On Wednesday, the 22nd of January, Vilnius officially became the European Green Capital 2025. The prestigious title was taken over from Valencia during a solemn ceremony. Vilnius confirmed its determination during the ceremony to become an even greener, more sustainable and innovative city, inspiring not only Lithuania, but also the whole of Europe to make sustainable changes. In addition, during the ceremony in Vilnius, the Green City Accord network, whose members are committed to achieving even more ambitious environmental goals, was expanded. Vilnius has been part of this network since 2021.

‘The title of European Green Capital is an important recognition for Vilnius and an incentive to move towards an even more sustainable future. It obliges us to continue to nurture biodiversity, improve quality of life, and strive to become a climate-neutral city by 2030. The signing ceremony of the Green City Accord and the opening events of the Green Capital only further highlight and reinforce our commitment to enhance our environmental action and to create a city that is friendly not only to nature but also to people,’ says Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas.

Vilnius has been selected as the European Green Capital for 2025 because of its strong commitment to sustainability goals, based on a realistic and responsible approach to climate change, city growth, and the challenges it poses. Vilnius’ motto ‘The Greenest City in the Making’ reflected the city’s ambition to build a sustainable future and its desire to involve all Vilnius residents in creating a more sustainable city and city life. The European Commission noted Vilnius’ courage to recognise that it is not the greenest city yet, but it is determined to follow this path to achieve not only sustainability, but also quality of life for its residents.

On the 22nd of January, Vilnius took another important step towards sustainability, as new cities joined the network and signed the Green City Accord. This European initiative encourages cities to achieve cleaner air, better water quality, more efficient waste management, biodiversity protection, and reduced noise. By hosting the signing ceremony for new members, Vilnius has once again demonstrated its commitment to enhancing its environmental action and creating a capital city that is friendly to both people and nature.