Vilnius, Lithuania. Photo: Shutterstock Vilnius - The Green Capital of Europe 2025.
The capital of Lithuania has been chosen as the European Green Capital for 2025, reflecting a strong commitment to sustainability with a realistic and practical approach.
The European Union states that "the city has adopted the motto: 'Vilnius - The Greenest City in Process', reflecting its commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in environmental initiatives."
Vilnius has already achieved significant milestones in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through various strategic measures.
The city has expanded the use of renewable energy sources and conducted extensive renovations on its heating infrastructure with an ambitious goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2030. These efforts reflect Vilnius's clear vision toward a sustainable future.
A central component of Vilnius's sustainability strategy is its focus on effective and significant citizen involvement. The city recognizes the close link between sustainability and residents’ well-being and places happiness as a top priority. To this end, Vilnius promotes initiatives to improve air and water quality, preserve biodiversity, and expand green areas, ensuring a healthy and enjoyable urban environment.
An innovative aspect of Vilnius's approach is its technological strategy for public engagement. The city uses digital technology to encourage citizen participation through a dedicated app, allowing residents to take an active part in city management and planning.
"This participatory model empowers citizens and contributes to the shared responsibility for achieving sustainability goals," the European Union notes, adding: With a clear roadmap and strong commitment to sustainability, Vilnius sets an example for other cities aspiring to create greener and more pleasant urban environments. The title of European Green Capital for 2025 serves both as recognition and encouragement for Vilnius to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence in sustainable urban development."
Olga Goncarova, the head of the Lithuanian Tourism Office, welcomed the announcement after the victory declaration and said: "Prestigious awards continue to highlight our country, making it more visible and attractive to tourists. Today, Vilnius was officially announced as the European Green Capital for 2025. This title reflects the city's strong commitment to sustainability, with a realistic and responsible approach to addressing climate change, urban growth, and its challenges. A moment of pride for Vilnius and Lithuania."
It should be noted that the Israeli company OverSeas has been operating direct flights to Lithuania for the past two years, and starting this May will offer direct flights to Vilnius. Israir also announced recently that it will start flying to Vilnius, with two weekly flights on Sundays and Thursdays starting from April 24, 2025. Additionally, WizzAir, which recently resumed its flights to Israel, operates direct flights to Vilnius.
Flight ticket price - starting at $245 per person.
Photo: Shutterstock