Climate leadership organisation C40 has announced support for 22 global cities to develop “green and thriving neighbourhoods” to improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing of their populations.
The announcement, made at the UIA World Congress of Architects in Denmark in July, will support 22 neighbourhood pilot projects in cities around the globe, and build an international network of city practitioners to exchange knowledge and drive greater collaboration.
The Danish capital Copenhagen is the current UNESCO World Capital for Architecture, and Jernbanebyen, an emerging low-emission neighbourhood being developed in central Copenhagen around green and thriving principles, is among the projects that will receive C40 support.
C40’s announcement describes cities as being “at the forefront of our battle against climate change, with 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions generated by cities.”
“They are also the solution as walkable, vibrant urban neighbourhoods can significantly reduce emissions and bring co-benefits for health and wellbeing,” C40 said.
Founded by former Lord Mayor of London Ken Livingstone in 2005, C40 is a group of 96 cities around the world representing one twelfth of the world’s population and a quarter of the global economy.
Hélène Chartier, C40’s Director of Urban Planning and Design, said: “Urban planning and design decisions taken today will have a major impact on our ability to meet emission targets and deliver a good quality of life for an expanding urban population.
That’s why C40 is proud to work with partners to support cities around the world as they develop and revitalize their neighbourhoods. We encourage architects, urban planners and other city leaders to join this growing global movement and creating green and thriving neighbourhoods.”
In addition to Jernbanebyen in Denmark C40 will also support pilot projects in Austin, United States; Barcelona, Spain; Bogotá, Colombia; Chengdu, China; Dakar, Senegal; Guadalajara, Mexico; Istanbul, Turkey; Lisbon, Portugal; Milan, Italy; Paris, France; Qingdao, China; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Rome, Italy; Santiago, Chile; Shenzhen, China; Stockholm, Sweden; São Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver, Canada; Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Warsaw, Poland; and Wuhan, China.
These cities will receive technical assistance, as well as opportunities to exchange knowledge and expertise with one another. C40 will also help cities explore funding opportunities for their neighbourhood projects.
C40’s work on green and thriving neighbourhoods is made possible with funding from Urban Partners, an urban investor seeking to power the progress of cities, and support from global healthcare company Novo Nordisk.
