Following the ceremony, Slovenian band Laibach will play a concert with the Symphony Orchestra of RTV Slovenija at the Bozar Mansion.

The ceremony will be addressed by European Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella, Mayor of Ljubljana Zoran Janković and Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson, who will present his city's experience with the title.

Slovenia's capital will be the ambassador of sustainable development this year, focusing on a green topic each month; January was marked by waste management.

Ljubljana also launched a special website to raise the awareness about the environment and will organise a number of events throughout the year, including the selection of the Green Capital of Europe 2018 in June.

As part of this year's green activities, Ljubljana is to get over 180 planters, while some of its hotels will receive the Travelife certificates promoting sustainable practices in the travel and tourism industry.

Ljubljana received the recognition in Copenhagen in 2014 for raising environmental awareness amongst its citizens, for its sustainability strategy, its implementation of a range of urban green measures and its developing transportation network.