VITORIA GASTEIZ - European Commissionec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/wp-content/... · 2018-06-15 · VITORIA GASTEIZ | European Green Capital 2012 7 Message from Javier

European Green Capital 2012

VITORIAGASTEIZ

KH-30-11-346-EN

-C

European Commission

Vitoria-Gasteiz — European Green Capital 2012

Luxembourg: Publications Offi ce of the European Union

2012 — 56 pp. — 21 x 21 cm

ISBN 978-92-79-22139-2

doi:10.2779/86055

More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu).

Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2012

ISBN 978-92-79-22139-2doi:10.2779/86055

© European Union, 2012Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

Printed in Belgium

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER THAT HAS BEEN AWARDED THE EU ECO-LABEL FOR GRAPHIC PAPER (www.ecolabel.eu)

Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers

to your questions about the European Union

Freephone number (*) :

00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11

(*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed.

To order the publication, which is available free of charge while stocks last:

For a single copy:

via the EU Bookshop – the on-line access to European Union publications:

http:// bookshop.europa.eu

For several copies: via the nearest national Europe Direct information centre:

http://europa.eu/europedirect/meet_us/index_en.htm


VITORIAGASTEIZ

Photos: All the pictures are the property of Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council. Most of the photos are from QUINTAS

FOTOGRAFOS (including the cover) and SINESTESIA (pages 38 and 46).

Table of contentsForeword 5 By Janez Potočnik, Commissioner for the Environment 5

Message from Javier Maroto, Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz 7

Vitoria-Gasteiz is European Green Capital 2012 9

Vitoria-Gasteiz at a glance 15

Why is Vitoria-Gasteiz special? 23

A green urban system 27

The educational city 37

What impressed the experts 41

Vitoria-Gasteiz: a model for Europe 45

Vitoria-Gasteiz – beyond the Green Capital 51

5VITORIAGASTEIZ | European Green Capital 2012

A greener future for our citiesThe European Green Capital Award has been very successful in attracting a

wide range of interest throughout Europe. Since the Award was launched

in 2010, 46 diff erent cities in 22 European countries have competed for

the title. Over the past three years, city authorities have been sharing their

experience in developing sustainable environments for their inhabitants,

and have set valuable examples that can help other cities fi nd new

solutions to the many complex challenges they face.

Today, three out of four citizens in Europe live in cities, and this proportion continues to increase.

But, as urban areas expand, so does demand for housing, transport, waste disposal, energy, clean

air, water and other limited resources. We need to fi nd more environmentally friendly ways to meet

these demands, to address the growing health problems caused by urban pollution and to use

our limited natural resources more effi ciently. In other words, we need to move towards greener

cities and a greener future. At the European Commission, we believe that the best answers can only

come from within the cities. The European Green Capital Award is one way to inspire and support

European cities as they evolve towards that greener future.

I am delighted that the 2012 title is going to Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain. Although the city is a lot smaller

than the previous winners – Stockholm and Hamburg – it has outstanding environmental experience.

This proves that when it comes to green living, all cities, large and small, have an important role to

play. Vitoria-Gasteiz can inspire similar medium-sized cities throughout Europe. In the course of the

year, we will be enjoying the programme of activities it has prepared to celebrate its success in

securing the Green Capital Award. It will certainly give its citizens a year to remember, underlining

the city’s quest to become a pleasant, healthy and sustainable metropolis that off ers an exceptional

quality of life to all its residents.

In 2013, the title will pass to the next award winner: the city of Nantes in France. But before that,

we have a great deal to look forward to – and learn – in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Janez Potočnik

European Commissioner for the Environment


Message from Javier Maroto, Mayor of Vitoria-GasteizVitoria-Gasteiz, capital of the Basque Country, in northern Spain, is one of

Europe’s cities with the largest proportion of green areas per inhabitant,

approximately 45m2 per person. A quiet and accessible city, but also one

that is active, dynamic, vibrant, modern; a city that prides itself on over

10 million m2 of parks and green areas that are available for walking, cycling,

observing deer or birdwatching. Such is Vitoria-Gasteiz, the European city

with the highest commitment to the environment at present.

We have not reached this point by chance. The European Green Capital

2012 Award is the result of over 30 years of commitment to sustainability in our city. It is thanks

to the environmental policies implemented during these years and thanks to the commitment of

our citizens and their good practices in relation to recycling, mobility or water consumption, that

Vitoria-Gasteiz has become an example for Europe.

In Vitoria-Gasteiz, our understanding of and respect for the environment has always been part of

our identity. Our city has a 613 hectare Green Belt that will soon cover 960 hectares, a successful

Sustainable Mobility Plan, a new bus network, a tram system, over 90 km of bike lanes and an

extensive network of parks and city walks, a sustainable water-management system, and established

recycling habits and policies.

Today, we are an environmental benchmark. Three-quarters of Europeans live in cities. Our experience

serves as a benchmark because most cities are a similar size to ours. Being the European Green Capital

2012 is an exciting challenge. It is a unique and historic opportunity for Vitoria-Gasteiz to boost and

develop the future of our city. The environment is the future, it is quality of life, it is sustainability and

it is about doing more with less. We shall do a good job, all together, and we shall enjoy it.

Javier Maroto

Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz


Vitoria-Gasteiz is European Green Capital 2012Vitoria-Gasteiz, capital of the Basque Country in northern Spain, is

the third European city to gain the prestigious title of European Green

Capital since the scheme was launched in 2010, following in the

footsteps of Stockholm and Hamburg.

It was selected from the six outstanding fi nalists in

a fi eld of 17 candidates. The award evaluators found

that: “The city shows much enthusiasm and dedication

to the EGCA project and portrays itself as committed

to sustainable urban development and keen to act as

a role model.”

