GreenMe5

GreenMe5 is an environmental project co- financed by the European Union through its LIFE programme. The partners of the project are: Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (Coordinator), the city councils of Murcia, Cieza (Spain), Arezzo (Italy), Vilnius (Lithuania), Helsingborg (Sweden), and EuroVértice (Spain).

Context

The Green City Accord is the movement formed by European cities committed to environmental conservation. Municipal authorities signing the Green City Accord commit themselves to take measures to make their cities more resilient, greener and healthier. The Green City Accord includes five pillars that bring together the most important areas of urban management: water, air, waste, noise and nature. The initiative was launched by the European Commission in October 2020 and already brings together more than 100 cities across Europe.

Life GreenMe5 aims to facilitate the implementation of the Green City Agreement in 5 European municipalities. Territorial cooperation between the participating cities is expected to lay the foundations for:

  • exchange of experiences,
  • improved capabilities,
  • find solutions to the common challenges of the signatory cities, which will work together to identify weaknesses and threats and to address them.

In addition, it will allow the implementation of pilot actions in the field of biodiversity, air quality, waste management, water and noise that can be transferred as good practices to be implemented in other European cities.

The project started in 2023 and is due to end in 2027.

Project budget: 1.986.343,72 euros

PARTNERS

Partners

Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (FMRM). Leader of the project.

Organization that defends and advises the 45 municipalities that make up the Region of Murcia, being one of the federations in Spain that includes all the towns and cities as members. The FMRM has a high degree of knowledge of the policies applied by the local public administration in the region, being aware of the needs and the advances of the municipalities in areas such as sustainability, recycling, inclusion, training, employability, etc.

GreenMe5 becomes the second EU-funded project led by the Federation of Municipalities, among many other projects in which it participates as a partner.

Click on the map specific locations of the members for more information.

Partners

Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (FMRM) (Spain). Project coordinator.

Organization that defends and advises the 45 municipalities that make up the Region of Murcia, being one of the federations in Spain that includes all the towns and cities as members. The FMRM has a high degree of knowledge of the policies applied by the local public administration in the region, being aware of the needs and the advances of the municipalities in areas such as sustainability, recycling, inclusion, training, employability, etc.

GreenMe5 becomes the second EU-funded project led by the Federation of Municipalities, among many other projects in which it participates as a partner.

Eurovértice (Region of Murcia, Spain).

EuroVértice is a Spanish consultancy firm, specialized in European funding and with vast experience in the implementation of European policies at the local level. Main areas of expertise are related to the development of the European initiatives such as the European Green Infrastructure Strategy, the Covenant of Mayors, the Urban Agenda and the Urban Initiative that has allowed knowing firsthand the challenges of municipalities in the implementation of key environmental urban policies . EuroVértice has been supporting more than 100 cities since 2006, both as a direct external assistance and through the funding of the European Commission, in countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Latvia, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Germany, etc.

Being partner of LIFE GreenMe5, EuroVértice will collaborate in the elaboration of multilevel governance strategies for the implementation of the Green City Accord, assess municipalities in pilot actions, produce methodological and technical documents to facilitate the reporting obligations with the European Commission and participate and coordinate training and capacity building actions.

City Council of Cieza (Region of Murcia, Spain)

Cieza is another of the large cities in the Region of Murcia, located in the Vega Alta del Segura area. It currently has more than 35,000 inhabitants. It features the canyon of Almadenes, the Rambla del Judío, Moro and Salada and the river Segura.

Inhabited since the Palaeolithic Age, the area of Cieza is privileged by the abundant presence of prehistoric archaeological sites, such as those of Almadenes, La Serreta, and El Barranco de los Grajos, declared a World Heritage Site because of the rock art of the Mediterranean arc of the Iberian Peninsula. The most recent discovery is the Arco cave, known as the "Cathedral of the Palaeolithic".

