Ljubljana launches European Green Capital events
Ljubljana, 6 January - Ljubljana has entered 2016 as the European Green Capital, a title conferred by the European Commission to cities with high environmental standards and ambitious sustainable development goals. Mayor Zoran Janković told the press on Wednesday that his administration has strived for nearly a decade to improve the quality of life in the city.
Ljubljana
Mayor Zoran Janković (centre) talking to the press.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA
The official inauguration ceremony is scheduled for March, however, a special opening event will already be held for Ljubljana residents on Monday.
The mayor said that his team presented its vision of Ljubljana in 2025 back in 2006, when the title of the European Green Capital did not yet exist.
"All with the idea of improving the quality of life and understanding the meaning of solidarity - in this case solidarity with the coming generations, which will be key in the coming decade," said Janković.
Moreover, the city has already drafted a 2050 strategy, which entails zero carbon footprint, and its waste management company plans to reduce waste to zero by 2035, Janković added.
"Is that even possible? I'm not sure, but we headed down this path with confidence," said Janković, who also gave praise to the team that made Ljubljana a role model for other European cities.
Deputy Mayor Tjaša Ficko said that the title raised the awareness of residents and made Ljubljana better known internationally.
The city will host this year a number of international events and will serve as the seat of the European Green Cities network, according to Ficko.
The city will moreover get an electric train taking visitors to the Ljubljana Castle and 30 new buses, according to the mayor, who added that several construction sites, which have been standing still for years, would "be filled" this year.