News / Environment
Bristol takes over Green Capital title
George Ferguson has said he intends Bristol’s year as European Green Capital to be on in which the city creates “a lasting legacy that we can all be proud of.”
The mayor was speaking in Copenhagen as he took over the accolade in a ceremony in the Danish capital.
Meanwhile, the mayor has pledged to to cut carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2020.
is needed now More than ever
The ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) announced that Bristol is the 500th reporting city of the carbonn Climate Registry (cCR).
Ferguson said that joining the cCR would “help us to keep track of our targets and inspire cities and nations to set more ambitious targets and act urgently to address the pressing issue of climate change”.
The event in Copenhagen marked Bristol becoming the first UK city to be awarded the green capital title.
Fifteen young people from Bristol form part of the UK delegation in Copenhagen and will join contemporaries from Belgium, Sweden and Denmark in a Children’s Climate Summit to debate how the next generation can be engaged in the issue.
The sixth form students were selected from across Bristol after submitting essays on the subject of why young people should care about the planet’s future.
Ferguson said: “With just over three weeks to go until Bristol takes up the title of European Green Capital, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our colleagues in Copenhagen for sharing their learning with us and setting a standard that inspires us to excel next year.
“My ambition is that Bristol’s year as European Green Capital should make a positive difference to people throughout the city and create a lasting legacy that we can all be proud of.”
The handover ceremony marks the sixth year of the European Green Capital initiative, which rewards cities making efforts to improve the urban environment and move towards healthier and more sustainable living areas. The title has already been held by Stockholm (2010), Hamburg (2011), Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain (2012), Nantes (2013) and Copenhagen (2014). Ljubljana will take over from Bristol in 2016.
Picture: Ursula Bach, City of Copenhagen
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