THE EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL YEARS LATER INDEX

1. Vitoria-Gasteiz. Reasons for the 2012 European Green Capital award 3 1.1 A historically always well planned city 3 1.2 Commitment for biodiversity. The Green Belt of Vitoria-Gasteiz 4 1.3 A water responsible management 5 1.4 Sustainable mobility and recovery of the public space 6 1.5 Waste as a resource 7 1.6 Fighting against climate change 8 1.7 A housing policy for citizens 9 1.8 Heritage rehabilitation 9 1.9 Social Sustainability: integration and protection for all 10 1.10 An economy respectful with the environment 11 1.11 The political consensus, a key factor of the process 13

2. The unforgettable “Green” year 14 2.1 The great events of 2012 15 2.2 New projects and dreams 15 2.3 A program for all 15 2.4 Vitoria-Gasteiz, as international Green reference 17

3. Five years as European Green Capital 18 3.1 A bet for a Green Urban Infrastructure 18 3.2 Recycling the city: extension and reform of the Europe Congress Centre 18 3.3 Advancing in sustainable mobility: a boost to the network of cycles lanes and to superblocks 19 3.4 The AMVISA´s “Plan Futura” for water 20 3.5 Launching the agri-food strategy 21 3.6 Towards a new municipal energy model: saving, efficiency and renewable 23 3.7 Participation in new initiatives and European programs 24 3.8 For a sustainable tourism 24 3.9 Vocation for the citizen and public welfare 25

4. Challenges and goals for the European Green Capital +10 27 4.1 Challenges and threads in a complex future 27 4.2 Vitoria-Gasteiz 2022 Urban Agenda. A renewed hope 27 4.3 Towards a bio-regional model: city and territory hand by hand 28 4.4 Building a better city 29 4.5 Carbon neutral city in 2050, more energy efficiency and self-sufficiency 31 4.6 Improving biodiversity, landscape and ecosystem services 33 4.7 Towards a circular economy of the resources 34 4.8 Intelligence and knowledge for a better life in the city 35 4.9 Boosting green economy as the principal competitive advantage of the city 36 4.10 New answers for new social needs 37

2 Reasons for the 2012 European Green Capital award

1.1. A historically always One the most remarkable features of well planned city the city urban development is the neoclassic monumental complex From its origin as a foundation villa designed by the local architect Justo in 1181, Vitoria-Gasteiz has always Antonio Olaguibel. Olaguibel managed grown under some kind of planning, to masterfully save the existing slope which has allowed undertaking, in a well- between the medieval city up in the planned way, its different growth stages, hill and the plain that the new city was from the primitive village, crowning a going to occupy in its growth. By means hill, up to the city that we know today. of different platforms, he was able to Any teacher might explain its urbanism absorb the existing gap, creating some history by revising the different interesting public spaces connected exemplary pieces that have been through stairs and ramps until reaching modelling the city: from the medieval the Plaza Nueva where the New Town almond up to the new extensions, Hall was going to be built. It is surprising going through the nineteenth-century that just a local and practically new urban expansion, the garden city, the architect, was capable of designing such rationalist city, etc. But, undoubtedly, a formal quality project.

View of the Medieval Town and the expansion of the city

3 Another key moment in the urban his- The second great urban leap forward tory of Vitoria-Gasteiz was the strong made by the city in the last ten years was population jump that it suffered in the the creation of two large urban develop- 50s and 60s of the last century. The city ments, to the east and west, “Salburua” multiplied its population for four in and “Zabalgana”, designed with a view to only ten years and it did it in a planned accommodate up to the 30% of the pres- way, fighting against slumming and dis- ent population. These neighbourhoods crimination, arranging industrial states were developed by means of an inter- and creating big sports complexes in the north and south city areas. Under the Ur- esting public-private collaboration ban Law of 1956 it managed to maintain formula, through the Salburua and a public leadership, avoiding to a great Zabalgana Agreement, which arranges extent the speculation that so hard dam- new land utilizations and uses, accelerat- aged other cities in the Spanish state. ing some intense public housing policies.

Outline of the Vitoria-Gasteiz´s Green Belt

1.2. Commitment for and were acting like an ecotone system biodiversity. The Green Belt with the rest of the territory. of Vitoria-Gasteiz The development, during more than two decades and thanks to all mayors taking At the end of the 80´s, at the hands of up the torch, of this initial approach has former Mayor José Ángel Cuerda and as allowed designing what today is widely a courageous bet, the Environmental recognized as the Green Belt of Vitoria- Studies Centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz Gasteiz, a natural continuum, result (CEA) starts working at the possibility of of an ambitious project to restore and connecting a series of green suburban recover the environmental and social spaces, more or less degraded, that, in values of the suburban areas of the some way, were framing the urban area city.

4 The purpose of this initiative was scape and public use. In this regard, the basically focused to solving some of municipality is currently working at the the problems that had arisen in urban present legislature on various projects edges, where high interest natural areas, to achieve it. submitted to many kinds of aggressions, were coexisting with other degraded 1.3. A water responsible and marginal areas, result of urban and management industrial expansion.

Hereby, the Green Belt has always played Vanagement of the water has a key role in nature-city integration, undoubtedly been critical to understand balancing the offer of green spaces many of the good practices developed in among all the neighbourhoods and the city and which made Vitoria-Gasteiz encouraging connection between the deserve the European award. Fight green urban spaces, the agricultural against floods is on the basis of the environment and the natural border Green Belt concept, that we could also that delimits the Municipality. denominate, a Blue Belt.

The extraordinary increase of plant The recovery of Salburua’s wetlands and animal biodiversity within the and the conditioning of the linear park parks and corridors incorporated into of the river Zadorra in the Green Belt, the Belt, together with suburban city together with the actions of derivation landscape improvement, have enhanced of the southern rivers, have been in- the development of new activities tended to prevent flooding and to reg- related to leisure and recreation, as ulate, in a natural way, water avenues well as to environmental education often provoking serious damages in the and awareness; activities that have northern industrial areas. It is remark- meant an important impetus for the able the case of Salburua’s wetland environmental local companies and the that in only five years changed from socio-labor insertion of certain social being an agricultural land to become groups. a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance. Today it hosts hundreds On the other hand, the utilization of the of flora and fauna species, with some wetlands and other Green Belt wet areas endangered species like the European as extensive surfaces of water lamination mink. in rainy periods, designed under criteria of hydraulic engineering, has allowed to Combined with the above, it is also worth solve important flooding problems noting the reduction and efficiency in industrial areas, avoiding enormous policies in water consumption driven economic losses, which makes another by Municipal Water of Vitoria-Gasteiz prime example of the added value that S.A. (AMVISA), implemented during this project has had for the city. these last years within the so-called Nevertheless, there is still work to do. Plan Futura 2009-2012. They have The Green Belt of Vitoria-Gasteiz needs managed not only to raise citizen’s to incorporate new spaces, especially awareness in the responsibility in the to the east and the south of the city, consumption of water, but they have which will reinforce its continuity and also prevented network water leakage, ecological connectivity, at the same time thanks to an efficient maintenance pro- that they can recover biodiversity, land- gram...

