Cities are key to our planet’s future. Over half of us now live in cities and an estimated 70 percent of the world’s total population will be urban by 2050 — over six...
Category - Ecocity Snapshots
Ecocity Snapshots, Chapter 20 – Heidelberg, Germany: Higher degrees of sustainability
Heidelberg is famous for its prestigious university, historic monuments and cultural achievements. But this city of 150,000 people in south-western Germany also won the European...
Ecocity Snapshots, Chapter 19 – Salzburg, Austria: Walkability never gets old
Salzburg has earned worldwide recognition largely by keeping its Baroque historic center remarkably intact since the time of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, its most famous son. But the...
Ecocity Snapshots, Chapter 18: Munich, Germany: Compact – Urban – Green
In 1998, Munich adopted Perspective Munich, a new general plan with a promising ecocity mantra: compact – urban – green. To reach that goal, the City has been fighting...
Ecocity Snapshots, Chapter 17: Barcelona, Spain – Olympics as catalyst
Since the dawn of tourism, Barcelona has lured travelers with its vibrant culture and historic urban character. In the past few decades, this coastal city of 1.6 million has also...
Ecocity Snapshots, Chapter 16: Helsinki, Finland – Planned for implementation
Helsinki is transforming its docklands and industrial centers into compact multi-use neighborhoods, promoting efficient, energy-saving infrastructure and accommodating a swelling...
Ecocity Snapshots, Chapter 15- Mollet del Valles, Spain: Agriculture as Recreation
Mollet del Valles has beautifully merged conservation, local sustainable agriculture, historic preservation, environmental education and recreational open space in Gallecs, a...
Ecocity Snapshots, Chapter 14- Munster, Germany: City of Short Distances
In 2004, LivCom named Munster as the most livable city on earth in its size category. This city of 300,000 people, 250 miles west of Berlin, was also named as the Climate...
Ecocity Snapshots, Chapter 13- Oslo, Norway: The blue and the green and the city in between
On Oslo’s green subway line, passengers board a train in the city center and step off at Sognsvann Lake to hike, bike, fish, swim or simply contemplate nature. Backpackers use the...
Ecocity Snapshots, Chapter 12 – Torres Vedras, Portugal: Rediscovering wind power
Torres Vedras excels at renewable energy generation and ecotourism, featuring extensive trail systems and a walkable, compact city center. The municipality also conducts an...