The Search for European Green Capital 2014 has been Launched

The European Commission organizes the European Green Capital Award. All cities have more than 200.000 inhabitants from European Union member states, EU candidate countries, European Economic Area countries are eligible to apply for this title. Stockholm and Hamburg have been named as European Green Capital in 2010 and in 2011 respectively. For 2012 Vitoria-Gasteiz and for 2013 Nantes will carry this title. European Green Capital award is important in order to emphasize that successful urban development is the key for the future. On 14 June 2011, Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission announced that the search to find the city that will inherit the title of European Green Capital in 2014 begins.

The European Green Capital highlights three points:

• - Reward cities that have a well-established record of achieving high environmental objectives,
• - Encourage cities to commit to ambitious goals for future environmental improvement and sustainable development,
• - Provide a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices and experiences in all other European cities.

The applications of the European Green Capital Award will be evaluated on the following twelve basic indicators:

- Local contribution to global climate change,

- Local transport,

- Green urban areas incorporating sustainable land use,

- Noise pollution,

- Waste production and management,

- Nature and biodiversity,

- Quality of local ambient air,

- Water consumption,

- Waste water treatment,

- Eco-innovation and sustainable employment,

- Environmental management of the local authority,

- Energy performance.

Please click for the application and further information.