Treviso, Italy Crowned Europe’s Green Leaf City 2025
Treviso, a city in Italy’s Veneto region with a population of nearly 94,000, has been recognized as Europe’s Green Leaf City 2025 for its significant strides in environmental sustainability.
The city impressed judges with its transformation of an abandoned landfill into a solar park, comprehensive overhaul of its canal system to improve water quality, and the launch of biodiversity projects aimed at cleaning the air. These efforts extend beyond the city limits into the nearby Unesco-listed Prosecco Hills, where local wine producers are increasingly adopting sustainable practices to mitigate the effects of climate change. This award highlights a growing trend of cities prioritizing ecological restoration and sustainable development.
Treviso’s success offers a stark contrast to the challenges faced by nearby Venice, which continues to grapple with overtourism, lagoon pollution, and infrastructure issues despite implementing a day-tripper fee. While the fee generated millions in revenue, tourist numbers remain high, averaging around 13,000 per day in 2025 compared to 16,676 in 2024. “We are very proud of our city,” said Alessandro Manera, Treviso’s deputy mayor. “It was something of a challenge to show that an Italian city could win this award. The target of the award isn’t to [be] the most lovely, green city in Europe. It’s about showing who is improving.”
Since initiating its sustainability mission seven years ago, Treviso has constructed kilometers of new bike lanes to encourage reduced car usage, implemented recycling programs in schools, and planted 6,000 trees – a crucial step in improving air quality within the Po Valley, a geographical basin known for trapping pollutants. You can learn more about the European Green Leaf Award on the European Commission’s website, and explore further initiatives for sustainable urban development through the United Nations Environment Programme.
City officials stated that Treviso will continue to build on these achievements, aiming to serve as a model for other Italian cities seeking to prioritize environmental sustainability.
