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Case: Eco-metropolis of the world
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Will Copenhagen still be wonderful in 2015?
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Case: Eco-metropolis of the world
Copenhagen is Europe’s environmental city, taking the lead in a number of areas: it is the city of bicycles; it has shown that it can keep its water and energy consumption constant despite strong economic growth; and it has reduced its CO2 emissions by 25% since 1990. But Copenhagen has higher aspirations – it aims to be the world’s Eco-metropolis by 2015.
The ambitious vision, adopted by Copenhagen Municipality in November 2007, is focused on four themes with several objectives within each:
World’s best city for cycles
By 2015, 50% of Copenhageners will cycle to their place of work or study, against 36% today; the number of people injured on Copenhagen cycle lanes will be reduced by 50%; and 80% of cyclists will feel safe in traffic, against 58% today.
Centre for world climate policy
By 2015, Copenhagen’s CO2 emissions will have been reduced by 20% compared to the 2005 level.
A green and blue capital city
By 2015, 90% of Copenhageners will be able to walk to a park, a beach, an area of natural beauty or a harbour swimming facility
in less than 15 minutes, and Copenhageners will visit these 50% more frequently than in 2007.
Designed for cyclists and pedestrians, the recently opened Bryggebroen (Wharf bridge) is part of Copenhagen’s new green cycling routes.
A clean and healthy major city
By 2015, Copenhageners will sleep more peacefully because they are not exposed to health damaging noise from street traffic; all day nurseries will only be exposed to a low level of noise from traffic during the day; the air will be so clean that it does not pose a health risk to Copenhageners; 20% of the city’s food consumption will consist of organic food, while the figure will be 80% in municipality institutions; and litter in streets will be removed within 8 hours.
Realising the vision
Visions require action to become a reality, and Copenhagen has already shown its ability to put words into action. Since the 1990s, the capital has had one of the world’s best waste systems with a recycling rate of approx. 90% of its building waste and approx. 75% of its household waste. The energy from waste combustion is exploited to generate electricity and district heating.
Today, the system is being used as a model throughout the world.
Before 2010, Copenhagen Municipality will have decided on at least 10 key specific initiatives to improve the environment in Copenhagen. They will be supported by a large number of ‘on-the-ground’ projects for example the Agenda 21 plan 2008-2011, which is a collective document for Copenhagen Municipality’s environmental activities for that period.
Related article: Is clean water an issue?
Water is a basic necessity of life which we use in many ways: for drinking, bathing, washing, industrial processes, irrigation and recreation.
Will Copenhagen still be wonderful in 2015?
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