The Danish city of Copenhagen has pipped Bristol and Frankfurt to the post to win the title of European Green Capital for 2014.
The award, which is made by the European Environment Agency (EEA), is made on the basis of cities’ overall environmental commitment, vision and enthusiasm, as well as communication of the issues to its citizens.
Copenhagen fought off 13 other entries to win, with Bristol and Frankfurt making it into the final top three.
The Danish city was singled out for its approach to urban planning, which enables 35% of the city’s population to cycle to work. But 2015, the city’s authorities want to see this read 50% as a step along the path to becoming completely CO2 neutral by 2025.
The city is also adding to its existing district heating system and has mandated that by 2015 every citizen should be within a 15-minute walk of a beach or park.
Meanwhile, though not winning overall, Frankfurt was commended for its commitment to improve energy efficiency – with all new buildings being ‘passive’.
And the UK’s own contender Bristol was recognized for its ambitious emissions reductions targets of 40% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 against 2005 levels. The city also has one of the most comprehensive air quality monitoring networks in the UK, says the EEA.
For further information:
www.eea.europa.eu/
Related stories:
UN launches sustainable cities initiative (20-Jun)
E.ON gets go ahead for 150 MW biomass plant in Bristol (13-Mar)
UK government names south west as home for Marine Energy Park (23-Jan)
Article source: http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/5234/