It is famous for its great agricultural tradition, specialising in stone fruit, the most outstanding being peaches, which have the Protected Geographical Identity (PGI) seal. This economic activity is a great driving force for the municipality, having given way to other important projects that have made it a point of reference for tourism, such as Floración.

This municipality is a great precursor in terms of projects financed by the EU and has several initiatives based on the sustainability and modernisation of the municipality.

This partner through GreenMe5 will focus its pilot actions on Nature and Biodiversity.

Vilnius (Lithuania)

Vilnius, the capital and largest city of Lithuania, boasts a population of nearly 593.000 inhabitants. Nestled within an expansive 400 km2 area, the city is adorned with lush green forests, rolling hills, and meandering rivers that grace its landscape. Approximately 20.2% of Vilnius is developed, with the rest comprising a verdant greenbelt (43.9% approx.) and water features (2.1% approx.).

Recognized for its commitment to environmental sustainability, Vilnius earned the prestigious title of European Green Capital 2025 in the European Commission's Green Cities 2025 Awards. Since 2013, the city has diligently pursued EU climate targets and has set ambitious goals for 2030, aligning with the EU's "100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities" initiative.

One of Vilnius' most distinctive features is the architectural marvel of its Old Town, celebrated as one of Europe's largest and best-preserved old towns. This historic center has garnered UNESCO World Heritage Site status, showcasing the city's rich cultural heritage. Vilnius stands as a testament to both its historical significance and its forward-looking commitment to environmental sustainability.

This partner through GreenMe5 will focus its pilot actions on Air and Noise.

Helsingborg (Sweden)

Helsingborg is Sweden´s eight largest city with it´s 150,000 inhabitants. It is situated by the Öresund Strait separating Sweden and Denmark in the southwest of Sweden in the county Skåne. Skåne is a dense and populated region. Helsingborg has one of Sweden´s largest port and is an important logistic node in the south of Sweden. Helsingborg land area of 344 km2 consists of 70% arable, 20% infrastructure and buildings and 10 percent forest and nature land. Skåne´s farmers stand for 40% of the arable production in Sweden, and most of it from the west side of Skåne. The arable landscape is highly drained, and mono cultivated, making it sensitive to climate change like draught and flooding. The two larger rivers Råån and Vegeån catchment area´s water quality are under pressure from infrastructure, stormwater treatment and arable production. Helsingborg has during some decades undergone a transition towards a greener healthier city and a better quality of life for people, having achieved great progress on air quality at the city centre, waste treatment and collecting and fossil free energy and heating system.

Helsingborg is one of the cities that are working to become climate neutral and smart cities to 2030. Helsingborg was also made finalist to the Green Capitol award to 2023 and has been elected Sweden´s most environmentally friendly city five times between the years 2009 and 2020.

This partner through GreenMe5 will focus its pilot actions on Water.

City Council of Murcia (Region of Murcia, Spain)

Murcia with its 460,000 inhabitants, is the capital of de region and the seventh biggest capital in Spain. Administratively it is divided into the city of Murcia - made up of twenty-eight neighbourhoods - and fifty-five districts, each of which has its own specific characteristics.

The city council of Murcia is a reference for its participation in European projects, and therefore in the execution of important actions that respond to the objectives of sustainable development.

This partner through GreenMe5 will focus its pilot actions on Food Waste.

Arezzo (Italy)

Arezzo is the easternmost capital among the 10 provinces of the Tuscany region, the city has around 100,000 inhabitants, and the municipal territory extends over 384 km2, mostly represented by hills and mountains covered with forests and sparsely populated. The population lives in the plains, especially in the city of Arezzo, and small villages of around 300 and 1,000 inhabitants.

Arezzo was the birthplace of the first university in Tuscany, and one of the first in Europe. In this city, and in its surroundings, were born geniuses of art and culture at world level like Piero della Francesca, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Francesco Petrarca, Guido Monaco, or Giorgio Vasari.

