Nantes, France

Situated on the Loire River, close to the Atlantic coast, Nantes is a green wonder of western France. It is France’s sixth largest city, and has a metropolitan area home to some 600,000 inhabitants. In 2004, Time Magazine named Nantes ‘the most liveable city in Europe’ and in 2013 it will hold the title of European Green Capital.

Nantes Métropole is one of the most committed urban areas in Europe and in the world in terms of the fight against global warming. Its Climate Plan was adopted in 2007 and it aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2025.

To view Nantes' winning application for the Green Capital Award, click here.

Sustainability focus: Citizen engagement

The city sees residents as its strongest link and the key to achieving its goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2025. Therefore, for one year, Nantes Métropole is bringing 150 households together to understand why they adopt an action or a service, or fail to do so and to test the public policies and services proposed.

The first step was to carry out a survey on 2,503 residents to measure the population’s opinions and perceptions of climate change. The second stage consisted in recruiting 150 volunteer households that are representative of the population’s diversity. The Workshop was launched on 26 June 2010 and concluded on 25 June 2011. The features included carbon coaching, questionnaires and test educational campaigns with the participants giving their opinions and proposing solutions.

On 25 June 2011, the participants issued a citizen opinion on the policies carried out, services needing adjustment and their needs in terms of information and education. Adjustment work will begin for Nantes Métropole on these three areas. The city believes it can transpose the creativity of 150 households into mobilising 600,000 residents.

Achievements:

• Nantes will be the European Green Capital for 2013
• Winner of the 2004 European Mobility Week Award
• Nantes is a signatory of the Covenant of Mayors

"It is a great honour to receive this European Green Capital award for 2013. By recognising us, the jury of the European Commission is emphasising the quality of the sustainable metropolitan area project that we are engaged in here. This is a significant victory for our city and one that rewards 20 years of efforts and commitments to protect the environment. Our overall policy combining urban development and transportation, our successive break-throughs with the tramway and busway, our willingness to be inventive in waste management, and our on-going desire to protect our natural heritage around the Loire Estuary have been recognised at the European level. This recognition shows that the efforts made by Nantes in sustainable development have come to fruition. 2013 will thus be an opportunity to share and enrich this experience with all Europeans.”

Jean-Marc Ayrault,
Mayor of Nantes and President of Nantes Métropole, France

ICLEI and Nantes: Nantes Métropole has been an ICLEI member since 2007. The city was heavily involved in ICLEI's climate advocacy campaign, The Local Government Climate Roadmap, in the run up to COP15 and COP16.


Websites:  www.nantesmetropole.fr [In French] and www.nantesmetropole.fr [In English]