Cities and greenery might seem an odd couple. However, metropoles across the world are ‘going green’. While bigger cities are undoubtedly responding to the demands of their environmentally aware citizens, this reflects a very positive effort by their leadership to clean up their act and make urban areas more liveable. It is a well appreciated fact that cleaner, well planned, environmentally friendly cities make for a healthier, safer living environment.

Four cities in North America are leading the ranks amongst the new green elite. While San Francisco (Clalifornia) is considered the ‘first green city’ in the States with its uber-aware population, Austin (Texas) is an emerging green giant with its focus on solar power. Portland (Oregon) is the first city in the USA to adopt a comprehensive CO2 reduction plan, while Vancouver (Canada) has actually developed a 100 year plan for sustainable development!

European and Scandinavian nations are not too far behind in this effort. London (UK) is already an incredibly green city. With a high concentration of public parks, a congestion charging zone that lays heavy penalties for using personal transport, this city has recently revealed a Climate Change Action Plan with a view to taking on the mantle of the world’s greenest city. Copenhagen (Denmark) which is already well know for harnessing wind energy is introducing a holistic long-term environmental management plan while Malmo (Sweden) has been described as a model for sustainable urban development.

In the Southern Hemisphere, Curitiba (Brazil) is hailed as having the best public system in the world with around three-quarters of its residents relying on it. Interestingly it is also probably the only city in the world to benefit from the services of lawn-trimming sheep! Bogota (Columbia) boasts of an annual car free day and aims to eliminate the use of private transport during rush hour over the next decade. Sydney (Australia) hosted a 1 hour black out to create awareness about global warming.

These cities are also at the forefront of promoting green architecture, environmentally friendly urban spaces, public transport and biking, energy efficiency, sales of electric and hybrid cars, and use of alternate and renewable energy resources. This has been accompanied in most instance by a targeted reduction of CO2 emissions, a ban on non-recyclable plastics, and the cleaning up of public waterways. Each of these cities also has extensive dedicated green areas, and several miles of hiking, running, and cycling trails.

Social, economic, and environmental responsibility in urban areas is a growing trend. Cities across the globe can learn from their more successful counterparts to implement much needed urban regeneration but through a greener lens.