Yesterday evening saw the launch of the ‘European Green Capital Award‘ at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels.

The new award is designed to encourage European cities to become cleaner and greener, and will commence in 2010. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas is hopeful that “…this award will act as a powerful incentive for local governments and authorities to improve living conditions for Europe’s city-dwellers.”

The award will be given to a European city that has achieved a proven record of high environmental standards and that can act as a role model for other European cities.