5 Salburua’s wetland

1.4. Sustainable mobility way of citizenship displacement. Under a and recovery shared motto, “I get on”, and the active participation of thousands of citizens, of the public space Vitoria-Gasteiz changed completely its bus urban transport, moving from a Among the different aspects to be radial system to a network system, developed, in order to construct a with more interconnected lines. Added sustainable city, mobility was probably one to this, the first 2 tramway lines of the last questions deeply approached were implemented and the Cycling by Vitoria-Gasteiz. Its urban compact Director Plan was developed, together development allowed for many years with the gradual recovery of the public that the percentage of displacements by space based on a superblock system foot should largely exceed that of other deployment. similar size cities: over 50% of the total trips. However, meanwhile, the use of The results have been spectacular; public transport was very low and the use the use of bicycles have passed from of bicycles was just of a testimonial nature, barely accounting a 1% of the modal the increase in the use of private vehicles split of transport, at the beginning of as mean of displacement was constant the century, to presently overcome 12%, and cars were increasingly gaining space a real cycling emergence in the city, in public areas. which has enabled Vitoria-Gasteiz to be one of the few European cities in which In 2007, after a long participative the use of the private car is increasingly process managed through a Citizen´s diminishing. There have been also users’ Forum for Sustainable Mobility, the records of public transport, both buses Sustainable Mobility and Public Space and tramway, and the level of foot Plan became operational and, in only displacements has meanwhile been 10 years, it led to a radical change in the maintained.

6 But, undoubtedly, the great change which, not only sustainable mobility but brought out by this Sustainable Mobility also green infrastructure criteria have Plan is the transformation and recovery been applied. of the public space for citizens. The high Another way of getting around which has percentage of pedestrian streets has led to another way of making the city. been strengthened by the transformation During the next months a revision of of many high traffic roads formerly this Sustainable Mobility and Public occupied by cars and now turned into Space Plan is going to be undertaken, citizen use and enjoyment areas. One in order to face new challenges like: of the most outstanding examples is the work mobility, conviviality among transformation of the Gasteiz Avenue, in transport means or road safety.

Sustainable mobility in the Gasteiz Avenue

1.5. Waste as a resource Historical Territory of Alava. We could highlight among them: the pneumatic In terms of waste management, Vitoria- collection systems for household waste, Gasteiz has also been a well-planned city the Jundiz’s mechanical - biological for many years. To the first actions and treatment plant, the construction and sectorial projects of the 80s and 90s, it demolition waste recovery plant or the followed “The 2000-2006 Integral Plan of “garbigunes” network (clean points), Local Waste Management”, document while also promoting the remodelling establishing the bases for an advanced and extension of Gardelegi’s landfill. waste treatment, which firmly called for prevention and recycling. Such proceedings placed our city at the top of the rest of the Spanish province To this purpose, this Plan launched the capitals as regards as a well-planned main waste collection and treatment management of the so called solid infrastructures for the city and the whole urban residues.

7 In parallel, the waste water treatment At present, the City Council is collaborating plant, one of the first modern facilities with the Provincial Council of Alava in the in the country, was fulfilling with a draft of the new “Plan of prevention good note its function of returning and management of Araba-Alava the city sewerage network waters to Urban Waste (2017-2030)”, a firm intent the river Zadorra; service that, after to reduce waste generation and a new several remodelling and technological source for strengthen reutilization and recycling. improvements, continues fulfilling with full reliability guarantee. With this new Plan, a new era for the city waste management is going to be For more than ten years now, the city inaugurated; a period in which circular has been implementing “the 2008-2016 economy is going to be the reference Integral Plan of Local Waste Management”, and the backbone in all public policies, document nowadays being revised, and maximizing, thus, environmental and that has succeeded, during its term, economic benefits that result from in setting up ambitious and new goals considering waste as a resource. as for prevention, reutilization and recycling, since it has taken into account 1.6. Fighting against not only environmental variables, but climate change also social and economic aspects related to waste management. Vitoria-Gasteiz has designed its strategy to fight against climate change with the

Salburua’s Park

8 horizon in the year 2020: The 2010- right for a house. To do this, the City 2020 Plan of Fight Against Climate Council led a singular process of public Change. This document, in line with - private conciliation that crystallized the European strategies mentioned in the approval of a new city’s General in the Covenant of Mayors, aims to Urban Plan, the signing of the Salburua reduce at least 20% the CO2 emissions and Zabalganas´ Agreement and of the municipality (with respect to the launching of the public municipal 2006) and, in the case of the buildings society “Ensanche 21”. All this fostered and municipal services, to come at the implementation of new residential least to 30%. After a detailed sectorial areas, in which more than 70% of the analysis of the origin of emissions, the housings has some type of public Plan proposes different measures to be protection. taken in every field, so as to reach the targets established by Europe. It will 1.8. Heritage rehabilitation pay particular attention to municipal sectors and concretely to transport, Vitoria is lucky to count with more than public facilities and services, the eight centuries of history and to have management of water and waste and preserved to the present day great part the residential park. of its architectural legacy, especially in its Historical Quarter in which, besides With this aim, the city has made a its medieval layout, masterpieces of firm bet on the promotion of public the gothic, renaissance, baroque and transport and active mobility, a major neoclassical styles coexist. In 1997, the efficiency in municipal buildings, the Basque Government officially declared improvement of the hydrological and it as a Monumental Site. waste cycles and the promotion of the rehabilitation of the existing housing However, its physical configuration and stock. In addition, it plans an important the bad quality of many of its buildings increase in the generation of renewable gave birth to a process of abandon that, energy, the carbon sink function of at the beginning of 80s, the Council tried the municipal forests and urban parks, to stop. With this aim, it launched the without forgetting the key task of raising Department of the Historical Centre, citizens’ awareness to achieve this that later would become the Agency model change. for the Revitalization of the Historical Centre (ARICH). 1.7. A housing policy for citizens One of the most decisive actions was the drafting of the Special Plan of During the strong growth of the city Integral Rehabilitation (PERI) that in the 50s and 60s, big efforts were outlined the principal matters to made to fight against slums and create carry out in this rehabilitation process housing for all people coming from other and that presented a series of uses, places that arrived to the city, through facilities and an exhaustive catalogue cooperatives and public housing. of the built-up heritage.

Years later, at the beginning of the 21st The major milestone of this rehabilita- century, Vitoria had to make another tion process is the restoration of the great effort to give response to the Santa Maria Cathedral. Under the slo- unsatisfied housing demand of the gan “Open for Works“, it has carried out descendants of those who came to the an innovative process opened to citizens. city and who could not exercise their This methodology, which lets neighbours

9 and visitors participate of the complex municipality has been and continues being temple restoration process, has sup- social protection and neighbours and posed a magnificent example from the residents’ care. technical point of view and, what is more, it has been a catalyst for tourism. It was The dedication of resources of all awarded with the prestigious “Europa kinds (human, economic, technical, Nostra” prize in 2002. organizational …) that, from the advent of democracy, public municipal and regional 1.9. Social Sustainability: institutions have destined to the needs of integration and the Vitoria and the rest of Alava citizens, protection for all have placed the Historical Territory of Alava and its capital Vitoria-Gasteiz in The same as environment policies, the spearhead of the Spanish social other of the reference policies in the policies. The former Mayor José Ángel

The Catedral of Santa Maria

Cuerda, promoter of this city model, was This way, Vitoria-Gasteiz has been undoubtedly a precursor. articulating its social labor around a series of programs that, sequentially, This situation has not been a consequence have been approaching those of a voluntary exercise, but the response questions demanding a major urgency. At the same time, it has constructed a to a well-planned process, projected in solid base to support new instruments time, and to a suitable utilization of the and citizen care services being created. resources available at each moment. Under these premises, the denominated

10 Base Social Services, organizational up of professionals specialized in gender units located in the City Civic Centres, violence victims’ assistance and their emerge as the first access point to the dependants. Social Services System. Nevertheless, and in spite of the ef- The current roadmap in social matters forts made from the institutions and is detailed in the 2015-2019 Municipal other municipal groups, protection of Strategic Plan, which incorporates the most disadvantaged continues de- such programs as “Gizarteratu”, (socio- manding a special attention when seek- labour insertion) or “Prologo”, orientated ing to identify new needs and groups at to parents and mothers´s competences risk of social exclusion, which requires endowment, in order to compensate maintaining a vigilant and proactive at- those possible deficits within the family titude, as well as a public commitment environment. over budgetary adjustments or other Other resources and actions are destined limitations. to the care of elderly, like socio- cultural centres, the sheltered housing 1.10. An economy respectful network or the family assistance in the with the environment. apartments for the elderly. To these services, other programs have been In the second half of the 20th century, added, such as the street educational two relevant facts generated a deep and programs, the emotions workshops for radical transformation in the economic children, the social emergency aids, activity of Vitoria-Gasteiz, which till then the plan of fighting against energy was mainly characterized for the great poverty or the “Onarpen” team, made weighting of the primary sector.

