Kozani is, as of today, an official network member of the European Union Green Municipalities, after the positive approval from the European Commission.
The Agreement for the Green Municipalities (Green City Accord), signed by the mayor of Kozani, Lazaros Maloutas, following the relevant Decision of the Municipal Council of Kozani on July 6, 2021, is a movement by EU municipalities, which are committed for the protection of the environment. By signing the Accord, mayors agree to take further action to make municipalities greener, cleaner and healthier.
“This initiative is a continuation of our broader policy, which aims to exploit every possible perspective for the future of our place. Our vision is not opportunistic. Our goal is to stop the declining economic and population shrinkage of the region”, underlined the mayor of Kozani, Lazaros Maloutas.
It is noted that the Green City Accord brings together mayors and heads of local government throughout European Union around a common vision for the urban future, according to which, by 2030:
- Municipalities will be attractive places for their citizens, they will promote the health and prosperity of their citizens.
- All citizens will breathe fresh air, enjoy clean water, have access to parks and green spaces and experience lower levels of noise pollution.
- The circular economy is going to become a reality and waste will be turned into resources, as reuse, repair and recycling will be encouraged at all levels.
The Agreement will build coherence with other EU municipal initiatives and support the achievement of the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The benefits of the participation in the Green City Accord are:
- Municipalities are gaining pan-European promotion in recognition of their environmental practices and achievements.
- The municipality contributes to the EU’s environmental policy and becomes part of a community of municipalities with the same mentality, leading the transition to a clean and healthy Europe.
- It contributes to increasing the transparency, accountability and credibility of the municipality before the local community.
- The municipality will be able to access information on funding opportunities from EU programs.
- The municipality will have the opportunity to participate in networking events, taking advantage of opportunities for capacity building.
- Also,the municipality will be able to receive valuable and tailored guidance and support through a special support service that exists for this purpose.
- Last but not least the municipality will be able to compare the achievements of the city with other cities participating in this initiative.
The Municipality of Kozani continues to apply green development practices to take advantage of every possible opportunity for the smooth transition to decarbonization.
