Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz and the French city of Nantes have been awarded as the next European Green Capitals prize for the years 2012 and 2013. These two cities have been selected among a group of six finalists for their commitment with the environment and for a sustainable urban planning.

The European Commission Green Capital awards aims at encouraging cities to improve the quality of urban life by systematically taking the environment into account in urban planning. In this occasion, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Nantes have been the two cities selected for their work to improve the environment and quality of life for their citizens.

Vitoria-Gasteiz – European Green Capital for 2012

Vitoria-Gasteiz, a regional capital of northern Spain, has made great progress in greening a traditional urban environment. The "Green Belt" of Vitoria-Gasteiz, a semi-natural green area partially reclaimed from degraded areas, surrounds the centre, ensuring its entire population of almost a quarter of a million people lives within 300 metres of an open green space. Numerous measures are in place to assist and increase biodiversity and ecosystem services. Flora and fauna are monitored and habitat fragmentation is reduced wherever possible. The city is also successfully coping with water scarcity and has steadily decreased its water consumption over the last decade.

Nantes – European Green Capital for 2013

Nantes, France's sixth largest city with a population of 285 000, has successfully linked its green and blue urban areas, integrating urban challenges with a location on two major rivers (the Loire and the Erdre), through a sustainable water management programme. Several Natura 2000 and other nature conservation areas border the city, and conservation of the flora and fauna are a key concern for its population. Nantes has a long established integrated and sustainable transport policy with a focus on public transport and cycling and was the first French city to successfully reintroduce electric trams.

The European Green Capital Award

The annual award is a new initiative presented to a city in the vanguard of environmentally friendly urban living. The award panel evaluate the cities on the basis of 11 environmental indicators, judging their record in achieving high environmental standards, and the extent to which they can act as a role model and promote best practice in other European cities.

Stockholm and Hamburg were the first cities to win the title; Stockholm for 2010 and Hamburg for 2011. Some 17 cities applied for the 2012 and 2013 awards. Six finalists were shortlisted: Barcelona, Malmö, Nantes, Nuremberg, Reykjavík and Vitoria-Gasteiz.

The jury is made up of representatives from the European Commission, the European Environment Agency, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the Covenant of Mayors Office, the European Environmental Bureau and the Committee of the Regions.