Benidorm, Finalist for the European Green Leaf 2028 Award

Benidorm has been selected as one of the three finalist cities for the European Green Leaf 2028 award, granted by the European Commission to towns and cities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants that stand out for their environmental commitment and progress in addressing urban challenges linked to climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

The selection follows an assessment by a panel of independent experts, who evaluated the candidate cities across seven environmental areas: air quality, water management, biodiversity, green areas and sustainable land use, waste and circular economy, noise pollution, climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.

Benidorm’s candidacy has been particularly recognised for its water management and adaptation to climate change. The European Commission has highlighted the city’s strong commitment to urban sustainability, noting its ability to reduce emissions while managing a high volume of tourism. The use of green infrastructure to counteract the urban heat island effect and optimise water management has also been positively valued.

Benidorm will compete for the award alongside Chiclana de la Frontera and Estarreja, in Portugal. The finalist cities will defend their candidacies on 7 and 8 October in Guimaraes, this year’s European Green Capital, where they will present their environmental vision, governance strategies and communication proposals.

The European Green Leaf 2028 title may be awarded to one or two cities, with each winner receiving 200,000 euros to support activities during the year of designation and promote further sustainable transformation.