Sports premises in one of the civic centres of the city

11 On one hand, the industrialization in Nowadays, the economic activity in the 50s, which turned Vitoria–Gasteiz Vitoria-Gasteiz, -with the exception of into the great economic growth pole of hospitality business, financial companies the Historical Territory of Alava, bringing and the small local trade-, is located together most of its economic activity. almost totally in the outer city area, On the other, to become the capital of around a series of industrial estates that the Basque Autonomous Community, present an important diversification in 1980, which involved an out-standing as regards as production sectors. This increase of the tertiary sector, setting up dense economic activity fabric allows that over 80% of the active population a new city, orientated basically to two of Vitoria-Gasteiz can develop their work activity sectors: industry and services. within the own municipal area, with the And this trend has continued to the remarkable advantages that proximity present day, with a still major leading role employment implies. in industrial activity, only rather altered At the same time, it should be noted that during big economic crisis periods. Proof an important part of this business sector of it, it is the long time that we have had has been for decades standing out for with us companies of the dimension and their good environmental practices, relevancy of Mercedes Benz or Michelin, being in many cases a true pioneer at which, decades ago, chose our city to the time of implementing productive be established, stimulating a rich and systems or processes, respectful with dynamic local business conglomerate. the environment, even further than

Signature of the citizens’ pact for a sustainable mobility

regulations were requiring at the time. (Environment National Congress), is Our companies´ active participation proof of their involvement. in those initiatives like the Green Hence the need to recognize the Agreement Community, groups like contribution of companies in Vitoria- ACLIMA (Basque Country Environment Gasteiz to the achievement of the Industry Cluster Association) or their European Green Capital award in recent presence in events as CONAMA 2012. Much has been said about the work

12 carried out by public administration, mayors have had to govern in minority, about public projects, about the negotiating agreements or supports with commitment of the civil society and, the rest of the municipal groups. However, however, companies’ good work and environmental policies have always success have been rarely recognized. enjoyed of a broad-based consensus. We could say that this environmental This reality, which the Council is con- sensibility has always been in the social scious of, has definitely to be enhanced, and political subconscious of Vitoria understanding also that the vocation of citizens, probably for their well-planned Vitoria-Gasteiz for industry, together with growth tradition, respectful with the its respect for environment, constitute surrounding nature. a suitable breeding ground for a new “green” economy swing, capable of in- At the designation process for tegrating the most technological and in- the European Green Capital, this novative aspects with the improvement consensus was decisive and all the of natural environment and the recovery municipal groups supported Vitoria- of its biodiversity and landscapes. An op- Gasteiz´s nomination. During its portunity our city should not miss. proposal defense in front of the jury that decided on the award, what most 1.11. The political consensus, called the attention of its members a key factor of the process was the fact that the mayor of the city was accompanied by five spokesmen/ Since democracy was reestablished, to spokeswomen of the other political achieve a certain stability in municipal municipal groups.2.1 The great politics has never been easy, since all its events of 2012

13 “Green” year

2.1. The great events of 2012 remained opened almost for one year. 2012 was also the year of the “Río+20 2012 was a very special year for the city, and the city did want to full of green energy flowing for its streets, Summit” provided by the own citizens but also, by contribute with its part by bringing the thousands of visitors who came to the together European and Latin-American city to better know the reasons for which cities, in order to work together at a it had become the third Green Capital of final declaration, in which the special Europe after Stockholm and Hamburg. role that cities play in the sustainable development of the Planet could be Vitoria-Gasteiz prepared a complete well reflected. Cities like Bristol or San program of events with the aim of sharing Jose of Costa Rica took part of this group, challenges and solutions on the attaining led by the European Green Capital 2012. of more sustainable cities. November 2011 was the celebration date of the first great On June 29th, 2012, the city experienced congress, which was the basis for the green one of the most exciting moments capital designation. More than 700 people of the year with the celebration of met at CONAMA (Environment National the Ceremony of Election of the Congress) under the motto “Rethinking European Green Capital 2014. together the cities“, three intense days Copenhagen received the award in a of work with national and international ceremony that was preceded of 2 days participation and the active implication of technical meetings and some visits of the citizenship, who could follow the to different places of the city, in order subjects discussed, through collaborative to know about the progress of its green sessions in the city civic centres. projects.

On February 7th 2012, the formal Finally, Vitoria-Gasteiz said goodbye to opening ceremony of the green capital 2012 with the Green Night, a citizens´ award took place, with the presence event that congregated to thousands of of the Queen Sophia, the Minister of people in the city streets with different Agriculture, Fishing and Environment, activities going on that led to enhance its the Lehendakari, the General Deputy of ecological conscience. Alava and the Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Together with these important events, The Europa Congress and Exhibition the program “Green Capital” was fulfilled Centre held for several months the with different actions as the celebration Exhibition “Vitoria-Gasteiz European of the “Ekolabora program” volunteers’ Green Capital 2012”, which, in an day or the European School Agenda innovative format, reflected the model of 21, which brought together hundreds of sustainable development aimed for the students of different cities of Spain, Ger- city, the future challenges it was facing and many and Romania, to work together on the way of approaching them. More than the environmental improvement at their 15.000 people visited this exhibition, which respective schools and cities.

14 Award Ceremony of European Green Capital 2012 in Stockholm

2.2. New project and dreams helped to make citizens compromise with their natural environment. These The European Green Capital enjoyed plantations were carried out by schools, the declaration of Event of Exceptional sports centres, companies’ workers, Public Interest, granted by both, the clubs, neighbours´ associations, etc. Spanish Government and the Diputacion This identification of citizens, especially Foral of Alava. This nomination allowed youngest people, with the trees they have that companies supporting the event planted, guarantees a future respect could enjoy important tax deductions. and care of the Green Belt. In 2014, the This helped to develop an intense project obtained the BEST’s qualification sponsorship policy that, in the worst (best practice) in the 10th edition of the years of the economic crisis, managed to Dubai International Best Practices . attract more than 3 million euros from Award, organized by UN-Habitat companies of all kinds. This system, not 2.3. A program for all only ensured these important economic contributions to re-invest in city projects, One of the aims of the “green” year but it also allowed to give more visibility program was to involve citizens, make to the event through the diffusion that them participants of the success of the the own companies were doing of itself. city that it was at the same time their own success. For that purpose, various One of the results of these sponsorship programs adapted to the different actions was the project “The Roots of profiles: citizens, companies, trades, Tomorrow”, which succeeded in planting startups, etc. were organized. 250.000 new trees and bushes on the Green Belt, one tree per citizen. These Thus, the Green Agreement did imply plantations helped to complete pieces the commitment of many small and of the Green Belt and, especially, they medium companies for the improvement

