[caption id="attachment_17108" align="alignright" width="300"]
Rose Test Garden of Portland, Oregon[/caption]Companies all over the world label themselves environmentally friendly, or eco-friendly, in order to advertise the way they make their products and dispose of their waste. Many more invest millions of pounds in their workers, installing a renewable mindset and encouraging them to stay eco-friendly outside of the work place.
Eco-friendly living has also been adopted by hundreds of cities, and governments are trying to implement radical changes in order to ensure sustainable living. Eco-friendly cities are designed to benefit the environment as well as reduce the damage of pollutants, and although there is no set definition of an eco-friendly city, many populous areas across the globe claim to be meeting the needs of the present without sacrificing the environment of future generations. Here are some of the most eco-friendly cities of 2012.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Thanks to progress made by Iceland’s capital city over the last ten years, it’s truer than ever that eco-friendly cities can contribute to the environment. Not only has Reykjavik has hydrogen busses on its roads for quite some time, but the city’s entire heat and electricity supply come from renewable hydropower and geothermal sources. Furthermore, the country aims for Reykavik to become completely fossil-fuel-free by 2050, paving the way for the cleanest city in Europe!
Portland, Oregon
Portland’s approach to urban planning has certainly earned the city a place on the top eco-friendly list. Not only is it the first city in the United States of America to actually go through with a plan to reduce CO2 pollution, but it has also implemented a number of green building schemes. For example, the city has one of the most advanced bus, rail, and bike systems in the world, helping to keep cars off the streets and thus reducing pollution. Furthermore, Portland has over 74 miles of running, biking, and hiking trails.
Curitiba, Brazil
From municipal parks to flocks of lawn-eating sheep, the city of Curitiba has been hailed as one of the most independent and specialist combined heat and power cities in South America. Not only has it become a model for many other metropolises, but over three quarters of its population rely on public transport! The city also boasts around 600 square feet of green space per inhabitant, and according to a recent survey, over 90 per cent of Curitibans are very happy with their city.
Vancouver, Canada
Situated between beautiful mountains and sea, the city of Vancouver has been a historic home for nature lovers for many years. It’s made dramatic progress since becoming an eco-friendly town, and it now draws 99 per cent of its power from clean, renewable energy sources. Furthermore, Vancouver has also made plans for huge wind farms, wave, and tidal energy systems to boost the city’s renewable power line. Over 200 hundred parks litter the capital, and there’s also a 100-year renewable living plan in place for its habitants.
