Bristol's green credentials could help secure its role as a host city for the 2018 World Cup, as the England bid team seek a significant reduction in carbon emissions from potential venues.

The powers that be at the England bid team's head office are out to impress Fifa which has been championing their "green goal" policy for both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

The greener England's bid come decision time for Fifa in December 2010, the better the chances of England being chosen to host the 2018 tournament and all the benefits that go with it.

The city is one of 16 in England hoping to host World Cup matches but has a head start thanks to its fine reputation on environmental issues.

Just last month the city stood out in a nationwide report as having the lowest carbon emissions per head of population, per employee in the business sector and from transport.

The survey, compiled by property consultants, GVA Grimley, studied data from Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. All of the English cities are rival venues so the results were important for Bristol's drive to represent the West Country in England's bid to Fifa.

It goes on top of the city's selection as a finalist for the 2009 European Green Capital – the only UK city to be put forward – and the Independent Forum for the Future's decision to award Bristol the 2008 title of most sustainable city in the UK.

There is much work to do though and the Bristol World Cup bid team met with FA officials in London last Friday – along with the other potential host cities in the south of England – to learn more about the FA's and Fifa's requirements.

Stephen Wray, partnerships director for Bristol City Council and part of the Bristol bid team, told the Evening Post: "This is a key part of the England bid team's strategy to be ahead of the opposition. We are fortunate to have experts within the city and we are already setting new standards.

"Today we've just announced new recycling targets and we are actively looking at leading projects elsewhere to kick on even further."

The city is already ahead of the game in recycling terms, with 38 per cent of all waste recycled according to the GVA Grimley report, but revealed yesterday it is considering plans to reach 50 per cent by December 2010 and bring an end to untreated landfill.

Councillor Gary Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety, said: "We have achieved a great deal but we are determined to keep improving our services and to forge ahead as being one of the cleanest and greenest major cities in the UK."

Bristol's bid hangs on the provision of a brand new stadium in Ashton Vale.

Engineering consultants Buro Happold, who worked on the Emirates Stadium and are involved with the 2012 Olympic stadium, have been sharing their extensive expertise with Bristol City FC to ensure the new stadium sets new standards with its environmental footprint.

With proposals in place for 20mph zones around the city and its status as the first "cycling city" in the UK, Bristol is well placed to win the green vote and introduce the football fans of the world to its 93 parks and green open spaces in 2018.