Towards environmentally friendly urban living

The European Green Capital Award grew out of an initiative launched jointly in May 2006 by

15 European cities and the Association of Estonian cities. The brainchild of Jüri Ratas, then Mayor of

Tallinn, Estonia, and currently Vice-President of the Estonian Parliament, the Tallinn Memorandum

called on the European Commission to establish a special scheme to reward cities that are leading

the way towards healthier and more sustainable ways of living.

Vitoria-Gasteiz is a compact city and from its medieval quarter you can see much of the surrounding Green Belt.

Four out of fi ve Europeans will live in urban areas by 2050

10 VITORIAGASTEIZ | European Green Capital 2012

Green cities – fi t for life

With three out of four Europeans already living in towns or

cities, the European Commission launched the European

Green Capital Award to promote good practice in sustainable

management through the example of groundbreaking role

models. The overarching message is that Europeans have a right

to live in healthy urban areas, and cities should therefore ensure

that environmental protection, economic growth and quality

of life are developed in harmony. Hence, the award’s slogan:

‘Green cities – fi t for life’.

The honours list

Since 2010, one European city has been selected each year

as the European Green Capital. A total of 52 cities from across

Europe have already taken up the challenge of competing for the

title. Of these, 14 have been selected as fi nalists and four have

been awarded the European Green Capital title for 2010, 2011,

Deer in the Salburua

Wetlands, less than 3 km from the city centre.

The award goes to a city that:❙ Has a consistent record of achieving high

environmental standards

❙ Is committed to ongoing and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development

❙ Acts as a role model to inspire other European cities


2012 and 2013. A further selection round is currently under way. The city of Stockholm was the fi rst

to receive the award in 2010, followed by Hamburg in 2011. Vitoria-Gasteiz, European Green Capital

2012, will be followed by Nantes in 2013.

The green city challenge

Urban areas are a microcosm of many of the environmental challenges facing our society, but they

also bring together the commitment and capacity for innovation that make it possible to meet

them. With more and more of us living in an urban environment, improving living and working

conditions in cities is an issue that directly aff ects large numbers of people.

Winners of the award are expected to share their experience

Plaza del Machete, a public space that links the old town to the 19th century expansion.


A process of selection

The 2012 competition was open to cities of over 200 000

inhabitants from any of the EU Member States, candidate

countries (Turkey, Macedonia, Croatia, Iceland) and European

Economic Area countries. Countries with cities of less than

200 000 inhabitants may nominate their largest one. This applied,

for example, to Reykjavík (Iceland).

All applications are reviewed by a panel of international experts

in diff erent environmental fi elds, who base their judgement on

11 environmental indicators covering:

❙ Local contribution to global climate change

❙ Local transport

❙ Green urban areas

❙ Sustainable land use

❙ Nature and biodiversity

❙ Quality of local ambient air

❙ Noise pollution

❙ Waste production and management

❙ Water consumption

❙ Waste water treatment

❙ Environmental management of the municipality

Finalists for 2010 and 2011❙ Amsterdam❙ Bristol❙ Copenhagen❙ Freiburg❙ Hamburg❙ Münster❙ Oslo❙ Stockholm

Finalists for 2012 and 2013❙ Barcelona❙ Malmö❙ Nantes❙ Nuremberg❙ Reykjavík❙ Vitoria-Gasteiz


The 2012-2013 selection round added a new ‘Nature and biodiversity’ indicator, to underline the

wider-reaching environmental benefi ts of green cities. Winners of the award must also put forward

a dynamic communications programme designed to share and promote their experience.

The Forest of Armentia, in the Green Belt, is a green corridor between the city and the mountains of Vitoria.

Winners and fi nalists of the European Green Capital Award set the standard for green urban living


Vitoria-Gasteiz at a glanceThe medieval city of Vitoria-Gasteiz dates back to 1181. It is the capital

of the historical territory of Alava, and home to 76% of its population

and most of its industries and services.

A medium-sized city

Vitoria-Gasteiz is a medium-sized city: the municipality comprises

the urban area, with a population of 235 445, plus 64 small, rural

hamlets in the surrounding countryside.

From a town of just 50 000 people in 1950, the population of

Vitoria-Gasteiz surged during the 1960s, as job opportunities in

the strong mechanical and metallurgy industries attracted more

and more people from all over Spain. Careful urban planning has,

however, limited the environmental impact of this rapid growth.

Population density is much lower outside the city’s residential

area, guaranteeing the survival of a natural, rural environment

with limited human interference.

As a medium-sized city, it has so far avoided the problems

associated with large urban areas, such as high levels of pollution,

traffi c congestion, long commuting distances, and pockets of

poverty and social exclusion.

Facts and fi gures – Vitoria-Gasteiz municipality

❙ Capital city of the Basque Country and of the province of Alava

❙ Founded in 1181

❙ Population: 240 580

❙ Area: 276.8 km²

❙ Population density: 864 hab/km2

❙ First provincial capital in Spain to adopt the Local Agenda 21 in 1998

❙ Rapid population growth and urban development since the 1960s

The hills surrounding Vitoria host a rich biodiversity.


A city that relates to its environment

The municipality consists of three concentric circles. The city

itself, at the heart, is surrounded by a large area of agricultural

land and natural vegetation, with the mountains and forests

forming the third ring.

Because Vitoria-Gasteiz is at the crossroads of two biological

climates – the Atlantic to the north and the Mediterranean to the

south – a huge diversity of ecological environments coexist close

to the city. Citizens have access to a range of natural habitats,

from meadows and wetlands to beech forests and mountains.

