GreenMe5

GreenMe5 is a LIFE programme project co-financed by the European Union, in which the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia, project leader, the municipalities of Murcia, Cieza (Spain), Arezzo (Italy), Vilnius (Lithuania), Helsingborg (Sweden), and EuroVértice Consultores (Spain) participate.

Context

The Green City Accord is a movement of European cities committed to environmental conservation. The municipal authorities that sign the Green City Accord pledge to take action to make their cities greener, more resilient, and healthier. The Green City Accord includes five pillars related to the most important areas of urban environmental 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 Deal in five European municipalities. Territorial cooperation among participating cities is expected to lay the groundwork for:

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

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

The project began in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Project budget: 1.986.343,72 euros

PARTNERS

Members

Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (FMRM). Project leader.

An organization that defends and advises the 45 municipalities that make up the Region of Murcia. This is one of the federations in Spain that includes all towns and cities as members. The FMRM has a deep understanding of the policies implemented by local public administrations in the region, being aware of the needs and progress of municipalities in areas such as sustainability, recycling, inclusion, training, employability, and more.

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 to see the different partner locations for more information.

Members

Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (FMRM). Project leader.

An organization that defends and advises the 45 municipalities that make up the Region of Murcia. This is one of the federations in Spain that includes all towns and cities as members. The FMRM has a deep understanding of the policies implemented by local public administrations in the region, being aware of the needs and progress of municipalities in areas such as sustainability, recycling, inclusion, training, employability, and more.

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 (Murcia Region, Spain).

A company dedicated to the design and management of European projects and funds, with extensive experience in the implementation of European policies at the local level. In relation to LIFE GreenMe5, the main areas of expertise are focused on the development of European initiatives such as the European Green Infrastructure Strategy, the Covenant of Mayors, the Urban Agenda, and the European Urban Initiative, which has allowed it to gain firsthand insight into the challenges municipalities face in implementing environmental policies at the urban level. EuroVértice has supported more than 100 cities since 2006, both through direct external assistance and through funding from the European Commission, in countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Latvia, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, and Germany.

As a GreenMe5 partner, it will collaborate in the development of multi-level governance strategies for the implementation of the Green City Agreement, advise municipalities on the design and execution of pilot actions, prepare methodological and technical documents to facilitate reporting obligations to the European Commission, and participate in and coordinate training activities.

Cieza City Council (Murcia Region, Spain)

Cieza is another of the large cities in the Region of Murcia, located in the Vega Alta del Segura region. It currently has more than 35.000 inhabitants. Particularly notable among its notable features are the Almadenes Canyon, the Rambla del Judío, Moro y Salada, and the Segura River itself.

Populated since the Paleolithic, the Cieza area is privileged for its abundant prehistoric archaeological sites, such as Almadenes, La Serreta, and Barranco de los Grajos, declared World Heritage Sites for their rock art from the Mediterranean region of the Iberian Peninsula. The most recent discovery is the Cueva del Arco, known as "The Cathedral of the Paleolithic."

It is famous for its long agricultural tradition, specializing in stone fruit, the most notable being peaches, which have been awarded the Protected Geographical Identity (PGI) seal. This economic activity is a major driving force for the municipality, having led to other important projects that have made it a tourist destination, such as Floración.

This city council is a leading force in EU-funded projects and has several initiatives based on the sustainability and modernization 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, has a population of almost 593.000. Located in a vast area of 400 km²,2The city is adorned with lush green forests, rolling hills, and meandering rivers that dot its landscape. Approximately 20,2% of Vilnius is urbanized, while the remainder comprises a green belt (approximately 43,9%) and water features (approximately 2,1%).

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

One of Vilnius's most distinctive features is the architectural marvel of its Old Town, considered one of the largest and best-preserved in Europe. This historic center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing the city's rich cultural heritage. Vilnius is a testament to both its historical significance and its commitment to environmental sustainability.

This partner, through GreenMe5, will focus its pilot actions on air quality management.

Helsingborg (Sweden)

Helsingborg is the eighth largest city in Sweden, with 150.000 inhabitants. It is located on the Öresund Strait, which separates Sweden from Denmark, in southwest Sweden, in Skåne County. Skåne is a densely populated region. Helsingborg has one of Sweden's largest ports and is an important logistics hub in the south of the country. Helsingborg's area, 344 km², is XNUMX mi².2, is made up of 70% arable land, 20% infrastructure and buildings, and 10% forests and natural areas. Farmers in Skåne account for 40% of Sweden's arable crop production, with the majority coming from western Skåne. The arable landscape is highly drained and dedicated to monoculture, making it sensitive to climate change, such as droughts and floods. The water quality of the Råån and Vegeån river basins is under pressure from infrastructure, stormwater treatment, and agricultural production.

Helsingborg has been undergoing a transition toward a greener, healthier city with a better quality of life for its people for several decades. Progress has been made in air quality in the city center, waste treatment and collection, and the fossil-fuel-free heating and energy system.

