How Green Cities Europe promotes the greening of public spaces

In the middle of the current century, 70% of the world’s population will be living in urban areas. Photo: Akil Mazumder.

The Green Cities Europe Award is now open for submissions from those that have worked on a project adding green landscaping to our built environment

Landscape

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13 July 2023

Green Cities Europe is an initiative by the ENA (European Nurserystock Association) and nursery organisations in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden.

By the middle of the current century, 70% of the world’s population will be living in urban areas. Today, many urban areas are already suffering from the negative effects of climate change as well as other negative consequences such as undermined social cohesion. Around 2050 the negative consequences of climate change on living conditions will be dramatic, due to higher temperature, more frequent and excessive rainfall with consequential flooding, more widespread and excessive drought etc.

Urbanisation and climate change call for new solutions to maintain and improve the quality of life in our cities.

Public green space has a positive effect on biodiversity, climate, wellness and air quality. This impact ensures that cities are becoming better places to live and work.

‘Green Cities for a Sustainable Europe´ is a platform that encourages the greening of public spaces by providing innovative ideas, information based on scientific research, and technical expertise. Its activities address certain themes: health, climate, the economy, biodiversity and social cohesion.

Green Cities Europe aims to combat the consequences of climate change when developing new building projects and improving living conditions in existing projects.

In Ireland, Green Cities for a Sustainable Europe is supported by Bord Bia on behalf of Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association (IHNSA).

This campaign encourages local authorities, developers, planners and architects to work with local growers in Ireland to incorporate green spaces into their building projects.

Follow the campaign on Instagram and Linkedin.

National Competition

The Green Cities Europe Award is an initiative of the European Nurserystock Association (ENA) along with the nursery organisations of the 13 European countries connected in the Green Cities Europe Program.

Have you worked on a project adding green landscaping to our built environment? If so, the Green Cities Europe Award is now open for submissions.

Each European country holds their own national award competition, and national winners will represent their country in the European wide Green Cities Europe awards.

Competing projects in the awards will champion the ideals behind the Green Cities campaign, highlighting the importance of green areas in minimising the consequences of climate change, while raising awareness for the wider benefits green space can offer for human wellbeing, biodiversity, social cohesion and the economy.

Projects need to be fully completed and put in to use no more than five years ago. The closing date for nominations in Ireland is 29 June 2023.

Enter your project for the Green Cities Europe awards through the simple online form here.

This campaign is supported by funding from the European Union.

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