Territorial Review Copenhagen - Region Hovedstaden

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Denmark's National Board of Health could better promote bicycling use in
cities such as Copenhagen through educating the public on the health
benefits of bicycling. Public health professionals could also be better
engaged in the urban planning arena though participating in zoning
decisions, serving on urban planning boards, and incorporating health into
urban planning decision-making. Given the Capital Region's mandate for
hospitals, regional authorities could potentially play a stronger role in
strengthening the interface between bicycle planning and public health.
Enhancing landscape ecology
The demarcation of entire green areas, such as that enshrined in
Copenhagen‘s Finger Plan, could be coupled with improved landscape
ecology throughout the urban fabric. Principles of landscape ecology might
be better integrated into the siting and design of individual developments to
minimise the presence of large areas of paving that are void of trees and
vegetation. The tangible forms that these strategies may take are varied.
Many cities, such as Berlin and Freiburg, have funded extensive treeplanting
programs since the 1970s. New York City has followed this
example through the MillionTreesNYC public-private partnership, which
enlists citizens to identify areas for tree-planting and volunteer towards the
planting of one million trees. This growing urban forest has reduced energy
costs, increased storm-water capture, and lessened air pollution
(MillionTreesNYC, 2008). Green roofs or eco-roofs also hold considerable
potential and can be constructed using different designs, such as ―roof
garden intensive‖ (deep soil with irrigation) or ―green roof extensive‖ (thin
soil without irrigation). Green roofs are used more extensively in cities in
Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria, than in Copenhagen. 44 Linz, for
example, frequently requires buildings to compensate for the loss of
greenspace through the promotion or requirement of buildings to install
green roofs. Since the late 1980s, the City has often paid up to 35% of the
cost to install green roofs on private residences and commercial buildings.
While in 2009 it will be possible to apply for support for green roof projects
through the Eco City Foundation/Den Byøkologiske Fond, the city does not
have the possibility of providing tax incentives, which would be a strong
incentive. Other urban greening enhancements that Copenhagen may more
aggressively pursue include shrubbery, green courtyards, greenwalls, urban
gardens and the construction of green buildings (Beatley, 2000). The City of
Copenhagen could identify the most ―green-less‖ sites through using the
Danish Building Research Institute‘s ―biofactor‖ rating system for urban
greenery.
The central square of Copenhagen (Rådhuspladsen) needs to better
reflect the region‘s commitment to environmental health. Currently the