Humanity has shaped the natural environment for millennia,

yet a conscious eff ort to protect the biodiversity of the area

means that many fragile ecosystems have been preserved. As

a result, Vitoria-Gasteiz has a rich selection of fl ora and fauna.

A third of Spain’s endangered vertebrate species are found in

the municipality. And while the area covers just 4% of the total

Basque region, it is home to 40% of its vascular plants and

75% of terrestrial vertebrates. Four municipal areas are part of

the Natura 2000 network, including the Zadorra River and the

Salburua Wetlands.

Green facts and fi gures

❙ All residents have access to public open and green space within 300 m

❙ 613 hectares of Green Belt

❙ 479 m2 of forest per capita (covering one-third of the municipal area)

❙ 210 organic farming plots

❙ 130 000 trees in city streets

❙ Two tram lines and 90 km of bicycle lanes

❙ Half of all journeys are made on foot

❙ 1st Environmental Action Plan adopted in 2002

Vitoria-Gasteiz has a rich selection of fl ora and fauna


A city that’s green inside and green outside

The city has a high proportion of green public areas, so the entire

population lives within 300 m of an open green space. Public

gardens cover 1 091 hectares, making up 32.67% of the urban

area. A Green Belt of fi ve large suburban parks with recreational

areas surrounds the centre, linked by a network of 33 km of

pedestrian pathways and 90 km of cycle routes, eff ectively

bringing nature into the urban heart. With 45 m2 of open space

per person, Vitoria-Gasteiz is one of the greenest cities in Spain.

Many of the hundreds of green spaces in Vitoria-Gasteiz take the

form of smallish urban gardens, open 24 hours a day. Together

they form a biodiversity resource sustaining some 50 000 trees of

381 diff erent species, and 12 160 shrubs.

The Salburua Wetlands, restored in the late 20th century, have become a Ramsar site of International Importance and part of the European Natura 2000 network.

Vitoria-Gasteiz municipality has 11 331 hectares of forest, most of it publicly owned. Native species, especially beech and oak, make up 91% of the trees. Two of these wooded areas are included in the Natura 2000 network: the eastern part of the Vitoria Mountains and the small oak forests on the La Llanada plains.

The awareness-raising campaign entitled Verde por fuera-Verde por dentro (Green outside – Green inside) generated a strong sense of civic pride and ownership and helped foster the city’s ‘green conscience’. The European Green Capital Award panel gave credit to the key role of citizens in promoting change.


The semi-natural Green Belt has been ‘work in

progress’ since the early 1990s, with signifi cant

eff ort and investment in reclaiming degraded

areas such as gravel pits and drained wetlands.

In 2000, the United Nations chose the Green

Belt as one of the 100 best projects worldwide

at its Third International Competition of Best

Practices for Improving the Environment.

Renovation of the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca,

the real heart of the city,

has made it a paradise for pedestrians.

Cars account for only 28.3% of travel in the city


A compact and diverse city

A long tradition of careful urban planning has made Vitoria-Gasteiz a compact and well-

organised city.

Despite a continuing population increase of over 7% since 2000, and expansion of the urban territory,

planners have largely built up rather than out, successfully limiting sprawl in the environmentally

sensitive areas to the south of the city. Some 81% of the population live within 1 500 m of the city

centre, and 95% have access to basic services such as education, health and cultural facilities within

500 m. Everything is within easy reach.

As a result, cars account for only 28.3% of travel in the city, as most people walk or use public transport.

A free bicycle-lending service has been introduced, together with a modernised transport system

including tramways and more effi cient bus lines. Vitoria-Gasteiz is a diverse city, where businesses,

housing and leisure facilities coexist side by side.

An industrial city

Traditionally an industrial city, Vitoria-

Gasteiz grew prosperous on the aeronautics,

energy and machine tool industries,

while more recently, services and new

technologies play a greater role. Companies

occupy more than 9.5 million m2 of the

municipality, and the Jundiz business park

is one of the largest corporate estates in the

north of the Iberian Peninsula.

A shopping street in the heart of the medieval quarter.


Vitoria-Gasteiz has successfully involved the business sector in the drive towards a sustainable

environment. Several multinational car companies have moved in and are developing electric

vehicles – the fi rst electric van on the market is being built in the city. It is also a major innovation

centre, attracting a wide range of companies to its technology park and research centres. Some of

them focus on green innovation, including CIC Energigune, dedicated to alternative energy research.

An ambitious rehabilitation

process is restoring the old city for citizens.

Vitoria-Gasteiz has successfully involved the business sector in the drive towards a sustainable environment


A cohesive city, a social city

People enjoy a good quality of life and well-being, with high life

expectancy. According to the latest surveys, they are generally

satisfi ed with their city and with the opportunities it off ers.

Citizens have access to an extensive range of services including

cultural, sports and educational activities. Community centres

also provide the public with information and social care. The

city is known for its welfare and social integration services, with

targeted support for children, young and older people, women,

and the gay and lesbian community.

A city of committed citizens

The support of residents is a key element in keeping Vitoria-

Gasteiz green. People have developed a high level of awareness

about the environment and there are numerous participation

initiatives. Citizens’ voices reach the city council through the

various bodies established in the Organic Regulations for Citizen

Participation.

The Environment Sector Council, set up in 2000, is the main

discussion forum on the conservation and protection of the

natural and urban environment. Today, almost 40 groups

(neighbourhood associations, environmental groups, unions,

universities and institutions) take part.

