisionClimaticaVLC2030_ENG (missionsvalencia.eu). One of its focus areas is mobility and transportation, striving for a sustainable, inclusive, and efficient metropolitan area.
Next June, Valencia will host the 4th UPPER General Assembly