15 of their production processes by means planting trees up to serving international of the adoption of such appropriate visitors as city guides. measures that would improve their The “City Lab Program” arose with the sustainability. As far as today, more aim of leaving the city at the disposal than 1.000 companies have joined of startups and companies so that this initiative that every year celebrates they could test and make known their a meeting where Green Agreement innovative products. In its first edition, Awards are granted to those companies six companies were able to test their implementing the best environmental products in real conditions. Later on, two practices. more editions of this experience have been held on, in 2015 and 2017. The “Ekolabora Program” was opened to the participation of volunteers of any The “Green Factories Program” age and condition so that they could served to bring over, for either ordinary contribute to the extent of their skills citizens or technical specialists, those to the success of the “green” year: from infrastructures that help to make the

Volunteer activities in the framework of the “Ekolabora Program”

“green” city in daily life: from the water to take advantage of the international treatment plan up to the waste landfill. visibility given by the award. More than 5.000 people enjoyed this initiative. Also a program of financial support to citizens´ environmental initiatives The “Business Board for Sustainability” was launched. A number of associations, intended that companies and NGOs and ordinary citizens presented administrations had an adequate meeting point to discuss and that their own proposals before the Council, companies could extract some kind of so as to join the “green” year. 100.000 advantage from the fact of their city being Euros financed ten local initiatives, from the European Green Capital and that way, workshops to urban allotments.

16 2.4. Vitoria-Gasteiz, as Vitoria-Gasteiz. As it has been mentioned international Green reference before, it also coincided that the Río+20 Summit was celebrated the same year, The designation of Vitoria-Gasteiz what made sustainability subject to be as European Green Capital meant a the centre of social and political interest. huge opportunity to stimulate its Vitoria-Gasteiz had the opportunity to international presence. This award have its own voice in this Summit and placed the city in the spotlight within the to be able to vindicate the relevance world sustainability frame, something of the cities in the definition of the unthinkable for a medium size city like environmental policies of the planet.

The same year, the EU-China Partnership more than 65 national and international on Sustainable Urbanisation was delegations that came close to the city signed and Vitoria-Gasteiz had also to see the reasons why we were the the opportunity to take part in those greenest city of Europe. activities associated with this agreement, receiving Chinese delegations and being National and international media echoed present at several summits Chinese - such events organized on this “green European in Brussels and China. capital” basis, what meant a media international impact estimated in During 2012 we also hosted important more than 15 million Euros. events such as the mentioned EIMA 8, the Civitas Forum, the International The city re-formulated its institutional Conference of the FEDENATUR image and strengthen a new city network, the Seminar of the Climate brand: Vitoria-Gasteiz Green Capital Group, the Green Business Europe that contributed to European positive Congress, the 4th National Passivhaus environmental values, turning “Green” Conference, the 21st Iberian Congress into our sign of identity and differential of Ornithology, etc. value. It is interesting to highlight how all The city received more than 120 this has influenced the pride of citizens invitations to be present at several for their city, something of a truly positive international events and welcomed effect.

17 as European Green Capital

3.1. A bet for a Green 3.2. Recycling the city: Urban Infrastructure extension and reform of the Europe Congress Centre In its commitment to move forward as a green city, Vitoria-Gasteiz considered In the year 2014, the Europa Congress some years ago the need to rethink Centre was going to celebrate its 25 years about the extensive network of parks, since its official opening. It was one of gardens, squares, wooded corridors the first facilities of this kind in Spain but and other kind of green spaces existing it needed a certain rehabilitation and in and around city, with the aim of setting extension to be able to keep on being up a really cohesive green system which competitive within the MICE market. would promote ecosystem spaces as In line with the city environmental well as their citizens´ use. strategy and also with the green To this end, the Center for Environmental infrastructure project of the Gasteiz Studies proceeded with a new research, Avenue, it was decided to undertake and at the same time undertook the first an ambitious energy rehabilitation and actions, which, combined, gave birth extension work, according to the most to the document “The Green Urban demanding parameters. Infrastructure of Vitoria-Gasteiz”. A The extension of the building has been proposal document, which tried to look , into the definition and development of a certified by the Passivhaus Institute Green Urban Infrastructure System that, a European standard for highly efficient as a kind of green network and by the buildings; and the rehabilitation of the improvement or transformation of certain rest of the building got the Leed Gold urban and peri-urban spaces, could certification granted by the Green reinforce the multifunctionality of the city Building Council of Spain. In this way, the ecosystem. Europa Congress Centre has become a model of sustainable architecture, which Throughout these five years since the enables it to be well positioned in those award of the European Green Capital, carbon neutral events to be held. The some of these strategic projects have integrated management system of been developed and taken into action, the building allows monitoring the CO2 such as the aforementioned “The Roots emissions of every room, calculating the of Tomorrow”, the construction of the energy consumption for each congress river Olarizu´s lamination pond, the attendant and certifying the emissions naturalization of green spaces and and their possible compensations, so vacant plots in Lakua’s district, or that an event can finally turn out to be the urbanistic reform of the Gasteiz neutral in carbon. Avenue, with the recovery of a natural course and the front green cover of the Probably the most shocking aspect Europa Congress Centre. of its transformation process is its

18 Appearance of the Gasteiz Avenue after its urban reform vegetal façade and green roof, which transformation of public areas, not only improves the insulation of the regaining space for pedestrians to building but also contribute to the green the detriment of private car; in short, infrastructure project of the Gasteiz more space for nature, pedestrians, Avenue. In addition, both elements cyclists and preference for public have a pedagogical mission since they transport (tram + bus) represent the different ecosystems of the natural environment of Vitoria-Gasteiz. The model of the Gasteiz Avenue has continued being applied to the renovation 3.3. Advancing in sustainable and adequacy of new urban routes, mobility: a boost to the following the “superblocks” strategy network of cycles lanes with pacified streets and the creation and to superblocks of new 30 km/h zones in more than 47 streets of the city. These implementations Although, as already mentioned before, have made it possible to liberate space the transformation of the mobility of for cyclists and pedestrians and have Vitoria-Gasteiz started at the beginning directly hit upon something that very few of the century with the launching of cities can achieve nowadays: the drastic the Citizen Agreement for Sustainable reduction in the number of persons who Mobility, the election of the city as a Green get around in private cars, coming from Capital has deepened the change and the 36% in 2006 to 24,70% in 2014. It is also adoption of new measures within the last important to underline the deployment five years. Several aspects of sustainable of the city centre superblocks, releasing mobility have been emphasized, but therefore downtown from cars. if we had to highlight one of them, this would be, undoubtedly, the gradual Indeed, the incorporation of the

19 mobility variable, among those points a sustainable mobility, also in aspects of to be taken into account in the new electrical mobility. General Urban Plan, has allowed that both, new neighbourhoods and The evaluation of the Sustainable internal rehabilitation actions, (like the Mobility and Public Space Plan “Coronación” neighbourhood and its of Vitoria-Gasteiz, recently being European project SmartEnCity), can accomplished, also reflects the impact of bring important fostering measures for the measures implemented to promote

The city has gained space for citizenship, thanks to the Mobility and Public Space Plan

cycling in the city through the Cycling distance bus station and special Director Plan: new cycling lanes (25% attention has been given also to the more of the initially foreseen routes), adaptation of safety routes to school more parkings and friendliness for their centres, either on foot or by bike. users. The figures speak for themselves. In 2002 only a 1,40% of the Vitoria 3.4. The AMVISA´s “Plan citizens moved about by bike, in 2014 Futura” for water this figure already amounted to 12,30% To the traditional care and control of and it continues rising at an unstoppable water supply and sanitation networks, rate. through the municipal society AMVISA, Along these last five years, the use of that have entitled the city to have one public transport, both urban buses and of the highest levels of efficiency in tram, have also been growing gradually. Europe, at the beginning of the 21st The city has inaugurated a new long- century, the 2004-2008 Integral Plan

