Twelve European cities aiming at Green Award 2015

Twelve cities in eight European countries have applied for the Green Capital Award 2017. The following cities have entered: Bursa (Turkey), Cascais (Portugal), Cork (Ireland), Essen (Germany), ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands), Istanbul (Turkey), Lahti (Finland), Lisbon (Portugal), Nijmegen (Netherlands), Pécs (Hungary), Porto (Portugal) and Umeå (Sweden)

EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: “The European Green Capital Award is a mark of excellence for cities cherishing their environment.” The Award is recognition of a city “at the cutting edge of environmentally-friendly urban living”. The aim is setting higher standards in sustainable urban development, listening to what their citizens want and pioneering innovative solutions to environmental challenges.

An international Expert Panel will perform a detailed technical assessment of each entry, on the basis of 12 indicators covering ambient air quality; climate change, mitigation and adaptation; eco-innovation and sustainable employment; energy performance; green urban areas incorporating sustainable land use; integrated environmental management; local transport; nature and biodiversity; quality of the acoustic environment; waste production and management; wastewater treatment; and water management.

In June 2015, the shortlisted cities will present themselves to an international Jury. The Jury will evaluate their commitment to continuous environmental improvement, the level of ambition of their future goals, their communication activities for citizens, and the extent to which they could act as a role model and promote best practice in other European cities. The winner will be announced at an Award ceremony in June 2015 in Bristol, UK, the 2015 European Green Capital.

Seven cities have been awarded the title of European Green Capital since its inception in 2010. Stockholm, Sweden won the inaugural title, followed by Hamburg, Germany in 2011, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain in 2012 and Nantes, France in 2013. The current holder for 2014 is Copenhagen in Denmark. Bristol, UK will hold the title for 2015 and will pass it to Ljubljana, Slovenia for 2016.

The Jury comprises representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, the European Environment Agency, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the Covenant of Mayors Office and the European Environmental Bureau.