YEARS LATER THE EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL - European Commission
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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
10Base 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
11On 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
12carried 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,
Summit” and the city did want to
full of green energy flowing for its streets,
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.
14Award 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
15of 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.
162.4. 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.
17as 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
certified by the Passivhaus Institute,
into the definition and development of a
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
18Appearance 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
19mobility 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
20for 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.
21It 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
agri-food system, to which the City
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
223.6. Towards a new municipal in the “House of la Dehesa de Olárizu”,
energy model: saving, which has later been spread to twelve
other buildings and municipal facilities.
efficiency and renewable
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
23flow 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
24international 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
25protection 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.
26for 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
27demands 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.
28Probably, 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
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