The city of Porto is among the finalists for the European Green Capital 2028 Award, while Estarreja is competing for the European Green Leaf 2028 Award.

Portugal recognised twice

Out of a total of 27 eligible candidates, Porto has been shortlisted by the European Commission because the city has: “demonstrated excellent results in all areas of urban sustainability, especially in water management and adaptation to climate change. Over the past decade, the city has strengthened its urban water resilience and sustainability through infrastructure modernisation, ecosystem restoration, and active community engagement. Porto adopts a holistic vision to ensure that sustainability efforts reinforce each other,” organisers said.

Competing for the European Green Leaf Award, organisers credit Estarreja for its “achievements in air quality and climate change mitigation.” The city is also highlighted for its efforts to encourage active mobility, with more than half of internal journeys made on foot or by public transport, along with the city’s focus on urban regeneration, such as energy efficiency of residential buildings and development of green and blue spaces.

Inspiring change

The finalists for the title of the European Green Capital 2028 Award are Aalborg (Denmark), Bielsko-Biała (Poland), Košice (Slovakia), Zaragoza (Spain) and Porto (Portugal), while the finalists for the European Green Leaf Award 2028 are Benidorm (Spain), Chiclana de la Frontera (Spain) and Estarreja (Portugal).

According to the European Commission, all finalists are “exemplary and can inspire others with effective measures to ensure a high quality of life and reduced pollution in well-managed urban spaces.” All finalists were selected by a panel of independent experts, based on the cities’ achievements and ambitions to address the urban challenges that European cities face due to climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

A legacy

The final stage will take place on 7 and 8 October, when each city will present comprehensive projects detailing their environmental visions, governance and communication strategies.

According to the organisers, winning the European Green Capital 2028 title or the European Green Leaf Award 2028 will bring international attention to the winning cities, helping boost tourism while stimulating local economies and attracting investment.