EXPERT PANEL TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT …ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/wp-content/...2011, Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2012, Nantes in 2013, Copenhagen in 2014, Bristol in 2015,

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EXPERT PANEL TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT SYNOPSIS REPORT

European Green Leaf 2017

April 2016

ec.europa.eu/europeangreenleaf

European Green Leaf Award 2017 Expert Panel –Technical Assessment Report

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Table of contents

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................... 3

1.1. ANNUAL AWARD PROCESS .................................................................................................................................. 5 1.2. AIM OF THIS REPORT ........................................................................................................................................... 6

2. TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE ................................................................................................... 7

2.1. APPLICANT CITIES FOR 2017 EGL AWARD ...................................................................................................... 7 2.2. SIX CATEGORIES ................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.3. APPLICATION FORM ............................................................................................................................................. 9 2.4. EXPERT TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT PANEL AND PROCEDURE ............................................................................ 9 2.5. BACKGROUND CHECK .........................................................................................................................................10

3. TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT: RESULTS FOR SHORTLISTED CITIES BY CATEGORY ...11

4. TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF SHORTLISTED CITIES ........................................................................12

4.1. SHORTLISTED CITY SUMMARIES: CORNELLÀ DE LLOBREGAT, GALWAY AND MIKKELI ..................12 4.2. CORNELLÀ DE LLOBREGAT TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................................15 4.3. GALWAY TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT .............................................................................................................18 4.4. MIKKELI TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT ..............................................................................................................22

5. APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................................................26

5.1. APPENDIX A: APPLICATION FORM FOR THE EUROPEAN GREEN LEAF 2017 .....................................26 5.2. APPENDIX B: EXPERTS’ PROFILES ..............................................................................................................42


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1. INTRODUCTION

The EU Urban Agenda

Europe's cities are the engines of the European economy, providing jobs and services, and serve as hubs that catalyse creativity and innovation. Almost 70% of the EU population now lives in urban areas. However, they are also home to some of our greatest challenges: economic, social, environmental and demographic, which are often interrelated.

That is why a growing numbe r of voices - at EU, national and local level - argue that an EU Urban Agenda is needed so that cities can provide their expertise in developing and putting EU policies into practice and, in turn, that these are better adapted to urban realities.

As a response, the European Commission adopted a Communication in July 2014 and launched a public consultation on an EU Urban Agenda. The results show a clear demand by stakeholders for more coordination between all of the EU policies with an urban dimension. The Commission is therefore proposing the following approach:

Focusing on specific priorities able to deliver and show results, such as smart cities; in particular when it comes to the low-carbon economy, climate-resilient cities and social inclusion.

Applying better regulation tools effectively, with reinforced urban impact assessment

and stronger stakeholder involvement.

Better coherence and coordination of EU policies relating to cities, such as the

European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities (EIP-SCC), the Urban Innovative

Actions or the European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate ADAPT); assessing,

revisiting, simplifying, streamlining and better focusing existing initiatives, making

them more user-friendly, more efficient and with more synergies between them.

Improved urban intelligence, benchmarking and monitoring: this means developing new data while also continuing to consolidate and harmonise the knowledge base of existing data sources, making them more complementary and more readily available. 7th Environmental Action Programme The Commission commenced the 7th Environmental Action Programme (EAP) in 2013, which sets out a strategic agenda for environmental policymaking with nine priority objectives to be achieved by 2020. It establishes a common understanding of the main environmental challenges Europe faces and what needs to be done to tackle them effectively. This programme underpins the European Green Leaf (EGL) in relation to policies for sustainable urban planning and design. Protecting and enhancing natural capital, encouraging more resource efficiency and accelerating the transition to the low-carbon economy are key features of the programme, which also seeks to tackle new and emerging environmental risks and to help safeguard the health and welfare of EU citizens. The results should help stimulate sustainable growth and create new jobs to set the European Union on a path to becoming a better and healthier place to live.

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/information/publications/communications/2014/the-urban-dimension-of-eu-policies-key-features-of-an-eu-urban-agenda


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Cities play a crucial role as engines of the economy, as places of connectivity, creativity and innovation, and as centres of services for their surrounding areas. Due to their density, cities offer a huge potential for energy savings and a move towards a carbon-neutral economy. Most cities face a common core set of environmental problems and risks, including poor air quality, high levels of noise, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water scarcity, contaminated sites, brownfields and waste. At the same time, EU cities are standard setters in urban sustainability and often pioneer innovative solutions to environmental challenges. An ever-growing number of European cities are putting environmental sustainability at the core of their urban development strategies. The 7th EAP sets the target of meeting local, regional and global challenges by enhancing the sustainability of cities throughout the European Union and fixes the goals that by 2020 a majority of cities in the EU are implementing policies for sustainable urban planning and design. European Green Leaf and European Green Capital The European Green Capital Award (EGCA) is the result of an initiative taken by 15 European cities (Tallinn, Helsinki, Riga, Vilnius, Berlin, Warsaw, Madrid, Ljubljana, Prague, Vienna, Kiel, Kotka, Dartford, Tartu and Glasgow) and the Association of Estonian cities on 15 May 2006 in Tallinn, Estonia. Their green vision was translated into a joint Memorandum of Understanding establishing an award to recognise cities that are leading the way with environmentally friendly urban living. The initiative was launched by the European Commission in 2008. The winning cities to date include: Stockholm in 2010, Hamburg in 2011, Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2012, Nantes in 2013, Copenhagen in 2014, Bristol in 2015, Ljubljana in 2016 and Essen in 2017. All are recognised for their consistent record of achieving high environmental standards and commitment to ambitious goals. Initially the EGCA was open to cities with a population of over 200 000. However, since the 2016 EGCA cycle, the competition has been open to applications from cities with a population of over 100 000 inhabitants. Due to the interest from cities and building on the success of the EGCA, the need to create a competition for cities of a smaller size was identified by the European Commission in 2014. European Green Leaf (EGL) was launched in December 2014 as a pilot initiative. The first EGL call was open to cities from EU Member States and Candidate Countries (Albania, FYROM, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey); Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland with 50 000–100 000 inhabitants, in order to recognise their environmental achievements, create citizen awareness and to encourage other cities of a similar size to grow greener. It is important to reward cities that are making efforts to improve the urban environment and move towards healthier and sustainable living areas. Progress is its own reward, but the satisfaction involved in winning a prestigious European award spurs cities to invest in further efforts and boosts awareness within the city as well as in other cities. The award enables cities to inspire each other and share examples of good practices in situ. The winning cities of the inaugural 2015 competition were Torres Vedras (Portugal) and Mollet del Vallès (Spain). The second competition cycle was open to cities with populations between 20 000 and 100 000 inhabitants. This considerably increased the number of eligible cities across Europe. To allow winning cities more time for preparation, the start of the upcoming laureate year was postponed from June 2016 to January 2017.The upcoming winners will therefore receive the title of European Green Leaf 2017.


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The objectives of the European Green Leaf are:

a) To recognise cities that demonstrate a good environmental record and commitment to

generating green growth;

b) To encourage cities to actively develop citizens’ environmental awareness and

involvement;

c) To identify cities able to act as a ‘green ambassador’ and to encourage other cities to

progress towards better sustainability outcomes.

The overarching message that the award scheme aims to communicate to the local level is that citizens have a right to live in healthy urban areas. Cities should therefore strive to improve the quality of life for their citizens and reduce their impact on the global environment. This message is brought together in the slogan ‘Towns and cities, growing greener’.

1.1. Annual Award Process

In order to be eligible for the competition a city must meet the following criteria:

To be from EU Member States, Candidate Countries (Turkey, Albania, FYROM, Montenegro, Serbia); Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

To have population between 20 000 and 100 000 inhabitants at the date of application.

In this context a ‘city’ is understood to be an urban area and an administrative unit governed by a city council or another form of democratically elected body.

Previous winners may not apply for a period of ten years after they have been awarded a ‘European Green Leaf’.

The inaugural European Green Leaf was awarded jointly to Torres Vedras (Portugal) and Mollet del Vallès (Spain) in 2015. It was presented at the European Green Capital Award ceremony in Bristol, UK, in June 2015. Following a technical evaluation, Ludwigsburg, Mikkeli, Mollet del Vallès and Torres Vedras were shortlisted from among the eight applicants for this first European Green Leaf competition. After the success of this pilot year, it has been decided to continue the European Green Leaf as an annual award, with the 2017 laureates to be announced at the Award ceremony on 22 June 2016, in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The launch of the call for applications to the competition was on 3 June 2015, and the deadline for submitting applications was 19 October 2015.This year the Expert Panel has carried out a technical assessment of each of the six environmental categories (detailed in Section 2.2) and provided a ranking of applicant cities together with qualitative comments on each application. This ranking is derived as a result of two independent evaluations of two experts who propose then combined ranking (more details on this procedure in Section 2). This information is now presented to the Jury in the form of this report, together with the list of shortlisted cities.