20 for Water Saving and the first edition continuity to a demand management of the 2009-2012 “Plan Futura” were policy that has allowed to reduce water added. These have resulted in a set of consumption in the city down to those specific actions that have helped to give figures that scarcely overcome 110 litres a Water Integral Service, increasingly per inhabitant and day, against the 122 efficient and of minimum consumption. initial litres before the launching of the All this, furthermore, fulfilling the plan. The aim for this year 2017 is that sustainability objectives mentioned in this consumption comes lower than the Environmental Action Plans of the 105 litres per inhabitant and day. municipal “Agenda 21”. This citizens´ awareness has already The second edition of the “Plan reached an extraordinary scope with Futura”, which began in 2013 and almost 90% of the population being finishes in 2017, consolidates the compromised with a sustainable already implemented actions and gives consumption of water. For its part,

Image of the Zadorra river

AMVISA (Municipal Waters of Vitoria 3.5. Launching the agri-food S.A.), has intensified the control of the Strategy water supply and sanitation networks, by renewing during this century more The European Green Capital 2012 than 72 kilometres of pipelines and more award meant, not only a recognition than 78.000 water meters, reaching a of the work developed by our city network efficiency of about 90%. during decades, but also meant a spur to stimulate new policies towards Future commitment will be based on sustainability which could enable the city continuing the consolidation of these to fulfill determinedly some outstanding high saving rates by means of programs challenges. of continuous awareness on water, with a constant renovation of the network, This way, it was firmly decided to push and adapting and modernizing both, ahead a Sustainable Agri-food Strategy treatment and supply plants. Also for Vitoria-Gasteiz, with the final aim continuing to promote good practices to connect within a sustainable frame in different areas, either services or quality local food production with the industry sectors. consumption of these products in the city.

21 It was precisely in 2012 when a group services, together with some of these formed by associations and Vitoria´s groups, were already working on citizenship conducted a reflection the development of such a Strategy, process for the improvement of the through specific actions of innovative agri-food system of Vitoria-Gasteiz. and demonstrative character that The works developed by these groups have become consolidated throughout and other people in their own right these five years. Some examples crystallized in the manifest entitled are the “Basaldea” Project for the Vitoria-Gasteiz for a sustainable promotion of the ecological local , to which the City agri-food system agriculture, the commercialization Council adhered, unanimously agreeing of ecological food in the “Plaza de in March 2014 to obtain an agri-food Abastos” (Municipal Market) and Municipal Plan in collaboration with other agri-environmental initiatives, all the organizations taking part in this initiative. as the urban allotments, managed by citizens´ groups in municipal plots, In parallel, the municipal technical civic centres or schools.

Urban allotments

22 3.6. Towards a new municipal in the “House of la Dehesa de Olárizu”, energy model: saving, which has later been spread to twelve efficiency and renewable other buildings and municipal facilities. Furthermore, with the help of “HAZI” Energy is one of the key fields in the (Foundation for rural, coastal and food way towards urban sustainability, and development in the Basque Country), is perhaps the area where there has a powerful tool has been developed been the least progress, largely due to to manage the biomass generation state legislation that has not favored its potential within Vitoria-Gasteiz´s development at the local level. Vitoria- municipal area, the most extensive of Gasteiz is significantly unprofitable the Basque Country and with important in the production of energy, since public forest surfaces. just a 4% of it is obtained from local renewable sources and, therefore, the Regarding geothermal energy, this city has to make an enormous effort to has been incorporated into big public guarantee its no dependence of fossil facilities as the new Bus station or the fuels, which are not renewable and are New Town hall. These buildings also often produced in conflict areas. incorporate photovoltaic panels.

Nevertheless, Vitoria-Gasteiz has been In the field of efficiency, an intense work exploring alternative energy sources has indeed been made, placing particular and it has been incorporating them in emphasis in public lighting, with its municipal buildings and facilities. different projects for the substitution of Within the biomass energy field, we can conventional lights for others with LED highlight the pilot experience carried out technology, the installation of power

“Ataria” wetlands interpretation centre

23 flow regulation systems, use of presence Urban Cooperation) which is a part of detectors, etc. the foreign policy of the European Union and at which Vitoria-Gasteiz has been Similarly, audit work has been performed invited to participate more specifically in different municipal buildings to be ready on the block of cooperation with Latin to find a strategy of intervention when America and Caribbean. its energy efficiency is near to increase, by improving the building´s insulation, The award for Vitoria-Gasteiz implies an installing thermostat controls or replacing added value in the search of European boilers, etc. funds as well as in its participation in the Horizon 2020 calls. In the last few years, 3.7. Participation the city is taking part in important proj- in new initiatives and ects, like the “IrrigestLife” (on smart ir- European programs rigation), the “MOVESMART” (on urban mobility), “PhytoSUDOE“ (on soil pollu- One of the aims of the European Green tion recovery), etc. We ought to under- Capital award is that the winning cities line the “SmartEnCity” project, which will become an inspiring model for other is presently being carried out within the European and from other countries cities. “Coronación” neighbourhood that is go- The appointment of Vitoria-Gasteiz as ing to allow its inhabitants to take part Green Capital represented an enormous in an innovative project on energy effi- qualitative and quantitative jump in ciency, district heating, mobility and ur- its international visibility. It meant an ban regeneration. accolade to the technical work already accomplished and a zoom vision on what 3.8. For a sustainable tourism Vitoria-Gasteiz had been undertaking during the last decades. If Vitoria-Gasteiz had achieved to become The own winning cities together with the the European Capital of sustainability, its prize finalists have created a network, tourism should also be a sustainable one. the European Green Capitals Network, To this end, it was created a Sustainable in which Vitoria-Gasteiz takes part very Tourism Board, in which the different frequently and which allows being in sector companies were all represented: contact with the European leading cities hotels, agro-tourisms, travel agencies, in urban sustainability. etc. From this table, sectors’ awareness was emphasized and a series of energy In the same way, the European audits were performed. These audits Commission has counted on Vitoria- made it possible to measure the facilities Gasteiz for different programs of energy and water consumptions and set international cooperation. One of them up those corrective measures that would is the World Cities Project that points improve their efficiency. out the exchange of good practices as for sustainable regional and urban Taking into account also the panel development. Led by the “DG Regio”, of sustainable tourism indicators, it proposes partnerships between proposed by the Global Sustainable European cities and those of third Tourism Council, allowed us to know countries. In such a way, Vitoria-Gasteiz our strengths and weaknesses as a took part in the program with Canada sustainable destination. This objective becoming associated with Edmonton, led us to get in touch with the Biosphere the capital of Alberta’s Province. Another Responsible Tourism Certificate, program is the IUC (International the only one so far authorized by this

24 international organization. Later on, with title “Leadership and Governance in the help of the Basque Government, Sustainable Tourism”, was organized Vitoria-Gasteiz was planed to be certified by the European Foundation for as a pilot experience, and this went on Sustainable Tourism (FEST). The same with the certification of the rest of the year, in November, the Europa Congress Basque destinations and of the whole Centre, just renewed under sustainability Euskadi as a tourism destination. criteria, sheltered the World Summit on Sustainable Tourism, 20 years In July 2015, Vitoria-Gasteiz welcomed after being celebrated in Lanzarote. The the Summer School that, under the meeting finished with the approval of

“The Charter of Vitoria-Gasteiz“, which 3.9. Vocation for the citizen reflects the major aims of sustainable and public welfare tourism, within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Vitoria-Gasteiz´s award as European Goals. Green Capital coincided with probably It is necessary to emphasize the effort the height of the economic and social that has been made to improve acces- crisis that, during almost a decade, has sibility to cultural heritage, with such led to an unjust impoverishment of a actions as the ramps and elevators in very important part of the global society. the Medieval Quarter, the outstanding performance in the “Santa Maria Cathe- And our city has not remained unaware dral” and the elimination of architec- of this adversity, which has required tural barriers in “Villa-Suso Palace”. to articulate new measures for the

25 protection of the most needy people and presently continue being a basic tool to strengthen the already existing ones, in the development of specific actions while also public funds are enduring very aimed to relieve those situations of social complicated circumstances, seeing how vulnerability , in any of its manifestations. drastically their income is diminishing.

