Amsterdam is nominated for European Green Capital Award

Starting in 2010, one European city will be selected each year as the European Green Capital of the year. The competition for the European Green Capital title 2010 and 2011 has now entered its final stages. Amsterdam is one of eight top candidate cities that have slipped through the needle's eye of the evaluation panel and are now ready to become the first European Green Capitals ever. Amsterdam is the only Dutch city that is still in the running.

The European Commission has long recognised the important role that local authorities play in improving the environment, and their high level of commitment to genuine progress. The European Green Capital Award has been conceived as an initiative to promote and reward these efforts. The award marks a city's wish and capability to solve environmental problems in order to both improve the quality of life of its citizens and reduce the contribution it makes to the global environment as a whole.

An evaluation panel has shortlisted eight out of 35 European cities to support their applications for the title as European Green Capital 2010 and 2011. Over the coming months, these eight cities will be asked to submit further details to support their applications. The announcement of the first two European Green Capitals for 2010 and 2011 will be made at a ceremony planned for early 2009.

In the application, Amsterdam was asked to provide information on ten indicator areas with regards to the present environmental status and results, the attempts to improve the urban living conditions, future initiatives and dissemination plans. Amsterdam’s nomination is amongst others due to an ambitious climate program (New Amsterdam Climate), the implementation of sustainable mobility solutions, waste management, innovative solutions for noise pollution, the investment in green public spaces, sustainable land use, water storage and waste water treatment.

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