The economy of the territory has its origins in agriculture and stockbreeding, and within this framework, during the second half of the 20th century, the industry of gold, silver, furniture, ceramics, clothing and fabrics developed, enhancing the heritage gained over the centuries from a crossroads position that from Etruscan times brought trade, knowledge and goods, even from far away. Today Arezzo is located in a strategic position between north and south, west and east of the country, as the territory is crossed by the A1 motorway and the main Italian railway line.

The ability to manipulate materials to obtain goods of artistic and commercial value is not the only heritage that Arezzo can count on with a natural territory still preserved, and a landscape that places it rightfully among the most beautiful places in Tuscany.

In addition to its commitment to the Green City Accord, the city of Arezzo participates in the Covenant of Mayors, and is developing projects for the production of hydrogen from renewable resources, and in the framework of energy communities of solidarity to tackle the phenomenon of energy poverty.

This partner through GreenMe5 will focus its pilot actions on Waste.

PILOT ACTIONS

Door-to-door collection of high-value and hazardous waste:
A Clean Point will be set up in the city centre, with containers for high-value dangerous waste. In addition, this point is intended to become a meeting place for information and environmental education, and citizens will be rewarded with a reduction in the collection tax for this type of waste or with other benefits.

Naturalisation of a school playground: Integration of biodiversity: This action will consist of increasing the vegetation surface of the school and integrating elements that improve the well-being of the children. In addition, the aim is to bring pupils into greater contact with nature.

Two-stage ditch to improve water quality:
A two-stage ditch will be constructed to reduce the risk of flooding while protecting adjacent agricultural areas. This type of construction has a positive impact on water status and biodiversity.

Reduction of food waste in school canteens:
An audit will be carried out in 3 schools in the city to find out the typology of existing waste and why it is produced. From the results of the study, a strategy for its reduction will be implemented, a training programme for school caterers will be developed, and the elaboration of a practical manual for local authorities will be published.

Study of the improvement of air quality and noise caused by transport: This pilot action will be implemented in one selected street (greening, particle traps, cleaning, irrigation, silent pavements, traffic changes…). The strategy will be to carry out a study to find out which measures are the most beneficial to reduce noise, and the most important measures to achieve this objective will be implemented.

PILOT ACTIONS

Door-to-door collection of high-value and hazardous waste:
A Clean Point will be set up in the city centre, with containers for high-value dangerous waste. In addition, this point is intended to become a meeting place for information and environmental education, and citizens will be rewarded with a reduction in the collection tax for this type of waste or with other benefits.

Naturalisation of a school playground: Integration of biodiversity:
This action will consist of increasing the vegetation surface of the school and integrating elements that improve the well-being of the children. In addition, the aim is to bring pupils into greater contact with nature.

Two-stage ditch to improve water quality:
A two-stage ditch will be constructed to reduce the risk of flooding while protecting adjacent agricultural areas. This type of construction has a positive impact on water status and biodiversity.

Reduction of food waste in school canteens:
An audit will be carried out in 3 schools in the city to find out the typology of existing waste and why it is produced. From the results of the study, a strategy for its reduction will be implemented, a training programme for school caterers will be developed, and the elaboration of a practical manual for local authorities will be published.

Study of the improvement of air quality and noise caused by transport: This pilot action will be implemented in one selected street and will include measures such as: greening, particle traps, cleaning, irrigation, silent pavements, traffic changes…. The strategy will be to carry out a study to find out which measures are the most beneficial to reduce noise, and the most important measures to achieve this objective will be implemented.

NEWS

Information

Federación de Municipios de la Región de Murcia.
Plaza Mayor, s/n 30005 Murcia
Tlf: +34 968 214840

CONTACT

    This project has been carried out with the financial support of the European Union within the framework of the LIFE program. The contents are the exclusive responsibility of the LIFE Green Me 5 project and in no case should it be considered to reflect the position of CINEA or that this Agency is responsible for the use that can be made of the information it contains.