Gernika-Lumo receives Platinum Broom award for environmental excellence
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 1
Gernika-Lumo has been awarded the Escoba de Platino (Platinum Broom), the highest distinction granted by the Spanish Association for Technical Waste Management and Environmental Services (ATEGRUS), recognising excellence in urban cleanliness, waste management and environmental service quality.
The award, announced in June 2026, highlights the municipality’s long-term commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable urban management. It also marks the continuation of a journey that began in 2014, when Gernika-Lumo first received the Escoba de Oro (Golden Broom) award.
The recognition reflects a wide range of initiatives implemented by the municipality over recent years, including low-emission maintenance practices, improvements in waste collection services, the use of electric machinery, and the development of a network of climate shelters to support residents during periods of extreme heat. Together, these efforts demonstrate how sustained investment in environmental services can contribute to cleaner, healthier and more resilient urban environments.
For ClimaGen, this recognition is particularly meaningful. As one of the project’s demonstration cities, Gernika-Lumo is advancing the Gernika ClimaLab, where partners are working on climate adaptation, public-space regeneration, nature-based solutions and community engagement. While the award recognises municipal initiatives beyond the scope of the project, it highlights the strong environmental governance, operational capacity and long-term vision that support climate-resilient urban transformation.
A evidence note prepared by the Gernika local team explores how several of the actions highlighted by the award (including climate shelters, low-emission urban services, public-space maintenance and environmental innovation) align with the broader themes being addressed through the project. It also underlines an important lesson for cities pursuing climate adaptation: successful transformation depends not only on designing new solutions, but also on the ability to maintain, manage and sustain them over time.
The recognition offers a valuable reminder that climate resilience is built through everyday municipal action. Clean and accessible public spaces, effective environmental services, citizen wellbeing and long-term maintenance capacity are all essential components of creating more liveable and climate-resilient neighbourhoods.
🔗 Read the ClimaGen evidence note:
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