Vitoria-Gasteiz, green inside and outside Vitoria-Gasteiz, the second largest Basque city after Bilbao with 240.000 inhabitants, has banked on biodiversity and nature in the city. In this northern Spanish city, the city centre offers a public green area less than 300 metres from each dwelling. On the outskirts, it is bordered by a green belt, a semi-natural zone reclaimed from deteriorated zones, and a third ring dominated by forests and mountains. Management of scarce water resources is also one of the major challenges the Basque capital set for itself in its Agenda 21. More info >
Reykjavik: volcanoes providing energy Reykjavik, with 120,000 inhabitants, is Iceland’s largest city. Renowned for its volcanoes, the Icelandic capital has created the world’s largest geothermal heating system by combining its volcanic activity and the clever use of its watercourses. It can also boast clean air thanks to an ambitious action plan adopted in 2009 that lets it achieve a level of pollution well below the allowed limits. More info >
Nuremberg, eco-friendly mobility for clean air Crossed by the Pegnitz River and the Rhine-Main-Danube canal, Nuremberg benefits from green belts and navigable waterways in its city centre. The Bavarian city is characterised by an ambitious transport policy that includes the development of public transport, cycle paths, coordinated stoplights and environmental zones reserved for zero emission vehicles. The 1.2 million inhabitants in the urban area also enjoy clean air, whose quality is closely monitored with information provided in real time. More info >
Malmö, 100% renewable energy in 2030 Malmö and its urban area have more than 600,000 inhabitants. Formerly handicapped by an industrial centre in decline, Sweden’s 3rd largest city has successfully capitalised on its industrial wasteland to incorporate stringent environmental standards. This project combines urban planning, energy efficient buildings, diversification of transport means and waste management. More generally, Malmö has set the objective of only using renewable energy by 2030. Today, 30% of electricity comes from photovoltaic installations and Sweden’s largest offshore wind farm located 10 km off the Swedish coast. More info >
Barcelona, coordination and empowerment Barcelona is one of the most densely populated sites in Europe with 5 million inhabitants. Endowed with an Agenda 21 signed by 620 local organisations, it has positioned itself as the coordinator of its urban area regarding the climate question. The action plan includes in particular the empowerment of employees and local companies with respect to the climate stakes and the improvement of energy efficiency in public buildings. Its comprehensive transport network also constitutes a key advantage for the Catalan capital, which only records 20% motorised travel in the city centre. More info >
The official website of the Communauté Urbaine de Nantes
