Don't hesitate to contact us:
Office of Enviromental Protection, Trade Supervision and Energy
(Amt für Umweltschutz, Gewerbeaufsicht und Energie)
Prinz Carl, Kornmarkt 1
69117 Heidelberg
E-mail
umweltamt@heidelberg.de
Phone
+49 6221 58-18000/18010
Prizes and awards since 2021
| Year | Name/Title of award | Reason awarded | Awarded by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Heidelberg is the first city in Germany to be awarded the "Kur- und Heilwald" (spa and healing forest) certificate in accordance with PEFC standards. The globally recognized PEFC ("Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Systems") seal of quality was already awarded to Heidelberg twenty years ago for its sustainable forest management. In 2015, the certification as a "recreational forest" was added. This standard was extended to include "spa and healing forest". |
The "Heilwald" certification refers to the forest area around the Heidelberg-Königstuhl rehabilitation clinic. The "Kurwald" certificate refers to the entire forest area of Heidelberg, which has already been designated as a "recreational forest". In the Heilwald, an active offer for preventive health care is to be further expanded, while the Kurwald is to provide a passive offer. This means that everyone can improve their own health there, for example on the Königstuhl walking route and at viewpoints to recharge their batteries. | PEFC ("Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Systems") is the biggest institution for ensuring sustainable forest management through an independent certification system. |
| 2021 | Bicycle Climate Test 2020: Heidelberg once again ranks among the most bicycle-friendly cities nationwide. | Particularly positive aspects in Heidelberg were the supply of public rental bicycles, the bicycle transport on public transport, the many one-way streets open to cyclists, the good accessibility of the city center and that all generations ride bicycles. | Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (German Bicycle Club) |
Prizes and Awards from 2010 to 2020
| Year |
Name/Title of award | Reason awarded |
Awarded by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Model municipality in the project „Mutig voran beim Klimaschutz im Verkehr“ (Courageously ahead in climate protection in traffic). | Heidelberg received the award for a comprehensive climate protection package consisting of four areas: parking, commuter traffic, corporate mobility management, and the modified division and redesign of public spaces. | Kompetenznetz Klima Mobil |
| 2020 | Fairtrade Town | With successful projects, such as the annual fair week and the bio.regional.fair shopping guide for fair trade, Heidelberg is committed to a fairer world. Further projects are planned. The commitment is continuously expanding since 2010. | "Fairtrade Deutschland" |
| 2020 | Heidelberg is one of the 105 most successful pioneering cities for climate protection | Heidelberg is the only German city apart from Berlin to be named for the first time on the list of 105 pioneering cities that are making a results-oriented effort to protect the climate. The non-governmental organization CDP (Disclosure Insight Action) has collected the climate data of more than 850 cities from 2019, making it one of the most elaborate and comprehensive comparisons. | CDP |
| 2019 | Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung (Education for Sustainable Development): Heidelberg again awarded | "Heidelberg is doing an outstanding job of structurally anchoring education for sustainable development (ESD) in Germany. The activities of the city of Heidelberg in the sense of education for sustainable development are based on long-established structures and cooperations. The local ESD network, which was founded as the 'Round Table ESD', shows through its increasing membership that there are more and more actors in Heidelberg who are active in the field of ESD. The opening of the administration to the urban society is also exemplary in Heidelberg." | UNESCO |
| 2019 | "Natürlich Heidelberg" honored as a project of the "UN Decade for Biological Diversity | "Natürlich Heidelberg" initiates, supports and bundles a wide variety of projects in order to offer children, teenagers, citizens and educational institutions a central point of contact. The principle of "from project to structure" is consistently pursued in order to systematically anchor Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (Education for Sustainable Development) in the urban and educational landscape. | UN-Dekade Biologische Vielfalt (UN-Decade of Biodiversity) |
| 2018 | Award-Winning Project "Intelligent City Logistics Altstadt" in the Competition "Sustainable Urban Logistics" | Awarded for its innovative concept and contribution to climate protection and reduction of noise and pollution. | Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) |
| 2018 | Guiding Star Energy Efficiency/ Leitstern Energieeffizienz | Heidelberg was awarded in the category county cooperative energy efficiency project. Heidelberg, along with the cities Mannheim and Ludwigshafen, engages and promotes sustainable mobility in urban areas. | Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector Baden-Wuerttemberg |
| 2018 | UN Decade on Biodiversity Project | Since 23rd February 2018 the initiative "Urban NBS" is recognized as an official project of the UN Decade on Biodiversity. Heidelberg aims to sustain and strengthen plant- and wildlife in urban areas. | UN Decade of Biodiversity |
| 2017 | Forest Capital 2018 | PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Systems) Germany is honouring the city for its ambitious programme of activities. Furthermore, Heidelberg is one of only seven cities in Germany with the PEFC certification "Recreational Forest". | PEFC Germany |
| 2017 | Education for Sustainable Development | Continuity and further development of work in the fields of education and sustainability | UNESCO |
| 2016 | Fairtrade Town |
Exemplary commitment to fair trade | TransFair |
| 2016 | UNESCO Global Geopark | The Geo-Nature-Park "Bergstraße-Odenwald" is one of two "UNESCO Global Geoparks" in Baden-Wuerttemberg - there are a total of six in Germany and 120 worldwide. The "Global Geoparks" offer exceptional views into the history of earth, nature and culture. They provide for environmental education and strenghten the sustainable development of their region. | UNESCO |
| 2015 | Guiding Star Energy Efficiency/ Leitstern Energieeffizienz | Heidelberg was awarded in the category networking/communication. With its "master plan 100% climate protection” Heidelberg developed concepts to motivate the entire urban community for energy efficiency. A network supports professional exchange between craftsmen, architects, planners and consultants. It raises efficiency potentials and reduces frictional loss within the different fields. | Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector Baden-Wuerttemberg |
