Green City Accord: towards a sustainable urban future

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The Green City Accord (GCA), launched in 2020 by the European Commission, provides a strategic framework for European cities to enhance urban sustainability. The signatory cities commit to ensuring that their urban centers become greener, cleaner, and healthier, in compliance with EU regulations. The GCA 2020-2023 report highlights the progress achieved. The Accord focuses on five priority areas: air quality, water management, nature and biodiversity, circular economy, and noise reduction. The initiative has set concrete and measurable goals, committing cities to exemplify environmental change and sustainability. Each participating city has reviewed its starting situation and defined its ambitions for 2030, demonstrating a willingness to improve urban quality of life, reduce pollution, and promote more efficient resource management.

Regarding air quality, the GCA report highlights very positive results. Over 90% of the cities involved have already reached or exceeded the air pollution limits imposed by the EU. This is a clear sign of the collective commitment towards reducing pollutant emissions. However, despite these advances, many cities still face the strict regulations imposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which require even lower levels of pollution. Challenges persist, but cities are making significant strides to improve air quality by adopting innovative policies and technologies to reduce air pollution and consequently improve the health of residents.

Another crucial aspect of the Green City Accord is the commitment of cities to expanding protected green areas and improving biodiversity. Cities are investing in the expansion of green areas, which not only beautify urban spaces but also offer numerous ecological benefits, such as the protection of natural habitats and the promotion of urban wildlife. Cities participating in the GCA have already raised the average tree coverage to 31%, surpassing the EU average of 28.5% in 2018. These advancements contribute to the well-being of citizens by improving air quality, reducing the heat island effect, and providing healthy recreational spaces. The GCA also promotes the importance of increasing biodiversity in urban areas, protecting and creating new habitats for endangered species like pollinators. Green area management policies are therefore essential for building more sustainable and resilient cities.

The Green City Accord is driving many cities to make significant progress in waste management and the transition to a circular economy. Key objectives include reducing urban waste, decreasing landfill use, and increasing recycling rates. The GCA report highlights how many cities have implemented innovative solutions to make waste management systems more efficient and sustainable. These actions include waste reduction policies at the source, improving separate collection infrastructure, and adopting advanced recycling technologies. At the same time, cities are also working to ensure more efficient water management, reducing losses, and improving the quality of treated water, thereby meeting European standards. These changes are essential to reduce the environmental impact of cities.

The management of noise pollution is one of the critical environmental challenges for the cities of the Green City Accord. The report shows that more than half of the participating cities have already achieved noise pollution levels below the European average, contributing to improving the quality of life for citizens. Cities are introducing policies to reduce noise, for example, by adopting solutions to limit noise pollution from traffic and industrial activities. Reducing noise has a direct impact on public health, improving sleep and reducing stress, thus creating a healthier and more livable urban environment. However, not all urban areas have achieved the goals set by the GCA, and some cities are committed to setting more ambitious targets for 2030.

This article was created within the framework of the project "Biodiversity services EU expansion" (CUP: E43D22000480009) under the call of the Lombardy Region "PR FESR 2021-2027 – INTERNATIONALIZATION 21-27 LINE", aimed at supporting the internationalization of Italian companies. 3Bee is the naturetech company that develops innovative technologies for monitoring, protecting, and regenerating biodiversity, supporting companies in defining customized climate strategies based on analysis of their impacts and dependencies on nature. With a consolidated portfolio in Italy, Germany, and France and significant partnerships, 3Bee continues its expansion in international markets to create a concrete impact through technology.