2016 Climate Star: Municipal competition is launched

1.2.2016 Climate Alliance begins the search for Europe’s best municipal climate action initiatives

Frankfurt - From Venice, Italy, to Gent, Belgium, and from Cascais, Portugal, to Gornij Grad, Slovenia, – almost 100 cities and towns throughout Europe have received the illustrious Climate Star since 2002 for their municipal efforts on climate change. In 2016, for the seventh time, Climate Alliance will honour Europe’s best climate initiatives. Some 1700 Climate Alliance municipalities from 26 countries have until 31 March 2016 to submit their ongoing or completed projects for a chance to win. Potential topics range from energy and mobility to sustainable food supplies and green procurement all the way to climate justice and climate adaptation.

’It is awards such as Climate Star that make our efforts visible and give incentive to develop exemplary municipal initiatives not only in a material, but also a qualitative way,” stresses Simone Raskob, Climate Alliance Board Member and Deputy Mayor of Essen, Germany, – a city with two Climate Stars to its name.

An international jury will select 15 Climate Stars in four categories according to local population. Selection criteria include a project’s sustainability, innovation, and its involvement of the public as well as its potential for replication and media impact. Winning municipalities will be honoured on 6 October at a gala in the elegant Grafenegg Castle upon the invitation of the Federal State of Lower Austria.

For the first time in Climate Alliance’s 26 year history, the Climate Alliance International Conference will take place in Lower Austria – a region boasting some 350 member towns and cities. ’The Climate Star Gala is a highlight of the three days International Climate Alliance Conference. We look forward to the opportunity for exchange with climate frontrunners from across Europe as well as to presenting ourselves as an exemplary region,” affirms Stephan Pernkopf, Lower Austria’s Secretary for Environmental Affairs.

5 – 8 October: The International Climate Alliance Conference

The awards ceremony will take place in the framework of Climate Alliance’s annual International Conference, set this year in Krems an der Donau, Austria. Spanning from 5 to 8 October 2016, the conference will gather hundreds of municipal representatives and experts from across the continent under the motto ’A culture of local climate action.” Presentations, workshops and round tables will provide fresh momentum on and new ideas for successful local climate action measures. Special excursions and the Climate Star winners will further demonstrate how cities can put climate strategies and the energy transition into action.

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