Press release | 09.05.2025
Inspirational municipal initiatives across Europe receive honour
Climate Alliance bestows its Climate Star award on 16 examples of local and regional climate action
Frankfurt am Main, 9 May 2025. Climate Alliance, Europe’s largest city network dedicated to just climate action, presented the coveted Climate Star Awards in Austria yesterday evening. A total of 16 winners scored points with the international jury members for their inspiring success stories in the field of municipal climate action. Winners from Austria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain took to the stage to receive their accolades at the Climate Star Gala, each illustrating the vast potential that exists at the local level.
“Today, the local level is more important than ever for the success of international climate protection efforts. This is because practical and citizen-centred climate action is implemented in our regions, cities and towns. I wish the winners all the best and continued success,” stated Andreas Wolter, Climate Alliance president and Mayor of the City of Cologne.
Climate Star winners
- Aachen (DE)is taking the municipal support programme into the living rooms of its citizens with the energy consultation campaign Energy Caravan.
- Amstetten (AT) createsa walkable city featuring a network of green spaces and becomes Austria’s largest sponge city.
- Baden (CH) is on a retrofit journey and is renovating the Pfaffechappe school building - a green roof, reduced emissions and a new PV system are among the results.
- Bettemburg (LU) shows how sustainable, environmentally friendly and resource-saving construction can succeed with the construction of a workshop complex.
- Brand-Nagelberg (AT) retrofits the music centre together with the local brass band with a comprehensive sustainability concept.
- The region of Galicia (ES) provides funding, advice and strategic alliances for its municipalities on the path to climate-neutrality.
- Gallneukirchen (AT) develops a climate strategy for a climate-neutral future together with citizens and further stakeholder groups.
- Gleisdorf (AT) enables sustainable and safe mobility conditions with the new town's ring road by 2026.
- Den Haag (NL) ensures congruent communication on climate with an ad-ban for fossil fuel intensive products and services.
- Križevci (HR) launches the country’s first one-stop shop, advising citizens on climate and energy matters.
- Maintal (DE) creates more space for trees with a campaign for a resilient tree population.
- Circular region Melk-Scheibbs (AT) enables more sustainable packaging solutions for catering and canteen kitchens with its packaging-free initiative.
- Ratingen (DE) raises awareness of renewable energies with solar parties and offers a citizen-centred exchange format.
- Riedstadt (DE) motivates citizens to renovate with passive house principles by offering advice and financial incentives.
- Wiener Neudorf (AT) combines many small, unconventional projects under the motto "Our community, our climate".
- Budapest’s Újpest District(HU) fosters resilience and boosts biodiversity by replacing concrete with wildflowers.
Climate Alliance has been presenting the European Climate Star Award since 2002, recognising outstanding examples of municipal climate action.
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Contact
Sarah Mekjian
Communications Director, Climate Alliance
communications(at)climatealliance.org
THE CLIMATE ALLIANCE
For over 30 years, Climate Alliance member municipalities have been acting in partnership with indigenous rainforest peoples for the benefit of the global climate. With over 2,000 members spread across more than 25 countries, Climate Alliance is Europe's largest city network dedicated to comprehensive and equitable climate action. Recognising the impact our lifestyles can have on the world's most vulnerable people and places, Climate Alliance pairs local action with global responsibility. climatealliance.org
