09/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - Ljubljana takes over from Bristol as European Green Capital. Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, has taken over the mantle of European Green Capital for 2016 from Bristol (see EUROPE 11108). European Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella handed over the title at an official ceremony on Tuesday 9 February. Ljubljana has put in place sustainable urban policies and has adopted a no-waste strategy, contributing to Europe's transition to a circular economy. Ljubljana has 542 square metres of green space per inhabitant and its public transport networks, pedestrian areas and 220 kilometres of cycle tracks form the backbone of urban mobility, the quality of which has been recognised. In 2017, Ljubljana will hand over its title of European Green Capital to the German city of Essen (see EUROPE 11339). (AN)