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European Green Leaf Award 2021

The City of Lappeenranta won the 2021 European Green Leaf Award. The European Green Leaf is a competition by the European Commission for cities with exemplary climate work and less than 100,000 inhabitants.

For Lappeenranta, the European Green Leaf title is a recognition for broad and persistent work through the years.

The European Green Leaf title brought Lappeenranta a lot of international attention. Lappeenranta received a prize money of 75,000 euros.

The Award Year's actions

  • Multiple nature trails were renovated and new ones built.
  • A community garden was etablished in Rakuunamäki. It was awarded as the Scenery Action of 2021 of South Karelia.
  • 10 smart trash bins using solar energy were installed in the city. The bins compress the rubbish and inform about their filling.
  • Three electric bike charging stations were installed in the center area.
  • There were also local and international events organised in the city.
Duckboards and green flora on a sunny summer day.

Nature trails were restored and built during the award year

  • Restoring the Pappilanniemi nature reserve. Informative boards about the area's nature were renewed as well as the benches along the trail.
  • Building the Mikonsaari lean-to. A lean-to, a firewood shed, benches and two campfire sites were built to the Mikonsaari nature trail.
  • Opening a boat lending service to cross the Pappilansalmi strait. 
  • Building the Western Shore Route as a unified trail.
  • Building the Naurissaari lean-to. A wooden lean-to and a campfire site were built to Naurissaari Island, which is a pleasant pit stop for paddlers and boaters during summer. In winter, it is possible to get to the island from the ice or from the Tyysterniemi nature trail.
  • Building the Vipeleensuo nature trail. A nature trail of less than a kilometre was built on the Vipeleensuo Swamp in Rauha. There is a rest stop and table along the duckboards.
  • Building the Joutseno multifunction hut. A bright and spacious hut for 20 persons was built to the sports centre of Joutseno. A bench, firewood shed and an accessible restroom were also built outside the hut.
  • Building the Uus-Lavola health trail. A nature trail of 1 kilometre with boards about the health benefits of green environment was built in Uus-Lavola.
Nature trail on a sunny summer day. There are green trees in the picture and on the right, lake Saimaa.

Read more about the natural attractions

Get to know the natural attractions developed during the award year as well as other places on the VisitLappeenranta website.

Read more

Evaluation in the European Green Leaf Competition

The Jury emphasized the city's commitment to green growth, the encouragement of city residents and the communication of goals, as well as the city's opportunities to share its good practices and to inspire other European cities to climate action.

Key assessment areas of the competition

  • Energy performance and climate change
  • Waste and circular economy
  • Water
  • Sustainable urban mobility
  • Nature and biodiversity
  • Air quality and noise
Logo with a graphic of buildings and the text: "Winner 2021 Lappeenranta, European Green Leaf, An Initiative of the European Commission".