Towns and Cities, Growing Greener ’s urban landscape is characterised by its With 30ha of pedestrianised zones, citizens can historical buildings. stroll through the vibrant city streets.

Leuven at a glance

Approximately 30 kilometres from ’s capital, , lies Leuven, a charming, compact city of just under 100,000 citizens. Leuven is characterised by a wide range of landscapes, including lush parks, a beautiful botanical garden, 1,000ha of forest, and the river running through the heart of the region.

A historic city An innovative city The city has maintained many cultural relics Regularly ranked in the top 100 universities in from its medieval past. All through the Middle the world, KU Leuven is known for its innovative Ages, Leuven was characterised by numerous work and collaboration with scientific and churches, monasteries and convents, many of research institutions based in the city. This which are still intact and are now very popular wealth of shared knowledge makes the city a tourist sights. hot spot for innovative research in a range of different areas, such as climate change. A young city Leuven is largely known for its 600-year-old university, KU Leuven. Thanks to Leuven’s large student population (40,000), it is a lively, vibrant and dynamic city.

1 Leuven’s Accolades

• Youth City of Flanders 2017-2018 • 40,000 trees in public spaces and 70 parks and open gardens • Belgian Environment and Energy Award 2014 • Less domestic waste per person than the • Most Sustainable Belgian Municipality 2013 average for the Flanders region • Fair trade city since 2006 • 5km of bicycle lanes in the old city centre • The number one car sharing city in Belgium • 20 charging points for electric bicycles • 30ha pedestrianised area

Leuven, a green city

Leuven 2030 – Innovative climate Green space and biodiversity change governance The city of Leuven is committed to protecting The NGO ‘Leuven 2030’, co-founded by citizens its wildlife; leading several biodiversity projects, and 60 different organisations, is working in opening up covered streams and minimising collaboration with the City of Leuven to achieve urban sprawl to safeguard its open space. The a climate neutral future, uniting citizens, reappearance of some very rare and valuable organisations, companies, governments species is a clear sign of success for the and knowledge institutions to make this ambitious policy on nature conservation which transition. Committed to public participation in has been in place since 1998. environmental issues, Leuven is one of the few cities in Europe to monitor its carbon dioxide emissions monthly and share them online with its citizens.

Leuven 2030 developed its own professional communication strategy for its climate journey, based on the principles of behavioural change. Citizens are the key ambassadors for a green and sustainable Leuven; their stories inspiring others to look for solutions.

Clockwise from Left to Right ©Toerisme Leuven ©Miechel De Paep

2 Leuven is striving to become the number one cycling Leuven is home to the oldest botanical city in Belgium through improving its environment for gardens in Belgium. cyclists as well as pedestrians.

Cycle and pedestrian friendly city Water Leuven’s city centre is now car free thanks to The River Dyle plays an important role in an ambitious circulation plan implemented in naturally cooling the city, however it also 2016, increasing levels of cycling by 30% and leaves it vulnerable to flooding. Over the past reducing motorised traffic by almost 10% across decade the city has focused on introducing the entire city. With 5km of cycle lanes in the flood protection measures and thanks to the city centre and the continuous addition of bike construction of a wide spread sewer system, the stands (currently 18,000), cycling in the city has water quality has improved drastically. Citizens never been easier. Travelling to Leuven by bike can now enjoy a more open river running through has also been made possible with the creation the city centre, and thanks to the improved of cycle highways, such as the route connecting environment, the creation of green parks along Leuven and Brussels. the Dyle has been made possible.

A clean city Air quality Leuven is a very clean city thanks to its policy The decrease in motorised traffic, thanks to the on domestic waste, maintaining a clean city 2016 circulation plan, has had a direct impact centre and monitoring illegal dumping. In 2016 on local air quality; in some places air quality is the average amount of domestic waste shrank up to 2.5 times better than before the plan was to 118.40kg per citizen. This is lower than the implemented. To continue this improvement, the average in the Flanders region and over 80kg city of Leuven and its citizens will embark on a less than the target goal for 2022 for small cities new collaborative project to use smart sensors in Belgium. The city has invested much effort in for measuring air quality. the reduction of waste production by promoting composting, reuse and repair.

