Europe is an urban continent. And with over 80% of the EU's population living in metropolitan areas, environmentally friendly practices in towns and cities are absolutely central to improving Europe’s overall impact on the environment.
The good news is that the eco-city, the integrally green urban settlement which incorporates an extensive and popular public transport network, recycling initiatives and renewable energy sources, is gaining ground.The southern German city of Freiburg has been a bastion of the German Green Party since its foundation and in the 2002 national election the Greens achieved a 25% share of the vote there, Dr. Dieter Salomon becoming the city’s Green Mayor with an impressive 64%. The roots of this environmentalism are to be found in citizens' opposition to plans to build a nuclear power station in the early 1970s, but this quickly evolved into a passion for all areas of the movement; the city has built up a radically innovative network of environmental measures, invariably many years ahead of most of Europe. Whatever strategies other cities are currently implementing, it is likely that Freiburg implemented them decades ago. Between 1970 and 1973 cycle lanes were established, tramlines improved, and the entire city centre turned into a pedestrian zone. Particularly notably, in 1991 a flat-rate ‘Regional Environment Card’ was launched, offering unlimited use of public transport in the city and its surroundings.
At the centre of this system is the humble bicycle. In the last three decades the city’s network of cycle lanes has grown from 29 km to over 500 km in length; the Freiburgers like to point out that there are three bikes to every two residents: a shortage seems unlikely, to say the least. The key to the success of municipal policies is the effortlessly smooth interconnection of the various modes of transport; the main railway station sports 1000 bike parking spaces and is the hub of bus and tram systems, park-and-ride and bike-and-ride schemes are widely used, and the city recently inaugurated the €400 million ‘Breisgau S-Bahn’ – a fast suburban railway linking Freiburg with nearby towns and villages. Public transport is efficient and, crucially, attractive.
Known as Germany’s ‘Solar City’, Freiburg has also invested heavily in renewable energy. Leading solar research institutes are based in the city and its use of solar power puts it at the top of the German ‘Solar League’. At present, almost 5% of Freiburg’s electricity comes from sustainable energy sources, and the city is on track to meet its aim of 10% by 2010, with subsidised solar panels on the roofs of houses, schools and businesses. Waste sorting and recycling facilities are also highly developed, and new neighbourhoods in Freiburg’s suburbs are structured entirely along environmental lines. The car-free districts of Vauban and Rieselfeld together consist of around 6,500 energy efficient homes, incorporating solar technology and densely wired into public transport system.
Green houses in VaubanFurthermore, Freiburg proves that environmentally friendly schemes do not have to be a zero-sum affair. Few European cities have such a green profile – and, for the same reasons, few enjoy such a good standard of living. According to one resident, “living in an ‘eco-city’ like Freiburg inspires a positive, forward-thinking outlook”. It does not take a rabid tree-hugger to recognise that efficient public transport, clean surroundings and above all the community spirit engendered by Freiburg’s ambitions and achievements offer more than just green Brownie points. As a student at Freiburg University pointed out, “being devoted to improving our environment gives us a greater feeling of allegiance to our city”.
Whilst a lamentably rare case, Freiburg is not alone. Although few towns can really compare in across-the-board environmental protection, several can be counted as fellow ‘eco-cities’ for their success in individual areas. The Bavarian town of Erlangen, for example, implemented a pro-bicycle policy soon after Freiburg, subsequently experiencing a surge in velophilia (to the tune of 175%).
The town also has an extremely low rate of water consumption and has made progress in the field of solar power. The three winners of the 2003 European Sustainable City Award have also made significant progress: Ferrara’s recycling system is particularly impressive, Heidelberg stands out for its energy saving activities (led by the city authorities and the university, who, over short periods of time, have reduced their Carbon Dioxide emissions by 35% and 13% respectively), and Oslo’s public transport system and waste-reduction programmes both set the standard for others to follow. Another Scandinavian city known for its environmentalism is Stockholm – generally considered the world’s most laudable 'eco-capital'.What these cities show us is that it is possible to achieve real progress by making policies attractive to the public; the bottom line is that green transport, recycling, waste-reduction and renewable energies would not work without popular support. Authorities can rarely coerce people into taking part in the inherent challenges, but the example of Freiburg demonstrates that by establishing a community-led effort, citizens' initial reluctance really can be overcome. That this requires serious financial commitment on the part of all levels of government goes without saying; it is worth noting that all of the above ‘eco-cities’ are located in wealthy areas – and many of the schemes mentioned are not cheap. However, for Europe’s impact on the environment to be improved, the world of politics, from municipal councils to EU regional development funds, needs to provide the necessary institutional support to make the 'eco-cities' the rule rather than the exception. It is no good waiting for people to make their lifestyles more sustainable in isolation; authorities should bring environmental consciousness to the masses, and if this comes at a price, it is a price worth paying.
Photos: Flickr
