Bristol shortlisted for 'green capital' title

Bristol has been chosen as the only city in the UK to be short-listed for the European Green Capital award.

The city has been pre-selected alongside seven other European cities from 35 initial applications.

The seven other cities are: Amsterdam in Holland, Copenhagen in Denmark, the German cities of Freiburg, Hamburg and Munster, Oslo in Norway and Stockholm in Sweden.

Bristol City Council leader Helen Holland said: "This is absolutely fantastic news for Bristol and it is a real credit to our city and our partners that the bid we submitted has been recognised.

"It is an honour to be considered alongside these other great European cities.

"Our vision is to make Bristol a truly green capital with a more sustainable future for everyone.

"By working together, residents alongside local businesses and organisations, we can tackle head-on the big issues that face us such as climate change, transport and congestion, and the longer term creation of better neighbourhoods."

The European Green Capital Award aims to help cities become more attractive and healthy places and is similar to the European Capital of Culture competition.

Every year from 2010 a European city will be appointed as European Green Capital by a panel of international recognised environmental experts and a jury.

The award will be given to a city that has demonstrated a well-established record achieving high environmental standards and is committed to further environmental improvement and sustainable development.

The winning city will act as a role model for all other European cities.

Maria Berrini, a member of the evaluation panel, said: "The work of the eight nominees were of such an outstanding nature, that we felt they all could be excellent role models for green capitals all over Europe." Bristol launched a Green Capital action plan in 2007 in order to help its bid to become European Green Capital.

Progress towards the goals set by the agenda include:

Expansion of the cycling network, resulting in Bristol being chosen as the UK's first Cycling City earlier this year; the implementation of two 'showcase' bus routes and the expansion of the Park and Ride schemes; the introduction of a Parks and Green Spaces Strategy, which aims to improve accessibility for all as well as improving the quality of the green space; the formation of the Biodiversity Action Partnership, due to be launched next week, which sets out an ambitious blueprint for the future of Bristol's wildlife and identifies practical ways to protect and promote local flora and fauna; the adoption of the a joint waste management strategy with the other councils in the greater Bristol area; a planning application submitted for two wind turbines at Avonmouth to supply up to 20% of the council's energy needs.

For the second evaluation round, the eight short-listed cities will be assessed by the panel who will then present its recommendations to the jury, which will then take the final decision.

The announcement of the first two European Green Capitals for 2010 and 2011 will be made at a ceremony planned for early 2009.