Helsingborg is one of the cities working towards becoming a climate-neutral and smart city (Smart City) by 2030. Helsingborg was a finalist for the 2023 Green Capital Award and was voted Sweden's most environmentally friendly city five times between 2009 and 2020.

Murcia City Council (Murcia Region, Spain)

Murcia is the capital of the Region, with 460.000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest in Spain. Administratively, it is divided into the city of Murcia—composed of twenty-eight neighborhoods—and fifty-five districts, each with specific characteristics.

The Murcia City Council is a leader in its participation in European projects and, therefore, in the implementation of important initiatives that address sustainable development goals.

This partner, through GreenMe5, will focus its pilot actions on waste.

Arezzo (Italy)

Arezzo is the easternmost capital of the 10 provinces of the Tuscany region. The city has about 100.000 inhabitants, and the municipal territory extends for 384 km.2, mostly represented by forested and sparsely populated mountain ranges and hills. The population lives in the plains, especially in the city of Arezzo, and in small villages with between 300 and 1.000 inhabitants.

Arezzo was the birthplace of the first university in Tuscany, and one of the first in Europe. World-renowned artistic and cultural geniuses such as Piero della Francesca, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Francesco Petrarca, Guido Monaco, and Giorgio Vasari were born in and around this city.

The region's economy is rooted in agriculture and livestock farming, and within this framework, the gold, silver, furniture, ceramics, clothing, and textile industries developed during the second half of the 1th century, highlighting the heritage gained over centuries from a crossroads position that, beginning in Etruscan times, brought trade, knowledge, and goods, even from far away. Today, Arezzo is strategically located between north and south, west and east of the country, as the territory is crossed by the AXNUMX motorway and Italy's main railway network.

The ability to manipulate materials to create goods of artistic and commercial value is not the only heritage Arezzo can boast, with a still-preserved natural area and a landscape that rightfully places it 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 hydrogen production from renewable resources, as well as within the framework of solidarity energy communities to address the phenomenon of energy poverty.

This partner, through GreenMe5, will focus its pilot actions on waste management.

PILOT ACTIONS

Door-to-door collection of high-value and hazardous waste: A Clean Point will be created in the city center with containers for hazardous and high-value waste. Furthermore, this point is intended to become a meeting place for environmental education and outreach, and citizens will be rewarded with a reduction in the collection tax for these items or other benefits.
Renaturalization of a school playground. Integrating biodiversity: Integration of biodiversity. This initiative will involve increasing the school's green space and integrating elements that improve children's well-being. It also aims to increase student contact with nature.

Two-phase dam to improve water quality:
A two-story reservoir will be built to reduce the risk of flooding and protect adjacent agricultural areas. This type of construction has a positive impact on water quality and biodiversity.

Reducing food waste in school cafeterias:
An audit will be conducted in three schools in the city to understand the types of waste present and why it is produced. The results of the study will lead to the implementation of a waste reduction strategy, a training program for school caterers, and the development of a practical manual for local authorities.

Study on improving air quality and noise caused by transport: Its pilot action will be implemented on one street (greening, particle traps, cleaning, irrigation, quiet sidewalks, traffic changes, etc.). The strategy will be to conduct a study to determine which measures are most beneficial for reducing noise, and the most important measures will be implemented to achieve this goal.

PILOT ACTIONS

Door-to-door collection of high-value and hazardous waste: A Clean Point will be created in the city center with containers for hazardous and high-value waste. Furthermore, this point is intended to become a meeting place for environmental education and outreach, and citizens will be rewarded with a reduction in the collection tax for these items or other benefits.

Renaturalization of a school playground. Integrating biodiversity: Integration of biodiversity. This initiative will involve increasing the school's green space and integrating elements that improve children's well-being. It also aims to increase student contact with nature.

Two-phase dam to improve water quality:
A two-story reservoir will be built to reduce the risk of flooding and protect adjacent agricultural areas. This type of construction has a positive impact on water quality and biodiversity.

Reducing food waste in school cafeterias:
An audit will be conducted in three schools in the city to understand the types of waste present and why it is produced. The results of the study will lead to the implementation of a waste reduction strategy, a training program for school caterers, and the development of a practical manual for local authorities.

Study on improving air quality and noise caused by transport: Its pilot action will be implemented on one street (greening, particle traps, cleaning, irrigation, quiet sidewalks, traffic changes, etc.). The strategy will be to conduct a study to determine which measures are most beneficial for reducing noise, and the most important measures will be implemented to achieve this goal.

NEWS

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Information

Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia.
Plaza Mayor, s/n 30005 Murcia
Tel: +34 968 214840

CONTACT

    This project was carried out with financial support from the European Union under the LIFE Programme. The contents are the sole responsibility of the LIFE Green Me 5 project and should in no way be considered to reflect the position of CINEA, nor should this Agency be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.