The shortlisted cities are then invited to present to the Jury their vision, action plans and communication strategy. After a short questions-answers session the Jury will then assess the shortlisted cities in the light of all the information provided and decide on the winner(s). The Jury will assess the shortlisted cities based on the following evaluation criteria:

1. The city demonstrates an overall good environmental performance.

2. The city engages citizens in environmental awareness.

3. The city can act as a green ambassador to other cities.


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Applicant cities for the 2017 title are as follows: Aosta, Italy; Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain; Galway, Ireland; Kardzhali, Bulgaria; La Roche-sur-Yon, France; Mikkeli, Finland; Orbassano, Italy; San Miniato, Italy; Serres, Greece; Strovolos, Cyprus.

1.2. Aim of this Report

The Technical Assessment Report provides an overview of the technical assessment by the Expert Panel of ten applicant cities which forms the basis for shortlisting the cities. Evaluations are presented per category per city for transparency of the overall process. Both these reports are compiled and edited by PRACSIS, Belgium, acting as Secretariat for the European Green Leaf competition.


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2. TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

2.1. Applicant Cities for 2017 EGL Award

A total of ten cities applied for the 2017 EGL Award. Details of the applicants are included in the table and map below. Of the ten cities to be evaluated, three are signatories of the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) and eight of the eligible countries from across Europe are represented. The smallest city by population is Orbassano in Italy with a population of 22 345, whereas Cornellà de Llobregat in Spain has the largest population of 86 519.

Table 1: Details of Applicant Cities (presented in alphabetical order)

City Country Inhabitants Signatory of the CoM

1 Aosta Italy 34 777 No

2 Cornellà de Llobregat Spain 86 519 Yes

3 Galway Ireland 75 529 No

4 Kardzhali Bulgaria 43 880 No

5 La Roche-sur-Yon France 52 732 No

6 Mikkeli Finland 54 486 No

7 Orbassano Italy 22 345 Yes

8 San Miniato Italy 28 257 No

9 Serres Greece 76 817 No

10 Strovolos Cyprus 67 565 Yes


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Figure 1 – Map of 2017 applicant cities


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2.2. Six Categories

The selection of the European Green Leaf winner 2017 is based on the following six environmental categories:

1. Climate change and energy performance 2. Mobility 3. Biodiversity and land use 4. Quality of air and the acoustic environment 5. Waste management and green economy 6. Water and wastewater management

2.3. Application Form

The 2017 EGL Application Form is made up of 3 sections as follows:

Section A: The City Introduction and Context

Section B: Categories 1-6 (as per Section 2.2 above). Within each category there are 3 subsections:

a) Plans & Programmes b) Implementation c) Citizen Engagement, Participation & Public Awareness

Section C: Good Practices The ‘City Introduction & Context’ section provides valuable insight and context to the Expert Panel into the history and background of the city & the challenges faced.

2017 EGL Application Form is attached in Appendix A.

2.4. Expert Technical Assessment Panel and Procedure

The Technical Assessment Panel consists of 12 experts who bring internationally recognised expertise within each of the areas covered by the category to the process. In 2015, the EGCA and EGL expert panels have been aligned for better coherence between both schemes. For each category, two experts have collaborated to propose a common ranking for each applicant city. Profiles of experts can be found in Appendix B.

Table 2: Expert Technical Assessment Panel

Category Expert

1 Climate change and energy performance F. Javier González Vidal Manfred Fischedick

2 Mobility Ian Skinner Jan Dictus

3 Biodiversity and land use Annemieke Smit Jake Piper

4 Quality of air and the acoustic environment Diogo Alarcão Christer Johansson

5 Waste management and green Economy Warren Phelan Stefan Ulrich Speck

6 Water and wastewater management Ana Lončarić Božić Giulio Conte


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2.5. Background check

As part of the EGL process a background check is carried out by the European Commission

on all shortlisted cities to identify if any those shortlisted are in breach of environmental

legislation or do not meet European reporting requirements. This background check will be

provided to the Jury during their deliberations.


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3. TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT: RESULTS FOR SHORTLISTED CITIES BY CATEGORY

Climate change and energy

performance Mobility Biodiversity and land use

Quality of air & the acoustic environment

Waste & green economy

Water management

Cornellà de Llobregat

2 4 2 1 2 2

Galway 8 1 1 3 3 3

Mikkeli 1 3 3 2 1 1


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4. TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF SHORTLISTED CITIES

4.1. Shortlisted City Summaries: Cornellà de Llobregat, Galway

and Mikkeli

Cornellà de Llobregat

Cornellà de Llobregat is a city of 86 234 inhabitants (2014) that belongs to the Baix

Llobregat region within the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. The municipality surface area is

about 7 km2, 87% is in an urban area, and it is located 27 metres above the sea. Population

density in the urban area is 12 319 inhab/km2, clearly much higher than in other metropolitan

cities. It is characterised by its compact structure. Geographically, it is situated to the

northeast of the large meander of the Llobregat, between the left bank of the river and the

Collserola mountain, on the northeastern edge of the Llobregat Delta. Cornellà is made up of

seven neighbourhoods: Sant Ildefons, la Gavarra, Pedró, Fontsanta-Fatjó, Riera, Centre and

Almeda and it has three urban parks (Can Mercader, Infanta and les Corts). Unemployment

rate is 17.36% (2014), a bit lower than the average for Catalunya and the average income

per capita is EUR 23 100 per inhabitant (2010), lower than the Catalan and provincial ones.

On the other hand, it has a wide variety of economic activities, services and secondary

sectors.

Cornellà de Llobregat’s history is defined by three key factors: its proximity to Barcelona city,

less than 10 km; the fact that most of the main transport entries and exits of Catalunya’s

capital cross the municipality; and the presence of the Llobregat river.

This last item has marked the development of the city, both as an agricultural town, when the

river watered its land, and as a purely industrial and urban town. In the past few decades the

river and its natural environment have deteriorated due to various interventions that have

ignored their values. Currently, it remains a strip of land about 50 metres on either side of

the river. Local and metropolitan government is working hard to conserve the unique natural

environment of the city and, at the same time, to preserve and introduce new agricultural

activities.

Cornellà de Llobregat is part of the Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park belonging to the network

of Natural Parks of the Barcelona Province. Being part of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona

has the advantage of having quite good public transport (subway, train, buses and

tramways), and sharing basic environmental infrastructures with other municipalities (waste

treatment plants and wastewater treatment plans).

However, it faces several important environmental problems: noise due to the high density

and main transport routes, air pollution derived, mainly, from traffic, lack of green areas,

difficulties of reaching citizens with traditional campaigns, and energy dependence and water

dependence (main basic resources are imported).


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New strategic projects such as Cornella Nature, a plan to deepen the cohesion of the city by

green areas, will begin to be implemented from next year and will be extended over the

course of the next 10 years. The aim is to have several rings of vegetation around and inside

the city, which will become small lungs, reorganising the space to make it more sustainable

and livable.

Galway

Galway City is a harbour city on the west coast of the Republic of Ireland. It is sited where

the River Corrib meets the Atlantic and it has 12 km of coastal area and four beaches, two of

which have been designated as Blue Flag Beaches. The city of Galway is a vibrant, diverse,

cultural university city. It is a city of learning, a city of youth, a city of rich cultural heritage

and of stunning natural environment and quality of life. Located just two hours from the

capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, Galway City's population today continues to grow,

with an influx of new residents.

The aim of the Municipality of Galway City is to create a city that people aspire to live in, to

work in and to visit. Galway is fortunate to have many beautiful natural areas and it is vital

that these areas are protected, enhanced and conserved by developing a culture of no litter

and no pollution and promoting sustainable use of our resources.

This vision can be achieved by identifying best practice in terms of sustainability. The core

values are derived from the principles of good local government and provide the basis for the

objectives and actions. To lead the way in sustainable development of the city, to enhance

the unique character and environment of the city and to continually improve the quality of life

of its citizens, having close regard to the challenges that exist including climate change, and

the requirements of future generations. Land use policies in the city contribute to addressing

climate change through sustainable development of a compact city, regeneration of

brownfield areas, implementation of sustainable urban drainage systems, promotion of

renewable energy technologies and encouraging energy efficiency in building design.

