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2012 | Book

Introduction: Why Study European Cities? Read chapter Read first chapter

Green Cities of Europe

Global Lessons on Green Urbanism

Editor: Timothy Beatley

Publisher: Island Press/Center for Resource Economics

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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About this book

In the absence of federal leadership, states and localities are stepping forward to address critical problems like climate change, urban sprawl, and polluted water and air. Fortunately, they have dynamic, innovative models outside U.S. borders. Green Cities of Europe draws on the world's best examples of sustainability to show how other cities can become greener and more livable.

Timothy Beatley has brought together leading experts from Paris, Freiburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Venice, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and London to illustrate groundbreaking practices in urban planning. These cities are creating greenways, improving public transit, conserving energy, instituting "green audits" for government, and strengthening their city centers.

With Green Cities of Europe, Beatley offers the U.S. planning community not only a vision of holistic sustainability, but a clear guide to accomplishing it at home.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
1. Introduction: Why Study European Cities?
Abstract
We are living on an increasingly urban planet. In 2008 we passed the halfway mark—50% of the world’s population now live in cities, and that percentage is projected to increase to 70% by 2050. There is no turning back the urban trend. Yet ironically we have as a species yet to successfully design and plan cities that will accommodate our economic and demographic needs while uplifting and elevating us, and protect, restore, and nurture the planet and its natural systems. That we need new models of urbanization—that is, sustainable urbanization—is especially clear here in the U.S. Where to look for new models is always a question, and as this book argues, European cities remain a powerful source of potent ideas and inspiring practice. The chapters to follow, chosen to highlight the practices of some of these most innovative European urban exemplars, are written by experts and local planners who know these cities well.
Timothy Beatley
2. Paris, France: A 21st-Century Eco-City
Abstract
Paris, with a population of 2.2 million, is the capital of and largest city in France, a nation of 64.7 million (INSEE 2010a,b). Paris is regularly ranked among the great world cities, and its history, economy, culture, and iconic landmarks make it the most visited city in the world. In 2010 it was third on the Global Power City Index (IUS 2010), fourth on the Global Cities Index (Foreign Policy 2010), the seventh most livable city (Monocle 2010), and third on the World City Survey—second for quality of life and fourth for economic activity (Knight Frank 2010).
Lucie Laurian
3. Freiburg, Germany: Germany’s Eco-Capital
Abstract
Nestled in the southern corner of Germany near the Swiss and French borders, the city of Freiburg has long been considered a model of sustainable development for Europe and the world (see table 3.1). Freiburg is a moderate-sized city of approximately 220,000 people, with a unique combination of topography, climate, leadership, and history that have merged to make it a pioneer in renewable energy (especially solar), nature protection, transportation, and environmental planning. Freiburg’s proliferation of renewable energy industries, clearly defined landscape plans and urban forests, vibrant public transportation system, and environmentally designed housing in projects in Rieselfeld, Wiehre Bahnhof, and Vauban reflect how environmental protection, economic growth, and social inclusion policies are not mutually exclusive, but interrelated. Freiburg’s success can be more appreciated when one considers that it has sustained steady and continuous population growth for over thirty years.
Dale Medearis, Wulf Daseking
4. Copenhagen, Denmark: Green City amid the Finger Metropolis
Abstract
Copenhagen has a long tradition of being a “green” city in the sense of practicing sustainable urban planning. This characterization ranges from the green regional planning of the 1930s and the region’s pattern structure, laid out in the “Finger Plan” from 1947, to the objectives of the municipal plans that have been updated every four years since 1989 and prioritize public transportation and introduce guidelines for sustainable urban renewal and construction and climate planning.
Michaela Brüel
5. Helsinki, Finland: Greenness and Urban Form
Abstract
Helsinki is an essentially green maritime city with a particularly rich shoreline. The location of the city core far north on a peninsula penetrating the Finnish Gulf defines its character and provides a starting point for its radial city structure. The greater landscape formed by geomorphology—granite cliffs and river valleys between them—forms the framework for the urban structure.
Maria Jaakkola
6. Venice, Italy: Balancing Antiquity and Sustainability
Abstract
Despite being a city held in the collective imaginary—indeed one based on a wealth of images, words, sounds, and colors gathered over centuries of culture—Venice needs to be understood as a modern city in which a person still wants to live and work.
Marta Moretti
7. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain: From Urban Greenbelt to Regional Green Infrastructure
Abstract
Located in the north of Spain, Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (figure 7.1). It represents one of the three main Basque cities, together with San Sebastian and Bilbao. Although it is a very small Autonomous Community of over two million people and a land area of almost eight thousand square kilometers, it has a great cultural and identity strength, as well as an important economic and political weight.
Luis Andrés Orive, Rebeca Dios Lema
8. London, England: A Global and Sustainable Capital City
Abstract
London is an ancient and complex city with layers of history. The Romans founded the city shortly after the invasion of England in a.d. 43. They built a bridge over the River Thames and created Londinium on the northern banks of the river. This was a small fortified city of some 350 acres, and remains of the Roman walls are still standing.
Camilla Ween
9. Conclusion: Green Cities of Europe as Compelling Models
Abstract
There is a reason that Americans covet and anticipate trips to European cities like London, Paris, and Venice. They are beautiful cities that provide unparalleled urban and natural qualities, that permit us to relax, stroll, and eat outside, that allow us to get around easily by bicycle, foot, or train. Because we know and enjoy these places, hold them in high esteem, read books about them, and have such close historical and cultural connections, it is only natural that we would want to learn from and emulate them. At least for American cities, there is no more logical place in the world to look for useful and applicable ideas and innovations for making our own cities greener and more sustainable.
Timothy Beatley
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Green Cities of Europe
Editor
Timothy Beatley
Copyright Year
2012
Publisher
Island Press/Center for Resource Economics
Electronic ISBN
978-1-61091-175-7
Print ISBN
978-1-59726-220-0
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-175-7