Bristol, Brussels, Glasgow and Ljubljana (pictured) have been chosen as the four finalists to proceed to the next stage of the European Green Capital 2015 Award organised by the European Commission. The European Green Capital Award is an annual prize that goes to one city every year, singling out its environmental performance.
Bristol, Brussels, Glasgow and Ljubljana have been shortlisted from 8 entries across Europe. An independent panel of 12 experts assessed each entry on the basis of 12 indicators:
* Local contribution to global climate change;
* Local transport;
* Green urban areas incorporating sustainable land use;
* Nature and biodiversity;
* Quality of local ambient air;
* Quality of the Acoustic Environment;
* Waste production and management;
* Water consumption;
* Waste water treatment;
* Eco innovation and sustainable employment;
* Environmental management of the local authority;
* Energy performance.
Bristol, Brussels, Glasgow and Ljubljana, will now go forward to present their vision, their potential to act as a role model to other cities, and their communication strategy to the Jury in Brussels on 24 May. Following the Jury’s deliberations the final result, the European Green Capital 2015 will be announced at an official Award ceremony in France on 14 June 2013, hosted by the current European Green Capital, Nantes.
To date, five cities have been awarded the title of European Green Capital: Stockholm 2010, Hamburg 2011, Vitoria-Gasteiz 2012, Nantes 2013, and Copenhagen 2014. The Award is presented to a city in the vanguard of environmentally friendly urban living.