The city’s role as a national gateway and the capital of the West Region requires investment

in infrastructure, not least the provision of another crossing of the river, increased investment

in water and wastewater services, and important decisions to be made regarding the future

of Galway Harbour. In this regard, the over-riding objective is to ensure that the city can

grow and develop in a manner that is sustainable and best meets the need of the

environment of the city and the wider region.

Galway Cultural Strategy 2015–2025: ‘Towards a Cultural Sustainable Strategy for Galway’.

The vision for this strategy is to build a model of cultural excellence for Galway; a model of

excellence in cultural curation, artistic innovation and provision, community participation,

social inclusion, economic sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Galway is also bidding to become the European Capital of Culture in 2020. This bid

represents an opportunity for us to come together as a community, to reflect on the

uniqueness of our Galway culture, which includes promotion of our natural and built

environment.


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The Local Economic Community Plan for Galway City has been recently adopted by the City

Council level. The plan is based on five high level goals: Galway City – a world-class,

creative City Region; an innovative city; a sustainable, resilient urban environment that is the

regional capital of the West; an equal and inclusive city and a city that promotes health and

wellbeing for all its people.

Mikkeli The city of Mikkeli was founded in 1838 and is situated in Eastern Finland, 240 kilometres

from Helsinki. Mikkeli has a population of approximately 55 000, and covers an area of 3

229.56 km2, 21% of which is water and 68% of which is forest. The service structure is

undergoing continuous centralisation, and the importance of the city of Mikkeli as a centre

for employment and services is continuously growing. Due to its numerous lakes, Mikkeli has

more holiday homes than any other city in Finland (10 195).

Mikkeli has a humid, subarctic continental climate. The annual mean temperature is

expected to rise by 2–6°C and precipitation by some 10% by the end of the century, the

change being more pronounced in winter. With regard to rainfall, the occurrence of both

extremes – long dry spells and heavy rains – will increase. Heavy rains create challenges for

managing increasing amounts of stormwater. The positive outcomes of climate change may

include a decreased need for heating energy and longer growing seasons for vegetation.

Dispersed housing and climate conditions create challenges for eco-efficiency. Cars are the

most common form of transportation, and the demand for heating increases energy

consumption. Numerous waterways, as well as the location of the city centre on the

important groundwater supply, create further challenges for planning the land use and

treating wastewaters. Mikkeli has responded to these challenges by promoting research and

applying cleantech innovations, as well as by actively developing various digital services.

The agreement aims primarily to improve energy efficiency, but also includes targets for

promoting the use of renewable energy sources. The legal proceedings aiming at a healthy

and ecologically sustainable environment include the environmental protection regulations

introduced in Mikkeli in 2012. These regulations take into account the specific environmental

conditions in Mikkeli, and include regulations, for example, for wastewater treatment in

sparsely populated areas and acts to minimise environmental risks especially in groundwater

areas.

The city strategy of Mikkeli comprises three parts, one of which focuses on the wellbeing of

nature and the environment. The realisation of the strategic goals is monitored every fourth

year by means of the following indicators: percentage of recreational areas within zoned

areas (%); greenhouse gas emissions (t CO2-eq/pers); ecological footprint (gha/pers);

percentage of energy produced from renewable energy sources by the city-owned energy

company (%); amount of waste delivered to landfill sites for final disposal per person

(kg/pers/year); percentage of cultivated land used for organic farming (%); total length of

maintained recreational trails (km); water quality in waterways and groundwater formations.

The city of Mikkeli promotes a healthy and ecologically sustainable urban environment by highlighting four key issues in all city actions:


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Pure water (groundwater and lake water);

Bioenergy and other renewable energy sources;

Integration of cleantech industry with services such as waste and wastewater management provided by the city (EcoSairila);

Digital solutions (e.g. in environmental monitoring).

4.2. Cornellà de Llobregat technical assessment 4.2.1. Climate change and energy performance

Evaluators: Javier González Vidal and Manfred Fischedick

Ranking: 2nd

Comments:

Cornellà de Llobregat performs a wide range of different measures for engaging citizens,

which is very commendable – including smart metering, organising an energy trade fair for

local businesses that work with energy efficiency and renewable energy, school activities

and a photography contest on sustainable energy. Particularly noteworthy are the preventive

fuel poverty actions: households suffering fuel poverty were visited in 2015 and energy

advice was given to vulnerable families, and some interventions were made at their homes.

Furthermore, the municipality engaged unemployed people for six months to install solar

thermal energy installations.

In 2008, Cornellà de Llobregat signed the Convenant of Mayors and aims to reduce CO2

emissions by 20% by 2020 (compared to 2005); the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP)

was submitted in 2010. Cornellà de Llobregat monitors its developments, which demonstrate

a 26% reduction in CO2 emissions per inhabitant from 2005 till 2012. However, a long-term

vision for Cornellà de Llobregat is still missing.

Cornellà de Llobregat should continue its holistic approach for combating climate change,

improving energy performance and adapting to climate change, and complement its efforts

by developing a long-term vision in cooperation with its citizens and relevant actors.

Adaptation actions are included in the SEAP but lack detail in the application. The Cornellà

Nature project in the introduction has a potential for adaptation that has not been analysed.

4.2.2. Mobility

Evaluators: Ian Skinner and Jan Dictus

Ranking: 4th

Comments:

Cornellà de Llobregat has a number of relevant plans – including one on electromobility. An

urban mobility plan is currently being developed, but the principles underlying this plan are

not set out, so it is not possible to assess whether this is in line with a sustainable approach

to mobility.


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The application sets out a good range of relevant measures to support cycling and walking,

as well as car pooling and measures to promote the use of electric vehicles. The city already

benefits from links to Barcelona's public transport network.

Public participates in the drafting of the urban mobility plan, while the city also undertakes a

number of awareness-raising activities. More information on how the city engages with the

public in the course of the development of policy would have been useful.

4.2.3. Biodiversity and land use

Evaluators: Annemieke Smit and Jake Piper

Ranking: 2nd

Comments:

The ‘Environmental recovery of Llobregat river’ project appears to contain not only the

natural or physical aspects (the channelling water system, improvement of the river’s

morphology, and increasing the number of trees planted), but also social aspects. The latter

is shown by an improvement in access to the river and a variety of activities that lets the

citizens participate in the improvement of the natural quality of the river. Activities mentioned

are waste collection to clean up the river and a River Festival. Within this festival the city

organises lots of environmental activities like planting of trees and shrubs, invasive species

workshops, nest boxes workshops, etc. with the participation of over 1 000 people.

Cornellà de Llobregat is a city with a very compact structure, with only 13.7% of the

municipality covered with green zones. Although the budget for the maintenance of green

areas is up to 2.7% of the total town hall budget, it remains unclear whether all citizens have

access to a green zone of any significance. Do children or elderly people with lower mobility

have access to one of the three main parks or smaller green spots connecting the larger

parks within walking distance (300 metres)? Unfortunately, this city does not make a

connection between green spaces, public health and climate change adaptation, so budgets

for green areas are not underpinned by a need to reduce other costs by ecosystem

services/nature-based-solutions.

The local government has promoted several actions to maintain agricultural activity in the

city with the aim of offering citizens spaces for social, physical and leisure activities through

work in urban gardens, by creating three areas of urban vegetable gardens for elderly

people and unemployed people. These plots potentially provide a good habitat for pollinating

insects and for natural plague resistance. These aspects of biodiversity may need additional

attention in the urban areas in the form of education or directives.


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4.2.4. Quality of air and the acoustic environment

Evaluators: Christer Johansson and Diogo Alarcão

Ranking: 1st

Comments:

One automatic monitoring station for air quality was put into operation in 2000, but since

2013 the air quality is measured in neighbouring municipalities. Exceedances of PM10 and

NO2 have been recorded and this made the Catalan Government declare the city a special

protection area in 2006, and in 2014 the city became part of the Air Quality Action Plan for

Special Protection areas. This plan is closely linked to the urban mobility plans.

Cornellà de Llobregat elaborated a noise map in 2005 and revised it in 2014. This map sets

target noise limits for ambient noise in the city and thus has a sort of associated acoustic

zoning. A supra-municipal strategic noise map was also elaborated by the Catalan

Government in 2009. However, no data is reported and no information concerning the

acoustic environment, based on these maps, is provided.

The small city has a well-developed public transport system with trams, trains, subway and

buses. Several projects that are included in municipal mobility plans and that allow the

reduction of air pollution and noise in the city were implemented in recent years; amongst

them and worth notice are electrical bikes and electrical vehicles for the municipal fleet,

electric charging points (with plans for increasing its number), bicycle lanes to promote

biking and parking facilities, pedestrianisation of streets and a bonus to hybrid and electric

vehicles owners. However, more details could be provided.