❙ Highest proportion of public housing in Spain

❙ 24% of the population has a university qualifi cation

❙ The city allocates around 1% of its budget to international development cooperation

❙ Renovation of the medieval town is revitalising the area and preventing depopulation


Why is Vitoria-Gasteiz special? Vitoria-Gasteiz is one of Europe’s greenest cities, in more than one

sense. It has over 10 million m2 of parks and green spaces, and its

fl agship Green Belt project has attracted international recognition.

Its green credentials are all the more remarkable in a city that has

experienced major population growth over recent decades.

The city where green is capital

Rigorous strategic urban planning, strong citizen

involvement, and the balanced management of the

environment have enabled the city to harmonise with

the natural landscape, forging its cultural identity and

making it a model for urban sustainability.

However, Vitoria-Gasteiz is not just green on the outside, it is also green at heart, combining a high

level of leadership and consensus among political parties on sustainable development, a strong

environmental movement, and the full support of citizens.

With its award-winning urban design, green space and lively social and cultural life, coupled with

fi rst-class services, it is an ideal role model for the average, medium-sized city in which 84% of

Europeans live.

The Molinuevo park is located a few metres away from the medieval town

Vitoria-Gasteiz is green at its heart


Taking care of the landscape and the heritage

Throughout history, the city has evolved in

harmony with its green forests and fi elds, and

its blue rivers and lakes. Since time immemorial,

the woods of Alava belonged to the public,

with ancient rules governing the use of

natural resources such as water and pasturage.

More recently, Vitoria-Gasteiz’s network of

gardens, walkways and Green Belt parks and

the forthcoming declaration of the Vitoria

Mountains as a natural park have become the

city’s signature.

The city that thinks about citizens

Vitoria-Gasteiz builds on the experience of over

three decades of environmental planning. The

Environmental Sector Council is now the key

mouthpiece for local associations, groups and

institutions.

The Action Plan for 2012 places citizens at

the heart of the strategy. Involving all sorts of

civic organisations (schools, community and

professional associations, etc.), citizens and

The experience of over three decades of environmental planning

El Paseo de la Senda,

connecting the centre with the

Green Belt, was the fi rst urban path designed

for walkers and cyclists.


industry in the city’s environmental projects has raised awareness

and led to a high level of public commitment to sustainability.

The aim is to foster a sense of ‘belonging’ in a green community.

It is also a socially sustainable city, where the welfare of citizens

and their quality of life are considered key issues, including

local services, education, training and cultural facilities,

equal opportunities, the right to employment and housing,

social integration and poverty-prevention, and public health.

A commitment to local employment means that 80% of the

Vitorian labour force work in the municipality.

Building together

In Vitoria-Gasteiz, respect for the environment crosses party lines, while the early emergence of a vocal green movement encouraged the city to take a lead in sustainable development. Over the last 15 years, it has won a succession of awards. The European Green Capital Award 2012 is the culmination of these achievements.

Mechanical ramps have improved access to the medieval quarter.


A green urban system Making Vitoria-Gasteiz an exemplary green capital means taking

account of and bringing together every aspect of environmental

protection and sustainable living. The city is determined to reduce its

ecological footprint to a minimum.

Better mobility, better public space

The Sustainable Mobility and Public Space Plan aims to reverse

the upward trend in private car use and improve other means of

transport such as bus and tram networks, bicycles and space for

pedestrians. In 2008, the city introduced a new tramline, followed

a year later by revised bus routes, coupled with new parking

regulations. As a result, journeys by public transport rocketed by

45%. All the vehicles are accessible to people with disabilities.

With four out of fi ve residents employed within municipal

boundaries, walking is the most popular way of getting around.

The latest mobility survey revealed that nearly 50% of all journeys

are on foot. As much as 25% of the city is reserved for pedestrians,

with 33 km of pathways within the city and 91 km across the

Green Belt.

As well as its pedestrian network, Vitoria-Gasteiz

is actively promoting cycling, planning to invest

€22 million in its Bicycle Master Plan. A public bike

system was created in 2006 with a network of pick-up

In the near future, the city is implementing at least 10 new municipal projects for green development. Some are already in progress. They include:

❙ Ecological agricultural park

❙ Recovery of waste fuel

❙ Restoration of the medieval district

❙ Zero land-growth town development plan

❙ Mobilising solar energy potential

Public transport use has risen by 45%

The new tramway helped to boost public transport use by 45%.


The best way to minimise the city’s impact on water resources and the environment is to copy natural cycles

and drop-off points across the city. By 2011, there were 17 pick-

up points off ering 350 bicycles free of charge. The service has

also taken into account the needs of people with disabilities

by providing, for example, tandems for the sight impaired or

tricycles for people with reduced mobility.

The roll-out of electric vehicles is key to the city’s strategy,

supported by technological innovation, tax incentives and

communication campaigns. Since 2008, the city council has

participated in the European Civitas MODERN project, which

funds sustainable mobility demonstration projects. With a

€2.3 million budget, Vitoria-Gasteiz plans to develop a pilot

scheme with four electric vehicles available on a car-sharing

basis, and a control group of citizens who will evaluate the

vehicles, the recharging points and management of the car-

sharing scheme itself.

A green and blue belt

The Green Belt is a semi-natural green space partially recovered

from degraded areas, such as gravel pits, burnt ground and

drained wetlands. Their restoration, which started in the mid

1990s, continues today.

Some benefi ts of the Green Belt

❙ Protection and improvement of biodiversity and landscapes

❙ Less pollution

❙ Regulation of fl oods and fewer fl ooding episodes

❙ Conservation and rational use of natural resources

❙ Improved environmental awareness and respect

❙ Greater citizen involvement, responsibility and well-being

❙ Employment opportunities

❙ Tourism

❙ High-quality urban development


When completed, the Green Belt will be the natural lung of the future Vitoria-Gasteiz, linking city

and countryside. This ring is formed by the parks: Salburua, Zabalgana, Armentia, Olarizu and

Río Zadorra. More areas need to be integrated, connecting the belt directly to the surrounding

mountains and forests.

