Sustainable Cities Around the Globe

Have you ever thought about the quality of life in your city and how sustainable it is? Is your public transportation working well, or is it a nightmare to use? Or, is there no alternative to taking your car and endless traffic queues? Are there enough green spaces saving you from suffocating on smog that allow you to slow down? Can you still afford your apartment or house within the city limits?

Let us have a closer look at Sustainable Development Goal No. 11, which focuses on sustainable cities and communities: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”

Many cities and urban areas around the globe already started initiatives to improve the lives of their inhabitants by transitioning towards green cities. Two of them are worth mentioning.

Copenhagen:

The city council has ambitious plans of becoming carbon-neutral by 2025 [1]. Local authorities have implemented a lot of initiatives to make the city greener and more sustainable. Right now, you can find bicycle highways, a high density of restaurants that are offering organic food and highly efficient waste management. For example, there is the newly opened CopenHill, which is a super modern waste-to-energy plant that includes an artificial mountain for hiking and skiing to offer more opportunities for individuals interested in sport [2]. Making the city as sustainable as possible to be more resilient facing climate change, the city planners will implement micro parks with lakes and ponds, which will absorb rainwater and deliver it to the harbour [3]. Also, Copenhagen’s inhabitants started to live more sustainably. The city offers a variety of sustainable projects, from hotels to guided tours about sustainable city districts, like Nordhavn [4].

Singapore:

The city has scarce natural resources, so local authorities have to work towards green solutions for about 5.6 million inhabitants of the island.

It is committed to Agenda 2030, and its four-pillar development plan includes: “Building a sustainable economy; creating a sustainable living environment; ensuring sustainable development for our people, and contributing to international collaboration [5]”.

Therefore, the city uses new technologies to collect and reuse rainwater to satisfy the city’s high water demand, e.g. smart water grids are measuring the usage and the demand for water [6]. Renewable energy is also playing a crucial role. Did you know that the Supertree Grove at the Gardens by the Bay not only provides an area for recreation but also harvests solar energy [7]?

Believe it or not, but Singapore is a real green city-state with many natural state parks and rich flora and fauna [8]. Stressed business people have a variety of parks and green areas to take a break.

What do you think? How livable is your city? Has your city already implemented the first steps towards more sustainability within its boundaries and beyond? Is there anything you would like to improve or change? Can you engage within your community to make your urban area more resilient?

Please share and find like-minded companions to make a change.

Created and Published by Stephi@Whatareyoustillwaitingfor.Space
Illustrated by Oguz@Whatareyoustillwaitingfor.Space
Proofread and Edited by Lee@Whatareyoustillwaitingfor.Space
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Originally Published on AIESEC Alumni International’s Alumni Network (AlumNet) by Lee Vallance