Application form for the European Green Capital Award 2016

City Introduction & Context Give an introductory overview of the city and a general background to the application. Discuss positive and negative factors that have influenced the quality of the environment within the city and its surrounding area. The city's infrastructure plan should be briefly explained. Applicants are advised to include any former or outstanding environmental legal proceedings in this section.

(max. 1000 words)

Ljubljana is the capital and largest city of the Republic of (independent country since 1991). It covers 275 km2 and has a population of 283.000. It has an important geostrategic position, as it is situated on a natural crossroad from Central Europe to the Mediterranean, Balkan Peninsula and the Pannonian Plain, on the crossroad of important TEN-T European corridors V and X. Situated in a basin between the Plain and the Ljubljana Marshes, it has south alpine climate with a moderate continental character (low winter temperatures, frequent atmospheric inversions, relatively large amount of precipitation).

Ljubljana is the largest political, administrative, cultural and economic center in the country as well as the headquarters of many national and international institutions and organizations, including the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. It is part of the Ljubljana Urban Region, by far the most developed region in the country (GDP per capita is 43% above the Slovenian average).

Ljubljana is a city with high quality of life. The city’s development and implementation of Vision 2025 ambitious goals are led by city authorities. City bodies include: the City Council, the Mayor and the Supervisory Board. Ljubljana districts (17) are also important authorities in the city structure. In addition to the City Administration the local public sector of Ljubljana includes public companies, public institutions and a Public Housing Fund. It employs a total of more than 12.000 people. We place great importance on developing and strengthening our corporate culture, fostering teamwork and innovative solutions. For that reason our renewed participation in the project EGCA 2016 is of great importance not only for strengthening the city brand and building awareness of general public, but also for the city employees. In the single document we are presenting many sustainable measures and projects - people are better informed about the “green” activities of their colleagues and thus more committed to a common goal, motivated for future work and proud of our mutual achievements. In six years (2007 - 2013) we have together implemented more than 650 projects to additionally improve the quality of living of our citizens. The annual budget for City Administration is €300mio (city public sector total €1billion ).

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Green, clean, safe and friendly city

Ljubljana has an impressive green identity , almost 3/4 of the city’s surface is covered with green areas (Natura 2000 areas represent 16.5% of the surface). Forests reach right into the city center. They offer great potential for outdoor recreation and have a favorable effect on the city climate. Ljubljana is surrounded by the largest continuous green space ( 34 km ): Green Belt “Path of Remembrance and Comradeship” (7,000 trees), extremely popular for recreation. The Botanic Garden is one of the world’s historically most important botanic gardens. Prehistoric Pile dwellings in Landscape park Ljubljansko barje are listed in the Unesco World Heritage List (including the world’s oldest wooden wheel – 5200 years ). In Ljubljana we drink tap water of outstanding high quality, accessible to everyone.

To reach the promised Vision 2025 (2007) we have adopted important sustainable-oriented strategic documents , among them the key document for sustainable development of Ljubljana for the next decades ( Maks Fabiani National Award 2013 ): Urban Master Plan (83% of all city development is directed towards renewal of existing developed areas and brown fields), Environmental Protection Program, Sustainable Mobility Plan, Sustainable Energy Action Plan and Electromobility Strategy.

We are intensely turning words into action and the results of implementation can already be seen. We have closed the city center for motorized traffic, completely renovated it and created an extensive Urban ecological zone , gradually expending it so that today it covers almost 100.000 m2. Walking distances for pedestrians have been shortened with new bridges and the introduction of free of charge electric vehicles . For comprehensive refurbishment of the Banks and Bridges of the River we were awarded with the European Prize for Urban Public Space 2012 . In September 2013 we modified the traffic regime on the main traffic artery (Slovenska Street) by limiting motorized traffic and giving priority to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. It has significantly impacted the existing transport routes in the city. 24-hour Our bikesharing system BicikeLJ (2011) exceeded all expectations – in only two years more than 1.6 million journeys were made. The first hour of use is free (98.40% of the total). In four years (2008-2012) we created 40 ha

2 of new parks on formerly degraded areas, we are implementing the Smartinska District Partnership project with the common goal to completely transform a brownfield area of 228 ha into a new high quality district (technologically sophisticated and of high environmental standards).

We connect the region: The biggest Slovene cohesion project ( Regional Waste Management Center ) connects 33 municipalities. Once finished it will have the capacity to solve waste problems for 1/3 of Slovenian population for the next 30-40 years. For creating sustainable tourism we coordinate RDO Central Slovenia (26 municipalities). Through the Regional Development Agency (26 municipalities) we are introducing many sustainable projects (co-financed by EU funds) in cooperation with numerous regional and EU partners.

In Ljubljana green equals quality of living. We are proud of annual re-record in tourist visits (+10,7%) and the ( World’s top 3% Universities ) with over 60.000 students. We intensely connect with other stakeholders, encourage active dialogue with our citizens, promote sustainable development, share good practices, learn from the best and implement best solutions. That is why we believe we are living in the most beautiful city in the world : According to the European Commission's Perception survey (Table 1), 90% of citizens are satisfied to live in Ljubljana .

Table 1: Quality of life in cities. Perception survey in 79 European cities. Flash Eurobarometer 366 – Selected Data.

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Ljubljana was shortlisted as finalist for EGCA 2015 and we strongly believe that in this year we have made additional progress in the direction of sustainability and even higher quality of living in our city. Warmly welcome at any time to see, feel, breath and experience the beauty of Ljubljana firsthand.

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