Zurich is Switzerland's first green city
Zurich is the first city in the country to be awarded the Gold Green City award. The award is given to cities and municipalities that plan, design and maintain their green spaces sustainably.
The city of Zurich accepted the Green City Switzerland award in gold on Thursday evening. As city councilor Richard Wolff said on this occasion, according to a press release , this seal is “both recognition and incentive. We are on the right track and know where we need to improve further ”.
In 2019, the city council commissioned the Green City Zurich service department of the civil engineering and waste disposal department to have the city of Zurich certified with the Green City Switzerland label. It is awarded by the Association of Swiss Urban Gardeners and Horticultural Offices according to uniform criteria. Not only core processes such as planning and construction, care and maintenance, but also management and support processes are assessed. Zurich received 451 out of a possible 500 points.
“This is an excellent result and a role model,” says Markus Weibel from the Label Commission. It shows that it “sets high standards and is made for both urban communities and the largest city in Switzerland”.
The team of experts particularly praised the “very good, long-term planning basis”, in which sustainable topics and biodiversity are given high priority. The binding basis for the near-natural maintenance and management of urban green and open spaces was also praised. In addition, the green spaces would be integrated to reduce heat.