Copenhagen was this evening awarded the title of European Green Capital 2014, beating Bristol into second place.
The decision was announced at just before 9pm this evening in the Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the current holder of the title.
Bristol City Council leader Simon Cook and Bristol Green Capital Partnership chair Professor Martin Bigg were at the ceremony, where Bristol was also up against Frankfurt.
Cllr Cook and Prof Bigg had been part of the seven-person delegation that presented Bristol’s case to the European Commission panel in Brussels earlier this month.
Bristol’s submission was highly regarded by insiders, who thought the city stood a good chance against its larger rivals. key to this was the way the business community and other organisations got behind the bid. Bristol also pledge to link up with other cities across Europe to work towards greater sustainability.
Bristol's bid also had international support from its twin cities, including Guangzhou in China.
The Bristol Green Capital Partnership received support from 3,500-plus firms, organisations, schools and individuals with nearly a third of these pledges from businesses in and around the city. Bristol Business News was among the first organisations to pledge its support for Bristol’s bid.
Bristol’s innovative and creative sectors would have been given a major boost from winning the title, according to leading figures from the city’s business community.
Immediately following the announcement this evening Cllr Cook said: “To get so far in this competition has been a remarkable achievement for Bristol, particularly when we were up against such strong competitors. It is testament to the huge amount of progress made on the green agenda, the vision we have for the city in years to come and the great working relationship in Bristol between the public and private sector, community groups and academia.
“We are the only UK city to have ever reached the finals in this competition, and we have done so for the second time. This sends a clear message that we are a green city that is inspiring change across Europe.
“It provides us with a platform to market the city as a place to do green business and a great place for international tourists to visit.
“As a signal of our intent to press ahead, I can confirm today that the council will support Bristol’s Big Green Week in 2013 with the ambitions to turn the festival into a world-class event for the city.”
The judging panel from the European Commission said Bristol’s finalist presentation demonstrated the best example of partnership working. Out of the 18 cities that entered, Bristol was ranked second overall and number one in three areas: climate change, air quality and noise pollution.
Prof Bigg added: “On behalf of Bristol’s Green Capital bid team, a huge thank you to everyone who has played a part in getting Bristol into the final of these prestigious awards. Our businesses, community groups, residents, public sector, schools and universities are all contributing to making Bristol a more sustainable low carbon city with a high quality of life for all. We have learnt and continue to learn and share the challenges and opportunities of being a green city. We have amazing green creativity, culture and ethos in Bristol, and it is thanks to all this that the city is being recognised at an international level.
“Our congratulations go to Copenhagen, who we have no doubt will be an excellent host for the award in 2014.”
Bristol’s bid received wide-ranging support nationally and locally, including endorsement from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband.
The European Green Capital Award aims to provide an incentive for cities to inspire each other, share best practices and become role models. The winning city is chosen each year by a panel of judges from the EC. There is no financial prize with the award.
EU Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik, said: “The finalists and winners of the European Green Capital Award provide us with valuable real-life examples of how respect for the environment, excellent quality of life and economic growth can all be successfully combined.”
One of the first Bristol business figures to react to the news was Ned Cussen, of property firm Jones Lang LaSalle’s Bristol office.
He said: “There’s no shame in coming second. Bristol is very much the Green Capital of the UK, and also the foremost city for green business. The bidding process itself has pushed environmental credentials up the business agenda in the city. It already has a significant competitive advantage over other major cities in the UK. We must keep up the momentum and continue to market the city on its strong green credentials. We know from our experience throughout major European cities that sustainability is and will continue to be a major criteria when companies decide on future location.”
Bristol & Bath Science Park chief executive Bonnie Dean said the fact that Bristol was shortlisted should be celebrated.
“The bid team from Bristol should also be congratulated on leading such an open and inclusive process in putting together Bristol's bid,” she said.
