Freiburg wins Germany’s most sustainable city honor

With its broad range of achievements in urban sustainability including several lighthouse projects that turn high-rise residential buildings into passive houses, the City of Freiburg (Germany) champions the German Sustainability Award for local governments in the category of large cities in 2012.

The Award – now in its fifth edition since 2008 – is an initiative of the German Sustainability Award Foundation, which aims at promoting sustainable urban development in certain thematic fields such as governance administration, climate and resources, mobility and infrastructure, economy and labor, education and integration, quality of life and urban structure.

Two other ICLEI members - the City of Augsburg and Ludwigsburg (Germany) also make it into the top three in the category of medium-sized cities, while Emiko Okuyama, Mayor of Japanese ICLEI member Sendai, receives special recognition for her efforts in leading the city to reconstruct sustainably following the earthquakes and tsunami in March 2011.

Divided into different categories according to city size and certain thematic areas, this year also marks the first time that the German Sustainability Award recognizes not only businesses but also local governments, attracting a total of 119 applications from local governments of all sizes and financial capacities. Many of the applications do not only demonstrate that austerity and tight budgets are no barriers to sustainable development, but innovation and an integrated and participatory approach towards urban development are equally important.

For more information, click here or visit ICLEI Japan.