Benidorm wins the European Green Leaf award in Portugal and will represent EU green cities in 2028
The recognition, driven by the European Commission, acknowledges the city's efforts to improve environmental management and adapt to new climate challenges
Mayor Toni Pérez states that this award “validates Benidorm’s sustainable model as an example and inspiration for other cities around the world.”
On Thursday, the city of Benidorm won the European Green Leaf 2028 award, an honour sponsored by the European Commission that recognises the exceptional commitment shown in recent years to improving environmental management and adapting to new climate challenges. Benidorm was selected as a winner—alongside the Portuguese city of Estarreja—during the announcement in Guimarães, Portugal, having successfully presented its bid against the other finalist, Chiclana de la Frontera (Spain). Benidorm will represent Europe’s best green cities in 2028 alongside Zaragoza, which was also awarded the title of European Green Capital today.
Immediately after the verdict of the jury—comprising high-level experts—was announced, Benidorm Mayor Toni Pérez and the rest of the delegation that defended the city's bid expressed their "enormous satisfaction." He stated that receiving this recognition "validates Benidorm’s planning, implementation, and management as both a city and a tourist destination grounded in environmental, economic, and social sustainability—a model, example, and source of inspiration for our daily governance and for other cities around the world."
Pérez explained that from the moment the city submitted its bid for the European Green Leaf—and throughout the two days of presentations in Guimarães—"we have received excellent feedback from all the experts and organisations that reviewed and evaluated it. This has reinforced the hope and enthusiasm behind the 'Why not?' motto—a slogan we adopted when we were recognised as a Smart Tourism Green Pioneer in 2025." “Those good omens have finally come to pass,” he said with satisfaction, adding that “starting today, we are setting ourselves a new challenge: to be the best ambassadors for this European Green Leaf and to make 2028 another unforgettable year for Benidorm.”
The award received this Thursday is an initiative of the European Commission that annually recognises the work and results achieved by municipalities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants in addressing "urban environmental challenges related to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss." It is presented alongside the European Green Capital Award, which targets cities with populations exceeding 100,000. Both awards honour the achievements of Europe's leading sustainable cities across seven specific environmental areas: air quality; water management; biodiversity, green spaces, and sustainable land use; waste and the circular economy; noise pollution; and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
In Benidorm's case, the jury particularly commended the city's efficient water management, as well as the measures implemented in recent years to improve urban conditions and adapt to climate change.
Satisfaction within the Benidorm delegation
The award ceremony for the European Green Leaf 2027 took place this afternoon at the Jordão Theatre in Guimarães, attended by the entire delegation that travelled to Portugal to present Benidorm’s bid. The delegation included Mayor Toni Pérez; the Councillor for the Environment, Mónica López; a citizen representative; and various technical experts from Benidorm City Council, Visit Benidorm, HOSBEC, the University of Alicante, and Veolia.
The event was also followed live from the El Torrejó Municipal Centre, where Acting Mayor Ana Pellicer gathered with other members of the municipal council.
All expressed their satisfaction at receiving this recognition, which not only boosts the city's collective efforts and commitment but also brings a financial grant of €200,000 to help organise activities in 2028 and drive further green transformation.
The jury responsible for selecting the winning cities was chaired by Patrick Child, Deputy Director-General for Environment at the European Commission, and comprised experts in the relevant fields alongside institutional representatives. This year’s jury included Nuria Blázquez, a member of *Ecologistas en Acción* and representative of the European Environmental Bureau; Inés de Medeiros, Mayor of Almada (Portugal) and member of the European Committee of the Regions; Sara Giovannini, coordinator of the Covenant of Mayors Europe Office; and Katja Rosenbohm, representing the European Environment Agency.
