Home to 171 nationalities, the historic city of Leuven in Belgium has become one of Europe’s most climate-conscious destinations.
Winner of the European Capital of Innovation Award in 2020, the mayor’s office has been investing the €1 million prize money wisely, as it strives to make Leuven carbon neutral by 2050.
“We believe that Leuven is ready to take up an important role and become one of the most green and caring cities of Europe,” says the city’s Mayor Mohamed Ridouani.
We believe that Leuven is ready to take up an important role and become one of the most green and caring cities of Europe. – Mayor of Leuven
So how does this small Belgian city – most famous as the birthplace of Stella Artois – plan to do this?
Leuven 2030: A roadmap to carbon neutrality
Launched in 2013, Leuven2030 is an ambitious roadmap to help the town meet its climate goals.
The movement, which was formed with just 60 founding members, including the historic university – KU Leuven – and the City of Leuven, now has 600 members signed up to its climate pledges.
These include local businesses, civic bodies, citizen scientists and charities, all committed to making the city greener and cleaner for future generations.
The groot begjinhof, LeuvenCanva
“When we were founded, there was a debate about whether we should be Leuven 2030 or Leuven 2050, but we have a very important intermediate milestone, so it matters whether you go slowly towards climate neutrality or fast,” explains Katrien Rycken, Director of Leuven2030.
We want to be in the fast lane and I think we are getting there more and more. We hope to become carbon neutral way before 2050. We’re not a follower city, we’re a frontrunner city. – Katrien Rycken, Director of Leuven2030
“We want to be in the fast lane and I think we are getting there more and more. We hope to become carbon neutral way before 2050. We’re not a follower city, we’re a frontrunner city.”
In order to hit their targets, there’s a 12 step plan in place, with schemes ranging from retrofitting 1,000 homes a year, to investing in solar power and depaving vast swathes of concrete.
Global events are accelerating the retrofitting scheme too, says Ridouani. “People, I think, are more sensitive to this [retrofitting] because of the energy crisis. There’s an openness to see what people can do because they think ‘okay if the city and the government can help me to make this investment, that means that my energy bill will go down.’”
To ensure no one is left behind in the push for more efficient homes, poverty organisations and social housing companies also sit on the board of Leuven2030, guaranteeing everyone has equal access to resources.
How the pandemic has pushed Leuven’s green policies forward
Elected in 2019, Ridouani’s premiership could have been overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But far from being a stumbling block, in many ways the global crisis has further accelerated Leuven’s green ambitions.
A cyclist rides in a cycle laneCanva
Covid pushed us to implement a couple of our policies faster, actually. We had in mind to make the entire city centre a bicycle zone, meaning that if you ride a bicycle, a car should always stay behind you. – Mohamed Ridouani, Mayor of Leuven
“It pushed us to implement a couple of our policies faster, actually. We had in mind to make the entire city centre a bicycle zone, meaning that if you ride a bicycle, a car should always stay behind you,” he says.
“We thought, this should be prepared very well, step-by-step, we will need to have a lot of debate, but in fact, because of covid we implemented it overnight.”
And luckily for Ridouani and his team, there was no backlash. “People just accepted it, because there was already that use of public space. So this is one of those examples where a crisis can be a moment where you rethink things and actually push through policies much faster.”
Leuven’s green aspirations have kept the awards flowing it too. The city has been named one of Europe’s best destinations for 2022 by the European Best Destinations (EBD) and EDEN Network.
The EBD dubbed Leuven a ‘Belgian miracle’ and went on to name it the most ‘open-minded destination in Europe’ – ahead of the usual frontrunners Amsterdam and London. While this is partly thanks to the 51,000 students that call Leuven home during their university years, the city also has a history of nurturing original thinkers.
Thomas More’s Utopia had its first print run here back in 1516, while his Humanist peer Erasmus was a professor at the university. Founded in 1425, the institution has been an innovative catalyst in the city ever since.
Leuven is a cycling paradise
Perhaps Leuven’s most successful – and noticeable – green policy though is its car reduction scheme.
As a result, Leuven is a cycler’s paradise. In fact, the metropole is the only city in Belgium where cycling is actually the preferred mode of transit, with public transport coming in second and cars in third.
In order to achieve such a striking statistic, the city implemented a radical mobility plan, as Ridouani explains.
“There was a time when you could cross everywhere with your car and park almost everywhere. So the city hall, the church, the great market. The church was a roundabout and you could park just in front of the city hall and the walls were all black because of the emissions,” he says.
“So over the years we’ve pushed that back and five years ago there was a new mobility plan, a circulation plan which was implemented where in fact we divided the city into pieces like a cake and you cannot go from one piece to another.”
In the four years following its implementation, cycling increased by an astounding 40 per cent. The mayor’s office is now aiming to reduce use by a further 20 per cent and introduce a 30 km speed limit on smaller roads too.
As a result of the mobility plan, the town centre lacks the constant hum of traffic that plagues most cities in Europe, replaced by the tinkle of bicycle bells and the gentle chatter of its diverse student population.
We captured beautiful and very striking stories of children, who, thanks to the circulation plan, were allowed by their parents to go on their own by bike to school. – Katrien Rycken, Director of Leuven2030
“We captured beautiful and very striking stories of children, for example, who thanks to the circulation plan, were allowed by their parents to go on their own by bike to school,” says Rycken.
If you don’t fancy travelling on two wheels, thanks to the lack of cars, walking is also easy here, with most amenities no more than a 15-20 minute stroll away.
The wider region also boasts four cycling loops, taking you out of the centre and into the Flemish Brabant. If you must drive though, there are still ways to do it while maintaining your eco-credentials, as Leuven is the number one car sharing city in Belgium too.
How else is the city going green?
In order to reach its climate targets, Leuven is also investing in solar power and the reuse of raw materials – including concrete.
Leuven2030 is not just blindly imposing policies though, as Rycken explains, all of their work is the result of multi-layered analysis.
“Together with the university we are measuring the heat island effect of the warmer summers due to climate disruption,” she explains.
“We’re joining the layer of the heat island measurements with the layer of where there are green areas in the city already, and then a final layer of where vulnerable inhabitants are,” she says.
“Where are our elderly homes, where are our creches, where are those inhabitants that are more vulnerable to heat.”
