Grenoble Wins 2025 Local Sustainability Award, with Vilnius and Barcelona recognised as standout finalists

Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 25 June 2025

ICLEI Europe and its partners - the Bertelsmann Stiftung Foundation, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the City of Aalborg, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) - proudly announced today the city of Grenoble, France, as the winner of the Local Sustainability Award 2025 for its innovative Breath of Schools project.

From a pool of almost 60 applications coming from 17 European countries, the award recognised the remarkable efforts of the two other finalists: Vilnius, Lithuania, for its Revitalise Vilnius project, and the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Spain, for its Sustainability Protocol initiative.

Presented in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, during the 12th European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) [1], the Local Sustainability award celebrates cities, towns, and regions that exemplify excellence in local sustainable development in line with the Aalborg Conditions [2]. It highlights the importance of bold local leadership and collaborative governance in driving meaningful climate action across Europe.

The Breath of Schools project [3], run by Grenoble City Council and Grenoble Alpes Métropole, in partnership with the Rue de l'avenir association, aims to transform the areas surrounding schools into playful and inviting public spaces, creating pedestrian zones, reducing air and noise pollution around schools and fostering child development. To date, 13 school streets have been transformed into safer, greener spaces, and 138 trees have been planted. Co-designing has engaged over 200 residents, benefiting hundreds of children across the city.

Gilles Namur, Deputy Mayor of the City of Grenoble, France, Responsible for public spaces, mobility, urban nature, and biodiversity, said: “Being the winner of the Local Sustainability Award is a meaningful recognition for Grenoble and for everyone working locally to make our city more breathable, liveable, and just. It encourages us to keep transforming our streets, schools, and neighbourhoods - for children, for the climate, and for the common good.”

By reclaiming over 20,000 m² of streets for children and community life, replacing asphalt with green, interactive spaces co-designed with parents, residents, and children themselves, Grenoble has delivered an affordable, transformative social and environmental impact, in one of the most crucial urban spaces: around schools. It has achieved measurable modal shifts (30% of parents changed to walking/cycling), improved air quality and safety, and boosted public space equity in real-time.

Through this recognition, ICLEI Europe reinforces its mission to empower local governments across the continent to build sustainable, resilient, and equitable communities, aligning with a broader global commitment to climate and sustainability goals.

Lasse Frimand Jensen, Mayor of Aalborg, Denmark, and Jury Member of the Award, said: “As a city with a long-standing commitment to local sustainability - from the 1994 Aalborg Charter to the 2024 Aalborg Conditions - we believe that local governments are at the forefront of delivering a just, climate-neutral, and competitive Europe. We strongly believe that Shared Governance, Integrated Finance, and a Cohesive Transition are key to achieving systemic change.”

Albert Gassull, Director of Public Space Services at the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Spain, said: “It is a great honour to be selected as a finalist for the Local Sustainability Award. Our Sustainability Protocol project is a dynamic, enforceable tool that ensures sustainability through specific and measurable parameters across all stages of public projects, in line with global climate and development goals.”

Lina Bubulytė, Head of the EU Projects Team at Vilnius Atnaujinkime miestą, Lithuania, said: “We are proud to be recognised as finalists for the Local Sustainability Award. Our one-stop-shop model for multi-apartment building renovation offers an effective and integrated solution that drives the clean energy transition in Vilnius, significantly improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and strengthening communities, setting a benchmark for a sustainable Europe.”

The award was presented at EURESFO 2025 [1], Europe’s leading platform for urban resilience. Since 2013, the forum has brought together municipal leaders, experts, and stakeholders to exchange strategies for climate adaptation, disaster risk management, and urban resilience. Co-organised by ICLEI Europe and the European Environment Agency (EEA), fosters dynamic discussions on how cities can navigate and thrive amid environmental and social challenges.

See the award winner and learn how your city can apply next year: award.iclei-europe.org [4]

Notes to editors:

Vilnius, through its Revitalise Vilnius project, addresses one of the most pressing challenges faced by local and regional governments worldwide: delivering housing that is not only affordable, but also sustainable and resilient. The jury was particularly impressed by the project’s pragmatic yet ambitious strategy, which has enabled large-scale, impactful refurbishment across the city.

The Barcelona Metropolitan Area stood out with its Sustainability Protocol project, praised for its holistic vision, rigorous data collection and monitoring, and strong inter-institutional collaboration. The jury also commended the initiative’s alignment with the Aalborg Conditions principles and its ambitious roadmap for future development.

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125 countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low-emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient, and circular development. ICLEI Europe provides members in Europe, the Middle East, and West Asia with a voice on European and international stages, a platform to connect with peers, and tools to drive positive environmental, economic, and social change.