Cities making Europe sustainable Birgit Georgi Smart Growth

Cities making Europe sustainable Birgit Georgi Smart Growth, Malmö 5 April 2011 European Environment Agency

Europe in a nutshell

The world as we know it …

Population 2002

Wealth 2002

Europes wealth and resources Million tonnes Out In

China & India catch up 25 GDP Increase China 20 India 15 10 5 Europe 0 2005 2010 2015 2020 2050

Wealth in the future 2015 2002

We risk our quality of life

Cities in Europe. . . 4% area 75% people

… where wealth is generated

… and where we live

? Photo: Jörg Thiemann-Linden

Cities consume 69% of Europe’s primary energy Source: IEA, 2008

… and effect whole Europe London’s ecological footprint is around twice the size of Great Britain Source: www. citylimitslondon. com/

But !

Efficiency 4. 9 rural resident tonnes of oil equivalent / year in Europe Source: IEA, 2008 3. 5 city resident

Energy consumption Passenger transport versus density European cities

Resident’s transport footprint Source: WWF, 2007

Imagine, we all would spread across the countryside. . .

In fact, we are spreading! Urban growth Population Source: EEA, 2010

Some hope Source: EEA, 2010

Challenges ahead

• Scarcity of resources • Climate change

Turn challenges into potentials !

• Scarcity of resources • Climate change • Urban density

Cool it! Green it!

quiet Co-benefits social contacts clean air green attractive public space

compact green efficient nice

We are different No one-size-fit-all!

Back to Europe …

The cities have Europe in their hand

… but are not alone EU transport p. EU cohesion p. EU climate p. EU rural p. Local rural p. Other citie’s p. Urban planning and design urban energy p. urban transport

Integrated & multi-level European national local

Cities Quality of life for all! European Environment Agency www. eea. europa. eu