Vilnius, the European Green Capital bringing citizens to the forefront

The European Green Capital year for the Lithuanian capital officially started on 22-23 January with its opening ceremony, which gathered leaders from all over Europe, as well as other past and future European Green Capitals and Green Leaf cities, politicians and environmental experts. On January 22, Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkuskas launched the celebrations by highlighting the city’s sustainability commitments. The day included discussions on urban resilience, featuring insights from prominent political leaders.

Since then, the city has organised many green initiatives oriented to its citizens and fostering a strong engagement within the sustainable community.

A notable project, launched in February, is the ‘Green Challenge for Students’. Open to students from Vilnius schools in grades 5-12, the challenge aims to teach students how to lead sustainability initiatives in their schools. It ended with the ‘Young Sustainability Leaders Festival’, where the students’ projects were presented and awarded.

Moving along, the city of Vilnius has hosted the discussion titled ‘Menu for the Future: Can our Choices Save the Planet?’. This talk explored the environmental and health impacts of plant-based diets, strengthening the city's commitment to sustainability. During the discussion, a panel of experts addressed misconceptions about vegan nutrition and emphasised the importance of sustainable dietary choices.

The Lithuanian capital also hosted the ‘Impact Days’ conference, where businesses discussed the implications of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and received guidance on adapting to new sustainability reporting requirements.

Sustainability and environmental consciousness can also take an artistic route to make a statement. To reflect this transformation, Vilnius unveiled 'City – An Unfolding Flower', an art installation created from waste materials by artist Jolita Vaitkutė, symbolising the city's shift toward a greener and more sustainable future. In a similar way, Vilnius Tech students organised a live performance called ‘Siūlė po siūlės’ (in English, ‘stitch by stitch’) at a Humana store. The performance featured the transformation of old clothes into reusable bags to raise awareness about the pollution caused by the fashion industry.

The city of Vilnius has reached the citizens’ hearts with greenery initiatives. Families of newborns are gifted tree seedling kits by the city, complete with planting materials and care instructions. This symbolic gesture evokes an ancestral connection between two new lives, all while highlighting the importance of environmental stewardship. Vilnius also hosted a tree-planting event, where volunteers from all over the city helped plant over 1 400 trees near the Pūčkoriai outcrop.

These initiatives, promoted under Vilnius' tenure as the 2025 European Green Capital, embody the spirit of the award. By launching new environmental events and community-driven projects, the city is positioning itself as a model for both green governance and active public engagement.