Stockholm Becomes the First European Green Capital

Eco-friendly tourists might want to pay a visit to the green city of Stockholm, Sweden, an urban city with an outdoor ambiance. In 2010, the city received the first European Green Capital Award from the European Union. The European Commission's website noted the reasons for this selection: "Clear and effective measures towards reducing noise pollution. A protection plan setting new standards for cleaner water. An innovative integrated waste system. 95 % of the population living less than 300 meters from green areas." (http://bit.ly/icTfq)

Within Stockholm, a city of approximately 800,000 inhabitants, remains unpolluted in large part to its relatively low transport emissions. For example, trains and buses run on renewable fuels with a target goal of becoming independent from fossil fuels by the year 2050.

In Stockholm, one can find plenty of carbon friendly activities that celebrate the outdoors. For example, Edopark, the world's first National City Park consists of 6,671 acres of green land, and is ideally suited for both active walkers and cyclists.

Hikers can check out a range of trails including 621-mile long Sörmlandsleden hiking trail that traverses across flat rocks, rivers, pine forests and bogs; the Upplandsleden Trail (186 miles) that goes from Lake Mälaren to Sigtuna, which is the oldest town in Sweden, the 75-mile Roslagsleden trail (75 miles) that passes by lakes and ancient monuments and Tyresta National Park which has 8 different trails of varying lengths. For those who enjoy water sports, one can find a range of options from an easy day of paddling on Långholmskanalen to challenging sea paddling along the 32-sea mile long Långviksskär tour.

This commitment to becoming green can be seen in the industries catering to tourists. The Scandic Hotel set the bar for hotels by being one of the first hotels to employ an environmentally-friendly method for soaps and shampoos, as well as installing low-flush toilets and low-energy light bulbs. Also, many restaurants seek to use locally grown products and there is a rise in the marketing of "fair-trade" fashions.

Those who wish to explore Stockholm's sustainability can apply for a professional study visit to learn about Stockholm's solution to a range of issues including climate change, waste management, urban planning, and sustainable transportation. A full range of events scheduled to commemorate this distinction can be found by logging on to the city of Stockholm's website at http://bit.ly/9GIqHF.