To deal with this difficult social These broad-spectrum actions have been context, it was considered both, the complemented with other more specific reinforcement of the emergency social ones, as the development of an Action assistance, and also the intensification Plan for the years 2014-2016, -as a result of hosting programs, with psycho- of Vitoria-Gasteiz´s belonging to the WHO socio-educative support provided by specialized teams, articulated from (Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and the base social services, reference Communities), the initiative “Onartuz” points located in the civic centres for the hosting and assistance to genre for the access to the municipal social violence victims or other different mea- protection system. sures to face forced evictions and mort- Likewise, group and community gage executions, commitment acquired involvement programs have been, and in 2013 by the Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

26 for the European Green Capital + 10

4.1. Challenges and threads contribute for its solutions. Hence the in a complex future need to renew their engagement and recommit themselves, from their local We are living in difficult times, in which scale, to improve our planet future, the ecological and climate change has not only by strengthening the current become a first level issue for our planet. sustainable development policies but These are also times of responsibility also by promoting new initiatives that for the current generations, forced to will meet successfully the coming global face urgently a deep eco-social crisis that challenges. can compromise the future of humanity. The commitment to a circular economy The seriousness of this situation has of resources, the increase of an efficient triggered endless warning and calls to and renewable energy use, the restraint action, as stated in the “Memorandum of the unjustified occupation and use of Nobel Prizes for Sustainability” of the agricultural land, the protection (Stockholm Memorandum), in which and empowerment of local and regional around fifty top level scientists and biodiversity, the safeguard of water experts – twenty of them Nobel awarded- resources, together with a special advocate the need to urgently face compromise with energy shortage, up the global ecological deterioration immigrant reception, a decent and process and to undertake without delay dignified employment for everybody and the reduction of greenhouse gases the integration of the most vulnerable emissions to combat climate change. groups in society, are some examples of the reference objectives that Vitoria- Vitoria-Gasteiz neither wants nor will Gasteiz is going to undertake in the remain outside this urgent appeal, course of the next five years and which understanding that the cities have much will lead us to be the European Green to say and a great deal to contribute Capital +10. with, at the time of identifying and implementing possible solutions. And we 4.2. Vitoria-Gasteiz 2022 are not just referring to big cities, those Urban Agenda. which traditionally bear the primary A renewed hope responsibility for all environmental problems and which are therefore At the time of its launching as European supposed to draw up a crisis exit strategy. Green Capital 2012, in October 2010, Cities of medium size such as Vitoria- Vitoria-Gasteiz made it clear that this Gasteiz host the 80% of the European award would be, in the future, the city´s inhabitants who live in urban areas main sign of identity, engaging the need and, therefore, who are an important to continue to address with sufficient part of the problem, but who can also solvency the new challenges and

27 demands that urban societies will face sustainable cities development is made up. to.

For this reason, our city is very conscious With this Agenda, and under the prin- that the way towards sustainability is ciples of “not leaving anybody behind”, complex and changeable, and not easy “promoting inclusive and sustainable to be attended to alone. It is essential urban economie” and “heading for envi- to work engaged with other cities, being ronmental sustainability”, Vitoria-Gasteiz opened to new international scenes, wants to avoid the risk of complacency, looking for common approaches, strengthening the consolidation of the exchanging knowledge and sharing work made so far and, above all, ap- achievements and improvements for a proaching new exciting and ambitious fairer social future and a more habitable projects, which can face the complex world. In this sense, Vitoria-Gasteiz has a challenges lying ahead within the next great opportunity to take advantage of its decades. international brand image as a green city, pushing ahead the networks to which it 4.3. Towards a bio-regional belongs and, specially, strengthening its model: city and territory position as a reference of medium size European sustainable cities. hand by hand

Under these premises, our city intends In its commitment for sustainability, to develop an Urban Agenda, with a first Vitoria-Gasteiz has also internalised view to 2022, in line with the New Urban the need to go beyond its exclusively Agenda established in the III United local framework to work within a Nations Conference on Sustainable bioregional scene of frank cooperation Urban Development and Housing, and with its rural surroundings, with the with the Sustainable Development aim of progressively accommodate Goals, formulated in 2015 by the UN, its environmental footprint to its in which specific reference to more regional bio-capacity.

28 Probably, the most fascinating challenge of new agricultural land and to help for Vitoria-Gasteiz in the next years stimulating the internal growth under is to accomplish and consolidate a redensification, urban regeneration and harmonic socioeconomic development mixing of uses principles. Urban density model, together with its surrounding is a key factor for sustainability and municipalities, in the frame of what Vitoria-Gasteiz must opt for reaffirming has come to be called the Bioregion of its model of compact, complex, efficient Central Alava. and inclusive city.

A model which claims for the sustainable It is the moment to make more city conviviality of urban, rural and natural in the city itself, to regenerate the systems, in a new strategic territorial obsolete areas by improving their public projection, configuring a space with the spaces, attracting new uses, increasing sufficient complexity and availability of its accessibility and promoting energy resources that will allow to harmonize a efficiency in its buildings. Those healthy life with the preservation of the neighborhoods raised in the years of the local ecosystems, contributing in this rapid industrialization of the city deserve way to the correction of the ecological to be rethought and revitalized by means global unbalances without renouncing of such initiatives as “SmartEnCity”, the economic development of the planned within the neighborhood of productive sectors. “Coronación”.

This way, the central aim that Vitoria- This project, financed with European Gasteiz should consider for the next five- funds of the program “Cities and year period will be the consolidation and Intelligent Communities” will mean an the first steps of the Bioregion of Central important improvement in the quality of Alava. A project which intends to advance life of this neighborhood constructed in towards a sustainable and competitive the 60s. This intervention tries to improve territory, capable of reducing its ecological the energy efficiency of more than and carbon fingerprint, in conformity 1.300 houses by means of the building with the strategies of sustainability, envelope insulation improvement and innovation, adaptation and fight against the implementation of a district heating the climate change, biodiversity ... that system fed by biomass. In addition, international organizations support important improvements of the public and that the Basque Government, the space and a friendly accessibility, by Diputacion Foral de Alava as well as the removing architectural barriers, will be Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz have already pushed forward. This project will be used launched up. as an example for many other Vitoria neighborhoods of similar characteristics. 4.4. Building a better city The downtown must recover its pulse, At the present time, Vitoria-Gasteiz lost after the great urban expansion to is reviewing its General Urban Plan easter and western areas in the last years what supposes an opportunity to and the displacement of administrative strengthen and guarantee its sustainable uses towards other zones. It is necessary development model. After a General to attract new tertiary uses to occupy Expansive Plan as that of the year 2000, the vacant buildings and rely on the now it is time to review and correct railway station as the future activity the expansive policies, betting on a tractor element. With the arrival of the city that grows inward. It is necessary High-speed Train foreseen for 2023, the to stop the irreparable consumption models of regional mobility will change

