EUROPEANGREENCAPITALS:CITIES TOLIVE INCHRISTIAN SPAHRBIERToday more than ever, there is a need to keep urban environments healthy.Four out of every five Europeans are city-dwellers, and it is essential to promoteenvironmentally-responsible policies. To this end, in 2008 the European Union set upthe ‘European Green Capitals’ award, in recognition of good environmental practices inEuropean cities. Stockholm and Hamburg were acclaimed as European Green Capitals in2010 and <strong>2011</strong> respectively. In 2012 it is the turn of a Spanish city, Vitoria, and in 2013Nantes. Four cities receiving recognition for their long-term environmentally-friendlyplanning and for the creativity with which they tackle challenges such a wastemanagement and noise pollution.34 | ANNUAL REPORT <strong>2011</strong> | EFFICIENCY
One of many green areas found in the capital city of the Loire region. NANTES MAIRIEFamilies prefer bicycles as mode of transport. SVARTPUNKT ABThe European Union is head ofthe field in the promotion ofenvironmentally-friendly policies, inits conviction that improvement inenergy efficiency and a commitmentto more sustainable solutions mustbe its hallmarks. The countries ofthe Old World are increasingly awarethat this commitment to sustainabledevelopment requires the wholesaleinvolvement of all players in society.Governments, industry, business, aswell as all ordinary citizens are all partand parcel of this sea-change.As a leading company in the automotivesector, <strong>SEAT</strong> is aware of this, and activelypromotes more eco-friendly vehicles andprocesses. One of the ground-breakingmeasures taken by the company isresearch into development of theelectric car in Spain. <strong>SEAT</strong> already hasthe first units of an electric prototype– the Altea XL Electric Ecomotive – andof a hybrid – the León TwinDrive. Thecompany envisages manufacturing thefirst units of a hybrid vehicle in 2015,followed by an electric car one yearlater. In the meantime, the company isalso leader in the low-emission vehiclessegment thanks to its E-Ecomotiverange. At the same time, <strong>SEAT</strong> has alsoshown its commitment to environmentalprotection in its production processes,via projects such as the ‘<strong>SEAT</strong> in theSun’ photovoltaic plant, dedicated railservices so as to reduce road trips, andthe ENERGEST system for optimal energyconsumption.Jordi Borja – geographer, townplannerand director of the Masters inCity Management at the PolytechnicUniversity of Catalonia – highlights theimportance of the measures taken bydifferent governmental entities sinceimprovement in the environmental qualityof cities translates into better qualityof life for their inhabitants. “Above andbeyond reducing air pollution and noise,what is really remarkable is that thesepolicies contribute to the creation ofinterpersonal relational spaces. Publicspaces become leisure places, wherepeople enjoy their free time and sportsactivities”.Technology is a basic tool when it comesto looking at a new model of innovative,eco-friendly cities. Cities which are smart,inhabitable and convenient bring on boardnew traffic and transport managementsystems. Likewise, they centralise theirpolicies via e-administration and developIT systems applied to sustainable mobility.City councils pay particular attentionto their environmental budget, andemphasize sustainability policies as thestrategic axis and a factor for growthopportunity, both economic and social. ForBorja, this effort is proof of a substantialparadigm shift vis-à-vis old town-planningpolicies. “It is important that thosecities making a true effort in the field ofsustainability be duly recognised”./ THE GREENEST CAPITALSStockholm, Hamburg, Vitoria and Nantes,thanks to their ambitious plans to cutemissions and their unique way ofmanaging public space, have becomebenchmarks for the development ofpractices encouraging sustainabilitywithin an urban setting.EFFICIENCY. | ANNUAL REPORT <strong>2011</strong> | 35
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