Last year, the European Commission founded a new annual award - The European Green Capital Award.  The prize will be awarded to the city that leads the way to a more environmentally-friendly urban lifestyle and can demonstrate positive results in such areas as achieving set environmental improvements and a sustainable development. 

From 30+ cities that submitted an application, Stockholm was selected Europe's Green Capital 2010. The European Commission's motivation read: "Stockholm was awarded the prize because the city has set itself the ambitious target of becoming fossil free by 2050.  The city has an Integrated Management System that ensures that environmental issues are included in the city's budget, operational planning, reporting and monitoring.  The city was commended for its extensive programme of future improvements to many areas, including the creation of more beaches for bathing"

Stockholm was also commended for introducing congestion charges and high recycling rates. All in all, it is the breadth and depth of Stockholm's environmental work coupled with the city's environmental view on traffic, town planning, waste management, energy supplies and water purification, etc. that have made Stockholm Europe's Green Capital 2010.