Prague receives European Forest City Award 2021

The Czech capital’s environmental practices have been recognised

On Tuesday 18 May, Prague received the European Forest City Award 2021 – an award that recognises the city’s efforts to care for its environment. Representatives of the European Forest Institute awarded the Czech capital virtually, due to the COVID pandemic.

The European Forest Institute brings together forest researchers, international organisations, and forest owners. These environmental experts assess the work of cities and award the one that has most successfully contributed to the maintenance and expansion of its forest fund.

Prague aims to plant 1 million trees in 8 years

In a press release, Mayor Zdeněk Hřib expressed his appreciation for the European Forest City Award 2021: “I really appreciate the “Prague City of the Forest” Award. It confirms that we are on the right path and that we are succeeding in fulfilling our promise – to plant one million trees in eight years.”

The Mayor noted that the city has already planted 370,000 trees. More importantly, he explained that Prague is ambitiously and proactively continuing to work on fulfilling its goals. Deputy Mayor for the environment Petr Hlubuček also commented on this, sharing that planting trees in the city is crucial for multiple reasons:

“Trees in the city have an irreplaceable role, especially for the city’s adaptation to climate change. In the place where they grow, they create a more comfortable microclimate by providing shade that lowers the sensory temperature, by evaporating water, thereby cooling the environment as a natural air conditioner, but also by cleaning the air from pollutants,” Hlubuček explained.

Other ambitious goals

Earlier this year, the Czech capital also approved its 2030 Climate Plan: a plan that seeks to decrease CO2 emissions by a minimum of 45% by 2030, compared to 2010. What is more, the capital also aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

In addition to this, Prague reported that it has set up a Commission for Sustainable Energy and Climate and that it strongly supports the European Green Deal. Thus, the capital demonstrates its commitment to fighting climate change and transforming the city into a place that is safe, clean, and green.