Interested to see that the EU has named Stockholm as its first Green Capital City. This designation goes to Hamburg from 2011. Stockholm has apparently cut its carbon emissions by 25% since 1990 and aims to be fossil–fuel–free by 2050. Having visited Stockholm twice in recent years to see its famous new waterfront residential development at Hammerby, I can understand why the city received such a title.
Without decrying Stockholm’s achievements and future objectives, personally I found Malmo’s regeneration more attractive than Stockholm’s. To me the Western Harbour development at Malmo with its iconic ‘Turning Torso’ building produces a much more appealing atmosphere than the somewhat sterile, showcasey aura of Hammerby. Having said that, I did enjoy staying at the Royal Hotel (owned by ex–Abba star Benny Andersson) with its collection of 70s/80s CDs in your room. But that’s another story.
Our aim for the future has to be to ensure that British cities achieve bustle and excitement without compromising green credentials. I look forward to seeing the title of EU’s Green Capital City bestowed on one of Britain’s leading cities famed for its measures for tackling pollution, waste, water management and, of course, greenhouse gas emissions. Hopefully one day Wolverhampton will be that city.