Siena named one of Europe's greenest cities
The city of Siena has been named one of the winners of the European Green Leaf Award 2027 , one of the most prestigious European awards dedicated to urban sustainability. The announcement came on October 2 in Vilnius, during an official ceremony held at the Lithuanian National Art Gallery, where the names of the other award-winning cities were also revealed.
Sharing the podium with Siena is the Dutch city of Assen , while the title of European Green Capital 2027 was awarded to Heilbronn , Germany. The award, established by the European Commission, aims to recognize urban centers that stand out for their environmental and social policies , intelligent resource management, and the promotion of sustainable development models.
A recognition of Siena's environmental modelThe international jury, composed of independent sustainability experts, recognized Siena's ability to combine land conservation, innovation, and civic participation. The Tuscan city stood out in particular for the size and quality of its public green spaces , which today average 28 square meters per inhabitant, among the highest in Italy and Europe.
In recent years, Siena has invested in the creation of new urban parks and the regeneration of natural spaces, restoring meeting places and biodiversity to its citizens. This commitment is accompanied by particularly virtuous waste management : over 61% of municipal waste is recycled, while only 1% ends up in landfill.
These results demonstrate a structural evolution in the city's environmental culture, achieved over time thanks to awareness-raising policies, incentives, and direct involvement of residents.
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The award recognizes not only environmental achievements, but also cities' ability to engage their communities in processes of change. Siena, in this regard, impressed the jury with the variety of its public participation initiatives. Thanks to educational projects, neighborhood workshops, and campaigns dedicated to reusing and repairing materials, it has successfully transformed sustainability into an everyday experience.
The Siena model is based on an integrated vision : environment, economy, and culture are treated as inseparable dimensions. The approach aims not only to reduce environmental impact, but also to build an active citizenry, aware of its choices and their impact on the collective future.
The words of the European CommissionDuring the ceremony, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall , underlined how the Green Capital and Green Leaf awards represent “ a recognition but also a responsibility ”. The winning cities, she said, become “ambassadors of the green transition ”, called to lead by example and inspire other European communities.
Siena's title thus confirms the ability of medium-sized cities to make a significant impact in the fight against climate change. Unlike large metropolises, cities like Siena can experiment with more agile policies and models of direct collaboration between government and citizens.
An award that looks to the futureIn addition to its symbolic prestige, the award also carries a financial prize of €200,000 , which Siena will be able to invest in new environmental and social projects. The goal is to consolidate existing best practices and promote further initiatives in sustainable mobility, energy management, and landscape protection.
In the European landscape, competition for the Green Leaf Award is increasingly intense: this year , 20 cities from 11 countries participated, selected and evaluated by a jury that includes representatives of the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, the European Environment Agency and the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.
Alongside Siena and Assen, the finalist cities of Benidorm and Saint-Quentin were also praised, demonstrating that Europe continues to invest in the quality of urban life.
