The Mediterranean coastal city of Málaga (Spain) is the winner of the third edition (2020-2021) of the Istanbul Environment Friendly City Award. The Mayor of Málaga will receive the award at a ceremony scheduled on 9 December 2021 during the Ministerial Session of the 22nd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP 22).

The award jury, which comprises members of the Bureau of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and the President of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development, reached this decision following an independent and thorough review of applications received from several Mediterranean cities.

Promoted by the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/MAP) and funded by the Government of Turkey, the Istanbul Environment Friendly City Award was established by the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) at COP 19 (Athens, Greece, February 2016) in the context of the implementation of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD).

The award recognizes and highlights the role and efforts of local authorities of coastal cities in achieving a sustainable Mediterranean Sea and coast through the implementation of successful urban development initiatives at local level.

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