Hamburg is Europe’s Green Capital 2011

This year’s winner of the award, the city of Hamburg, has distinguished itself over the past years as a leader in the field of sustainable local transport development. Main measures acknowledged with the award include the city’s high-quality railway network and its implementation of a non-motorised transport circulation network across the city centre and suburbs.

“The finalists and winners of the European Green Capital Award provide us with valuable real-life examples of how respect for the environment, excellent quality of life and economic growth can all be successfully combined,” sais EU Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Janez Potočnik.

Each year, winner cities are selected on the basis of three criteria: a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards; commitment to on-going and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development; and the ability to act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices to all other cities.

In 2010, Stockholm was the winner of the award through its various efforts to improve its living environment: reduction of noise pollution, new standards for cleaner water, innovative integrated waste system, and the fact that 95% of the population lives less than 300 metres away from a green area.

More information:

More about the European Green Capital Award: [read here]
EECN Newsflash on the European Green Capital Award: [read here]