3 Over the past decade much work has been put The Braem Project, an initiative from ‘Stand up into restoring natural floodplains and constructing for your neighbourhood’, worked with children’s sustainable flood management infrastructure and organisation De Kettekeet, De Zevensprong school improving water quality. and local residents to set up a community garden.

Leuven, European Green Leaf 2018

As European Green Leaf 2018, Leuven would like to inspire other cities with its approach of involving the whole community to tackle climate change. In 2018 the many projects focusing on energy use, energy production, food consumption and mobility (amongst others), will further contribute to a sustainable, inspiring and climate neutral future.

Energy, a collective approach A local and sustainable food system Leuven has brought together a range of actors Sustainable food consumption and agriculture to reduce the city’s energy consumption and are also key topics for Leuven. Currently promote renewables. For instance, ‘LICHT working on a local food strategy involving over Leuven’ a partnership of 15 organisations, 100 stakeholders, Leuven aims to help local, supports local, citizen-led solar and wind energy small scale agricultural enterprises reach their projects, promoting renewable energy and civic potential in sustainable food production develop engagement and boosting the local economy. a policy to reduce food waste at every step in Another example is the ‘Leuven Switcht’ the food production chain. campaign, which offers a simple tool to help people change to the cheapest available green Mobility The city of Leuven aims to be a car free city. The energy contract. city will continue to support civic platforms, Leuven 2030 is helping 18 partners introduce such as ‘Straten Vol Leuven’ (Streets Full of substantial energy efficiency measures in Leuven) and ‘Kom op voor je wijk’ (Stand Up for various large buildings in and around Leuven, Your Neighbourhood), to unite organisations and including offices, schools, elderly homes, social citizens to accelerate this transformation and housing, and cultural buildings, once again ambitious modal shift. demonstrating a commitment to collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Clockwise from Left to Right ©Toerisme Leuven ©City of Leuven ©City of Leuven ©Sofie Abts

4 European Green Leaf Award Winners European Green Leaf Award Winnaars

• Leuven 2018

• Växjö 2018

• Galway 2017

• Torres Vedras 2015/2016

• Mollet del Vallès 2015/2016

• Växjö

• Galway

• Leuven

• Mollet del Vallès • Torres Vedras European Green Leaf Award European Green Leaf Award The European Green Leaf is a competition De European Green Leaf is een wedstrijd die aimed at towns and cities across Europe, with bedoeld is voor Europese gemeenten en steden between 20,000 and 100,000 inhabitants met 20 000 tot 100 000 inwoners, en is een which recognises a city’s commitment erkenning voor de inspanningen die deze steden to better environmental outcomes. It is leveren om betere milieuresultaten te behalen. the partner competition of the European Het is een partnerwedstrijd van de European Green Capital Award for cities over 100,000 Green Capital Award voor steden met meer dan inhabitants. Leuven in Belgium and Växjö in 100 000 inwoners. De Belgische stad Leuven en Sweden are the joint European Green Leaf de Zweedse stad Växjö zijn de twee winnaars Award winners for 2018. The Spanish city van de European Green Leaf Award in 2018. De of Mollet del Vallès and the Portuguese city Spaanse stad Mollet del Vallès en de Portugese of Torres Vedras were the winners of the stad Torres Vedras mochten in 2015/2016 de inaugural European Green Leaf 2015/2016, eerste European Green Leaf in ontvangst nemen, followed by the Irish city of Galway, who won gevolgd door de Ierse stad Galway, die de titel in the title in 2017. 2017 kreeg.

The European Green Leaf and European Green De European Green Leaf en European Green Capital Awards are initiatives of the European Capital Awards zijn initiatieven van de Europese Commission. To find more information about Commissie. Surf via de onderstaande link naar the winners, how to apply for the awards, how onze website voor meer informatie over de the winners are selected, and for any other winnaars, hoe kandidaten zich kunnen inschrijven questions, please visit our website below. voor de awards, hoe de winnaars worden gekozen en voor alle andere vragen.

ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreenleaf