Reykjavik, Iceland

Susan H. Weaver

Located at the head of the Faxaflói Bay in southwestern Iceland, Reykjavik adopted its town charter in 1786 and became the capital of Iceland following the grant by Denmark of Home Rule in 1874. It was named Reykjavik, or Smoky Bay, soon after the first Norse settlers arrived in the late 9th century. The hot springs that give the city its name are heated by active volcanoes, and are in large part responsible for Reykjavik's acclaim in geothermal energy use and technologies. The city has been recognized as a Best Practice example for renewable energy by C40Cities, a network of cities that is affiliated with the Clinton Climate Initiative. Reykjavik has declared its intent to eliminate fossil fuel use within its jurisdiction altogether by 2040, and in January 2010 announced that it will seek the European Commission's European Green Capital designation for 2012 or 2013. The worldwide financial crisis of ...

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