This layering method ensures that their policies are precisely targeted, and helps the project reach those most in need of help.
Beyond infrastructure and climate science, the people of Leuven are investing in their green futures too. At Park Abbey, a 13th century heritage site on the edge of the city, a new urban farm is giving locals the chance to invest.
“There you have one example of community supported agriculture,” says Rycken.
“You can buy a share as a citizen and then you go there and get your own vegetables and sustainable meat and milk. It’s a very beautiful example, we have several of them around Leuven.”
Encouraging sustainable, healthy eating and expanding participation in local agriculture is one of the 12 pillars of Leuven2030 and just another example of how this unique city is shaping itself.
“There’s a lot of culture, a lot of heritage and I also believe a lot of future,” says Ridouani, “it’s a really forward-leaning city.”
It’s the latest flat-pack innovation – a biodegradable shelter that can be rapidly installed to provide refuge for native animals left exposed and vulnerable after a bushfire. Newly designed ‘habitat pods’, developed by Dr Alex Carthey of Macquarie University, are this week being deployed as part of a world-first Australian Wildlife Conservancy research project at North Head Sanctuary.
Intense bushfires can be deadly for wildlife, both during the blaze and in the aftermath. The artificial shelters have been designed to address the high mortality of wild animals that occurs in the weeks and months after a bushfire. Indirect impacts, such as the removal of food and shelter, make this a dangerous period for animals, and the threat is compounded by intense pressure from hungry predators. An estimated three billion vertebrate animals were impacted in the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires which burnt across an area of more than 12 million hectares in eastern Australia.
The pods are now part of a PhD project by ecologist and former Australian Wildlife Conservancy intern, Angela Raña, co-supervised by Sydney University. In 2020, Raña set out to study the role of small native mammals as pollinators of North Head Sanctuary’s diverse banksia scrub. However, a hazard reduction burn that jumped containment lines in October 2020 destroyed her experiments and prompted a rethink.
“I’d been studying and monitoring the plants and animals here for two years, but after the fire we mostly found charred skeletons in the ash. It was heartbreaking.” said Raña of the burn.
“With the thick undergrowth almost completely removed, any surviving animals could just be picked off by birds, foxes and cats.”
Raña’s project will now investigate the effectiveness of the habitat pods. Two hundred of the cardboard shelters are being deployed across parts of the headland that were impacted by the fire, for an experiment that will run for up to 12 months. It is hoped they will offer small animals short-term refuge from the elements and a place to hide from predators like feral cats, which have been shown to take advantage of easier hunting conditions post-fire.
The habitat pods themselves take the shape of a sturdy, six-sided pyramid made from folded cardboard, perforated with multiple small holes where animals can scamper in and out. Unlike the wire and shadecloth structures that have been used as post-fire shelters previously, the pods are light, easy to transport and set up, and entirely biodegradable.
Dr Carthey’s design was informed by her career researching predator-prey relationships and the key realisation that availability of habitat is a critical factor after a burn.
“The Black Summer fires acted as a wake-up call, and that got me thinking about what we could do to help wildlife survive,” Dr Carthey said. “I had some conversations with the team behind the Living Seawalls project (finalists of the inaugural Earthshot Prize), who are also at Macquarie University, and their designer Alex Goad of Reef Design Lab … we even experimented with 3D-printing some moulds for prototypes from recycled paper pulp, but in the end the folded design held up better in testing.”
North Head Sanctuary was chosen for the first ever real-world trial of the habitat pods. The headland is the site of an ambitious mammal reintroduction program run by Australian Wildlife Conservancy, working in partnership with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Three small mammal species which were locally extinct on North Head have been restored since 2017: the Eastern Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus nanus), Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii), and Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes). All three species have been recorded since last year’s blaze, and are likely contenders to use and benefit from the installed habitat pods.
The ecologist leading the reintroduction program, Dr Viyanna Leo, had input into the design of the habitat pods, established the research at North Head and co-supervises Raña’s research project.
“I think this work has huge potential,” Dr Leo said. “Large-scale bushfires are an ongoing concern for conservationists, especially as the climate heats up. The habitat pods could be an effective new tool for bushfire response that makes the difference between life and death for thousands of native animals.”
Australian Wildlife Conservancy is contracted by Sydney Harbour Federation Trust to deliver research and monitoring projects at North Head, with a particular focus on restoring small mammals. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service provided funding for the bushfire recovery research project.
For more information or to support Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s work restoring small native mammals to North Head, visit: www.australianwildlife.org.
As Singapore marks 50 years since its first Tree Planting Day, each and every Singaporean can do his or her part to keep the country green and sustainable, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Sunday (Nov 21).
“The saplings planted 50 years ago have grown into beautiful trees with broad canopies and deep roots,” he said.
“In the same way, the Clean and Green Movement can continue to broaden and deepen in the years ahead.”
In a pre-recorded message from Mount Faber where one of Singapore’s founding fathers, Dr Goh Keng Swee, planted a raintree at the first Tree Planting Day in 1971, DPM Heng said tree planting has become a cherished national tradition that has evolved and expanded into the Clean and Green Singapore movement which was launched on Sunday.
In his speech, he outlined how people can keep the country green, reduce waste and ensure the city remains clean.
He said Singaporeans could keep the country green by taking part in the One Million Trees movement which aims to plant more than a million trees here over the next decade.
They could also partake in the national gardening movement and the NPark’s Gardening with Edibles programme, which saw some 460,000 seed packets distributed last year.
To reduce waste, DPM Heng said Singaporeans should buy only what they need and bring their own reusable bags and containers, while recycling regularly and correctly by depositing different materials in the correct bins and ensuring these are free of food contamination.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat (centre) with (from left) North West District Mayor Alex Yam, National Development Minister Desmond Lee, Senior Minister of State Amy Khor and Sembawang GRC MP Mariam Jafaar at the launch of Clean and Green Singapore in Kampung Admiralty on Nov 21, 2021. PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Businesses can also play their part, such as the 169 partners of the National Environment Agency’s Say Yes To Waste Less campaign.
Keeping the city clean is also important.
DPM Heng said the pandemic has taught us the importance of hygiene and cleanliness.
