Ghent (Belgium), Lahti (Finland), Lisbon (Portugal), Oslo (Norway) and Tallinn (Estonia) are the five finalists shortlisted for the European Green Capital Award (EGCA) 2019.
Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said: “I would like to congratulate the finalists of the European Green Capital 2019. This year the competition was fierce, with a record number of applicants for both awards. The best part about this shortlist is that the nominees are literally from the four corners of Europe. North, south, east and western cities are represented. This is a sure sign that the European Green Capital Awards idea has truly taken root.”
Over two thirds of Europeans now live in urban areas, presenting cities across Europe with problems related to energy consumption, pollution, waste management, housing, unemployment, transport, and water conservation. By showcasing the achievements of European cities in tackling these issues, the EGC and EGL Awards aim to lead by example and inspire others to take action.
The shortlisted cities will now have to convince the Jury of their overall commitment to ongoing environmental improvement and sustainable development, their capacity to act as a role model, and their strategy for communicating with the public. This year’s winners will be announced at an award ceremony on 2 June 2017 in Essen, Germany, the current European Green Capital.
The title of European Green Capital is awarded every year to a European city with a population of over 100 000 for its commitment to environmental, social and economic sustainability. To date, nine cities have been awarded the title since its inception in 2010. Stockholm, Sweden won the inaugural title, followed by Hamburg, Germany (2011); VitoriaGasteiz, Spain (2012); Nantes, France (2013); Copenhagen, Denmark (2014); Bristol, UK (2015); Ljubljana, Slovenia (2016); Essen, Germany (2017); and Nijmegen, Netherlands (2018).
