Debrecen4U
July 11, 2025
Debrecen in the TOP 3 for the European Green Capital Award – Leading in Sustainability Alongside Economic Development
Following the evaluation of an independent panel of experts, the European Commission has selected seven cities as finalists for the European Green Capital and European Green Leaf Awards.
On July 11, 2025, the European Commission announced that Debrecen had made it into the TOP 3 in the race for the European Green Capital title.
Finalists for the 2027 European Green Capital Award (for cities with over 100,000 inhabitants):
- Debrecen (Hungary)
- Heilbronn (Germany)
- Klagenfurt, on the shores of Lake Wörth (Austria)
Finalists for the 2027 European Green Leaf Award (for cities with at least 20,000 inhabitants):
- Assen (Netherlands)
- Benidorm (Spain)
- Saint-Quentin (France)
- Siena (Italy)
According to the European Commission: “Debrecen is a frontrunner in sustainability, achieving the highest score among the finalists competing for the European Green Capital 2027 title. The Hungarian city stands out in biodiversity, green spaces and sustainable land use, as well as in waste management and the circular economy. By increasing green areas by 16% and planting thousands of trees, Debrecen has improved its urban environment to enhance the city’s microclimate.”
Cities were selected based on their achievements and ambitions in addressing urban environmental challenges related to the triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. These cities are exemplary in their efforts to create healthier, more sustainable environments for their citizens.
The European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards evaluate cities across seven environmental areas:
- Air quality
- Water management
- Biodiversity
- Green areas and sustainable land use
- Waste and Circular Economy
- Noise pollution
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Next Steps in the Competition:
- October 1–2, 2025: Finalist cities will present their communication strategies and action plans to an international jury chaired by the European Commission, outlining how they intend to meet the criteria for the European Green Capital Award.
- October 2, 2025: The winner of the European Green Capital 2027 will be announced at a celebratory award ceremony in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The winning city will receive a prize of €600,000.
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Debrecen’s Green Transformation Journey
In 2019, the city leadership launched a new environmental policy, marking a shift in mindset toward sustainability and green initiatives—laying the groundwork for applying for the European Green Capital title.
Over the past few years:
- A Green Task Force of young local experts was formed
- The Future of Debrecen movement was launched
- 10,000 trees were planted, with another 10,000 underway
- Through the Civaqua Program, water reached the Tócó stream
- Green buses were introduced into public transport
- The Environmental Monitoring System (Zöld Őrszem) began operation
- Residents received rainwater collection barrels and compost bins
- Numerous awareness-raising events helped shape green thinking among locals
In collaboration with the University of Debrecen, the city developed the Green Codex, which integrates the city’s key strategies and outlines 50 sustainability-focused measures. Citizens ranked these measures based on how much they contribute to well-being and urban quality of life. The bid for the European Green Capital 2027 title was the seventh most supported initiative based on public votes.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
