Newcastle upon Tyne has been named the greenest city in the UK for the second year running in a prestigious national survey which ranks the UK’s 20 biggest cities for their environmental performance.

The award comes from Forum for the Future, an organisation which helps businesses and service providers plan for the future effects of issues like climate change and food and energy security.

And air quality was one measure the judges used. Newcastle was ranked seventh out of 20 cities, with a background nitrous oxide level of 16.4 micrograms per cubic metre of air. Sunderland, which came sixteenth in the survey, was in eighth place on the air quality index. Bradford was ranked first for its clean air.

Nitrous oxide (NOX) reduces air quality and is primarily emitted in car exhaust fumes.

Ed Foster, manager of Be Air Aware,  said the result was good news for the city, but added there were still areas across the region where air quality must be improved.

He said: “It’s excellent that Newcastle has retained its top spot in terms of overall environmental performance. While air quality was above average for both cities, there is definitely room for improvement.

“Air quality has a direct impact on quality of life for everyone. By far the biggest contribution that can be made to its improvement is the elimination of unnecessary car journeys.

“Walking, cycling and using public transport – the latter was praised in the survey – are all viable options to the car. Most of us can help improve air quality and I hope that we can see our air quality score rise in future surveys.”