Scotland’s largest city is in the running to become the 2015 European Green Capital, and could be the first UK city to hold the title.
The European Green Capital Award promotes and rewards efforts to tackle environmental challenges facing society, and the commitment and progress made by local authorities. An international Expert Panel will now perform a technical assessment of each entry on the basis of 12 indicators covering climate change and energy performance, sustainable local transport, air quality and noise levels, green urban areas and sustainable land use, promotion of nature and biodiversity, waste management, water consumption and waste water treatment, eco-innovation and sustainable employment, as well as the environmental management practice of the local authority.
Commenting on the nomination, Alyn Smith MEP said:- “Born and brought up in Glasgow, I was delighted to see the city nominated for the Green Capital Award. Glasgow is a city with a heavily industrial past which has made concerted efforts toward becoming a sustainable example to others.
“Glasgow City Council has been a valuable partner in realising the government’s green vision. Through its Sustainable Development Team, Glasgow is promoting energy management such as minimising energy consumption, encouraging energy efficient building designs and considering the development of buildings integrated with wind turbines.
“Glasgow is one of eight European cities which are currently in the running to becoming the 2015 European Green Capital, to follow Copenhagen. Glasgow and the other shortlisted candidate cities will be invited to present their projects to a jury in 2013 and the winning city will be announced in June in then European Green Capital Nantes.”
Glasgow is one city among eight that have been nominated for the award. The other cities are Bristol (UK), Brussels (Belgium), Kaunus (Lithuania), Bydgoszcz (Poland), Kutahya (Turkey), Dublin (Ireland) and Ljubljana (Slovenia). The winner will be announced in June, in Nantes, France, the 2013 European Green Capital.
For more information on the award, visit the website.