Today, the Green Belt is a great ecological and scenic resource, and two of its suburban areas have

been recognised for their signifi cant natural value. One is the Salburua Wetlands, declared an EU

Site of Community Importance (SCI) and a Ramsar site of International Importance. The other is the

Zadorra River, an SCI that forms part of the European Natura 2000 network.

The 2008-2009 Inbios project funded a range of actions to protect the wetlands, and safeguard

threatened species such as bats, sand martins and kingfi shers, waders, herons and otters.

Observation of waterfowl in Salburua, one of the Green Belt parks.


Closing cycles

The best way to minimise the city’s impact on the environment is to copy natural cycles and

processes, creating an integrated, green urban metabolism. Vitoria-Gasteiz has been exploring

ambitious strategies aimed, for example, at cutting waste to a minimum.

Recycling of sludge from the Crispijana waste-treatment plant will minimise the volume of material

deposited in the Gardélegui landfi ll, as will channelling waste materials into energy-recovery

systems or landscape restoration. Waste-management programmes have already achieved higher

recycling levels than in most Spanish cities.

Vitoria-Gasteiz is making major progress in urban water management and reducing consumption,

mainly through controlling leaks and technological improvements, as well as boosting public

awareness. Between 2001 and 2009, water consumption per capita fell by 20%. The city has also

improved the quality of the urban waste water discharged into the Zadorra River after treatment at

the Crispijana facility.

Storks are regular

inhabitants of Vitoria’s bell

towers.


A heart that beats once more

Restoring the city’s medieval quarters means not

only preserving Vitoria-Gasteiz’s architectural

heritage, but also improving the quality of life

for residents in an area that was beginning to

look run-down. The Special Interior Reform Plan

(PERI) set out 11 strategies for action, including

making use of empty buildings and improving

communications.

At the heart of the restoration programme, the 800-year-old Cathedral of Santa Maria is a symbol of

Vitoria-Gasteiz. In 2002, work to return the building to its former glory won Europe’s highest prize

for cultural heritage conservation, the Europa Nostra Award.

A network for proximity

Vitoria-Gasteiz’ network of civic centres attracted half a million visits in 2010, off ering information,

advice, training, leisure and sports facilities. Civic centres are found in local neighbourhoods across

the city, and their mission is to bring citizens together and provide essential services to improve

their quality of life.

More than 12 000 schoolchildren have joined the ‘Adopt a tree and grow with it’ campaign

Environmental education is one of the pillars of Vitoria-Gasteiz’ green strategy.


An effi cient ecosystem

The city has made real progress in recovering

biodiversity, restoring many of the city’s damaged

ecological and landscape areas through the Green

Belt project, the creation of the Bosques de Europa

Botanical Gardens, and the opening of the Ecological

Gardens for citizens. Since 1996, more than

12 000 schoolchildren and hundreds of adults have

joined the ‘Adopt a tree and grow with it’ campaign,

planting over 40 000 trees and bushes.

These advances have also helped to remedy other

problems that plagued Vitoria-Gasteiz, such as the

proliferation of illegal huts and vegetable gardens or

the risk of fl ooding from the industrial estates to the

north and south of the city. Instead, residents are now

encouraged to take part in the organic gardening and

community gardens initiatives, or in cultivating plots

in the Urarte and Olarizu vegetable gardens within the

Green Belt.

A plan for energy

Vitoria-Gasteiz is reducing its energy consumption by rationalising energy use and using more eco-

effi cient technologies such as district heating and micro-cogeneration, as well as greater energy

effi ciency in new and restored buildings. At the same time, it is promoting renewable energy sources

such as solar power, geothermal systems, wind farms and biogas from urban waste. The city’s Local

Energy Plan has a budget of €76 million to promote sustainable energy use.

The kingfi sher, one of the bird

species found in the Green Belt.


Aiming for carbon neutral

Cutting greenhouse gas emissions is another vital contribution to reducing the city’s ecological

footprint. More than half of Europe’s emissions come from cities, so local authorities have an

important role in combating climate change. Two-thirds of emissions in Vitoria-Gasteiz come

from energy consumption by industry and transport. The city council adopted a Climate Change

Prevention Strategy in 2006, and agreed to cut emissions by 16% by 2012. In 2009, it signed up to

the Covenant of Mayors and, in 2010, approved the Plan against Climate Change, promising more

ambitious reductions.

The city’s long-term aim is to become a carbon-neutral zone, with an interim goal of cutting

emissions by half by 2050, through wide-ranging actions in diff erent sectors and public education.

The main street in the heart of the city is an example of sustainable design in the 19th century.

The Zadorra River, a tributary of the Ebro, has one of the richest ecosystems in the city.


The educational city Education is one of the cornerstones in building an eco-effi cient city.

Vitoria-Gasteiz wants citizens to be well informed on environmental

issues and able to play an active part in improving their city.

Learning respect

The city council has, for over a decade, been implementing an annual programme of education and

awareness-raising activities for sustainable development. They reach out to the entire population,

not just children, aiming to encourage action and prepare citizens to change their behaviour.

The programme, launched in 1995, has been linked to the Local Agenda 21 process since 1998.

It includes awareness-raising campaigns, training activities and public information centres, and

education in schools. There are now over 100 initiatives annually. The result has been sustained

improvement in several areas requiring citizens’ co-operation, such as waste recycling and saving water.

Green Belt in environmental education

The Green Belt has been the focus of numerous educational and awareness-raising initiatives.