Carpooling is encouraged, and citizens and schools are engaged through educational biking

activities. The city carried out a noise awareness campaign in April 2015, called ‘Stop Noise’,

which involved an exhibition in a public building for teachers and students, the production of

didactic posters for the schools and an environmental activity called the ‘Giant Ear’.

4.2.5. Waste & green economy

Evaluators: Warren Phelan and Stefan Ulrich Speck

Ranking: 2nd

Comments:

In Cornellà de Llobregat a waste prevention plan is in place that is impressive for a city of

this size. Innovative reuse applications have also been established in the city as well as

campaigns targeting and promoting reuse and waste prevention. The city provided a good

level of data which helped to describe the waste management system in place

The city has put in place actions related to green procurement and has implemented a

number of practical measures which staff at city hall implement as well as introducing green

criteria when procuring waste contract.


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Overall the application by the city was of a high standard with responses addressing waste

management and the green economy.

4.2.6. Water management

Evaluators: Giulio Conte and Ana Lončarić Božić

Ranking: 2nd

Comments:

Water consumption in Cornellà de Llobregat is below the average of the Metropolitan Area of

Barcelona and Catalonia which shows awareness of the citizens and the administration in

the water management practice of the city. However, information on actions performed

yielding such savings is not provided in the application.

Cornellà de Llobregat benefits from taking part in the Sustainability Plan of Metropolitan Area

of Barcelona, which includes usage of alternative water resources and the maintenance of

the hydraulic barrier to prevent saline intrusion of the aquifer. The application provides a list

of activities implemented aimed at water saving.

Cornellà de Llobregat promotes rational water consumption through awareness-raising

campaigns, distribution of water-saving devices for schools, sport facilities and citizens. The

education activities cover different water topics, emphasising the importance of citizens’

individual contributions, which is particularly acknowledged.

4.3. Galway technical assessment

4.3.1. Climate change and energy performance


Ranking: 8th

Comments:

It is commendable that Galway was one of the first Local Authorities in Ireland to establish a

Local Energy Agency as early as 1997. Public awareness measures cover a variety of topics

(including school trainings, building energy rating, car-free day), although the intensity and

success of these measures remain unclear. Galway performs a variety of energy efficiency

improvement measures with an outstanding project of energy efficiency upgrades to social

housing (500 units).

Measures focus solely on energy efficiency, and primarily with respect to the energy

consumption of Galway City Council (as such the city strictly follows the principle of ‘leading

by example’). Further measures for integrating renewable energies and adapting to the

effects of climate change should be added.


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Galway City Council is member of the Public Sector Energy Partnership programme with

the National Energy Agency, targeting a 33% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020

(baseline period 2006–2008) regarding its own buildings, facilities and services.

Furthermore, the national ‘Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015’ provides

the statutory basis for Galway City Council for climate and energy efficiency actions to the

year 2050. However, the meaning of the bill for Galway regarding its implementation at city

level remains somewhat unclear and should be explained in more detail.

4.3.2. Mobility


Ranking: 1st

Comments:

Galway was developing an integrated transport plan that aims to improve the situation for,

and the performance of, the more sustainable modes, while limiting access to the city for

private cars and freight. As stated, the plan would clearly take the city's transport in a more

sustainable direction and is supported by a number of other plans, including a cycling and

walking strategy for the city.

The measures set out are all aimed at improving infrastructure and conditions for public

transport and cycling, including constructing new, and redesigning existing, infrastructure in

favour of these modes. The more challenging measures – speed, access and parking

controls – have yet to be implemented.

The application outlines various ways in which the city informs and engages the public,

including a recognition of the further need to maximise this as the programme is

implemented, particularly in relation to the controls on speed, access and parking. Around

€50,000 is spent on behavioural change initiatives each year, including regular participation

in Euro Mobility Week.



Ranking: 1st

Comments:

The city of Galway is surrounded by extensive natural areas and has several urban forests

and a high number of wildlife habitats within its city limits. There are biodiversity action plans

at different spatial and organisational scales. The need for a ‘green corridor’ extending from

the heart of the city to the borough boundary was fulfilled by a series of plantathons in which

tens of thousands of trees were planted. The green corridor, so created, greatly enhances


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the wildlife potential of the city and acts as a vital lung in maintaining air quality for the fast

developing city.

Land use policies apparently exist, but measures are poorly described, and it is not clear

what problems there are that may be addressed by sustainable land use.

The extensive natural areas are solely described from a biodiversity and wild life protection

point of view. The high ambitions in creating a healthy and attractive living environment are

only marginally connected to the potential of nature-based solutions provided by green urban

areas or city forests. This connection between green and biodiverse areas and creating a

superb living environment should not only be made in the application form, but also in

participation processes with the citizens



Ranking: 3rd

Comments:

The air quality is good and PM10 levels are decreasing. The monitoring is operated by the

national EPA since 2002. The main focus is to reduce emissions from transport and the

burning of bituminous coal. Concerning the acoustic environment, no data and no

information is reported. Galway has a Noise Action Plan for 2013–2018. The plan was

subject to public consultation and it is stated that it sets out tasks for implementation

largely dependent on traffic management and construction projects, which is a very vague

assertion. Information on the percentage of the plan’s implementation and on specific

actions and measures should be provided. The marketing of sales and distribution of

bituminous coal was prohibited in Galway in 2000 and burning was banned in 2012. The

city council carries out inspections to enforce the regulations.

Actions that are expected to improve both air quality and the acoustic environment include

mobility measures that comprise modal split, improvements of the public transport, further

developments of a shared biking system (already being implemented – Coca-Cola zero

bikes), P&R areas, expansion of pedestrian and biking networks and reduction of access of

private cars to the city centre through more restricted parking. It is asserted that the city’s

natural heritage, parks and woodlands play a significant role in the air quality, and these

sites could as well be the starting point for the formal definition and classification of quiet

areas by the city.

The city organises information and awareness-raising activities on the ban of coal burning,

and on the car-free day and promotes several activities related to energy savings. An

awareness campaign for street performers was carried out in Galway with the intent of

reducing the noise complaints arising from the business community, positively leading to the

preparation of a Code of Conduct for Street Performers currently awaiting approval.


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4.3.5. Waste and green economy


Ranking: 3rd

Comments:

Galway City is part of a wider region that has a waste plan with clear targets in place to

improve waste management. The city has been progressive in terms of waste collection and

implemented source-segregated collections since the early 2000s with separate bins for

recyclables food and residual waste supported by incentivised waste charging. The city's

role has changed in recent years with its primary focus on regulation and enforcement.

The city implements a wide range of waste prevention, awareness and educational activities.

The responses in the application would have benefited further from complementary waste

data to demonstrate the improvements made to the waste management system over time.

The responses lacked any real detail on green economy-related measures that the city is

implementing. The inclusion of such measures would have complemented the waste

management responses and strengthened the application further.



Ranking: 3rd

Comments:

Galway participates in plans and programmes developed at national level aimed to improve

the quality of drinking water, reduce leakage, comply with wastewater requirement and

improve energy efficiency as well as business and customer service in water sector.

The active participation in the implementation of national plans and programmes in

partnership with Irish Water documented in the application contribute to improving the city’s

water and wastewater management practice.

A list of different campaigns, stakeholder involvement, and water-related initiatives and

education activities is provided. However, the application would have benefited from

describing the achieved or expected outcomes of such activities in terms of water saving

and/or quality of drinking water and wastewater.


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4.4. Mikkeli technical assessment

4.4.1. Climate change and energy performance


Ranking: 1st

Comments:

Mikkeli follows a holistic approach for improving energy performance, combating climate

change and adapting to the effects of climate change. In particular, Mikkeli's adaptation

measures and participatory elements are commendable.

Mikkeli formulated its city strategy in 2013 in a participatory process, including residents and

decision-makers. Further actions for citizen engagement are that residents can borrow

electricity meters, and nearly all buildings and apartments in Mikkeli have smart meters to

monitor their energy consumption on an hourly basis via an online service.

Mikkeli's measures include the increased use of Finnish wood (forest residues and other

waste wood) for reducing CO2 emissions in Pursiala CHP-plant (-68% CO2 emissions 1995–

2014), the integration of renewable energies, the improvement of energy efficiency (LED;

energy consumption of properties has decreased from 47.6 to 42.5 kWh/m3 in the period

2010–2014), monitoring, adaptation measures (mapping of flooding routes for stormwater,

update of the network, participation in a stormfilter project by the University of Helsinki). In

total the city provides an impressive list of measures addressing the major relevant fields of

activity.