Initiatives to encourage this include the Clean Tables Campaign launched earlier this year to remind diners to return their trays after meals.
During the launch of Clean and Green Singapore 2021 at Kampung Admiralty, DPM Heng presented 16 national awards to grassroots organisations for their efforts in public hygiene, cleanliness, resource conservation and energy efficiency.
He also planted a critically endangered Knema curtisii tree with Mayor of North West District Alex Yam.
They were joined by Minister of National Development Desmond Lee and Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor, who planted a Horsfieldia polyspherula.
The trees are from the nutmeg family.
The event also saw the launch of CGS Experiences, an online series of webinars with a live host that will bring participants through a virtual tour of sites of significant environmental interest.
Twenty sessions are available for public booking till March 31 next year.
DPM Heng concluded his speech on Sunday with a Chinese saying that meant trees planted by former generations will provide shade for future generations.
“Much like how young saplings planted in 1971 have flourished into a tree planting movement, what we build today will have a lasting effect for our future generations,” said DPM Heng.
“Let us all play our part in building a cleaner and greener Singapore for tomorrow.”
You can hear Madam Ng trundling down the road long before you see her.
In the quiet of the early morning, the low rumble of her heavily laden trolley reverberates through the streets of the historic Tiong Bahru area of Singapore.
Madam Ng is a karang guni trader, one of the rag and bone collectors who have traditionally picked up the things people throw away.
This includes everything from old newspapers, drinks cans, second-hand clothes to unwanted electronic devices. They usually sell them on to other karang guni traders or recycling firms.
Karang guni itself comes from the Malay term for the large hessian sacks that they traditionally used to carry their goods.
Madam Ng has been working as a karang guni for over three decades Source BBC
Nowadays, these have been replaced by trolleys like Madam Ng’s, often four-wheeled flat-bed carts, or two-wheeled sack trolleys as well as trucks and vans.
Madam Ng became a karang guni more than three decades ago, as she wanted to make extra money to help pay for one of her daughters to study abroad.
“I was in my 40s and still a nurse. I used to go around collecting newspapers, magazines and books after work – but now I’ve been doing it daily since I retired,” she says as she takes a rare break from her round.
Now, aged 78, her daily work routine would be daunting for many half her age. “Every day I wake up at 4am and am out of the house by 4.30am. I push my cart around the neighbourhood, collecting discarded newspapers and cans. I am out for about four to five hours, then I go home and I’m done for the day.”
Karang guni men and women collect the materials thrown away in Singapore. Source GETTY IMAGES
‘Zero waste’
While rag and bone collectors may seem like an echo from the past in many countries, they are still part of Singapore’s present and most likely its future.
Singapore is known as one of the cleanest cities in the world, and its army of collectors are the city-state’s original recyclers. Even in this $380bn (£270bn) economy, the government sees them playing a crucial part in its sustainability programme.
A karang guni woman weaves through heavy traffic with her trolley. Source GETTY IMAGES
The Singapore Green Plan 2030 covers a whole range of sustainable goals, including cutting the amount of waste sent to landfill by 30% within the next decade.
The recycling business was hit hard by the pandemic as the volume of material Singapore recycled dropped, as the global economy was shut down to slow the spread of Covid.
The sudden halt saw the country’s overall recycling rate, for homes and businesses combined, fall to 52% in 2020 compared to 59% the previous year.
Workers sort through waste by hand at one of Singapore’s recycling hubs. Source GETTY IMAGES
The National Environment Agency (NEA), which is charge of Singapore’s recycling efforts, thinks that this was just a blip and is now focussed on plans to become a zero-waste economy.
Christopher Tan, director of NEA’s sustainability division says he sees karang guni men and women playing an important role as part of the city-state’s recycling network as it aims to hit that ambitious zero-waste target.
“They can complement the current collection methods. There’s still the challenge of getting the recycling from the door of your home. They have networks. They have knowledge of what can and what cannot be recycled,” he says.
Singapore relies on the private sector to manage the island’s rubbish collection, waste disposal and recycling services – and it is these firms that are working with the karang guni industry.
Next generation
One such firm is SembWaste. It has created an app – ezi – that helps to connect the karang guni collectors with the company during their working day, as well as members of the public who want recycling collected from outside their homes.
Technology is being used to create waste collection networks. Source SEMBWASTE
“We have forged partnerships with a network of karang gunis… with more than 100 of them as part of the ezi network,” says Goh Siok Ling, SembWaste’s commercial director.
At 32, Aiden Ang is part of the new generation of karang guni traders. After graduating with a diploma in telecommunications engineering he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps to join the clothing recycling business rather than pursue a more mainstream career.
Despite the downturn in recycling due to Covid, Mr Ang is confident the industry has a promising future: “I personally believe this trade is here to stay in the long term.
“Everyone is getting into the habit of recycling because of education. I am confident the number of recyclers will increase over the years to come.”
Mr Ang sees the use of apps as a big step forward, “with young blood in the company we can run the business in a better way, especially with technology”. He says this is what helped convince him to enter the trade – and to improve it.
“It is super convenient for the residents interested in participating in the recycling drive. For us as the operator, it helps us to organise the operational flow and handle the transactions very efficiently.”
Singapore’s Boat Quay district is full of restaurants, bars and cafes which all need waste collection and recycling. Source GETTY IMAGES
Mr Ang also points to opportunities he sees for young people, as the trade is currently dominated by older karang guni collectors, like Madam Ng, many of whom are nearing retirement.
‘I want to keep on’
Although Madam Ng may not be part of the new generation of tech-savvy karang guni traders, she is not planning to give up her trolley just yet.
“I sell my collection [on] to another karang guni who comes round on his lorry. He’s very busy, as a lot of seniors do what I do, and he collects from them too,” she says.
A criticism sometimes levelled at the karang guni business is that it relies on elderly people who are paid poorly for the amount of physical work they put in.
But for Madam Ng the job isn’t really about money these days. Since being widowed, she has lived comfortably with one of her daughters and her family.
“It is physically tough. My daughters tell me to stop. But I’d rather do it than sit around at home.”
“Sitting too much is bad for you – it’s very bad for the mind. When I’m out with my cart, it helps to clear my mind.”