Over 88 000 people took part in activities organised in and around the diff erent parks and green

areas. A website and Facebook page give residents and tourists alike a central point of access to all

information, including educational programmes.

The Ecological Horticulture Programme provides practical training in horticulture and organic

gardening, for 18-55 year olds, which can lead to the concession of a 50 m2 allotment in the

Urarte and Olarizu botanical gardens. Over 5 000 residents participated in activities in 2008-2009,

including workshops on organic gardening, potted plants, basketry, natural preserves, native fl ora

bee-keeping, fruit growing, and pruning and grafting.

The restoration of the city’s Gothic cathedral has won several international awards.


Wetlands teach the importance of biodiversity

In July 2009, the city authorities opened the Ataria

Interpretation Centre in the Salburua Wetlands, which

provides a recreational and educational focus point.

The centre aims to increase environmental awareness

among visitors and appreciation of the park’s

exceptional ecological importance. Activities range

from seminars, conferences, workshops and temporary

exhibitions, to the loan of bicycles, binoculars, guided

walks and privileged viewing of closed-off sections of

the park, thanks to remote cameras.

Agenda 21 for Schools

The signing of the Ålborg Charter in 1995 and of the

Local Agenda 21 in 1998 led to the implementation

of the Local Agenda 21 for Schools: an essential tool

in building awareness among future generations.

Courses aimed at primary and secondary schools and vocational training students help them to

analyse and understand environmental questions, and prepare them to act responsibly for a fairer

and more sustainable society.

The fi rst courses were introduced in

2001-2002. Since then, this initiative

has expanded from three schools with

1 600 students in 2003, to 29 schools

and nearly 20 000 students in 2010

– and is expected to reach 100%

participation by 2012.

Vitoria-Gasteiz has over

200 organic vegetable

gardens in its Green Belt.

Increasing public awareness helps prepare citizens to change their behaviour


Training for green jobs

The Environmental Studies Centre was set up at the end of the

1980s with the initial task of providing postgraduate training

for ‘environmental technicians’. Gradually, a wider range of

courses was introduced in more specialised training areas

such as geographic information systems, remote sensing,

environmental services to companies, and assessment and

correction of environmental impact. As it has developed, the

centre has formed close relationships with universities and

research organisations and has started designing courses for

people with lower-level qualifi cations, and refresher courses

for the administration and private fi rms. Its aim is to promote

environmental education, training and research whilst, at the

same time, providing practical and theoretical knowledge for

the green jobs of the future.

Education in schools is an essential tool in building the environmental awareness of future generations

Vitoria-Gasteiz Education and Awareness-Raising Programme for Sustainable Development

❙ Awareness campaigns on specifi c issues (waste, water, mobility)

❙ Activities related to signifi cant events: World Water Day, World Wetlands Day, World Biodiversity Day, World Day of Birds, World Environment Day, European Mobility Week, etc.

❙ Launch of the Ataria Wetlands Interpretation Centre in Salburua

❙ Exhibitions, contests and competitions

❙ Environmental fi lms

❙ Classroom for urban ecology (monthly programme of lectures and conferences)

❙ Organic gardening workshops in the Olarizu and Urarte gardens(for young and old)

❙ Regular contributions to the media

❙ A wide range of paper and digital publications

❙ Development of a dedicated and regularly updated web page


What impressed the experts The panel of experts who evaluated the European Green Capital Award

applications was particularly impressed by Vitoria-Gasteiz’ outstanding

performance on fi ve of the indicators – climate change, transport,

air quality, noise pollution and its dissemination programme.

The climate-change battle

Vitoria-Gasteiz has built a strong political consensus in support of a long-term, coherent set of

policies and actions at local level. The panel noted several innovative actions aimed at tackling

climate change including, for example, the installation of a power generator using the fl ow of

effl uent water from the sewage-treatment plant, and the reuse of treated water for non-drinking

purposes.

Local transport

The city won approval for its Sustainable

Mobility Plan and active measures to

promote eco-friendly modes of transport,

including improvements to the public

transport system, the proposed extension of

the city’s ‘Superblock’ with its very low speed

zones (10 km/h), and better management of

freight distribution.

The Florida Park (1820) is the fl agship green area of the city.

The city shows much enthusiasm and dedication to the EGCA project


A breath of fresh air

Clean air is essential for a healthy environment. Vitoria-Gasteiz adopted an Air Quality Management

Plan in 2003, and the installation of monitoring systems and an emissions database has made it

possible to chart progress and record the impact of measures to control and improve air quality.

Today, air-pollution indicators are already below target and are continuing to fall, reaching 284 days

of good air quality each year.

Noise pollution

The city has taken steps to cut noise pollution over the past decade as part of its Noise Management

Plan, setting up a noise-monitoring network in 17 places in 2008. As a result, residents enjoy

relatively low levels of exposure to noise.

A green urban environment

Partly through development of the Green Belt, the amount of green space has doubled since 1974

and is now distributed more evenly across the city. In addition, the extensive network of pedestrian

and cycle paths ensures that all areas are well connected and helps ‘bring nature into the city’.


Water consumption

It is the only inland city to have won the prize so far, bringing additional challenges in water

supply and management. Vitoria-Gasteiz is successfully coping with water scarcity and has steadily

decreased its water consumption over the last decade. On the other hand, the city has to deal with

overloaded sanitation systems during heavy rains. It has invested in improving water supply and

quality, reducing losses, and has set up a citizens’ water information offi ce.

Enthusiasm and dedication

Vitoria-Gasteiz’ communications programme, with its appealing slogan Verde por fuera - Verde

por dentro, off ers an impressive range of activities, events, actions and networking opportunities

throughout the year and demonstrates the city’s strong motivation to share ideas and spread best

practice. It includes a number of original ideas, such as the Ekolabora volunteer programme, and an

EU-wide schools competition.