Mikkeli follows the international and national climate targets. In 2010 the city council of

Mikkeli approved its Climate and Energy Strategy for 2010–2020. In addition, an energy

efficiency agreement with the Ministry of Employment and Economy of Finland was signed.

Key objectives are to reduce CO2 by 30% (1990–2020), the reduction of energy consumption

by 9% (2008–2016), the increased use of renewable energies and that the city of Mikkeli

shall act as an example for the people. So far, CO2 eq emissions have been reduced by

12.7% (2009–2014). However, a long-term vision and strategy is missing.

Mikkeli should continue its ambitious and holistic approach. Current actions should be

completed by a long-term vision – ideally developed in a participatory process, in the same

way as Mikkeli formulated its city strategy in 2013.


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4.4.2. Mobility


Ranking: 3rd

Comments:

Mikkeli has various plans of relevance and also highlights a focus on public transport, cycling

and car use, but it would have been good to have had some more detail on these. There is a

target for increasing cycling and walking by 9%.”

The application focuses on measures that are being put in place to improve cycling and

walking. While these measures are good, information was lacking on a wider range of

measures that might be expected to deliver sustainable mobility, including measures to

support public transport.

Mikkeli engages with its citizens well through a number of means, including by involving

citizen groups. Regular surveys of residents are undertaken and meetings with residents and

brainstorming workshops are also held.



Ranking: 3rd

Comments:

Mikkeli’s three-part city strategy includes a focus on the wellbeing of nature and the

environment. The city, which is spacious with many green areas around a denser centre,

promotes a healthy and ecologically sustainable urban environment as part of its city

planning. An ecosystem approach is being used, with green zoning together creating a

green network of recreational routes and nature conservation areas. Two nature

conservation areas are adjacent to the city centre; new developments are designed to

respect the environment and the natural landscape. Budgets for this work are indicated,

and citizens are actively engaged in planning.

Apart from the new stormwater planning project, there is little mention of Mikkeli’s wetland

spaces as places for biodiversity, e.g. for fish and amphibians or for protection of specific

wildlife species across the city.

A focus on species (rare, endangered, iconic and common) and on habitats (wetland, forest)

might give a new focus to efforts to further engage citizens with their natural environment.


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Ranking: 2nd

Comments:

Air quality is monitored in the city. Highest PM concentrations occur in spring, related to road

dust emissions during road sweeping of winter sand, but there are no exceedances of the

limit values. No data and plans concerning Acoustic Environment Quality are mentioned.

However, it is mentioned that noise barriers are to be installed near a federal road – Route 5

(following the corresponding noise map and noise measurements) and a budget of EUR 1

million is to be spent by 2017 by the municipality on these barriers. It is also mentioned that

terrain modelling, using surplus soil from construction works, is usually made as a natural

noise barrier and as a landscaping approach, which is a good practice.

Mikkeli aims at making traffic fossil fuel-free. Local public transport and delivery vehicles are

encouraged to use biogas. The city develops activities and infrastructures to promote cycling

and walking, and an event engaging local businesses and residents for that purpose has

been carried out. Acoustic measurements were conducted in connection with the local

university and the results serve as background information for planning purposes, but further

details could be given. These measurements were carried out following the results of an

online survey done in 2012 about the city’s acoustic environment and disruptive noise

occurrences.

The existence of numerous ‘silent’ areas near the city centre is mentioned, such as the

Urpolanjokilaakso river valley, and these areas can thus serve as a starting point for the

formal definition of quiet areas by the city.

4.4.5. Waste and green economy


Ranking: 1st

Comments:

The city has a strategy in place that includes actions on waste management and the approach is comprehensive. The city has an extensive door-to-door source-segregated collection system in place. The kerbside system is supported by a network of drop-off points. Other infrastructure includes a waste-to-energy plant, sorting facility, and a composting plant. The waste data for the city shows that approximately 67% of the municipal waste is recovered (this includes material recycling and energy recovery).

The city is developing a waste and green economy project in a symbiotic manner, with waste

and other green enterprises planned at the selected site. Other green economy actions

include green public procurement, which is followed when procuring waste service contracts.


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Overall, the application by the city was of a high standard with the responses addressing

waste management provided and the green economy in good detail.



Ranking: 1st

Comments:

Mikkeli addresses the forthcoming problem of increasing amounts of stormwater and nutrient

release due to the increase of rainfalls and prolonged snow-free period as a consequence of

climate changes. The set plan with an allocated budget includes modification of the

stormwater collection system and its direction through natural wetlands, binding the nutrients

and suspended solids, thus improving the quality of water before entering the water

recipient.

Mikkeli implemented measures for decontamination of the soil within old industrial areas in

order to mitigate the risk of contamination of groundwater supplying the water for the city.

Such a preventive approach of the potential water quality problems is highly appreciated.

Mikkeli plans to improve wastewater management by the construction of a new WWTP. The

positive features of the WWTP with the membrane bioreactor technology include removal of

different hazardous substances, pharmaceutics and microplastics, and minimisation of

odours and noise by underground location away from the city centre and shoreline.

According to the application, 83% of 128 lakes and 82% of 11 rivers existing in Mikkeli were

rated as excellent or good, which is an impressive result. More information on lakes and

rivers that are not in a good state, regarding the sources of pollution and the measures that

the city would promote to improve their quality, would have been welcomed.

The application shows that the municipality is aware that sustainable water management

goes beyond the distribution of safe drinking water to citizens and the collection and

treatment of wastewater. Both implementations and programmes show great concern for

preserving surface and groundwater. Plans for the future include new approaches in

stormwater management to adapt the urban system to climate change and possible actions

to restore water ecosystems. Furthermore, Mikkeli encourages water quality monitoring by

public members, making the citizens active participants in water management practice.


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5. APPENDICES

5.1. Appendix A: Application form for the European Green Leaf 2017

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORM

All sections of the Application Form must be completed.

The Application Form must be completed in English.

Section A – The City Introduction and Context

The introduction provides the Experts & Jury with valuable insights into the history and background of the city & the challenges faced.

Please adhere to the set word limit and image/graphics count.

Section B – Categories 1-6

Section B will be used in the evaluation process to rank cities.

Please complete all sections within each of these categories i.e. sub-sections a, b and c of Categories 1-6. It is important to respond to all categories and sub-sections as they receive equal weighting in the technical evaluation.

Please adhere to the word limit and graphics count per category.

Section C – Good Practices

Please summarise up to three good practices (i.e. at least 1 and no more than 3) from any three of Categories 1-6.

Please adhere to the word limit and graphics count per category.

Items in Section C may be used to produce the Good Practice Report.

Note: Incomplete Application Forms will NOT be accepted. Please complete all sections or indicate why information is not available.

Please note that Section A & Section C are for additional information only and will not be used to technically evaluate/rank cities but must be completed in full. If text is included in Section A and/or C but not in Section B it will not be included in the technical assessment. Therefore if the information is important to the application it must also be included in Section B.

The Application Form must be read fully before completing. It is important to show the connection between each Section A, B and C and sub-sections a, b, and c within each Category in Section B. If an initiative in one category has a positive impact on another category this should be mentioned in both categories. The Application Form should be read in conjunction with the ‘Hints & Tips’ guidance document.


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Section A: City Introduction & Context

Use this section to provide an overview of the city and provide context to the items that are addressed in Sections B and C. Give an overview of your city including its population, surface area, geographical location, some historical background, notable features and any other factors which have influenced or will influence the environment within the city and its surrounding area. What are the key environmental challenges the city faces (or has addressed in the recent past)? Make reference to the city’s infrastructure (transport, water and drainage, buildings, parks etc.). If appropriate mention any significant legal proceedings (if any) on environmental issues. Please describe the services provided by the municipality relevant to the categories in Section B. This is to understand city responsibilities, controls and the power to act and effect change. Please include an up to date map of the city and a maximum of one additional image i.e. a maximum of 2 images in total including the map. The map should show the distribution of the city, and show features as mentioned above. (max. 600 words)


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Section B:

Please note you must complete ALL categories in this section.

Section B is used in the evaluation ranking process.

Category 1: Climate Change & Energy Performance

Section 1a – Plans & Programmes

Please outline any plans and/or programmes to improve Climate Change & Energy Performance which have been implemented in your city, or will be before 2019. These plans and programmes may be reflective of policy and legislation at a Municipal, National and/or European level. Please include:

Background (include principles that have governed the development of the plan/programme).