In a country where over 80% of residents live in public housing, a government commitment to sustainable urban design could have huge implications. And when it’s a tropical country where convenience and air conditioning are a way of life, the impact could be greater still.
Promising 42,000 new homes across five residential districts, the eco-town of Tengah — the Malay word for “middle,” though it’s in the island’s western region — will be the 24th new settlement built by Singapore’s government since World War II. It is, however, the first with centralized cooling, automated trash collection and a car-free town center, which conservationists hope offers a roadmap for slashing carbon emissions in the Southeast Asian city-state.
The development is being dubbed a “forest town” by officials, due to its abundant greenery and public gardens. Once home to brickmaking factories, and later used for military training, the 700-hectare (2.7-square-mile) site has been reclaimed by an extensive secondary forest in recent years. A 328-foot-wide ecological “corridor” will be maintained through its center, providing safe passage to wildlife and connecting a water catchment area on one side to a nature reserve on the other.
Planners say the town has been designed with pedestrians and cyclists in mind. Credit: Courtesy The Housing & Development Board
The project has proven a tabula rasa for urban planners advocating green design principles and “smart” technology, according to Chong Fook Loong, group director for research and planning at Singapore’s Housing and Development Board (HDB), the agency overseeing the country’s public housing.
“Tengah is a clean slate,” he said in a video interview, explaining that roads, parking and utilities are being pushed beneath the town center. “We’re going for the ideal concept of segregation of traffic, (with) everything underground and then the ground level totally freed up for pedestrians — for people. So, it’s a very safe environment for all.
“We want a town that allows walking and cycling in a very user-friendly manner,” he added, saying that cycling has “taken off” in Singapore in the “last three to five years especially.”
The master plan will see the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, while the streets are also being “futureproofed” to accommodate emerging technologies, Chong said.
“When we planned the road network, we envisaged a future where autonomous vehicles and self-driving vehicles will become a reality,” he said.
Cooler by design
Although comparatively small, with a population of under 6 million people, Singapore’s per-capita emissions are higher than those of the UK, China, and neighboring Malaysia, according to the country’s National Climate Change Secretariat.
That’s due, in part, to air conditioning, which accounts for more than a third of typical household energy consumption. Global warming will only exacerbate this dependence. The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) has predicted that, by the end of this century, average daily temperatures in the city-state may be at least 34.1 degrees Celsius (93.4 degrees Fahrenheit) “almost every day” during the eight warmest months of the year.
An artist’s impression of the 2.7-square-mile site. Credit: Courtesy The Housing & Development Board
As such, keeping cool will, increasingly, be a necessity for residents. Rather than demonizing air conditioning, Tengah’s planners have instead sought to reimagine it. Cold water, chilled using solar power, will be piped though the district’s homes, meaning residents don’t need to install inefficient outdoor AC condensers (though they can still control the temperature in their own apartments).
According to the town’s energy provider, SP Group, this will generate carbon dioxide savings equivalent to taking 4,500 cars off the roads each year. The state-owned energy company reports that, of the apartments already sold in advance, 9 out of 10 future residents have signed up for centralized cooling.
Planners used computer modeling to simulate wind flow and heat gain across the town, helping to reduce the so-called urban heat island effect (whereby human activities and structures make urban areas notably warmer than the surrounding nature). Elsewhere, “smart” lights will switch off when public spaces are unoccupied, and trash will be stored centrally, with monitors detecting when garbage needs collecting.
“Instead of using a truck to collect garbage from every block, we will suck all the garbage through the pneumatic system to a chamber that serves several blocks,” Chong said. “From time to time, the (garbage) truck just needs to collect from the chamber.”
One of the town’s five residential districts, known as the Plantation District, will offer community farming. Credit: Courtesy The Housing & Development Board
Of the 42,000 homes being built at Tengah, more than 70% will be made available through the HDB on long-term leases. Prices for two-bedroom apartments currently begin at just 108,000 Singapore dollars ($82,000), with the first apartments set to complete in 2023.
All residents will have access to an app allowing them to monitor their energy and water usage. (“You empower them to take control of where they can cut down their energy consumption,” Chong said.) Digital displays in each block will meanwhile inform occupants of their collective environmental impact, which could even encourage competition between residential blocks, according to SP Group.
Regardless of whether the use of smart technology can significantly dent greenhouse gas emissions or not, engaging residents with their own consumption could instigate behavioral change, according to Perrine Hamel, an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University’s Asian School of the Environment. This, she added, is a crucial part of Singapore’s goal of reaching peak emissions by 2030 and reducing them thereafter.
“Thinking about food consumption and thinking about the way people use air conditioning is all part of (achieving climate targets),” she said. “Changing behavior is going to be an integral part of it and, of course, urban design is the first way to affect and change behavior.”
Dubbing the project a “forest town,” planners aim to retain some of the site’s natural greenery. Credit: Courtesy The Housing & Development Board
Connecting with nature
For Hamel, the integration of nature and residential areas — which creates “more opportunities for people to interact with nature” — is where Tengah’s plan excels. In addition to the aforementioned forest corridor, the town’s residents will have access to community farming in the so-called Plantation District.
Beyond promoting and protecting biodiversity, conserving nature on the site can lead to further behavioral change, Hamel said.
“There are a lot of examples, from around the world, showing that changing our relationship with nature through everyday encounters does help people take environmental action,” she said. “On that front I think the biophilic design and (Tengah’s) master plan actually does a good job.”.
The Nature Society Singapore (NSS) has nonetheless criticized the plan for conserving too little — less than 10% — of the site’s existing forest. The environmental group has proposed two additional “core forest areas” at either end of the green corridor to promote biodiversity and protect migratory species.
The government said it is “refining” its plan based the NSS report, though Singapore’s Land Transport Authority has since disclosed that even more of the remaining forest — about 3% of the proposed corridor — will be felled to make way for viaducts connecting the town to a nearby expressway.
(In an email to CNN, the agency said it will later replant the trees in the cleared area and create “suitable temporary wildlife crossings … to provide a safe passage for animals during construction.”)
Yet, even Tengah’s critics have broadly welcomed the eco-town, with the NSS concluding its environmental critique by stating it is still “heartened by this bold plan.”
