Copenhagen is one of the world’s leading and most ambitious cities in the field of combating climate change.

This is the conclusion after Copenhagen received a special mention in WWF’s international climate competition Earth Hour City Challenge yesterday.

Copenhagen was recognized at a ceremony in Vancouver, Canada, and this means that the Danish capital can add another line to its climate resumé. Copenhagen is already European Green Capital 2014.

Copenhagen was praised by the jury for its impressive climate change action plan, which is highly participatory and consists among other things of an ambitious goal of turning Copenhagen into the first carbon neutral capital by 2025.

The city’s district heating system was also highlighted and the famous bicycle culture had left a strong impression with the jury. The jury was comprised of some of the world’s leading experts in the field of climate change.

- That Copenhagen once again receives international recognition for our work to reduce carbon emission is first and foremost a huge pat on the back to the great numbers of Copenhageners who think green in their everyday life. For example one in two Copenhageners rides their bike to their job or school.

- It was also Copenhageners who rallied for cleaner water in our harbor and better recreational areas. At the same time, Copenhageners take a global responsibility with their support of our wish to be the world’s first carbon neutral capital in 2025 by sorting their trash and buying shares in the city’s new wind turbines at Prøvestenen, says Mayor Morten Kabell of the Copenhagen Technical and Environmental Administration.

The competition’s highest prize, Earth Hour Capital 2014, was awarded to Cape Town, South Africa, and three other cities received special mention like Copenhagen did.

- The recognition of Copenhagen for showing ambition and dedication in leaving a smaller carbon footprint is well-deserved – Copenhagen showcases the qualities that are necessary if we want to realize our potential about stopping climate change that is threatening cities, people and nature around the globe, says Gitte Seeberg, Secretary General of WWF Denmark.

A total of 163 cities from all over the world participated in the competition and 33 were selected for the final round. Other cities in the final were Chicago, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Seoul and Brussels.

A parallel competition called We Love Cities, where the public votes for their favorite city, was won by Medellin, Colombia and Khunhan, Thailand. More than a 300,000 votes were cast as part of that competition