Woods and fi elds surround Vitoria-Gasteiz, the largest municipality in the Basque Country.


Vitoria-Gasteiz: a model for EuropeThe winner of the European Green Capital Award should serve as an

example and inspiration for other cities.

Throughout 2012, Vitoria-Gasteiz is opening its doors to showcase and share its environmental

policies, projects and challenges with the rest of Europe. The city has prepared an ambitious

programme of activities, off ering a platform for the exchange of good practices and for disseminating

green ideas.

Involving society

The programme sets out to involve the maximum number

of people in making 2012 a decisive year for environmental

progress.

Ekolabora is a volunteer programme that will draw people into

local initiatives with a view to sustaining this commitment long

after the Green Capital title passes to the next winner in 2013.

The battle for sustainability will be won or lost in citiesMaurice Strong, Secretary-General of the UN Stockholm ’72 and Rio ’92 summits

Vitoria-Gasteiz, seen from the hill in the medieval quarter, is compact.

The VGGC 2012 programme is divided into four themes:

1. Involving society

2. Showcasing the city and its initiatives

3. Refl ecting on the city: space and opportunities

4. Disseminating the Green Capital idea and its values


Green cities initiatives have come from many

organisations and civic bodies. The city council

has approved a range of aid and subsidy

packages to support the most interesting

projects.

The Green Pact is an agreement between

institutions, companies and associations,

pledging to promote good environmental

practices. It is about creating a partnership

between businesses, public administrations and

civil society. Partners undertake to identify how

their activities impact on the city’s environment,

and sign up to improve their performance.

Sustainable city events: with major cultural and

other festivals throughout the year, organisers

will be urged to ensure events are outwardly and

inwardly sustainable.

Showcasing the city and its initiatives

A permanent exhibition will present the city’s environmental record over recent years and the

major plans and projects that have earned it the Green Capital Award, as well as future plans beyond

2012. There will also be space to demonstrate environmental initiatives by groups of citizens. It will

be a dynamic and interactive exhibition promoting visitors’ participation.

Green Factories: a programme of one-day guided tours will enable people to explore the ‘green

heart’ of the city, visiting the places where daily environmental processes are handled. These include

waste treatment, water treatment and sewage plants, the Miñano Technology Park, the Ataria

Wetlands Interpretation Centre, and the University of the Basque Country.

Community gardens, a sign

of citizens’ involvement.


Ecotourism: Vitoria-Gasteiz will develop a plan of action to make it even more attractive as a

destination for eco-tourists. A nature and cultural heritage programme will harness natural assets to

create an outstanding sustainable tourism location.

Refl ecting on the city: space and opportunities

The fi fth CONAMA local meeting (National Environmental Congress) took place in Vitoria-Gasteiz in

December 2011, to celebrate the city being selected as European Green Capital 2012. It was a forum

for debate on the quest for urban sustainability.

Several thematic weeks, including Energy Week, Green Week, Mobility Week and the Land and

Landscape Week, will off er a range of activities including practical sessions, demonstrations, and

training, open to the whole population. In addition, public spaces will host events on the theme of

‘recovering the city for citizens’, displaying the potential of streets, squares and parks as venues for

exchanging information in an environmentally friendly manner.

The city’s university is in one of the most characteristic green zones.


VGGC 2012 has called on all schools in Europe to join the

European Agenda 21 for Schools, creating a Europe-wide

network of educational centres. An online forum will develop

a project on responsible eating and consumption, in Spanish,

Basque, English, French and German, and students will present

the results to the city’s mayor. By October 2011, 44 schools had

registered to take part, including fi ve from France, four from

Germany, three from Romania and one from the UK.

As well as a number of technical seminars, Vitoria-Gasteiz will

host the annual Civitas Forum in 2012, an EU initiative to promote

ambitious projects for sustainable, clean and economical urban

transport.

The United Nations invited Vitoria-Gasteiz’ leaders to go to New York to take part in preparations for the Rio+20 Environmental Summit. The city will use its title as European Green Capital to promote its green credentials on the international stage.

Ataria is the Green Belt

Interpretation Centre, close

to the Salburua Wetlands.


Disseminating the Green Capital idea and its values

Vitoria-Gasteiz’s Green Capital Award has already gained coverage by over 30 media organisations,

in Spain and abroad. Communication throughout 2012 will focus on opening the city to people

from all over Europe, and winning support for and investment in the Green Capital ideals. Top events

include:

❙ VG2012 Opening – to launch the European Green Capital in the year of the Rio+20 Summit

❙ European Green Capitals 2014 event – designating the future award-holders

❙ Green Cycle Tour – 10 people will visit 25 European cities in July 2012, including Stockholm,

Hamburg and Nantes: Green Capitals in 2010, 2011 and 2013

❙ Green Night 2012 – live music, exhibitions, plays, slow food… and much more to celebrate

around the city centre

❙ Closing Event – to thank all those involved and sum up achievements throughout 2012.

Environmental awareness activities are common in the city, including European Mobility Week.


Vitoria-Gasteiz – beyond the Green Capital Gaining the award does not mean the end of a process for Vitoria-

Gasteiz – not even a halt on the road towards sustainability. In fact,

the green city of the future requires profound changes in traditional

urban-management models and policies, and in lifestyles and patterns

of behaviour.

More biocapacity, more biodiversity

The defi nitive completion of the Green Belt is the most urgent task at hand, guaranteeing

connectivity for both people and wildlife. The belt will be transformed from a collection of green

areas into a great urban infrastructure.