What these urban design initiatives mean for the rest of Singapore remains to be seen. When Tengah was first revealed in 2016, it was the first new town announced by Singapore’s government in two decades, meaning every other neighborhood was designed long before the era of autonomous vehicles and internet-enabled amenities. Chong readily admitted that “it’s not so easy” to retrofit underground road networks and pneumatic trash chutes in existing towns.
Nevertheless, he struck a positive note when asked what Tengah’s model offers future residential projects.
“We try to bring all the lessons forward — whenever we can and to the best of our ability,” he said. “You look at Tengah and, in a nutshell, you’re seeing the future of what the (government) is trying to build: the future of towns.”
By 2030, almost a third of all the energy consumed in the European Union must come from renewable sources, according to binding targets agreed in 2018. Sweden is helping lead the way.
These are all reasons why Sweden tops the Forum’s Energy Transition Index – providing environmental leadership at a time when a Great Reset has never been more needed. Here’s how Sweden is building up local solutions in its energy revolution.
Sweden is a world leader in renewable energy consumption. Swedish Institute/World Bank
Naturally Warm
54% of Sweden’s power comes from renewables, and is helped by its geography. With plenty of moving water and 63% forest cover, it’s no surprise the two largest renewable power sources are hydropower and biomass. And that biomass is helping support a local energy boom.
Heating is a key use of energy in a cold country like Sweden. In recent decades, as fuel oil taxes have increased, the country’s power companies have turned to renewables, like biomass, to fuel local ‘district heating’ plants.
In Sweden these trace their origins back to 1948, when a power station’s excess heat was first used to heat nearby buildings: steam is forced along a network of pipes to wherever it’s needed. Today, there are around 500 district heating systems across the country, from major cities to small villages, providing heat to homes and businesses.
District heating used to be fueled mainly from the by-products of power plants, waste-to-energy plants and industrial processes. These days, however, Sweden is bringing more renewable sources into the mix. And as a result of competition, this localized form of power is now the country’s home-heating market leader.
Sweden is using smart grids to turn buildings into energy producers. Huang et al/Elsevier
Energy ‘Prosumers’
But Sweden doesn’t stop at village-level heating solutions. Its new breed of energy-generation takes hyper-local to the next level.
48 family apartments spread across 3 buildings have been given photovoltaic solar panels, thermal energy storage and heat pump systems. A micro energy grid connects it all, and helps charge electric cars overnight.
The result is a cluster of ‘prosumer’ buildings, producing rather than consuming enough power for 77% of residents’ needs. With high levels of smart meter usage, it’s a model that looks set to spread across Sweden.
This is Västra Hamnen in Malmö! Formerly a shipyard, this flourishing residenial area has a heating and cooling system which runs entirely on renewable energy. The district is often cited as Europe’s first carbon-neutral neighbourhood. @swedensepic.twitter.com/9SfkWLwsVo
A recent development by E.ON in Hyllie, a district on the outskirts of Malmö, southern Sweden, has scaled up the smart grid principle. Energy generation comes from local wind, solar, biomass and waste sources.
Smart grids then balance the power, react to the weather, deploying extra power when it’s colder or putting excess into battery storage when it’s warm. The system is not only more efficient, but bills have fallen.
Smart energy developments like those in Hyllie, Ludivika, and renewable-driven district heating, offer a radical alternative to the centralized energy systems many countries rely on today.
The EU’s leaders have a challenge: how to generate 32% of energy from renewables by 2030. Sweden offers a vision of how technology and local solutions can turn a goal into a reality.
It announced a big commitment to source clean energy at the height of the pandemic. How else is global nutrition, health and sustainable living company DSM ensuring this moment for change is not lost?
As many companies scrambled to respond to disruptions arising from the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, nutrition, health and sustainable living company Royal DSM signed its largest renewable energy agreements covering about a quarter of its total annual electricity consumption.
The two power purchase agreements, inked in April, were with major wind energy producer EDPR in Europe, and with global solar firm Origis Energy in the United States. They put DSM on track to source 75 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, an increase from the 50 per cent it achieved last year.
Besides helping to improve DSM’s own carbon footprint, the long-term agreements enable EDPR and Origis to secure financing for the construction of their new renewable energy parks.
“Our first priority is always the health and safety of our people, something which has been especially critical this year. But our long-term approach to building back better is to accelerate our own sustainability, as well as enable others in the value chain and to advocate for stronger green initiatives because the problems faced by the world are too complex to be solved alone,” said Dimitri de Vreeze, co-chief executive officer and chief operating officer of DSM.
Calls began months ago for the world to build back better from the worst crisis of a generation. Environmentalists and sustainability advocates urged countries to take advantage of drops in energy demand, and changes in work and consumption patterns, to recalibrate for a low-carbon future.
For DSM, a green recovery from the pandemic means systemic changes that will move the world towards net zero carbon and a more circular economy where resources are used in an endless loop, instead of ending up in landfills or being incinerated as waste.
Since 2015, the Dutch-headquartered multinational has set an internal carbon price of €50 per tonne of carbon dioxide-equivalent. This helps to incorporating the cost of emissions into decisions that require significant capital expenditure.
DSM’s diverse portfolio of products includes plant-based protein, feed additives to reduce methane belched by cows, an algae-based oil that replaces fish oil to feed farmed fish such as salmon, and coatings for solar modules that enable more power to be generated.
Faced with disruption from Covid-19, a vital part of the green recovery for businesses must be the integration of sustainable production. – Dimitri de Vreeze, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Board Member, DSM
Boosting immunity and resilience
Much of its operations, such as those related to food and medical supplies, were deemed essential by governments, so production sites were not impacted by widespread lockdowns to contain the virus outbreak. Nonetheless, de Vreeze said it is looking at ways to enhance supply chain resilience. About 96 per cent of Asia Pacific enterprises are small and medium firms, and DSM is exploring ways to collaborate with partners to enhance their sustainability and innovation, he said.
The company has also responded to the trend of greater health consciousness. It distributed millions of immunity-boosting products containing essential vitamins and minerals to all 23,000 of its employees and their families in recent months. It also conducted webinars to enhance their understanding of healthier lifestyle choices that can optimise their immunity.
