THE DEAR Green Place wants to get greener. Glasgow City Council has launched a bid to become one of Europe's most environmentally friendly cities.

The council's leaders are trying to shake off the city's image as one of the most polluted, wasteful and road-obsessed in Scotland by agreeing a series of initiatives aimed at making it more sustainable.

The council has set up a consortium led by Strathclyde University to examine every aspect of life in the city. The objective is "to position Glasgow as one of Europe's most sustainable cities within five to 10 years".

Ambitious plans include a new city-wide district heating scheme, more energy-efficient homes, light rail transport and a "state of the art" telecommunications network. These will all, it is hoped, cut the pollution that is warming the globe.

The council has also announced a £135 million plan to build three new waste plants to improve recycling rates. In addition there are proposals to develop a wind farm to power street lighting and other services.

Steven Purcell, the council's Labour leader, said: "We need to be clear that being green, being environmentally responsible, is not an indulgence or a luxury."

"The technologies we hope to bring to the city, and the new ground we hope to break with our partners in the sustainable Glasgow consortium, are about creating a future for Glasgow not only as Scotland's greenest city, but as one of the most sustainable in Europe."

On Friday, the council agreed to put £300,000 into the new sustainable consortium, which has a budget of £1.1m. It involves three energy companies - Scottish and Southern Energy, Dalkia/Veolia and Elutions - as well as the investment management consultancy, Blitzer Clancy.

The group will investigate the possibility of piping hot water to homes, offices and public buildings across Glasgow as well as how to develop "low-carbon public transport". It will be co-ordinated by Professor Jim McDonald, deputy principal of the University of Strathclyde.

"There are tremendous opportunities for Glasgow in the development of low-carbon energy technologies, efficient homes and the creation of sustainable communities and transport. All of this could help to make Glasgow the most sustainable city in Europe," he said.

"The study will present some ambitious, but achievable, goals which could help to improve Glasgow's environment as well as provide jobs and develop the city's clean-energy sector. We hope this feasibility study will be the first step towards making those changes a reality."

Glasgow's aspirations, however, have so far failed to impress environmentalists, who have long criticised the city's poor record on pollution, waste and transport.

They point out that the council is still backing one of Scotland's most climate-wrecking projects - the extension of the M74 into the city.

Duncan McLaren, the chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, welcomed local authorities competing against each other to be the most sustainable. "But if Glasgow still wants to extend the M74, then this is incompatible with being green," he said.

Glasgow's Green MSP Patrick Harvie, was less polite. "Steven Purcell is living in la-la land if he thinks Labour's vision of a Glasgow designed around motorways, incinerators, and an economy entirely built on shopping could be described as even vaguely sustainable," he said.