Connecting it with the mountains surrounding the city will provide Vitoria-Gasteiz with a new

ecological dimension, linking the city with the natural spaces known as the Highland Belt,

and making it part of the great pan-European ecological corridor that runs from the Galician

mountains to the Alps.

Increasing biodiversity and biocapacity within the city is an even more challenging task, reducing

the urban ecological footprint and ensuring the continuity of natural cycles. The Interior Green

Belt project will create an urban corridor that is sustainable from the viewpoint of power, building,

and vegetation. The eco-redesign of Gasteiz Avenue and the Europa Convention Centre will be the

centre point of this development.

The Salburua Wetlands – home to endangered species such as European mink – seen from the air.


In rural areas, where agriculture is still a major activity, the aim is

to protect agricultural land from urban development, promote

good practices, involve young farmers and encourage farming as

a strategic sector and a key factor in preserving the land.

More city in the city

Urban growth must respond to real social needs and respect

environmental conditions. Curbing the consumption of materials

and preventing the development of more and more land means

new construction techniques and the smart reuse of buildings

and public spaces. The idea is to move towards a ‘closed cycle’

urban metabolism, reducing both the environmental impact and

building costs.

VGGC 2012: plans and projects

❙ Plan for protection and restoration of sensitive natural resources

❙ Flood prevention plan

❙ Plan for improving biocapacity, biodiversity and urban landscape

❙ Mobility and public space plan

❙ Strategic waste plan

❙ Urban pollution reduction plan

❙ Plan to combat climate change

❙ Plan to improve water cycle

❙ Plan to promote a sustainability culture

❙ Plan for urban restoration and land improvement

Promoting renewable energy is one of the city’s challenges in the coming years.


The Betoño Urban Business Park project, for example, will transform degraded and obsolete spaces

into new, mixed urban areas. The General Urban Development Plan is crucial to the life of the city,

treating land as an irreplaceable resource and respecting and protecting the peripheral network of

fi elds and forests.

Smart mobility

Vitoria-Gasteiz should be an accessible and friendly city for citizens and visitors alike. This means

careful traffi c planning within neighbourhoods, public streets that incorporate biodiversity as a

structural element, and more public and non-motorised transport.

The new Sustainable Mobility Plan has reduced car use in town.

The Green Belt will be transformed into a great urban infrastructure


The Mobility Plan is gradually reducing private car travel and aims to replace cars with electric

and hybrid vehicles, with a network of electric recharging points, and car-sharing initiatives to be

introduced in 2012. The Bicycle Mobility Master Plan proposes to create a further 60 km of tracks and

to extend the free bike network.

Water and energy effi ciency

Signifi cant challenges remain with regard to reducing consumption and improving the quality of

discharged water. Two key aspects are the gradual separation and return to the natural environment

of clean water that currently runs into sewers, and the reuse of dirty water, especially for irrigation

and cleaning public spaces.

On energy, the priorities are saving power in new buildings and restoration projects, the urban

generation of renewable energy from infrastructure and buildings, and reducing consumption by

rationalising energy use and implementing more eco-effi cient technologies such as district heating.

The new city has grown,

respecting and accommodating

the natural environment.


Stimulating the green economy

With the current economic crisis and

struggle against high unemployment

in Spain, the opportunities arising

within the Green Capital framework

are enormous. Vitoria-Gasteiz can be a

breeding ground for green jobs, either

linked to technology and innovation, or through programmes to improve the natural environment

and for the recovery of biodiversity through Rural Employment Landscape Plans, to be launched

in 2012.

And do not forget the substantial employment opportunities that may arise from one of the city’s

future hallmarks: sustainable restoration, which involves improving the energy consumption of

buildings, more effi cient water management, and more accessible public space.

New governance

None of this will come about without good governance, which underpins the sustainable

development model. Indeed, current consumption models are often the cause of many economic,

social and environmental problems.

This new governance needs commitment, and a sustained political consensus in favour of green

policies. Vitoria-Gasteiz’ environmental advancement has transcended diff erences in political

opinions and manifestos.

In future, it will step up coordination between the Environment Sector Council and the municipal

departments and agencies, focusing on information, policy transparency, and communicating with

citizens. Strong institutional leadership and co-operation between diff erent agents in the city will

enable Vitoria-Gasteiz to move forward to ever greater sustainability.

New governance for sustainability must seek the commitment of cities

www.vitoria-gasteiz.org/www.vitoria-gasteiz.org/www.europeangreencapital.euwww.europeangreencapital.eu

European Commission

Vitoria-Gasteiz — European Green Capital 2012

Luxembourg: Publications Offi ce of the European Union

2012 — 56 pp. — 21 x 21 cm

ISBN 978-92-79-22139-2

doi:10.2779/86055

More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu).

Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2012

ISBN 978-92-79-22139-2doi:10.2779/86055

© European Union, 2012Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

Printed in Belgium

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER THAT HAS BEEN AWARDED THE EU ECO-LABEL FOR GRAPHIC PAPER (www.ecolabel.eu)

Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers

to your questions about the European Union

Freephone number (*) :

00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11

(*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed.

To order the publication, which is available free of charge while stocks last:

For a single copy:

via the EU Bookshop – the on-line access to European Union publications:

http:// bookshop.europa.eu

For several copies: via the nearest national Europe Direct information centre:

http://europa.eu/europedirect/meet_us/index_en.htm


VITORIAGASTEIZ

KH-30-11-346-EN

-C

Documents

VITORIA GASTEIZ - European Commissionec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/wp-content/... · 2018-06-15 · VITORIA GASTEIZ | European Green Capital 2012 7 Message from Javier