Copenhagen has been named European Green Capital 2014 a title bestowed upon a city with well-established record of achieving high environmental standards, is comitted to meeting ambitous goals, and acts as a role model to other cities. And according to a new report from the Global Business Travel Association, green credentials are a major attribute.
Copenhagen is renowned internationally as a leading city when it comes to holding sustainable meetings and conferences. Recently, the city hosted the majority of meetings related to theworld’s first eco-certified European Union presidency.
A report from the Global Business Travel Association has recently revealed that, these days, more than half of business travel managers believe that sustainability plays a greater role in deciding where and how travel activities are conducted in the company than they did just two years ago.
Research also shows that more than a third of European and Australian managers who were asked said that they would change suppliers in the coming years in order to meet companies’ new guidelines for sustainable travel. Steen Jakobsen comments:
“Copenhagen has focused for many years on the development of an international profile as a leader when it comes to sustainable meetings and conferences. The Global Business Travel Association’s research shows yet again that sustainability is here to stay. The fact that we have just won the title of European Green Capital 2014 will, naturally, underline our overall sustainable product, both for business travelers and ordinary tourists.”
Top marks to Copenhagen
Before being named European Green Capital 2014, Copenhagen and the other 17 candidates were assessed by a panel of experts in twelve specific categories relating to the environment, climate and green growth. Copenhagen was awarded top marks ahead of all the other cities. In nine of the twelve categories, the technical jury assessed Copenhagen to have achieved the best or second best results of all 18 cities.
The award was presented by EU Environment Commissioner, Janez Potočnik, at a ceremony in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain – the current holder of the title – on Friday evening. Copenhagen received special credit for its achievements in terms of eco-innovation and sustainable mobility; its commitment to act as a role model for the green economy in Europe and beyond; and for an exceptionally promising communication strategy.
Commissioner Potočnik said: “I congratulate Copenhagen on the example they are setting. We have much to learn from the city’s efforts to improve the environment and quality of life for citizens, whilst creating new business opportunities, and I look forward to their year as European Green Capital. They will have numerous occasions to showcase their expertise and their creative approach to urban planning and to developing a green economy.”
The award jury considered Copenhagen’s Green Business Model to be a prime example of sustainable economic development, tackling environmental, economic and social concerns, with potential for replication in other cities of the world.
Copenhagen has placed public-private partnerships at the core of its approach to eco-innovation and sustainable employment. The city works with companies, universities and organisations in dedicated forums to develop and implement green growth. Copenhagen is also something of a transport pioneer, and is aiming to become the world’s most cycle-friendly city. Its goal is to have 50% of people cycling to their place of work or education by 2015 (in 2010, 35% of all people working or studying in Copenhagen cycled to their workplace or school), which will assist the city in reaching its ambitious goal of being CO₂ neutral by 2025.
