Greening for Change

| Subject: Climate Change, International Relations, Sustainability

Green Leaf Conference: Cornellà de Llobregat, a Green City model

Participants on bike along the Llobregat River

On the 7th and 8th of February, 2019, the CitiLab facilities in Cornellà de Llobregat hosted the conference entitled Greening for Change: Experiences of Green Capital & Green Leaf Cities organised by the Cornellà City Council by the AMB, in conjunction with the European Commission and the Barcelona Provincial Council. The purpose of the conference was to share the urban sustainability practices enacted by the cities that won the Green Leaf and Green Capital awards.

Cornellà de Llobregat and the Dutch city of Horst aan de Maas were the winners of the 2019 European Green Leaf award. This award is based on efforts made in aspects like climate change and energy management, sustainable urban mobility, nature and biodiversity, air quality, waste, water management and circular economy.

Sustainable metropolitan cities as the prime actors combatting climate change

On the first day of the conference, the 7th of February, the Deputy Director-General of Environment from the European Commission, Joanna Drake, officially gave the award to the mayor of Cornellà, Antonio Balmón. On this first day, a debate was also held on the importance of awards within the framework of environmental policies in European cities, as well as the significance and importance of promoting more sustainable cities. To conclude the day, the participants visited the surrounding area of the CitiLab to see the advances which are being implemented to transform the city, mostly referring to the promotion of green spaces and the push for biodiversity in the urban area.

During the second day of the conference, the importance of green and blue infrastructures in cities was stressed, as well as the importance of cities as prime actors in the struggle against climate change. The event concluded with a guided bicycle tour of the Llobregat River Park, where the participants had the opportunity to get to know the Baix Llobregat Agrarian Park, where products are cultivated for local consumption.

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Citilab Cornellà de Llobregat