Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
Climate Councillor Jürgen Czernohorszky looks back on 4,500 trees planted in 2021 and expects a massive expansion of green spaces in the coming years
At the end of 2021, Viennese Climate Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky made a recap of the year's greening initiatives and the nearly 4,500 planted trees. Furthermore, he directed the attention towards the Austrian capital’s future initiatives with the Sponge City Project, the planned 400,000 square metres of green spaces and 25,000 trees in the next three years.
According to the current city data, 53% of the territory in Vienna is occupied by green spaces, making it one of the greenest cities in the world. This includes smaller urban parks, as well as the Vienna Woods, also known as the city’s lungs.
The amount of green spaces translates to approximately 500,000 trees living in Viennese parks at the moment. The trees have multiple benefits for the city, including trapping CO2 and fine dust particles while also cooling the surrounding area.
Czernohorszky explained that cities are threatened by climate change, as the concrete urban environment has an augmenting effect on extreme weather. Spaces flood easily while preventing the water to drain and during the summer heatwaves can be particularly deadly. Trees, in their own right, are an amazing solution to these problems.
Trees, however, can also suffer the effects of extreme weather, with prolonged droughts, followed by intense rainfall can cause major damage. This is why local authorities have begun a gradual implementation of the Sponge City principle.
Essentially, Sponge City means a city that makes room for nature and instead of sealing the earth, it opens it up. It is a collection of small improvements, such as making more room for roots and allowing water to flow underground. These improvements add up over time and contribute to a holistic concept for urban greenery.
In the Seestadt Aspern district, which is currently under development, the Sponge City concept will see its widest adoption. Whole streets in an area of 30,000 square metres around Elinor-Ostrom-Park will be redesigned with the new concept in mind. According to current timetables, they will be open to the public in October next year.
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
The previous mayor was forced out of office following a no-confidence vote in the city council
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
The German Aerospace Center in Cologne is looking for volunteers for its next bed rest study
Muksubussi is nature-friendly, too, so they provide 2-in-1 benefit
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
The intervention has affected the mountainous districts of the Catalan capital
On this day 200 years ago, the great poet lost his life in the Balkan country where he had gone to fight for its liberty
Muksubussi is nature-friendly, too, so they provide 2-in-1 benefit
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team