How is barcelona a sustainable city

Barcelona wants its residents and visitors to enjoy the many attractions that the city offers in a balanced way that respects the environment. The city also allows visitors to mingle with its residents and enjoy its intense identity. It is a city that is valued for its cultural heritage but which also opens it up to the tourists. The Barcelona City Council decided to build a sustainable city, combined with the citizens devotion of helping the environment.

That enabled Barcelona to manage the environment more successfully than other European capitals. But how does sustainable tourism work? The sustainable tourism is managed by a complex system where visitors and the residents merge into a whole. The actions and programs for this sustainable tourism project started in and is getting bigger and bigger in the whole city. A few programs are: new water culture, green city, bike city and a less waste city.

Like I said, doing good for the world is important. If you get a little urge to do better or to change it up for yourself, come to the Green Scene event hosted by The Grid. We provide amazing sustainably conscious food, live music and speakers who will talk about living more sustainable. Care must be taken to make sure that homes remain affordable and urban green zones do not become rich enclaves. Green initiatives must work for all socio-economic groups, and must not exacerbate existing inequalities.

In addition, while city centres are the usual focus areas for greening initiatives, suburbs and other peripheral areas also need attention. The goal is to reduce carbon dependence in total — not shift it from one area to another, or one sector to another.

The plan should also include steps to make private and public transport completely green. This could include replacing carbon-producing transport system with zero-emission vehicles and providing ample infrastructure such as dedicated lanes and charging stations for electric vehicles. Cities differ hugely in how they look, shape and operate. One size will not fit all.

Superblocks work really well in a neat grid system such as in central Barcelona. But many cities do not have a well-designed grid system. However, the principles of green, environmentally friendly, car-free or restricted-traffic neighbourhoods can be adopted in any city.

If motor traffic is to be limited, the availability of public transport must be considered, safe infrastructure for walking and cycling as well as adequate road structure for essential services or deliveries.

Significant capital investment is needed to support these plans. Much more will be required if it is to roll out to more areas. The project is fully in line with the objectives of the EU Urban Agenda as presented in the Pact of Amsterdam of May , which emphasises the need to combat social exclusion and climate change, as well as to promote energy tranformation and circular economy, among other priorities.

The level of climate action adaptation and mitigation measures where relevant, will be assessed during the appraisal. Currently all the schemes have been procured however, the detailed information on procurement e.

Before financing approval by the Board of Directors, and before loan signature, projects are under appraisal and negotiation. The data provided on this page is therefore indicative and cannot be considered to represent official EIB policy see also the Explanatory notes.