1. European Commission, DG Environment
Urban environment
European Commission, DG Environment

2. EG ENV activities
Brochure on “Making our cities attractive and sustainable”
European Green Capital Award (EGCA)

3.
Making our cities attractive
and sustainable
How the EU contributes to improving the urban environment

4. Aim of the brochure To give:
Overview of the ways the EU supports citizens and local governments in their efforts to make our cities sustainable, efficient, healthy, well managed, pleasant and clean
EU wide exchange of best practices

5. Content Clean and healthy Green and pleasant Efficient and sustainable
Safe water to drink
Clean air to breathe
Collection and disposal of solid waste
Toxic free
Green and pleasant
Green urban areas
Biodiversity friendly
Quiet places
Respect for urban heritage
Sustainable land use
Efficient and sustainable
Resource efficiency
Energy efficiency
Green mobility
Local actions on climate change
Technological innovations and green jobs

6. Content Well-managed and democratic EU funding for cities
Integrated Environmental Management Systems
Green public procurement
Participatory urban planning
Assessing environmental impacts
Tracking progress
EU funding for cities
LIFE funds and the urban environment
Cohesion policy funding for urban areas
Research for innovation
Further information on platforms

7. Structure Key documents related to urban environment
Facts and current legislations
Did you know……recent information/what is new?
Weblinks by themes

8. Green and pleasant…. Did you know… The EU’s Noise Observation and
Information Service for Europe (
database allows citizens to see
how many people are exposed to
excessive noise generated by air,
rail and road traffic across Europe.

9. Websites relevant to the ISG on Urban Development
URBACT:
‘European Spatial Development Perspective’:
The URBAN II Community Initiative ( ) and Operational Programmes implemented within the Community Initiative:
Covenant of Mayors:
Regional Policy – Inforegio:
URBACT:
Guide on the urban dimension of European Union policies, European Commission:
DG REGIO, Promoting sustainable urban development in Europe – Achievements and opportunities, April 2009:

10. Thank you for your patience
European Green Capital Award
70% of Europeans live in cities and they have a right to live in healthy urban areas, and towns and cities should therefore strive to improve the quality of life of their citizens and reduce their impact on the global environment
EGC Motto : Green cities – fit for life

11. Overarching objectives
COWI PowerPoint design manual
Overarching objectives
Overarching objectives :
a) Reward cities that have a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards
b) Encourage cities to commit to ongoing and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development
c) Provide a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practice and experiences in all other European cities
The European Green Capital award scheme is open:
to EU member states, candidate countries (Turkey, FYROM, Croatia, Iceland) and European Economic Areas countries,
All cities which have more than 200,000 inhabitants
The objectives of the European Green Capital Award are to:
a) Reward cities that have a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards
b) Encourage cities to commit to ongoing and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development
c) Provide a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practice and experiences in all other European cities
The European Green Capital award scheme is open:
to EU member states, candidate countries (Turkey, FYROM, Croatia, Iceland) and European Economic Areas countries,
All cities which have more than 200,000 inhabitants 11

12. In line with the 3 objectives, the evaluation criteria are based on the following:
The ‘greenest’ city
Implementation of efficient and innovative measures
Future commitments
Impact of identified historical and/or geographical factors
Communication & networking

13. EGC experts’ panel evaluate 11 environmental indicator areas:
Local contribution to global climate change
Local transport
Green urban areas
Sustainable land use
Nature and biodiversity
Quality of local ambient air
Noise pollution
Waste production and management
Water consumption
Waste water treatment
Environmental management of the municipality
A 12th indicator : Communication actions
The EGC Jury takes the final decision on the basis of the experts’ recommendations

14. Thank you for your patience
1st call for applications: 35 cities covering 17 European countries,major European capitals such as Stockholm, Copenhagen,Lisbon, Prague, Vienna and Vilnius, as well as large and small cities, such as Hamburg and Freiburg respectively.
2nd call for applications: 17 cities applied covering 12 European countries and 1 candidate country criteria and process)
After the 1st & 2nd selections, were nominated:
Stockholm, EGC 2010
Hamburg, EGC 2011
Vitoria Gasteiz, EGC 2012
Nantes, EGC 2013

15. Thank you for your patience