And in Singapore, DSM has partnered with innovation catalyst Padang & Co to establish a collaborative workspace called the Bright Science & Technology Innovation Hub. The hub aims to connect tech start-ups and other partners that seek to address Asia-Pacific’s nutritional, health and sustainability challenges, and provide them with access to DSM’s network, technical expertise and laboratories.
‘Now is the time for change’
DSM has also joined many of the most prominent global green recovery efforts to “ensure this moment for change is not lost”, said de Vreeze, who is a member of DSM’s managing board. They include the European Union (EU) Green Recovery Alliance, the World Economic Forum CEO Action Group, and the United Nations-backed “Uniting business and governments to recover better” campaign.
Asked what lessons the EU’s €750 billion coronavirus recovery fund—which will devote a significant portion to green projects such as low-carbon steel production—offers to other regions, de Vreeze noted that some countries in the Asia Pacific are also working towards a similar goal.
The South Korean government has included a Green New Deal as part of its US$110 billion stimulus package, he noted. Japan’s government has announced an online platform to facilitate the exchange of views and insights on how best to use carbon-cutting measures to reboot the economy sustainably.
“Elsewhere in the region, such as in Malaysia and Myanmar, we see a renewed interest in solar energy too,” he said.
“However, Asia Pacific still relies heavily on non-renewable energy and fossil fuels are still the dominant source of energy for Southeast Asia in particular. Worryingly, not only will coal continue to be the primary fuel source for power generation in the region, it is expected to grow in use over the next few years.”
Companies must act now by aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and reporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) data, de Vreeze said. Investors can also help to change industry behaviour.
“Faced with disruption from Covid-19, a vital part of the green recovery for businesses must be the integration of sustainable production. A large and growing number of manufacturers are rethinking their inputs and turning to materials which can minimise the environmental impact without compromising performance,” said de Vreeze.
To promote transparency across the value chain—which is essential to ensure sustainable production—DSM has introduced Imp’Act Cards for an increasing number of ingredients used in personal care products. The cards quantify the environmental impact, traceability, social impact and identity of each product according to key standards, and are available for ingredients such as D-Panthenol, a moisturiser for skin and hair, and Vitamin E, an anti-oxidant.
By prioritising a faster and fairer transition from a grey to a green economy, and by aligning policies and recovery plans with the latest climate science, it is possible to achieve a business environment that encourages a resilient, zero carbon economy, said de Vreeze.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted humanity’s interdependence with the natural environment, and how our current system makes us all vulnerable to challenges like climate change and resource scarcity,” he said.
“The time for change is now. A pivot towards a green recovery and circular economy must be high on the agenda of business leaders and governments alike.”
Thinking of going zero waste at home? Your Earth-conscious actions could have a massive impact on our ever-changing planet. In the United States alone, nearly 260 million tons of solid waste are generated on an annual basis, and landfills are rapidly nearing capacity.
While it’s certainly important to take action at the global, national, and community level, individual concern and simple modifications in our everyday lives can lead to lasting change.
Zero Waste: What Is It?
The term “zero waste” can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Simply put, the goal of low or zero waste is to reuse products when possible, cut down on items sent out for recycling, and avoid sending trash to landfills. In short, the resources we’d normally throw away are always in rotation rather than being disposed of.
Reasons to Go Zero Waste at Home
There are lots of reasons to cut down on waste in your home, from saving time and energy, to cutting down on trips to the store. Plus, zero waste reduces pollution, which improves the state of our planet, and can even improve human health as a result of decreased pollution.
In December 2018, National Geographic reported that 91% of plastic isn’t being recycled. In addition to overflowing landfills, these plastics make their way into our oceans and other bodies of water, leading to the ingestion of toxins by fish and eventually people.
The magnitude of the global waste crisis can’t be ignored any longer. By making small changes at home, we can begin cleaning up our planet and preserving it for future generations.
Wondering where to start? Below, we share 35 helpful hints that will benefit you, your family, your community, and our planet.
How to Go Zero Waste at Home
When transitioning to zero waste, many folks prefer an all-in approach, opting to implement multiple changes at once rather than tweaking their habits slowly to create lasting change.
While we applaud that level of commitment, we’ve found that gradual changes make the process easier and setbacks less likely. If you’d like to work up to a completely waste-free lifestyle, we suggest mastering one or two of the following changes each week for long term success.
1. Evaluate Your Current Level of Waste
Getting real with yourself about your habits regarding waste will help you create a plan of action. While the evaluation phase may be a bit overwhelming, it can be equally enlightening. It’s important to practice self-compassion as you assess your current situation and begin implementing small changes.
2. Start Now, Not Later
As you look around your home, you’ll likely notice unnecessary and/or unwanted items that are collecting dust and cluttering up your living space. A great introduction to the zero waste lifestyle is decluttering your home.
Refrain from throwing things away in large quantities in an effort to start fresh. Instead, donate unwanted clothing and household items, gift things to loved ones, compost at home, and don’t forget to recycle. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a helpful guide on common recyclables to simplify the process.
3. Reevaluate Household Necessities
If paper towels, plastic straws, and/or disposable razors are on your weekly shopping list, this is a great place to start making slight modifications. There’s no need to break the bank by splurging on an eco-friendly shopping spree. Small changes will add up quickly, so we recommend researching Earth-safe alternatives as you run out of your current products.
Swedish dishcloths are an Earth-friendly, cost-effective alternative to traditional paper towels, and compostable straws can replace plastic options, which release harmful chemicals into the environment as they break down.
As for your shaving needs, we’re forever fans of this unisex, plastic-free, reusable razor by Eco Roots, but there are many eco-friendly alternatives on the market for you to choose from.
Plastic toothbrushes can be easily replaced with ecofriendly brushes. We recommend Brush with Bamboo, which are plant-based and completely safe for the environment.
4. Remember: Quantity Matters
When it comes to a zero waste lifestyle, being mindful of the quantities of products you use is a great way to save money—and the planet.
Household cleaner dispensers are often designed for overuse to ensure these products are purchased frequently, but some consumers use excessive amounts of personal care and household cleaning products even if the packaging isn’t poorly designed.
Examples of frequently overused products include:
Toothpaste
Soap
Face cleanser
Shaving cream
Toilet paper
Shampoo and conditioner
Dishwasher detergent
Paper towels
Laundry detergent
Bleach
Glass cleaner
Furniture polish
Making a conscious effort to cut down on the use of these products will drastically reduce the frequency of your purchases, as well as waste.
