WILL YOUR CITY BE THE EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL IN 2018? - Green cities - fit for life
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Green cities – fit for life
WILL YOUR CITY BE THE
EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL
IN 2018?
©Chris Bahn
Bristol’s Enterprise Zone
FOREWORD
The European Each of these winners has shown that natural
Green Capital Award diversity is also a source of inspiration. It is part
celebrates good of our cultural heritage. Everyone who lives in an
planning for good urban area should have a stake in how that area
urban living. Two develops. By sharing the extraordinary ideas of
thirds of Europeans these Award winners, cities can become green
live in towns and and beautiful places to live.
cities. That is 333
million people. Every And good urban living should not be restricted
day, new innovative ways are being created to to big cities and towns. That is why we are
make urban living greener. The European Green introducing the new European Green Leaf
Capital Award, now in its ninth year, pays tribute Competition. The title will go to cities with
to those cities where innovation has taken hold. a population between 50,000 and 100,000
A high profile for these trailblazers will inspire inhabitants – to smaller cities that are taking
more effort to make European urban spaces not great strides for environmental protection.
just sustainable but enjoyable places to live. Almost 1,000 European cities are now eligible
to participate in these competitions, and I would
As the European Commissioner for Environment, like to encourage every eligible city to apply for
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, I have been these worthwhile initiatives.
astonished by the sheer variety of efforts
made by cities across the EU to become more Think of our whole strategy as being like a tree.
sustainable. The Green Leaves are the smaller cities and
towns, the branches are the Green Capitals
Our first winner, Stockholm, set the standard. and bigger cities and the trunk is the European
Hamburg carried on that journey, literally, Commission providing a solid base from which
launching a “Train of Ideas” with carriages we can grow these initiatives.
representing different aspects of life in a green
city. In Vitoria-Gasteiz, each resident lives within We look forward to receiving an application
300 metres of an open green space, while from your town or city in the coming months.
Nantes showed its credentials by becoming the Remember, everyone who lives in an urban
first city in France to successfully re-introduce community should have a stake.
electric tramways. Copenhagen is well on track
Thank you.
to becoming the world’s most practical city for
cyclists.
Bristol, our 2015 winner, is inviting Europeans
to celebrate the creation of healthier,
happier cities, and in 2016, Ljubljana’s many Karmenu Vella
achievements – including the planting of more European Commissioner for Environment,
than 2,000 trees, five new parks and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
revitalisation of the banks of the River Sava –
will take centre stage.
MAKE YOUR CITY
FIT FOR LIFE
The race for the 2018 European Green
©Chris Bahn
Capital title has begun! Clean air, good waste
management, high recycling rates, water
conservation measures, parks, pollution-free
environments, high quality urban living and
sustainable ideas are all aspects of what makes
a European Green Capital “Fit for life”. Each year
a European city is appointed European Green
Capital by a panel of environmental experts
and a Jury.
The Award is given to a European city which
demonstrates a well-established record of
achieving high environmental standards and
commits to ongoing and ambitious goals
for future environmental improvement and
The Grain Barge on Harbourside, Bristol
sustainable development. The European Green
Capital also acts as a role model to inspire and
Objectives - cities as role models
promote best practices to other European cities.
Urban areas are the source of many of today’s
environmental challenges – not surprising, since
The race for environmental recognition
more than two thirds of Europeans live in towns
The idea for a European Green Capital Award
and cities. Local governments and authorities
was originally conceived at a meeting in Tallinn,
can provide the commitment and innovation
Estonia, held in May 2006, on the initiative of
needed to tackle and resolve many
the former City Mayor, Mr. Jüri Ratas. Now, for
of these problems.
the ninth European Green Capital designation
in 2018, cities from all over Europe are getting
Consequently, the aim of the initiative is to
ready to take part in the race for environmental
recognise and reward local efforts to improve
recognition.
the environment, the green economy and the
quality of life in cities. The Award is given each
year to a city, not necessarily a capital, which is
leading the way in environmentally friendly urban
living and which can thus act as a role-model to
inspire other cities. Cities differ enormously and
sharing concrete examples of what a European
Green Capital looks like is essential to improve
citizens’ quality of life and provide a sustainable
future.
APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED
FROM CITIES TO BECOME
EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL 2018
Healthy urban living Who can apply?
The European Green Capital Award is given • The European Green Capital Award is
to a city that has improved its urban living open to EU Member States and Candidate
environment as a whole through concrete Countries; Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
activities such as: and Switzerland.
• All cities from the countries listed above
• Co-operation and partnership between
which have more than 100,000 inhabitants
authorities, citizens, business and other
can apply for the Award. In countries where
stakeholders aimed at developing and
there is no city with more than 100,000
improving urban living conditions
inhabitants, the largest city is eligible to apply.
• Implementation of sustainable mobility solutions Please note: where applicable, cities may
apply for either the EGCA or EGL, but not both,
• Introduction and expansion of parks and
in any given year.
recreational areas
• In this context, a ‘city’ is understood to be an
• A modern approach to waste management
urban area, excluding metropolitan areas,
• Innovative solutions to noise pollution larger urban zones and conurbations, and
is understood as an administrative unit
• An integrated approach to sustainable urban
governed by a city council or another form
management ensuring positive long-term
of democratically elected body.
effects
• Past winners may not apply for a period of
ten years after they held the European
Winning cities
Green Capital title.
2016: Ljubljana
2015: Bristol How to apply
2014: Copenhagen • Applications can be made online at
2013: Nantes ec.europa.eu/europeangreencapital
2012: Vitoria-Gasteiz • To find out more about the Award please
2011: Hamburg email greencapitalsecretariat@rpsgroup.com
2010: StockholmGREEN CAPITALS
KEEP ON WINNING
Being a European Green Capital brings many
©Ursula Bach
benefits long after the designated year ends,
including:-
• Increase in tourism
• Positive international media coverage worth
millions of euro
• Increase in international profile, networking Traditional houses line the famous Nyhavn, a 17th-century waterfront,
canal and entertainment district
and new alliances
• Momentum to continue improving
• New jobs – a European Green Capital is more
environmental sustainability
attractive to foreign investors
• Attracts public financing
• More emphasis on environmental projects
through sponsorship and grants • Access to the European Green Capital
Network
• Boost in local pride and feeling of belonging
Winning Cities:
Copenhagen 2014 sponsorship for new environmental projects
Copenhagen created a network of cities like 250,000 more trees in the Green Belt and
that have been shortlisted or winners of the flood prevention works from now until 2020.
European Green Capital Award, to enable
progressive green cities to share knowledge Hamburg 2011
and drive the environmental agenda forward Hamburg generated phenomenal national and
together. international media coverage, mostly linked to
the Train of Ideas - a travelling environmental
Nantes 2013 exhibition. Some 800 media reports reached
To raise citizen awareness, the Call for Citizens over 270 million people in six months including
Project, aimed at promoting citizens’ initiatives potential tourists and investors. There was
in favour of sustainable development, was a 57% increase in the number of Renewable
launched in July 2012. Over 200 projects were Energy sector jobs between 2008 and 2012.
submitted by non-profit associations or citizen
collectives, of which 85 were selected and Stockholm 2010
received funding up to a maximum limit of Stockholm welcomed media from all over
€5,000 each. the world as well as 120 delegations on
professional study tours and close to 360
Vitoria-Gasteiz 2012 delegates to its European Green Capital
The city has been able to reach agreements Conference, to share its learnings and
with other institutions and generate motivate change.
external funding, including millions of euro inBRISTOL:
2015 EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL
A year celebrating Bristol’s leadership in
©Chris Bahn
creating healthier, happier cities
Situated at the mouth of the Severn Estuary
close to the confluence of the River Avon, Bristol
city is surrounded by some of the most scenic
countryside in England, with the Mendip Hills,
Somerset Levels, Cotswolds Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty, and Brecon Beacons National
Park. It is the United Kingdom’s eighth most
populous city, with over 440,000 residents.
