To date, far more than 70% of the people in Europe already live in cities. However, most cities face quite severe issues, especially regarding environmental pollution and climate change, and more and more city dwellers are complaining about the bad quality of air and increasing noise pollution. This is precisely why the concept of the green city aims to remedy the situation by offering a sustainable model.
What makes a city green? It’s not only about creating new green spaces, but above all about environmentally friendly transport and regenerative energy production. Only then will the cities of the future be able to meet the demands of tomorrow.
What Is the Definition of a Green City
This issue actually deals with all aspects that play a significant role in sustainable and ecological urban development. Naturally, this applies to green urban design, like parks, trees, and plants in urban areas. But it encompasses so much more.
Green cities rely on all the following features:
- Targeted greening of areas to break up the concrete and metal cityscapes
- Creation of a liveable atmosphere with good air and less pollution
- Use of sustainable energy sources to reduce emissions
- Modern building construction with high energy efficiency and low consumption
- New mobility concepts with a focus on pedestrian and bicycle paths
The green city concept is thus only partly characterised by the targeted use of green spaces. While these are the focus, maintaining the city is just as important. And this can only be achieved through the use of sustainable energy and environmentally friendly means of transport.
Why Do We Need the Green City Concept in the Future?
The degree of urbanisation in Europe is already at 75%, and the trend is rising. In the foreseeable future, more than four-fifths of all inhabitants of Europe will live in cities. Accordingly, these cities are also responsible for the majority of all emissions. Air pollution, noise pollution and climate change are becoming more and more evident, therefore the quality of life in cities is deteriorating rapidly.
The effects on physical and mental health can be severe. For example, air pollution is now the biggest environmental health risk in Europe and can promote numerous diseases. In addition, as many as 76% of the urban population suffers from the effects of noise pollution caused by road noise, which disturbs sleep and has a negative impact on cognitive performance.
Therefore, some green campaigns are much-needed, with the aim of improving the quality of life for all inhabitants through sensible measures. The concept of the green city is all about creating a harmonious co-existence of humans and nature. In terms of people’s health and environmental protection, a green city with many green spaces and sustainable environmental concepts is practically indispensable.
How to Build a Green City
The planning usually starts with the creation of new grassed areas that lead to a better ecological balance and a calming and inviting atmosphere. The main characteristics of a sustainable city can be achieved through the following measures, among others.
- Creating central parks and facilities: A beautiful park in the city centre is the perfect counterpart to the prevailing mass of concrete. It has a soothing effect and is a relaxing meeting place for everyone. The famous English Garden in Munich is a very vivid example of this.
- Growing trees and plants: Many cities worldwide have already recognised the benefits of trees and plants. In the course of climate change, however, it will be necessary to cover even more areas with trees and plants in order to further cool down city districts.
- Façade Greening: More green spaces are being created on the façades and roofs of buildings. In this way, previously boring and monotonous architecture can be broken up. Sensible façade greening can breathe new life into the city, have a calming effect and help to make it one of the greenest places in the world.
- Urban gardening: Many people in Europe have a small allotment garden nowadays, but this is usually located in suburban areas. Urban gardening, on the other hand, relies on gardens in the centre to grow local vegetables and fruit in a sustainable way. Berlin is setting a good example here with urban agriculture in the Prinzessinnengarten.
All this helps to make the cityscape greener and to benefit from the advantages this offers. As a result of targeted greening, all parameters of a modern city improve: a more beautiful cityscape, better air and a higher quality of life.
Living in the Green City
The concept of the green city stipulates that it should offer all residents numerous advantages, starting with housing. Buildings are increasingly designed to be highly energy efficient, which increases comfort and can also protect against heat waves and cold weather. Energy comes from predominantly sustainable, environmentally friendly and, above all, quiet sources, which are distributed throughout the city as solar roof panels, for example.
In addition, the short distances with a focus on pedestrians and cyclists increase the possibilities for personal mobility. All parks, shops for daily needs, medical practices and public facilities are located in the immediate vicinity. On the one hand, this reduces the distance individuals have to travel, and on the other hand, it contributes to environmental protection and a significantly reduced noise level. Living in an ecological city is pleasant, practical, and sustainable.
Green Mobility – Traffic in the Green City
A well-developed mobility concept helps the city to meet all the personal transport needs of its inhabitants. It is a stated goal to significantly reduce the dependence on cars, as their emissions and noise levels are simply too high, especially for individual transport. Electric cars are less bad, but they still consume a vast amount of energy in direct comparison to walking or cycling.
Short distances should ideally be covered mainly on foot or by bicycle. For longer distances, modern e-bikes or public transport are used (or quite possibly a combination of both). The aim is clear: residents can choose between many environmentally friendly alternatives to individual or public transport.
Leading by Example: Pioneers of the Green City
There are several cities around the world, making big strides towards the goal of becoming the greenest city in the world. While most of the cities in Germany and other countries are still in the conceptual phase, others are already actively implementing green policies. Here are just a few examples.
- Zurich: The city is way ahead when it comes to environmental protection, which is partly related to the goal of becoming a 2000-watt society by 2050. Therefore, Zurich is increasingly focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energies and sustainable mobility.
- Copenhagen: The Danish capital aims to become completely climate neutral as early as 2025. Copenhagen wants to achieve this through an increasing focus on cycling and also through sustainable energy production.
- Vienna: Unlike many other cities, Vienna does not penalise the use of cars. Instead, the city simply offers better alternatives. This includes an excellent public transport network and numerous cycle paths, coupled with a consistent expansion of green spaces. No wonder that Vienna is repeatedly declared the world’s most liveable city.
- Stockholm: The capital of Sweden was already voted Europe’s first green city in 2010 and focuses very strongly on sustainable technologies, renewable energies and low CO₂ emissions. The goal is to do without fossil fuels by 2040.
- Malmö: This Swedish city is already considered the “city of the future”. It has the largest expanse of solar installations in Sweden and wants to run entirely on renewable energies from 2030 onwards. An important measure here is the construction of passive houses. The cityscape is already characterised by several of these, and an impressive passive house complex is currently being planned for construction in the following years.
- Vancouver: Another pioneer is Vancouver in Canada. The use of hydroelectric power for energy generation keeps the air exceptionally clean. Around 200 parks enhance the cityscape and promote an active lifestyle in good weather.
How You Can Contribute to the Green City Concept
Ultimately, both urban planners and residents must pull together to make the concept of the green city a reality. Each of us can make an essential contribution to sustainably improving the quality of life. With a few simple measures, you can be part of the solution.
One easy measure is to avoid using a car as much as you can. Most everyday journeys can easily be mastered by bicycle, while longer distances can be covered effortlessly on an e-bike. This is environmentally friendly and encourages activity – be sure to find out in advance which bike is right for you before you decide to buy an e-bike.
If you are a homeowner, it might be wise to consider a solar power system, which generally pays for itself after just 10 years, due to rising electricity prices. Everyone else can plant a small urban garden on their balcony to promote greening.
The Bottom Line
Modern cities today face huge challenges in coping with increasing pollution and rising temperatures. That is why more and more people appreciate the advantages offered by the concept of a green city, which contributes significantly to the quality of life of all inhabitants through many parks, low emissions and an active lifestyle.
Opportunities for individual mobility play a key role in this. A smart e-bike from Ampler is the perfect companion in the green city of the future. It is comfortable, environmentally friendly, and it’s treated like a regular bicycle in most European countries – without a driving licence, insurance, or licence plate.
Schedule your test ride now.
