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SUMMARY
The European Commission, recognising the importance of local authorities in improving environment, as well as, their high level of commitment to progress, launched in May 2008 the European Green Capital Award, as an initiative to promote and reward these efforts.
Starting in 2010, one European city will be selected each year as the European Green Capital of the year, becoming a ‘green’ role model for other cities.
European cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants (for West Midlands: Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Stoke on Trent, Walsall and Wolverhampton) can submit their applications by the 1st October 2008.
This Award does not include any direct funds to support the participating cities, however, alternative funding options can be utilised if necessary.
1. Background
Europe is essentially an urban society, with four out of five Europeans living in towns and cities, where they live, work, and benefit from public services, such as education, health care and transport.
However, urban life is associated with many problems such as environmental degradation, noise and poor air quality. Cities are the key to sustainable development and have a difficult yet essential role in improving their environment, not only to contribute to a better quality of life for their citizens, but also so as not to affect the wider environment.
The European Commission, recognising the important role that local authorities play in improving the environment, and their high level of commitment to genuine progress, launched in May 2008, the European Green Capital Award as an initiative to promote and reward these efforts.
The Award is the result of an initiative taken by 15 European cities (Tallinn, Helsinki, Riga, Vilnius, Berlin, Warsaw, Madrid, Ljubljana, Prague, Vienna, Kiel, Kotka, Dartford, Tartu & Glasgow) and the Association of Estonian cities on 15 May 2006 in Tallinn, Estonia. Their green vision was translated into a joint Memorandum of Understanding establishing an award to reward cities that are leading the way with environmentally friendly urban living. Currently, more than 40 major European cities, including 21 EU capitals support the initiative.
2. The European Green Capital Award
2.1 Aims and Objectives
The general aim of the initiative is to improve the European urban living environment – and thus the environment as a whole. The award aims to provide an incentive for cities to inspire each other and share best practices, while at the same time engaging in friendly competition. In other words, the cities become role models for each other.
Starting in 2010, one European city will be selected each year as the European Green Capital of the year. The award will be given to a city that:
- Has a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards;
- Is committed to ongoing and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development;
- Can act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices to all other European cities.
2.2 European Policy Targets Supported
The Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment of 11 January 2006 outlines the European Commission’s commitment to support and encourage Europe’s towns and cities to adopt a more integrated approach to urban management. This will ensure that they become better places to live in and reduce their environmental impact on the wider environment. The strategy also invites local and regional authorities to exploit the opportunities offered at EU level.
As the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment does not contain legislative measures, and because incentives are important, the European Green Capital Award will play a useful role here.
The renewed Sustainable Development Strategy for an enlarged European Union aims to identify and develop actions that will enable the EU to achieve continuous improvement of the quality of life of both current and future generations. This can be done through the creation of sustainable communities which is precisely what the European Green Capital Award is intended to create.
3. Application and Selection Process
All European cities that comply with the eligibility criteria (please see heading 4) may apply to become the European Green Capital by filling in the online application form by the 1st October 2008.
After the deadline, all applications will be considered by an evaluation panel and six cities (three for 2010 and three for 2011) will be pre-selected to present their application in more detail.
On this basis, the evaluation panel will submit its recommendations to a selection of juries who will then nominate the winners of the European Green Capital.
The key dates in the process of application, evaluation and selection of the European Green Capital are as follows:
- 1 October 2008
Deadline for applications for the title in 2010 and 2011.
- October-November 2008
Evaluation phase 1: The evaluation panel reviews all applications and selects six to go on to phase 2 of the evaluation (three for 2010 and three for 2011).
- November-December 2008
Evaluation phase 2: The evaluation panel invites the six applicants to provide detailed documentation of their achievements and future commitments.
Upon reviewing this documentation, the evaluation panel presents its recommendations to the jury.
- December 2008
The jury presents the winners for 2010 and 2011 at an award ceremony.
4. Eligibility Criteria
The European Green Capital award scheme is open to EU member states, candidate countries (Turkey, FYROM, Croatia) and European Economic Areas countries (Iceland, Normay and Liechtenstein). All cities from these countries with more than 200,000 inhabitants can apply for the award. In this context, "city" is understood as an administrative unit governed by a city council.
In the applications, the cities are requested to outline:
- Current environmental status and results achieved
- Measures implemented to improve the urban environment
- Future commitments and initiatives
- Programme of activities and events to disseminate experience and best practice on environmental matters.
5. Selection criteria
Ten indicator areas have been defined to guide the work of the evaluation panel:
- Local contribution to global climate change (where data is available)
- Local transport
- Availability of local public open areas
- Quality of local ambient air
- Noise pollution
- Waste production and management
- Water consumption
- Waste water treatment
- Environmental management of the local authority
- Sustainable land use
6. Financing
The European Green Capital Award does not include any direct fund to support the participating cities since the underlying principle is that cities should be committed to resolving environmental problems for the benefit of their citizens and the wider environment.
The award has a budget of €300.000. The Green Capital Secretariat is currently run by COWI, a Danish company, and the visual identity has been contracted to COWI with Rumfang as sub-contractor.
Local authorities may however explore and exploit the numerous funding opportunities that already exist at EU level. They can apply for grants through the LIFE+ programme, DG Environment's main instrument for financing environmental projects, and they can also find financial support through the CIVITAS programme.
Cities can take advantage of the Structural Funds by forming a thematic urban network under URBACT II or by making use of the European Urban Knowledge Network for example.
Furthermore, one of the specific programmes under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (2007-2013) is 'Cooperation' which includes a distinct theme on Environment.
The possibility of hosting pan-European annual events such as Green Week or Mobility Week in their town or city can also help European Green Capitals secure financial aid.
7. Important Information
8. Contact Details
8.1 Green Capital Secretariat
The application process, the work of the evaluation panel and the jury are facilitated by the Green Capital Secretariat, currently run by the Danish company COWI. The secretariat also assists with PR activities related to the award scheme through the Green Capital website and through various communication channels.
Contact the secretariat at:
Telephone: 0045 4597 2188 or 1427
Fax: 0045 4597 2212
E-mail: greencapital-secretariat@cowi.com
8.2 European Commission
For press issues, please contact, Ms Barbara Helfferich at Barbara.Helfferich@ec.europa.eu |
