Green areas/environmental protection

• • over 42% of the city are green areas: Ochojec Nature Reserve and Murckowski Forest, The Three Ponds Valley, „Szopienice-Borki” nature and landscape complex, T. Kościuszki Park and Silesia Park – is one of the largest downtown parks in Europe (located on the border of Katowice, Chorzów and Siemianowice Śląskie), there are, among others, a zoo, a planetarium and an amusement park
  • METROrower the largest bicycle system in Poland and one of the largest in Europe – 7,000 bicycles, 31 municipalities. In Katowice alone, almost 209 km of bicycle infrastructure, of which 85 km are beautiful, landscape paths in green areas (forests, parks)

The city is actively engaged in promoting pro-environmental attitudes among residents through social initiatives and environmental education programmes, such as:

• SprzątaMy z Firmami,
• Akcja Siejemy Łąki Miejskie,
• Leśny Piknik Rodzinny „EKOODPOWIEDZIALNI”,
• Kampania „Kranówka katowicka – szluknij się z kokotka”, among others.

Katowice’s environmental efforts have been widely recognised, including by Forbes magazine – the city has been named the most eco-friendly city in Poland twice.