Key Objectives & Targets (e.g. estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; measures to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change).

If available, please include actual figures and past trends of current greenhouse gas emissions and any greenhouse gas reduction targets or renewable and energy efficiency data for e.g. 2020.

Focus on the background, key objectives, targets, data, numerical information, figures, graphics etc. If data or figures are not available at a local level please state this in the application. Where plans/programmes have been developed at a level above the city level i.e. regional, national etc. it is important to provide information on the plans/programmes and how they impact on the city and/or are implemented at the city level. It is important to address Climate Change and Energy Performance equally in the response. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)

Section 1b – Implementation

Please outline the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Climate Change & Energy Performance Plans and Programmes as outlined in Section 1a. It is important to show the connection between the Plans/Programmes mentioned in Section 1a with the projects, measures and initiatives in Section 1b. Please add relevant background information, performance statistics, dedicated budgets or innovative forms of financing and key outcomes (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency etc.). Highlight the need for the project/measure/initiative and any achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


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Section 1c – Citizen Engagement, Participation & Public Awareness

Please mention any public awareness, citizen engagement or stakeholder participation undertaken in your city in the areas of Climate Change & Energy Performance. Focus on campaigns undertaken in your city, public consultation, awareness raising campaigns and events; stakeholder participation, forums etc.; mention the target audience and benefits of the initiative. Examples may include events or activities such as:

(a) Public Awareness: awareness raising activities including advertising and media, campaigns and events.

(b) Citizen Engagement: public consultation, schools education, awareness-raising campaigns and events.

(c) Stakeholder Participation: open dialogue, stakeholder groups, working groups, implementation partnerships, stakeholder forums, joint ventures with local businesses etc.

Where possible show the connection between the public awareness, citizen engagement or stakeholder participation in Section 1c with the Plans/Programmes mentioned in Section 1a and with the projects, measures and initiatives in Section 1b. Please mention the target audience and any achieved or expected benefits. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


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Category 2: Mobility


Please outline any plans and/or programmes for Mobility which have been implemented in your city, or will be before 2019. These plans and programmes may be reflective of policy and legislation at a Municipal, National and/or European level. Please outline the plans or programmes by discussing:


Key Objectives & Targets (e.g. % increase cycling, % reduction city automobile congestion etc.).

When possible, please add actual figures, e.g. about the length of designated cycle lanes (metres of lane/per capita) at the end of the planning period; estimate the percentage of the city population living within 300m of public transport – train station, bus-stop etc.).

Focus on the background, key objectives, targets, data, numerical information, figures, graphics etc. If data or figures are not available at a local level please state this in the application. Where plans/programmes have been developed at a level above the city level i.e. regional, national etc. it is important to provide information on the plans/programmes and how they impact on the city and/or are implemented at the city level. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


Please outline the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Mobility Plans and Programmes as outlined in Section 2a. It is important to show the connection between the Plans/Programmes mentioned in Section 2a with the projects, measures and initiatives in Section 2b. Please mention all relevant background information, performance statistics, dedicated budgets or innovative forms of financing and key outcomes. Highlight why the project/measure/initiative is needed and any achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


Please mention any public awareness, citizen engagement or stakeholder participation undertaken in your city in the area of Mobility. Focus on campaigns undertaken in your city, public consultation, awareness raising campaigns and events; stakeholder participation, forums etc.; mention the target audience and benefits of the initiative.


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Examples may include events or activities such as:






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Category 3: Biodiversity and Land Use


Please outline any plans and/or programmes for Biodiversity and Land Use which have been implemented in your city or will be before 2019. These plans and programmes may be reflective of policy and legislation at a Municipal, National and/or European level. Please outline the plans, or programmes by discussing:


Key Objectives & Targets (e.g. green infrastructure, increase of parkland, green areas, designation of sites of special interest for biodiversity, new water areas, connectivity of green and blue areas, integrated planning etc.).

Where possible, please mention the percentage of the population living within 300 metres of a green area open to the public and percentage of green areas open to the public in the city.

Focus on the background, key objectives, targets, data, numerical information, figures, graphics etc. If data or figures are not available at a local level please state this in the application. Where plans/programmes have been developed at a level above the city level i.e. regional, national etc. it is important to provide information on the plans/programmes and how they impact on the city and/or are implemented at the city level. It is important to address Biodiversity and Land Use equally in the response. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


Please outline the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Biodiversity and Land Use Plans and Programmes as outlined in Section 3a. It is important to show the connection between the Plans/Programmes mentioned in Section 3a with the projects, measures and initiatives in Section 3b. Please mention any relevant background information, performance statistics, dedicated budgets or innovative forms of financing and known outcomes. Highlight why the project/measure/initiative is needed and any achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


Please mention any public awareness, citizen engagement or stakeholder participation campaigns undertaken in your city in the areas of Biodiversity and Land Use. Focus on campaigns undertaken in your city, public consultation, awareness raising campaigns and events; stakeholder participation, forums etc.; mention the target audience and benefits of the initiative. Examples may include events or activities such as:



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Where possible show the connection between the public awareness, citizen engagement or stakeholder participation in Section 3c with the Plans/Programmes mentioned in Section 3a and with the projects, measures and initiatives in Section 3b. Please mention the target audience and any achieved or expected benefits.

(max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


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Category 4: Quality of Air & the Acoustic environment


Please outline any plans and/or programmes for Air Quality & the Acoustic Environment which have been implemented in your city, or will be before 2019. These plans and programmes may be reflective of policy and legislation at a Municipal, National and/or European level. Please outline the plans or programmes by discussing:


Key Objectives & Targets (e.g. city's contribution towards reducing NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5 emissions, noise reduction action plans, etc.).

Where possible, please also provide actual figures about the exceedances of EU air quality standards (e.g. days /per year) and noise exposure.

Focus on the background, key objectives, targets, data, numerical information, figures, graphics etc. If data or figures are not available at a local level please state this in the application. Where plans/programmes have been developed at a level above the city level i.e. regional, national etc. it is important to provide information on the plans/programmes and how they impact on the city and/or are implemented at the city level. It is important to address Quality of Air and the Acoustic Environment equally in the response. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


Please mention the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Air Quality & the Acoustic Environment Plans and Programmes as outlined in Section 4a. It is important to show the connection between the Plans/Programmes mentioned in Section 4a with the projects, measures and initiatives in Section 4b. Please support information by providing relevant background information, including any performance statistics, dedicated budgets or innovative forms of financing and key outcomes. Highlight why the project/measure/initiative is needed and any achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. Specific measures such as air pollution reducing actions and noise management tools such as noise maps, acoustic zoning, exposure data, etc. would be of interest. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


Please mention any public awareness, citizen engagement or stakeholder participation undertaken in your city in the areas of Air Quality & the Acoustic Environment. Focus on campaigns undertaken in your city, public consultation, awareness raising campaigns and events; stakeholder participation, forums etc.; mention the target audience and benefits of the initiative.


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Category 5: Waste Management and Green Economy


Please mention any plans and/or programmes for managing and reducing Waste and promoting a Green Economy (including eco innovation & the potential job creation linked with the green economy) which have been implemented in your city, or will be before 2019. These plans and programmes may be reflective of policy and legislation at a Municipal, National and/or European level. Please outline the plans or programmes by discussing:


Key Objectives & Targets (e.g. covering areas such as waste prevention, waste collection and treatment, Green Public Procurement (GPP), and eco-innovation, etc.).

Where possible, please also add actual figures showing the current proportion of household and municipal waste sent for recycling, recovery and to landfill.

Focus on the background, key objectives, targets, data, numerical information, figures, graphics etc. If data or figures are not available at a local level please state this in the application. Where plans/programmes have been developed at a level above the city level i.e. regional, national etc. it is important to provide information on the plans/programmes and how they impact on the city and/or are implemented at the city level. It is important to address Waste Management and Green Economy equally in the response. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


Please mention the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Waste Management and Green Economy Plans and Programmes as outlined in Section 5a. It is important to show the connection between the Plans/Programmes mentioned in Section 5a with the projects, measures and initiatives in Section 5b. Please mention any relevant background information, including performance statistics, dedicated budgets or innovative forms of financing and key outcomes. Highlight why the relevant project/measure/initiative is needed and the achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


Please mention any public awareness, citizen engagement or stakeholder participation undertaken in your city, in the areas of Waste Management and Green Economy. Focus on campaigns undertaken in your city, public consultation, awareness raising campaigns and events; stakeholder participation, forums etc.; mention the target audience and benefits of the initiative.


