As part of the #ZazeleniGrad campaign, Greenpeace activists erected a 27-metre balloon showing Earth at Zagreb's hippodrome on Monday, with the message "Green city for a green planet."

They said their goal was to underline the importance of greenery in cities in the fight against climate change given that, according to UN data, the world’s population living in cities will rise from the current 55% to 68% in 2050.

Unless there is a global turnaround in alleviating climate change, the temperature in Zagreb and this part of Europe will rise by 4.5 degrees by the end of this century.

The European Environment Agency ranks Croatia among the countries most affected by climate change in Europe in relation to GDP, with €300 million in annual financial damage.

Ivana Gregov, head of the campaign, said it was imperative to maintain the current and create new green spaces, as they alleviate climate change, increase biodiversity, improve air quality, reduce noise, and improve quality of life in cities.

In its appeal for a greener Zagreb, Greenpeace asked the candidates running for city Mayor with over 2 percent in opinion polls ten questions concerning its demands for the protection of existing and creation of new green spaces and for including citizens in the process.

Josko Klisovic (centre-left SDP party), Anka Mrak-Taritas (liberal GLAS party), Vesna Skare-Ozbolt (independent), Miroslav Skoro (right-wing DP party), Tomislav Tomasevic (green-left Mozemo platform), and Zvonimir Troskot (centre-right Most party) said they agreed with all the demands, while Davor Filipovic (ruling centre-right HDZ) and Jelena Pavicic-Vukicevic (populist BM365 party) did not respond.