Former Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard designated six official EcoCities, which have made a special effort in the climate and energy area.
In 2008 and 2009 former Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard designated Copenhagen, Kolding, Skive, Albertslund, Herning and Aarhus Municipality to official EcoCities.
The official titles were awarded for a 2 year period, and are therefore now expired. This does not mean that the municipalities have stopped working with climate and energy issues. The municipalities have helped to show other Danish municipalities how the task can be tackled.
A seal of approval
Being awarded the title of EcoCity is an official seal of approval. This seal of approval is a guarantee that the efforts by EcoCities have been given a great deal of thought and will work in the future. They are ambitious to a degree that sets the EcoCities apart from other national and international initiatives. The objective is to boost the climate and energy efforts of municipalities and to officially recognize and bring attention to the best performers.
Nordic Energy Municipilaty
The good experience from the project, has affected that the Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Lykke Friss, took the initiative to continue the project in a Nordic context. In October 2010 the Danish Minister started the project Nordic Energy Municipality.