Vilnius takes European 'green' crown, aims for climate neutrality by 2030
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has succeeded Valencia in Spain as the European Green Capital, thanks to its efforts in sustainability and environmental preservation. The city, which is constantly growing, aims to become climate neutral by 2030.
Vilnius was named two years ago by the European Commission as the European Green Capital for 2025.
The jury praised the Lithuanian capital "for its strong commitment to sustainability while having a realistic and down to earth approach."
It recognised its efforts in various areas, such as air quality, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity preservation.
Green city
Vilnius is a green city, with green areas covering 61 percent of its territory and a forest located right in the city center.
"Vilnius has its green crown, plantations that surround the city and can be seen from many places," Lithuanian researcher Jekaterina Lavrinec told RFI.
"At the beginning of the 20th century, people still planted tree-lined avenues in Vilnius, which encouraged walking through the city," she says.
"We are working to protect wildlife and plants in different areas, and our decision not to mow all the green spaces, as is commonly done, has been widely noticed," adds Jurga Mikutiene, head of the green capital project in Vilnius.
Read more on RFI English
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