Cities are not only diverse living spaces and centers of our modern world, they are also affected by advancing climate change. Around the world, more and more people are choosing to live in cities. Urbanization is also advancing in Europe, with 75% of the European population already living in cities.
Every European city is unique
Many cities in Europe have become cultural, social and economic centers in recent decades, but they are also always embedded in the surrounding regions. At first glance, European cities often appear similar: you will usually find compact old towns in the city center, narrow streets, complex street patterns and listed historic buildings in lively city centers. Every city in Europe is characterized by its respective history and its great diversity in a small area. However, each city also faces its own complex challenges due to specific features such as geographical location, political systems or the number of inhabitants. Environmental impacts also vary from city to city and climate change affects each city in different ways. In the future, coastal cities are more likely to be affected by higher storm surge risks, while other cities in southern Europe face the problem of water scarcity and the risk of forest fires. Above all, cities must do their part to ensure that climate targets are achieved in the future and that measures for the circular economy, the protection of biodiversity and a clean environment are actually taken and implemented.
What exactly makes a sustainable city?
A city is sustainable if it is resilient and adaptable and can cope well with pressures. The efficient and careful use of resources, waste avoidance, low and efficient energy consumption and the use of renewable energies are important core elements of sustainable urban development. But there is also a lot that can be done in the social sphere to make a city more sustainable: from the participation of the population in decision-making processes and community-led initiatives to socially responsible mobility and building infrastructure. People’s health, social inclusion and community cohesion can also be promoted through public open spaces. In the area of consumption and technology, cities can expand sustainable forms of mobility, such as walking and cycling, public transport and shared mobility, on the one hand, and enable the integration of sustainable urban agriculture on the other. Long-term spatial planning and a good quality of life for residents are also crucial for sustainable urban development.
What we can learn from the “green capitals” of Europe
After Lisbon, Lahti, Grenoble and Tallinn, the Spanish metropolis of Valencia has now been awarded the title of Environmental Capital in 2024. One of Valencia’s special features is the huge and beautifully landscaped “Jardin del Turia” park with its tall trees and numerous sports facilities. This was created back in the 1980s in an old riverbed of the Rio Turia. However, the Albufera Nature Park with a large freshwater lake that is home to over 300 bird species, the historic fruit and vegetable growing area “Huerta”, numerous newly created pedestrian zones and urban planting have also contributed to the city’s sustainability award.
In addition to the cities that have actually received awards, there are numerous smaller and larger cities across Europe that want to create a more liveable world with green ideas. For example, less traffic is generated by so-called “superblocks”, which have been created in Barcelona, for example. These are blocks of flats designed to eliminate car traffic and create more space for pedestrians and cyclists. In other cities, such as Basel in Switzerland, there are a number of green roofs and in Utrecht in the Netherlands, you can even admire green and bird-friendly bus stops. Other green projects relate to flood protection, green and nature-oriented building construction and green streetcar lines. Green spaces and facades and water features in particular can counteract the negative effects of climate change, clean the air and help to promote people’s health.
