The deadline for submitting applications to the European Green Capital Award (EGCA) is now closed. Some 19 cities from 14 European countries have applied for the 2014 award, among which 13* are Covenant of Mayors Signatories. The Award recognises and rewards local efforts to improve the environment, the economy and the quality of life in cities. The EGCA is given each year to a city, not necessarily a capital, which is leading the way in environmentally-friendly urban living and which can act as a role-model for other cities.

The applications will now be evaluated by an expert panel and this will include qualitative evaluations and a peer review of each application based on 12 indicator areas. Following these evaluations, 3-4 cities will be shortlisted for the 2014 title. The shortlisted cities will be invited to present their action plans Action plans A Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) is the key document in which the Covenant signatory outlines how it intends to reach its CO₂ reduction target by 2020. It defines the activities and measures set up to achieve the targets, together with time frames and assigned responsibilities. Covenant signatories are free to choose the format of their SEAP, as long as it is in line with the general principles set out in the Covenant SEAP guidelines. and communication strategies to a Jury, which will deliberate and then make a final decision. The announcement of the European Green Capital for 2014 is planned to take place at a prestigious award ceremony in June 2012 in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Europe’s first Green Capital in 2010 was Stockholm, Hamburg is this year’s winner, the Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz will inherit the title in 2012 and, in 2013, the crown will be passed to Nantes in France.

* List of Covenant Cities which have submitted their applications: Antwerp, Brasov, Bristol, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Gent, Ljubljana, Paris, Rotterdam, Tampere, Torino, Zaragoza Additional information