29 significantly and the station will turn In the same way, it will be necessary to into an attraction pole, which the city continue betting for the enhancing of the center must be able to take advantage Vitoria-Gasteiz´s Historical Quarter, of. This same milestone will allow a the jewel of the city, which must be better integration between the city and capable of improving the quality of life the university campus, on the other side of its inhabitants and, simultaneously, of the railway. For all this to succeed, it be a cultural, tourist and commercial seems to be necessary to undertake, attraction centre, through a greater under the public leadership, a public- provision of tertiary uses and restaurateurs private agreement process that allows The new urban planning, in its building returning the Downtown its central code, will have also to incorporate role in the life of Vitoria-Gasteiz. In this some positive actions boosting the regard, the municipal government is construction of almost zero energy promoting the so-called “Masterplan consumption buildings, bioarchitecture, Centro”, a plan including twenty smart homes, renewable energies and actions to rehabilitate, regenerate and all those technical advances that not reactivate the center of Vitoria-Gasteiz. only make it possible to reduce building

Mechanical ramps access to the Historic Center

energy consumption, but also to improve Another important challenge for the their comfort and to allow their better new Plan is to adapt industrial uses to integration in the urban landscape. the changeable reality of production Vitoria-Gasteiz, in that sense, participates systems and to integrate the increasingly together with Cahors and Oporto in the frequent productive uses without leaving impact in the environment. It development of a joint project to improve is necessary to act in the old industrial energy efficiency policies in historic estates to make them more attractive, to centres, the Enerpat-Sudoe project. The provide them with services, to connect planned action for the capital of Álava them to smart grids and as a result of consists of the energetic rehabilitation of this, to enable new investments that can a building in the “Correría” street. generate quality employment. The reuse

30 of land and vacant industrial facilities in By means of its Plan to Fight against the field of rehabilitation, regeneration Climate Change, which integrates a and reactivation is an alternative to the Sustainable Energy Action Plan, the consumption of agricultural land for new Council has been adopting different polygons. measures to stimulate renewable energies and efficiency in energy supply 4.5. Carbon neutral city in 2050, and consumption. At the same time, it more energy efficiency is developing some publicity campaigns and self-sufficiency directed to implying, sensitizing and informing the population in relation to The next three years are going to be of the rational use of energy. a great importance for Vitoria-Gasteiz Some key pieces in which Vitoria-Gasteiz regarding its actions for mitigation and will stress in the coming years are the adjustment to climate change, since, as enhancement of the carbon sink effect city that has signed the Covenant of in the whole municipality, the urban Mayors for the adoption of measures sustainable mobility, the municipal against global warming, it has acquired agri-food strategy, the decrease of big 2 the commitment to reduce CO emissions consumptions, the increase of energy in its municipality, at least in 20% for the efficiency and the use of renewables, year 2020. The mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz, as the biomass and the solar power, Gorka Urtaran, participated in December -in those sectors which fall within the 2015 at the 21th UN Conference on Climate Council responsibility (hydrological cycle, Change COP21 and the City Council management of waste, public space joined in the same appointment to the lighting, public facilities and municipal so-called “Paris City Hall Declaration. A services)- and the energy rehabilitation decisive contribution to COP21”. of buildings, through programs like the

31 “SmartEnCity” project in the “Coronación” year, those new projects already under neighborhood, mentioned above. way, such as the tramway extension, the incorporation of a Bus Rapid Transit or As regards as mobility, new and Intelligent Electric Bus, which will bypass important challenges are expected for the city thanks to the inter-institutional Vitoria-Gasteiz in the next years. On agreement between the Basque the one hand, we will have to continue Government, the Provincial Council of advancing in the current model of Alava and the City Council; or the arrival displacements, optimizing the use of the High Speed train to the city centre. increasingly generalized of bicycles, The municipal transport company TUVISA further developing electrical mobility, also advances and, in that sense, in 2017 arranging distribution of last mile goods has been able to take to the street ten and promoting pedestrian’s walkways new high-capacity vehicles less polluting. and superblocks as spaces of limited This is an important advance, since the traffic and public areas recovered for last buses purchased by the company citizenship. dated back to 2009. In addition, during 2018 and 2019 ten hybrid technology The city will also have to envisage, in its vehicles will be purchased, which will new Sustainable Mobility and Public represent an important quality leap in Space Plan, whose review will begin this the urban bus service of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

CONVENTIONAL SUPERBLOCKS

Motorised mobility

Pedestrian mobility & other uses

Private cars & public transport Basic network

Residents, emergency, freight dist Inner streets

Parking & logistic platform

Pedestrian & bicycle transit

Superblock outline

32 And, in turn, in the next coming years, 4.6. Improving biodiversity, it will have to approach the challenge landscape and ecosystem of improving work mobility, -especially in the different city industrial areas-, in services addition to accomplishing conviviality The Green Belt is a key element of the among the different means of transport Vitoria-Gasteiz green infrastructure. so as to increase road urban safety. However, it needs to incorporate new Furthermore, the following years will al- spaces, to the south and east of the city, low to implement many of the actions which reinforce its ecological continuity and projects scheduled for the 2017- and connectivity. 2025 Agri-food Municipal Plan, now- adays being prepared, whose purpose Soil pollution problems and the private is to manage to connect a quality food ownership of the land located to the south local production with their consumption have long complicated its incorporation within the own city, with special atten- to the Green Belt. Even so, and in spite of tion to ecological production. its current degraded condition, the fact of its proximity to the Mounts of Vitoria Following this aim, local farming activity and the flowing of two important streams is going to be encouraged , together with provide this area with a high naturalistic its primary sector, Vitoria citizens’ eating and landscape potential, becoming a key habits will be improved, -reversing piece of the Green Belt. unhealthy trends as childhood obesity, The aim to be pursued is, therefore, to overweight or elderly malnutrition-, and give an urgent and definitive solution to the city ecological fingerprint will be this space, solution at which the Council reduced, since the energy consumption derived from food transport and has been working for the last few years conservation is going to diminish. and whose main points are: to make use of the necessary land, through public- This series of measures will undoubtedly private collaboration; to execute -hand achieve that Vitoria-Gasteiz becomes a in hand with the Basque Government- carbon neutral city in 2050. those hydraulic recovery projects already

The green infrastructure is entering the city

33 planned in that zone and to proceed with being prepared for the reutilization the decontamination of the affected areas. and the recycling of 50% of the domestic waste. In addition to the annexation of new areas, in the next years it will be With this aim, the Council has already necessary to conclude those ecological- provided the necessary infrastructures landscape recovery projects that are of collection, selection and treatment, so nowadays being undertaken in some of that new efforts are going to be directed the main areas of the Green Belt, such to improve its present urban waste as the “Alto de las neveras”, all this in management and to achieve a major order to improve biodiversity and its collaboration of the citizenship, giving for correspondent ecosystem services. sure that their involvement in this new challenge is going to be as intense as it And furthermore, headway will also be has been in other occasions. made in consolidating and extending the Green Urban Infrastructure project, a It is necessary, therefore, to, once city core initiative that tries to promote more, generate illusion and citizen the ecological, environmental and social co-responsibility in waste reduction, functions of the green spaces of the city, reutilization and recycling and, to achieve by means of nature based solutions. this, we should provide them with a good information of the current status of the The link of this network with the Green situation, together with our desires for Belt and, from here, towards the natural future, to, subsequently, raise citizen´s spaces that surround the municipality, awareness and provoke a global change across its green and blue urban of their habits. Definitively, succeed corridors, will succeed in overcoming in making the citizenship conscious the traditional barrier between urban and participant of the difficulties and and natural spaces, reinforcing the challenges we are facing at, in order city ecosystem services and bringing to get them involved in their solution. nature´s benefits over Vitoria-Gasteiz In this regard, the City Council and the neighborhood..si Provincial Council of Alava, together with other territorial entities, are 4.7. Towards a circular economy working on the creation of a Plan for the of the resources Prevention and Management of Urban Waste in Alava-Araba, an example of ViIn its effort for being more sustainable inter-institutional collaboration and the and firmly decided to bet on a circular vocation of Vitoria-Gasteiz to serve the economy, Vitoria-Gasteiz is going to Territory. continue at the search of a harmonic model of management and reutilization With regards to the management of of residues, water and energy, through water by AMVISA, the reduction in its “cycle closing” strategies. global and per capita consumption during these last years, shows that we Such objectives as the reduction in the are taking the good steps. Nevertheless, generation of residues, the “almost Vitoria-Gasteiz does not resign itself zero” waste in “Gardelegi” landfill, and wants to continue advancing in its the recovery of the organic matter policies to improve networks and service and a substantial recycling increase infrastructures, specially, those related are questions that must be strongly to the quality of the water being returned stimulated in order to achieve the to the natural environment, through European objective 2020, what means Crispijana’s treatment plant.