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Category 6: Water and Wastewater Management


Please mention any plans and/or programmes for improved Water and Wastewater Management which have been implemented in your city, or will be before 2019. These plans and programmes may be reflective of policy and legislation at a Municipal, National and/or European level. Please outline the plans or programmes by discussing:


Key Objectives & Targets.

Where possible please provide actual figures about the current and planned proportion (%) of urban drinking water supply subject to water metering.

Where possible please provide actual figures about the current and planned proportion (%) of total annual generated wastewater load connected to the wastewater collecting system and wastewater treatment plants. Indicate compliance with the requirements under UWWTD.

Focus on the background, key objectives, targets, data, numerical information, figures, graphics etc. If data or figures are not available at a local level please state this in the application. Where plans/programmes have been developed at a level above the city level i.e. regional, national etc. it is important to provide information on the plans/programmes and how they impact on the city and/or are implemented at the city level. It is important to address Water and Wastewater Management equally in the response. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


Please mention the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Water and Wastewater Management Plans and Programmes as outlined in Section 6a. It is important to show the connection between the Plans/Programmes mentioned in Section 6a with the projects, measures and initiatives in Section 6b. Please provide any relevant background information, including performance statistics, dedicated budgets or innovative forms of financing and outcomes. Highlight why the project/measure/initiative is needed and any achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images)


Please mention any public awareness, citizen engagement or stakeholder participation undertaken in your city in the areas of Water and Wastewater Management. Focus on campaigns undertaken in your city, public consultation, awareness raising campaigns and events; stakeholder participation, forums etc.; mention the target audience and benefits of the initiative.


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Section C

Good Practices

Provide details of up to three good practices that your city has implemented from any three of Categories 1-6.

You must complete this section with at least one Good Practice, a maximum of three can be given.

Each example must be from a different Category. Please identify the category to which your good practice is relevant.

Please note that the Good Practice section is not taken into consideration during the evaluation process.

This section is for additional information only and will help in the compilation of the European Green Leaf 2016 Good Practice report.

Please summarise up to three good practices, from any three different Categories in Section B, that demonstrate how your city is improving its environmental record and is committed to generating new jobs linked with producing a better environment. The Good Practices should also be mentioned in Section B of the application form. However this section allows for greater elaboration on the good practice. Please identify the category to which your good practice is relevant. Please explain why you have selected the good practice described. Each good practice should be supported by a maximum of 3 graphics or images. (max 150 words per good practice)

Good Practice 1 (max. 150 words) Category:

Good Practice 2 (max. 150 words)

Category:

Good Practice 3 (max. 150 words)

Category:


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Checklist

Did you complete Section A? Yes No Did you complete Section B? Yes No Category 1 a, b and c? Yes No Category 2 a, b and c? Yes No Category 3 a, b and c? Yes No Category 4 a, b and c? Yes No Category 5 a, b and c? Yes No Category 6 a, b and c? Yes No Did you complete Section C? Yes No At least 1 good practice must be completed. A response must be included for all of the above. If all of the items are not completed the application will be invalid. Did you adhere to the word limit and image count for all sections? Yes No


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5.2. Appendix B: Experts’ Profiles

Category No. 1 – Climate change and energy performance Expert: F. Javier González Vidal, Atmospheric pollution technical advisor, Regional Government of Valencia – D.G. Environmental Quality, Spain

F. Javier González Vidal is an industrial engineer who graduated from the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Throughout his professional career he has always focused on the promotion of environmental respect, both at the regional and international level.

For the last 13 years he has been working for the Regional Government of Valencia in the D.G. Environmental Quality, where the activities and responsibilities of the job have provided him with a broad overview of the situation related to the intensive use of energy, climate change, polluting emissions and air quality.

The development and implementation of policies to fight air pollution and climate change have been one of his priorities, having used emissions inventories as a key tool to assess effectiveness. During this period some of the main tasks he has been involved in have been the development, implementation and monitoring of the policies included in the regional Climate Change Strategy and the implementation of the EU ETS, the management of the PRTR register, and the air quality network analysis and subsequent development of air quality actions plans.

He was a member of the Climate Change Committee of the European Commission as a representative of the regional governments of Spain in order to express their opinion during the negotiations of the European policies.

Since 2005, as a member of the Roster of Experts of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Javier contributes to the review of national communications and inventories, focusing on the energy chapter, according to the Kyoto Protocol commitments. He has cooperated actively with D.G. Enlargement providing technical support to EU partner countries with regard to the approximation, application and enforcement of EU environmental legislation through the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument.

During 2013 he worked with the Ministry of Environment of Brazil, in the context of the sectoral dialogues between the EU and Brazil, on the Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Chapter.


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Expert: Manfred Fischedick, Vice President of the Wuppertal Institute and Professor at the Schumpeter School of Business and Economics, Wuppertal, Germany Manfred Fischedick is the Vice President of the Wuppertal Institute, an internationally well-known think tank investigating transformation processes to a sustainable development. With particular reference to the areas of climate, energy, resources and mobility, the institute is looking for technical, infrastructural and social innovations supporting the transition to sustainable structures. Special focus is given to the transition process of the energy system and cities. Manfred Fischedick is also leading the research group ‘Future Energy and Mobility Structures’ of the Wuppertal Institute and is professor at the Schumpeter School of Business and Economics at the University of Wuppertal. He has been working for more than 20 years in the field of energy system analysis (including sustainable urban infrastructure analysis). He is advisor to the German government as well as the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, author of various publications and peer reviewed articles. Manfred Fischedick is coordinating lead author for the IPCC (responsible for the chapter industry in the upcoming 5th assessment report), member of several national and international scientific boards and advisory councils. Manfred Fischedick has been intensively working in the context of sustainable urban infrastructures and energy-efficient cities. His project experience comprises among others the development of long-term concepts for the German cities of Munich and Düsseldorf and the Chinese city of Wuxi. For the Innovation City Ruhr Bottrop, which is kind of a real-term laboratory in the Ruhr Valley aiming for an emission reduction by 50% between 2010 and 2020, he is leading the scientific accompaniment process. Category No. 2 – Mobility Expert: Ian Skinner, Director of Transport and Environmental Policy Research, London, United Kingdom.

Ian Skinner is an independent researcher and consultant with over 20 years of experience in undertaking research and consultancy projects focusing on the environmental impacts of transport.

His PhD from University College London was on the implementation of sustainable transport policies in South East England and he has also undertaken research at the University of Kent on the marginal cost pricing of transport.

Since his PhD, Ian has worked at the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) and AEA (now Ricardo-AEA) before co-founding TEPR in 2009. Ian’s work focuses on the implementation and evaluation of sustainable transport policies for national and international organisations. Much of Ian’s work has been undertaken at the European level for the European Commission, which has involved impact assessments and evaluations of various EU transport and environmental policies.

He has also worked for UNEP, including in support of their EST goes EAST project, and been an independent evaluator for the European Commission. In 2013, Ian was invited to draft the chapter on European transport policy for the Edgar Elgar book, Research Handbook on Climate Change Mitigation Law (2015, Van Calster and Vandenberghe, eds).


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Expert: Jan Dictus, UNIDO Eco-City Expert, Founder of GOJA Consulting for Environment and Sustainable Development, Vienna, Austria Jan Dictus (nationality Dutch, living and working in Austria since 2000) is an expert on sustainable development of cities. He has provided services to a wide range of clients at international, European, regional and local levels on environmental and sustainable development issues.

He was involved in several Eco-City projects: For the City of Vienna, Jan has led the development of the Environmental Vision of Vienna and is presently supporting the network Cities for a Nuclear Free Europe CNFE. Also for Vienna he was technical chair of the EUROCITIES Environment Forum. As a UNIDO expert Jan has been involved in the organisation and reporting of conferences in Jordan and Bahrain on Eco-Cities in the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA Region).

Also for UNIDO and the Government of Japan he is currently setting up a network of Eco-Cities in South East Asia, introducing the instrument of Peer Review for Cities. Together with Astronaut Marcos Pontes Foundation and UNIDO he is preparing the development of an Eco-State in Roraima, Brazil.

Jan has started a project in Morocco to develop a reference framework of sustainability for the new-to-build Eco-City Zenata. In the past Jan worked on Green Industry and the promotion of Eco-Business projects in India and Thailand, for example, and on the development of a Green Award mechanism in Cambodia.