Bristol has long been a city of inspiration and
innovation – its bustling harbourside, excellent
green spaces and stunning architecture
providing the backdrop for creativity, daring Bristol’s ‘Bridging the Gap’ opening ceremony that took place in January.
ideas and adventures that have influenced the
world throughout history. 2015 Programme Highlights
The 2015 European Green Capital programme
focuses on three important themes: Learning,
Green facts & figures Innovation and Leadership.
• In 2014 Bristol was named The best
place to live in the UK (Sunday Times) • The Bristol Debates, Summits and Conferences
(February - April and October 2015)
• Bristol is the most energy and carbon
efficient city in the UK • An international green tech festival (March -
• Almost a fifth of Bristol residents walk June 2015)
to work
• Over the last ten years, homes have • Solar Balloon (August 2015)
become 25% more efficient
• Festival of Future Cities (November 2015)
• Over 90% of the Bristol population
live within 300m of parklands and Hundreds more events will be run, many by
waterways groups and organisations enabled by grants
• Bristol’s low carbon economy employs and other support that Bristol has been able to
around 9,000 people secure as European Green Capital 2015. Bristol’s
• Bristol has four city farms, eight nature programme will reach every neighbourhood and
reserves and more than 400 parks
be as inclusive as possible.SELECTION PROCESS
The selection of a city to be designated European Detailed instructions on how to apply,
Green Capital 2018 will be assessed on the basis including a guidance note can be found on
of twelve indicator areas: ec.europa.eu/europeangreencapital.
• Climate Change: mitigation and adaptation Two-tier evaluation process
• Local transport A panel of internationally acknowledged Experts
• Green urban areas incorporating sustainable will assess the information supplied by each city.
land use This will include qualitative evaluations and a
• Nature and biodiversity peer review of each application based on the
12 indicator areas. Following these evaluations,
• Ambient air quality
a number of cities will be shortlisted for the
• Quality of the acoustic environment
2018 title.
• Waste production and management
• Water management The shortlisted cities will be invited to present
• Waste water treatment their vision, strategies and capacity to act as a
role model to the Jury.
• Eco innovation and sustainable employment
• Energy performance The European Green Capital 2018 will be
• Integrated environmental management. announced at an Award Ceremony in Ljubljana
in June 2016.
Information to be provided by the
applicant cities
The 2018 Award Application Form has four The 2018 European Green Capital
sections per indicator:
competition opens on 3rd June
A. Describe the present situation. 2015. The closing date is
B. Describe the measures implemented over 19th October 2015.
the last five to ten years.
C. Describe the short and long term objectives
for the future and proposed approach to
achieve these.
D. List how the above information can be
documented; add links where possible.EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITALS TO DATE
KEY DATES IN 2015/2016
Wednesday 3 June 2015 November 2015 - March 2016
Launch of call for applications to become the Expert panel assessment of all applications
European Green Capital for 2018 including clarifications where needed
Friday 3 July 2015 April 2016
European Green Capital 2018 Application Announcement of shortlisted cities
Workshop in European Commission’s premises,
Brussels June 2016
Presentation of shortlisted cities to the Jury
Monday 19 October 2015
and announcement of the 2018 winner at the
Deadline for eligible cities to submit their European Green Capital Award Ceremony in
KH-01-15-109-EN-N
application at ec.europa.eu/europeangreencapital Ljubljana
European Green Capital Secretariat
The application process and the work of the expert panel and the Jury are facilitated by the European
Green Capital Secretariat, currently run by RPS Group, an environmental and communications
consultancy based in Ireland. The Secretariat also assists with PR activities related to the Award
scheme through the European Green Capital Award website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages, and
through various communication channels such as brochures and press releases.
ISBN 978-92-79-45855-2
ec.europa.eu/europeangreencapital doi:10.2779/223379You can also read