5. Treat Yourself to a Reusable Water Bottle
Plastic water bottles may be convenient, but they’re one of the key contributors to the alarming amount of waste on our planet. A 2019 article published by National Geographic reported that no less than one million water bottles are sold every minute around the globe, and in the U.S., a mere 30% of them are being recycled. When compared to Norway, which recycles 97% of water bottles, we have some work to do.
If you’re wondering if eliminating disposable water bottles from your home will actually make a difference, the answer is absolutely! It takes one plastic bottle at least 450 years to break down completely, so you’ll literally be doing your part to save our planet each time you fill up your reusable bottle rather than reaching for a plastic one. Consider using a reusable thermos or vacuum flask for drinking water on the go.
6. Eliminate Plastic Grocery Bags from Your Life
One of the easiest changes you can make immediately is banning plastic shopping bags from your home. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the average American family uses up to 1,500 of these single-use bags each year, and on average, just 15 of those bags (1%) wind up being recycled. What’s more? Each plastic bag is used for an average of 12 minutes before being thrown away.
In lieu of traditional plastic, opt for reusable bags made from durable cloth. Keep them in your car for trips to the grocery, and stash one or two in your purse to ensure you have a sustainable bag anytime you need it.
7. Ban Freezer Bags and Plastic Wrap, Too
By now, you’re probably noticing a theme when it comes to all-things-plastic. Our planet isn’t fond of plastic, so it’s important to utilize Earth-friendly alternatives when possible. On average, families in the U.S. use about 500 single-use storage bags per year. With well over 120 million households throughout the country, that’s a whole lot of unnecessary plastic.
If you have a stockpile of storage bags at home, they can be reused if carefully washed and dried between uses; however, we’d advise against reusing bags that have been used for raw meats and odorous or moldy foods. As you run out of single-use storage bags, we recommend replacing them with reusable containers or more durable zip-style bags. While these options are a bit pricier than traditional bags, you won’t have to buy them nearly as often.
As a sustainable alternative to plastic wrap, we adore Bee’s Wrap products, which are washable, reusable, and easily compostable.
8. Stock Up on Glass Jars
Using glass jars and containers for food storage is a great way to cut down on plastic. These reusable items can be found at virtually any discount or thrift store, and they’re a great alternative to Tupperware and other plastic containers.
If you don’t have glass storage solutions at home, and you’re not keen on purchasing in bulk, simply wash and reuse glass jars from your fridge and pantry.
9. Opt for Foods with Minimal or No Packaging
As you begin transitioning to a zero waste lifestyle, you’ll become more conscious of your shopping habits. Lots of convenience foods come in unnecessarily bulky packaging. When food shopping, choose products with the least amount of packaging and/or biodegradable containers.
Farmer’s markets are a great place to pick up fresh goodies with little to no packaging.
10. Switch to Bar Soap—for Your Face, Body, Hair, and Dishes
One effective way to decrease waste is by replacing liquid soap with bar soap. While bar soap has always been available for the bath and shower, many companies are now offering bar options specifically for dishes. You can even switch to a bar variety for your hair, as Lush offers a line of deliciously aromatic shampoo bars that last up to 80 washes.
11. Try DIY Beauty Products
As you probably know, store bought beauty products often contain chemicals, such as petroleum, and they’re generally packaged to draw the eye—not to preserve the environment. Plus, they tend to be exorbitantly overpriced.
Transitioning to DIY beauty products is fun, cost-effective, and allows you to handpick safe, natural ingredients. We’re currently loving this list of 50 amazing handmade beauty products compiled by Earth911. Our absolute favorite? The deliciously refreshing lemon sugar scrub recipe by Thrifty Jinxy, which is great for personal use and makes a beautiful gift. You can even print a premade label for pretty packaging.
12. Be Mindful of Your Water Consumption
This may seem like a no-brainer, but many of us still leave the faucet on when we’re brushing our teeth, scrubbing our kitchen counters, etc. So much energy can be saved simply by turning off the faucet when it’s not in use.
As far as baths vs. showers, filling a bathtub generally requires much more water than the average 10-minute shower. Of course, this largely depends on the size of your tub and your particular shower head, as well as the amount of water you use.
13. Skip Takeout
Ordering in can be a difficult habit to break, but foregoing takeout reduces waste. If you do opt to order in, choose an environmentally conscious restaurant that considers our planet in both food sourcing, preparation, and packaging.
14. Grow Your Own Food
One amazingly fun and easy way to help preserve our planet is by growing your own fruits, veggies, and herbs. This is a safer and healthier alternative to buying in-store, as you can eliminate pesticides and other toxins.
Knowing exactly what goes into your food will give you peace of mind, and there’s nothing quite like watching a seed or sprout grow into something delicious! Consider using a good quality multi purpose compost to get you started.
15. Eat Less Meat
Lots of environmentally conscious folks are eating less meat to help do their part to preserve our planet. If you’re not keen on giving up meat altogether, consider going meat-free a few times a week, or eat vegetarian options for breakfast and lunch, and only eat meat at dinner.
16. Store Foods Properly
Whether it’s fresh meat, produce, or last night’s leftovers, storing your food properly will help it last longer and ensure you get the most bang for your buck. According to the EPA, the vast majority of the food we throw away winds up in landfills. In 2017, Americans disposed of more than 38 million tons of food waste. We can all work together to reduce that astronomical number.
17. Ditch the Dish Sponges
We get it… Kitchen sponges are convenient. Unfortunately, they’re also bacteria breeders and terrible for the environment, as most are made from synthetic materials.
When it’s time to replace your dish sponges, check out eco-friendly substitutes, such as a plastic-free brush like this one from Life Without Plastic. Silicone sponges are another sustainable option that are more sanitary than traditional synthetic sponges. Although silicone isn’t biodegradable, it’s easily recyclable.
18. Forego the Tissues
Many folks don’t realize that tissues can’t be recycled once they’re used; in fact, after a single use, they’re detrimental to the environment. Old school handkerchiefs might seem like a blast from the past, but they are a much more sustainable option, as they can be reused time and again. You can even turn old sheets and towels into a reusable tissue alternative.
