Berlin has kicked off an innovative new pilot program that turns environmentally conscious actions into tangible perks for both residents and visitors, drawing inspiration from a successful trial launched earlier this year in Copenhagen. Dubbed BerlinPay, the initiative centers on encouraging sustainable behavior across the German capital, with a particular focus on cleaning up the iconic Spree River that cuts through the heart of the city and boosting sustainable water tourism. The pilot program will run through June 14, and invites participants to earn rewards by completing eco-friendly activities beyond litter collection, from planting native flowers and watering urban greenery to switching from car trips to cycling. The city’s extensive network of summer-popular lakes and waterways, a major draw for tourists each year, also stands to benefit from the scheme’s environmental goals. Deputy mayor Franziska Giffey noted that Berlin’s water tourism sector is currently experiencing strong growth and is a key contributor to the local economy, but the increasing popularity of these waterways also comes with measurable environmental costs. Speaking at Wednesday’s launch press conference, VisitBerlin CEO Sabine Wendt explained that the project aims to encourage both Berlin residents and out-of-town guests to engage with the city in a more thoughtful, environmentally aware way. To join the initiative, participants register for free through the official VisitBerlin platform, where they can choose from more than 5,000 available activity slots. Around 40 partner organizations including local businesses, cultural associations, and public museums have signed on to offer rewards for completed actions, ranging from discounted meals at local restaurants and free canoe tours on the Spree to complimentary entry to Berlin’s world-famous museum collections. The core mission of the program extends far beyond cleaning up local waterways: organizers hope to foster long-term environmental awareness among both residents and the millions of tourists who visit Berlin each year. BerlinPay is directly modeled after Copenhagen’s CopenPay program, which launched in 2024 and saw impressive early results: more than 75,000 tourists participated in the initiative’s first month, bike rentals across the city jumped 29%, and volunteers collected multiple tons of improperly discarded litter. If the Berlin pilot delivers similar positive outcomes, Giffey confirmed the city plans to make BerlinPay an annual recurring event for the capital.