34 With this aim, besides continuing working going to continue stimulating the in the progressive permeation of the existing initiatives with relation to the urbanized land, a new push is going to environmentally responsible purchase be given to the already initiated diversion and public social procurement, as a sign of the southern rivers that nowadays still of its budgetary policy identity. drain their clean waters into the water treatment system, producing, as result, 4.8. Intelligence and knowledge its collapse in strong rain periods and an for a better life in the city unnecessary water treatment. In turn, citizenship´s awareness is going to be Vitoria-Gasteiz does not want to critical to reduce the domestic waste disregard those advantages derived of polluting emissions, which highly from digital revolution and “smart” damage treatment facilities and natural trends that, in the last years, have environment. It will also be important to begun to affect some important collaborate with URA, the Basque Water aspects of the city, as urban space Agency, with which the City Council has and mobility, infrastructure systems an agreement. and services, digital communication networks, etc. Another main issue to be approached in the next years, relating to water, is This way towards the intelligent or 2.0 the need to assure the preservation of city, as it is usually called, has to have, the Vitoria-Gasteiz Quaternary Aquifer, however, an only final goal: to reach an strategic reservation of fresh water, efficient management of the different close to the 25 hm3; and the Subijana urban systems to satisfy city´s needs Aquifer. and those of its citizens.

On the other hand, the Council, in Under these premises, Vitoria-Gasteiz its firm bet for circular economy, is is trying to promote some policies in

Weekly market in Abastos

35 favour of this digital mobility, the use of 4.9. Boosting green economy social networks and Big Data application as the principal competi to become an increasingly cohesive and collaborative society, with a better tive advantage of the city contact with public administrations. city The first symptoms of recovery from In addition, adequate conditions have the deep and long crisis that we have to be created so that the city continues been suffering in the last few years must evolving as a pole of attraction for a major not make us relax; on the contrary, we knowledge and talent. Hence, the need should imagine new possibilities and to promote such structures as Cooper- economic scenes that can later avoid the ative Research Centres or Green Labs, serious damages we have endured. work together with the Alava Technology Park, Neiker-Tecnalia; and to strengthen The experience of Vitoria-Gasteiz in collaboration with the University and sustainability and its international other educational centers, such as Egi- recognition, which culminated with the bide, through applied research joint pro- European Green Capital Award in 2012, grams, so that our city achieves the sta- are a great opportunity to look into a tus of an authentic urban laboratory of strategy that can convert the city into economic and eco-social innovation. a leading region in terms of generating value, by means of the so called “green economy”, following the trail of other capitals as Copenhagen.

In this respect, it becomes indispensable to determinedly promote the public- private collaboration among the different institutions, companies, enterprising people, innovation nodes and business associations, reinforcing the current initiatives and generating the necessary favorable environment to attract a “green” investment that guarantees the creation of wealth and sustainable employment.

Some of our former industrial estates need an intelligent rethinking of the productive activities they host nowadays, as well as an intense urban improvement to make them more attractive and functional.

Companies, on the other hand, have to act as real engines of the social change, betting on innovation and green employment, at the same time that they promote a deep humanization of labour relationships.

Companies opened to the outside, capable of exchanging knowledge with

36 companies of different world regions the analysis of their life cycle and the and ready to collaborating among them environmental control of the product. and with the public administrations in projects and initiatives that stimulate the Definitively, it is a question of fully local economy and help to improve the incorporating the productive and service conditions of their workers. systems into a green economy that is outlined in the whole world as the All this, in a frame of respect for the economy of the future, with companies region and its environment, preventing looking for their benefit at the same time the unnecessary occupation and that generating value for the society in consumption of agricultural land and which they are settled. betting for productive competitive systems based on the eco-design, We are sure of the fact that the brand

Alava Technological Park

“Vitoria-Gasteiz European Green Cap- 4.10. New answers for new ital” can suppose a highly important social needs competitive feature for the compa- nies of the city and these, in turn, can If Vitoria-Gasteiz has been distinguished and must help to encourage its sustain- for something during these last able growth. To achieve this in the next decades, apart from its environmental years, it becomes absolutely necessary to work in a collaborative way on this commitment, this has been for matter, in order to turn Vitoria-Gasteiz its demonstrated determination into one of the world references of me- and responsibility towards social dium size cities promoting a green econ- protection and integration of its most omy. disadvantaged citizens.

37 In this regard, we are experiencing very fulfilment of the acquired commitments. delicate moments concerning the present Simultaneously, different programs global social emergency situation about for immigrants’ insertion are being which Europe and their cities have to implemented, avoiding, thus, their be concerned. It is more necessary than ghettoization and promoting the defence ever that public administrations look for of interculturality and their integration the way of redoubling their efforts to in equal conditions than the rest of the mostly relieve humanitarian tragedies, citizens. especially those closer to us. The demographic decline, together For this purpose, during the following with an ageing citizenship, a reversal of years, Vitoria-Gasteiz will continue the population pyramid and a negative working, harder if possible, in the natural increase, are some other critical challenges which the administrations will construction of a supportive, have to face and, especially the councils, united and inclusive community, which will have to bring together the taking into account the differences increasingly demanding attention to between its own citizens, so as to give elderly with the economic sustainability an equal treatment to all of them. of social protection systems. More precisely, it has launched and it is going to continue developing during the Other questions to pay particular next years an active policy for refugees’ attention to, intensifying the public reception, requiring the European states efforts made till now, are the protection –specially the Spanish government- the to the gender violence victims and to the

Visit to one of the orchards of the Historic Centre

38 minors, the energy poverty scenarios and participative city, which will promote and the emergency social aid, meant a more efficient and fair policy in the use to relieve or avoid marginalization of public resources. In this line, the work situations and to enhance inclusion of of the Environmental Studies Centre and those in greatest need into the local its evolution towards an innovation agen- community. cy, a research centre in leading areas such as the environment, mobility and energy In parallel with the above, a major im- efficiency, taking advantage of its work of petus is going to be given to sustainable more than twenty years and its interna- economic promotion and employment tionalization capacity. policies, especially those orientated to the search and creation of decent jobs The appointment of Vitoria-Gasteiz as for young people and for the long-term Green Capital in 2012 was a historic mi- unemployed. lestone for the city. However, the Basque capital can not keep the memory of those With this aim, Vitoria-Gasteiz is trying to days and keep that award exhibited in a establish a major community empow- showcase. The prize should be, every day, erment frame, where the opinion of all an impulse that motivates all people living neighbours and associations comes in- in the city to advance in the environmen- dispensable to all achieve a transparent tal area, a way of life.

Vitoria-Gasteiz, May 2017, five years after the Green Capital Award