Ljubljana is the proud holder of the title European Green Capital 2016. We are marking the year with a one-year program and numerous events and activities.

In the opinion of the European Commission Ljubljana, European Green Capital 2016, has made the highest number of changes with regard to quality of life in the shortest time. Already in 2007 with the creation of the Vision Ljubljana 2025 we have embarked on the path of sustainable city development and are pursuing set goals within its framework – ensuring quality of life for all the residents of our clean, safe, green and orderly city.

The award is of great importance to Ljubljana as it puts us on the European and global map of sustainable cities, and we are the only city in Central and South-East Europe to receive this prestigious title.

Green year

We are marking the year with a year-round program, preparing numerous events and activities in cooperation with different stakeholders, including City of Ljubljana public institutes and companies, primary schools and kindergartens, and non-governmental organisations.

The Green Year is divided into theme months:
•    January: SMART WASTE MANAGEMENT
•    February: LOCAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY
•    March: RESPONSIBLE WATER MANAGEMENT
•    April: QUALITY OF THE ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT
•    May: GREEN AREAS
•    June: ENERGY EFFICIENCY
•    July: BIODIVERSITY AND BEES
•    August: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
•    September: SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY AND QUALITY OF AIR
•    October: WOOD – NATURE’S INVALUABLE GIFT
•    November: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTION
•    December: ECO-INNOVATIONS, GREEN JOBS AND SUSTAINABLE LOCAL MANAGEMENT

District communities – European Green Capital 2016 ambassadors

District communities of the City of Ljubljana are actively involved in the green capital program, each of them acting as a green ambassador of the project for three weeks. Within that timeframe they are planning numerous activities as additional recognition of the European Green Capital 2016.

The first green ambassador is the district community Črnuče, followed in chronological order by Šmarna gora, Vič, Center, Golovec, Moste, Jarše, Posavje, Rudnik, Rožnik, Šentvid, Bežigrad, Trnovo, Polje, Dravlje, Šiška and Sostro.

Among numerous activities throughout the year we put the following into focus:

•    13 January 2016, at 17.00, residents of Ljubljana are invited to the introductory event »LJUBLJANA. Green for you.« in front of the City Hall. We are going to switch on the green light, raise the European Green Capital 2016 flag and open an Info Point offering a diverse program every day.
 
•    15 January 2016, at 14.00, opening of the photo exhibition »Ljubljana.For you.« at Krakovski nasip.

•    9 February 2016, official award of the title European Green Capital 2016 in Brussels.

•    10 March 2016, official opening ceremony of the European Green Capital 2016 in Ljubljana.

•    June 2016, decision on the European Green Capital 2018 in Ljubljana.

The slogan of Ljubljana, European Green Capital, is Ljubljana.Zate./Ljubljana.For you., the mascot is the lovely dragon Flora, and also marking this year is the anthem by students at the Primary School Poljane »Ljubljana.For you.« chosen in a contest among primary schools in Ljubljana.
 
You are invited to follow the program, activities and events during the green year at our interactive website www.greenljubljana.com.

For the year-long program of Ljubljana, European Green Capital, 600,000 euros have been are earmarked from the budget. The house for the Info Point has been donated by the company Rico and partners.