Jan is a member of the Expert Evaluation Panel for the European Green Capital Award since 2012, acted as Lead Expert for URBACT-II and is a member of the expert group for the ‘UNEP-JCEP Sustainable Urban Development and Liveable Garden Community – China Programme’ in China. Category No. 3 – Biodiversity and land use Expert: Dr Annemieke Smit, Senior researcher on Nature Based Solution for Society at Alterra (part of Wageningen University and Research), the Netherlands. Annemieke Smit is a Physical Geographer with a PhD in Ecology. In 2001 she started working at Alterra with a focus on Sustainable Soil and Land Use. She is an expert on sustainable land use management, both in urban, peri-urban and rural areas. She was one of the core team members of the Dutch Community of Practice CoP Sustainable land use management in spatial planning. For the past two years she has been involved in the Alterra Green Cities programme, combining ecological, social and economic knowledge about the multiple benefits of Green Infrastructure to the urban public and private stakeholders. She specialised in multi-stakeholder projects and is often involved in national EU assessments on sustainable development. She is part of the Dutch advisory board for the development of BREEAM-Community. With a focus on good and clear communication, Annemieke always keeps in mind that experts tend to go deep into the subject, while policy makers or non-scientific partners want to know about the impact of the research on their world, work and options.


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Expert: Jake Piper, Associate and Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment, Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom. Jake Piper has worked as a researcher and lecturer at Oxford Brookes University for the past 12 years, following on from an earlier career in environmental consultancy. Her academic background includes forestry and land management, and environmental assessment. In recent years she has contributed to and managed studies of policy development and spatial planning, frequently related to biodiversity protection and enhancement in circumstances of climate change, as part of EU programmes (MACIS, BRANCH), and she has been a peer reviewer of the C-Change project, which promotes community engagement and behaviour change as well as creating multi-functional spaces. She has also worked on studies preparing guidance for projects affecting Natura 2000 sites, and projects concerned with rural development. Issues around biodiversity, water resources, flooding and sustainable drainage have been a particular interest – as demonstrated in her recent book Spatial Planning and Climate Change (with Elizabeth Wilson). Other project work has involved the economic and environmental assessment of many forms of development, including offshore wind, water resources, railway infrastructure, forestry and leisure. Category No. 4 – Quality of air and the acoustic environment Expert: Diogo Alarcão, Specialist in Acoustic Engineering, Principal Researcher and Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico University of Lisbon, Portugal & the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Portugal. Diogo Alarcão is a physics engineer with a PhD in Acoustics. He is Principal Researcher and a Professor in the scientific area of Acoustics at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal. He is a Chartered Acoustical Engineer, member of the board of the Portuguese Acoustical Society and member of the executive commission for the Specialization in Acoustic Engineering of Ordem dos Engenheiros. He has been responsible for major projects in Environmental Acoustics and Noise Control, including Noise Mapping and Action Plans for large urban areas in various Portuguese cities and for many large transport infrastructures. He has also been responsible for various projects in the area of Room Acoustics and Virtual Acoustics, including real time simulation and auralisation of sound fields in enclosures.


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Expert: Christer Johansson, Department of Environmental Science and Analytic Chemistry, Stockholm University and air quality expert at the Environment and Health Administration of the city of Stockholm, Sweden. His focus area during the past 25 years has been on urban air pollution. This includes anthropogenic emissions, air pollution monitoring, atmospheric dispersion modelling, chemical reactions, population exposure, air quality and health impacts. He has been working closely with epidemiologists, atmospheric scientists as well as urban planners in many national and international research projects. At Stockholm University he is also supervising PhD and Masters students and is responsible for a Masters course on ‘Air Quality Outdoors and Indoors’, which deals with emissions, air quality management and health risk assessments as well as cost-benefit analyses of air pollution. At the Swedish National Air Quality Reference Laboratory, he has been advisor to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and collaborating with other reference laboratories mainly in Nordic countries. In the city he works closely with local and national authorities on air quality issues. His unit at the Environment and Health Administration in Stockholm is responsible for operating an air quality management system not only for the city, but for an association that includes 50 municipalities, energy production companies and regional governmental agencies. The system includes monitoring stations, emission inventories and dispersion models and is also used in urban planning to analyse, for example, impacts on air quality and health of future planning scenarios.

Category No. 5 – Waste management and green economy

Expert: Warren Phelan, Technical Director, Waste, Energy & Environment, RPS Group Ltd., Dublin, Ireland. Warren Phelan is a Technical Director with the Waste, Energy and Environment Section of RPS. Warren is a Chartered Waste Manager and a Chartered Civil Engineer with a Master’s degree in Engineering Science from University College Dublin. Since joining RPS in early 2001, Warren has worked in the resource and waste management sector developing specialised skills in policy and legislation, strategy and planning, stakeholder consultations, data analysis and collation methodologies, waste prevention and online resource applications. Warren has extensive knowledge and experience in the strategic approach to managing wastes at a city, regional and national level. Warren is currently the project manager for the development of the waste management plans covering the Irish State including the preparation of strategic environmental assessment and appropriate assessment documentation supporting the plans. The ability to source, compile, analyse and present data is essential for the development of robust waste management systems and plans. In recent years Warren has led a team appointed by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency required to collate and analyse data gathered from all of the major waste treatment facilities in Ireland. Warren has also prepared data for the Irish government benchmarking Ireland’s performance in the sector against comparable international countries.


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Warren has applied his waste management skills and developed waste management plans for large infrastructure projects, international airports, industrial operations and university campuses. Clients have included INTEL and Aéroport de Paris. Warren has worked on waste projects in the UK, across Europe and in the Middle East. Warren’s clients include the European Commission and the World Bank, among others. Warren is currently acting as the Irish country agent on a European Commission Horizon 2020-funded project on Sustainable Innovation (CASI project).

Warren has also worked on the design of many waste facilities including baling stations, transfer stations, material recovery facilities and recycling centres and is currently he is working for WRAP on the redesign of a waste facility in Wales. Expert: Stefan Speck, Project Manager environmental economics and policies at the Integrated Environmental Assessments Programme at the European Environment Agency. Stefan Speck is an environmental economist with a PhD in economics. His main area of research is the application of market-based instruments for environmental policy, environmental fiscal reform, and green economy. Prior to his current position, he was employed as a senior consultant at Kommunalkredit Public Consulting in Austria and as a senior project scientist at the National Environmental Research Institute/University of Aarhus in Denmark within the EU-funded project ‘Competitiveness effects of environmental tax reforms’ (COMETR). He also contributed to the research project ‘Resource Productivity, Environmental Tax Reform and Sustainable Growth in Europe’ funded by the Anglo-German Foundation. He has implemented projects for a range of clients including the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA), European Commission (EC), Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and the UK Department for International Development (DFID). He has carried out research projects in Africa and Asia, and has published widely on economic instruments and environmental financing and recently co-edited the book Environmental Tax Reform (ETR) A Policy for Green Growth (Oxford University Press, 2011). Category No. 6 – Water and wastewater management Expert: Ana Lončarić Božić, Associate Professor, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Croatia Ana Lončarić Božić is an associate professor involved in teaching and research in the field of Chemical and Environmental engineering. Ana holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering. Her research interests include advanced technologies for water and wastewater treatment, advanced oxidation technologies, photocatalysis, degradation of recalcitrant pollutants and contaminants of emerging concern and ecotoxicity. She participated in five national and international research projects with academia and industry in the field of advanced wastewater treatment. She is the author/co-author of more than 30 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals (cited over 500 times, h-index 12). Ana


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sits on three editorial boards and is a regular reviewer for more than 20 scientific journals. She is also an Environmental Management System Auditor. With a background in Chemical and Environmental Engineering and expertise in wastewater treatment and water management, Ana was involved as an evaluator for FP7-ENV-2012, FP7-ENV-2013 and NCBR-Core 2012 calls. Expert: Giulio Conte, Project Manager of natural resources area at Ambiente Italia and water policy expert at IRIDRA. Giulio Conte is a civil-environmental engineer with 19 years of experience in environmental consulting and has a specific expertise in water management. He has worked on a range of projects in India dealing with leak detection in water supply networks, river basin action plan, stormwater management, and water quality and quantity modelling. During the last 10 years, he has worked in water policy sectors in France and Europe. He led several studies for the European Commission on Water Efficiency Standards and the Water Performance of Buildings and also contributed to studies for the European Parliament. He contributed to the 2011 UNEP Green Economy Report and also supported the EEA on two chapters dealing with social and technological megatrends of the European Environment State and Outlook Report (SOER) 2010. Recently, he advised the UNFCCC on the methodology for evaluating water saving devices in the context of the clean development mechanism.

Documents

EXPERT PANEL TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT …ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/wp-content/...2011, Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2012, Nantes in 2013, Copenhagen in 2014, Bristol in 2015,