| 2015 | Global Green City Award | The "Global Human Settlements Award" is an annual worldwide prize. It is focused on promoting the implementation of UN sustainable development objectives and the mission of the GFHS by encouraging the cities, enterprises and individuals who make contribution to human settlements and sustainable cities. | The organization "Global Forum on Human Settlements" and the United Nations Environment Programme |
| 2015 | „Recreational Forest“ Certification for Heidelberg’s city forest according to PEFC standards (PEFC = Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Systems) |
For the preservation and advancement of the city forest as a recreational area. |
PEFC Germany |
| 2015 | Energy Community | Heidelberg, along with many different partners, engages and promotes the use of renewable energies. | Renewable Energies Agency |
| 2014 | Special Award „Best Urban District“ in the competition „Guiding Star Energy Efficiency“ |
Heidelberg has been excelling for years due to its compelling objectives and its Agency for Climate Protection and Energy Consultancy Heidelberg/Rhein-Neckar-Kreis (district) (KliBA). | Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector Baden-Wuerttemberg |
| 2014 | Passive House Award for Heidelberg Bahnstadt | Example for the possibility to create comprehensive construction projects and entire cities in passive house standard | Passive House Institute |
| 2012 | Fairtrade Town | Exemplary commitment to fair trade | TransFair |
| 2012 | City of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development |
Continuation of current activities and planning of new initiatives | UNESCO |
| 2011 | Ranks 3 as “Capital of Fair Trade 2011” | Exemplary and innovative activities aimed at enhancing fair trade | Service Agency "Communities in One World" of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) |
| 2011 | Geotope of the Year 2011 | Deposits of glacial loess at Haarlass | Bergstrasse-Odenwald Geopark supported by UNESCO |
| 2010 | 3rd place "2010 Federal Capital of Climate Protection" | Outstanding climate protection: largest European passive house settlement in the future city district of "Bahnstadt", as well as numerous other projects as part of the Heidelberg climate protection campaign entitled "Climate is looking for protection in Heidelberg… also with you!" | Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. – DUH (German Environmental Aid Association) |
| 2010 | Fairtrade Town | Exemplary commitment to fair trade | TransFair |
Prizes and Awards from 2000 to 2009
| Year |
Name/Title of award | Reason awarded |
Awarded by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | City of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development |
Continuity and further development of work in the fields of education and sustainability | UNESCO |
| 2007 | Federal Capital for Nature Protection 2007 | Heidelberg persuaded by its outstanding nature protection measures above all in the fields of species and biotope protection as well as committed public relations and environmental education. | Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. – DUH (German Environmental Aid Association) |
| 2006 | City of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development | Continuity and further development of work in the fields of education and sustainability | UNESCO |
| 2006 | German Solar Award | Numerous activities in the field of renewable energies and climate protection | European Association for Renewable Energies (EUROSOLAR) |
| 2005 | Climate Protection Award | Outstanding commitment to climate protection | The international organization "Climate Group" |
| 2003 | European Sustainable City Award 2003 |
For outstanding work in the field of sustainability | European Commission |
| 2003 | Award for the project ‘Symposium on Local Agenda 21 and Schools’ | For outstanding achievements in municipal environmental protection and Local Agenda 21 | Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Environment and Transport |
| 2002 | Climate Star 2002 | For the work in the field of the promotion of regenerative energies (25 % of the electricity consumption in local government buildings are supplied by eco-electricity’) |
Internationales Klimabündnis/Alianza del Clima e.V.(International Climate Alliance) |
| 2001 | Promotion Prize for Concrete Projects within Local Agenda 21 |
For the Project: ‘Colourful and Sustainable’ | Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Environment and Transport |
| 2001 | Green Electricity Gold Label | Prize for the promotion and use of renewable energies: ‘25% of the electricity consumption in local government buildings are supplied by eco-electricity’ |
Grüner Strom Label e.V.(registered association certifying green electricity) |
Prizes and Awards from 1990 to 1999
| Year | Name/Title of award | Reason awarded | Awarded by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | European Sustainable City Award 1997 |
European award for exemplary work in the field of sustainability | The Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Brussels |
| 1997 | ‘Five Milestones on the Way to Climate Protection’ | Prize for the persuasive and measure-oriented climate protection policy of the City of Heidelberg; awarded to 33 prize winners following an international competition |
The International Council for Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) |
| 1997 | ’Federal Award for Tourism and Environment’ | Awarded in acknowledgement of, among other things, the ‘Guidelines on Tourism’, the project ‘Environment-Friendly Hotel andCatering Trade’, traffic-calming on the castle hill, citizens’ involvement, and environmental management in the field of tourism |
Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs |
| 1996/97 | Federal Capital for Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection 1996/1997 | Heidelberg as the winner of a national local authority competition organized by the Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. (German nature protection association) leads the way to a responsible environmental policy among the German cities and communities | Several German environmental protection associations (Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V., BUND,NABU; GRÜNE LIGA, Landesbund für Vogelschutz in Bayern Stiftung Europäisches Naturerbe), Deutscher Städtetag (German Association of Cities and Towns) and Deutscher Städte- und Gemeindebund (German Association of Cities and Municipalities) |
