ICLEI member city Reykjavik (Iceland) has been awarded the Nordic Council Nature and Environment Prize 2014. Reykjavik’s green achievements were highlighted during a ceremony held in Stockholm (Sweden), including the city’s environmentally friendly use of drinking water and its use of geothermal energy for electricity and district heating.

“The prize goes to the City of Reykjavik in recognition of its wide-ranging and determined commitment to the environment […] Reykjavik makes ‘green’ use of urban spaces not currently occupied or due to become vacant soon, and this stops them ending up as parking lots. Although Reykjavik is a small city, 87 percent of the council’s vehicles run on electricity or gas. We know of no other council with a fleet of vehicles anywhere nearly as environmentally friendly,” said last year’s winner, Selina Juul of Denmark from the Stop Wasting Food movement, on behalf of the adjudicating committee.

The Nordic Council Nature and Environment Prize is awarded to a Nordic enterprise, organisation or individual, that stands as a role model by integrating regard for nature and the environment into their business or work, or that has contributed remarkably to the protection of nature and the environment. Next year’s prize will go to a company, organisation or individual that has developed an exemplary product, initiative, invention or other creative endeavour that assists in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, visit the Nordic Council website.