With solar-powered hot air balloons and a new Bio-Bus fuelled by human and household waste, Bristol is going all outto fete its status as European Green Capital for 2015. Sustainable city-making is in the eye of the beholder. To some it means a compact walkable city, to others green infrastructure or a digitally connected smart city. Angela Brady's recent book The British Papers collates more than 30 views on the subject from UK practitioners and includes almost as many approaches as there are contributors. So what is a European Green Capital? Initiated in 2008, with no funding attached, the accolade's main thrust is knowledge-sharing and inspiring best practice in other cities.The European Commission's (EC) Green Capital badge is awarded annually to a city with a population of more than 200,000 that can demonstrate a strong environmental track record and ambitious targets for the f uture.The judging panel rates candidate cities across 12environmental indicators, ranging from transportto planning and green space. Bristol's £400 million programme of transport improvements, cycling, electric cars, and bus rapid transit (including £200 million spent on MetroBus, covering three bus routes) particularly impressed the judges.
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