19. Reevaluate Your Laundry Habits
Rather than throw every clothing item in the laundry after every use, consider only washing your clothes when necessary. While you’ll want to continue washing underwear, socks, and swimwear each time you wear them, items like pants, skirts, and shorts can be worn two or three times between washes, along with bras and PJs.
Line drying also saves lots of energy in comparison to machine drying. Trust us… The environmental benefits outweigh the extended drying time.
20. Switch to Sustainable Light Bulbs
Traditional incandescent light bulbs last about 1,000 hours. Switch to LEDs, and your bulbs’ lifespan increases up to 50,000 hours, saving you time and money.
For the most part, lightbulbs are recyclable; however, not all recycling centers accept used bulbs, as the components must be separated during the recycling process. Check with your local center to make sure they accept these items.
21. Opt for Rechargeable Batteries
When it’s time to replace the batteries in your remote or clock, purchase a rechargeable set instead of going the disposable route. Toxic metals from decaying batteries seep into our landfills and eventually our earth. Rechargeable sets aren’t just planet-savers… They’re convenient and much more cost-effective than traditional batteries.
22. Unplug Electronics Between Uses
Leaving electronics plugged in when they’re not in use is a waste of energy and money. From kitchen appliances to televisions and computers, the simple act of unplugging will reduce your carbon footprint and your electric bill.
One common energy-sucking culprit? Your cell phone. Many experts suggest maintaining a charge of 40-80% and unplugging overnight. These tweaks to your phone charging habits will help save the environment—and the life of your phone.
23. Purchase High-Quality Products
When possible, buy well-made items that are intended to last a very long time, if not a lifetime. From tools to cookware and everything in between, opt for items that are known for their longevity.
This concept goes a long way with kitchen items such as pots and pans. Also consider a knife sharpener to keep your knives sharp so that you don’t have to replace them.
24. Reel in the Thermostat
If you tend to crank up the heat in the winter and the A/C in the summer, keep in mind that nearly 50% of the average household’s electric bill is the result of temperature control.
While it’s impossible to gauge a temperature that will work for everyone, being mindful of the temp in your environment can help. One simple fix? During the winter, snuggle up in a sweater and slippers rather than turning up the heat, and let the fresh air in during the warmer months before switching on the A/C.
25. Utilize a Rain Barrel
Whether you plant an annual vegetable garden or you’re a self-professed flower fanatic, outdoor watering really adds up. In addition to being environmentally conscious, using a rain barrel could potentially lower your water bill. If you set up the barrel directly below your gutter’s downspout and you live in a rainy climate, you should collect plenty of water to hydrate your plants and/or flowers.
26. Purify Your Air Naturally
Many houseplants and flowers act as natural air purifiers, which can help you breathe easier and banish allergens, along with pollutants and unpleasant odours. According to Live Science, indoor plants absorb harmful gases through their leaves and root systems. If you’ve ever wanted an excuse to fill your home with beautiful plants, here’s your chance!
Snake plants and spider plants are two of our absolute faves, but the famous 1989 Clean Air Study by NASA found that at least 29 different plants and flowers do an excellent job of purifying air. Check out the list—which still rings true today—and take a trip to your local nursery. Just remember to return any plastic pots, which can be reused.
27. Buy Second-Hand
Opting for second-hand clothing and household items keeps the recycling community going strong. As an added bonus, when you donate gently used goods or offer them for sale at a reduced price, you’re allowing others to try brands and products they may not have access to otherwise.
You can shop locally at thrift stores and community yard sales, and online sites like eBay and Poshmark are great for secondhand items.
28. When Buying New, Pay Attention to Where Your Purchases Come From
Not all products are created equal, so it’s important to research before making purchases. Buy from Earth-conscious retailers that are actively trying to cut down on excess waste to save our planet. The best way to research a company? A simple internet search should do. Most ecofriendly companies produce sustainability reports, which you can typically find on their websites. Any recognition or awards for being ecologically friendly are also a good sign.
29. Opt to Repair Rather than Replace
If an appliance is on the fritz, try getting it repaired before shopping for a replacement. The same goes for other household items and clothing. For instance, ripped jeans and sheets can be mended.
If an item is beyond repair, consider repurposing it rather than throwing it away. You’ll likely notice that this new mindset will spill over into other areas of your life.
30. Reuse Gift Wrap and Gift Bags
When you receive a gift, save the gift wrap, bag, and/or tissue paper when possible. Greeting cards can be used for crafts, such as ornaments and gift tags. It’s amazing how many items can be reused and repurposed when we think outside the box!
31. Treat Yourself to Experiences Instead of Things
Many of us celebrate our successes and/or sooth our sadness with impromptu shopping sprees. The next time something goes right—or terribly wrong—why not treat yourself to an experience instead? Sign up for a dance class, enjoy a night on the town, or book a low-key getaway. Scaling back on unnecessary purchases and focusing on experiences will cut down on the clutter in your home and help you tap into your creativity instead of your bank account.
32. Go Paperless
A super easy way to protect the environment is by cutting down on paper usage. Opt-in to paperless billing and online banking to do your part. If at all possible, forego printing documents and other papers, and store them virtually instead. Opting for paperless receipts at retailers and restaurants is also a simple way to cut down on paper use.
If you absolutely have to use paper, use both sides! Little changes really do add up.
33. Become an Environment-Conscious Reader
If you’re an avid reader, there are a few effective ways to cut down on your carbon footprint. Digital options eliminate paper altogether, while borrowing and buying secondhand are environmentally conscious alternatives.
If you ever decide to whittle down your beloved book collection, consider donating to a local library or school. You can also upcycle books by creating DIY projects. From decorative balls and flowers to canvas art and greeting cards, we absolutely love Felt Magnet’s list of 53 creative ideas for repurposing book pages. Check it out here.
34. Not Sure How to Dispose of Something? Do Your Research
It’s not always obvious where to dispose of specific items, so some research may be required before trashing that old phone or kitchen appliance. We regularly use Martha Stewart’s “How to Get Rid of Anything” list when we’re clearing out old items.
35. Get the Whole Family Involved
Your passion and excitement for preserving our planet will likely rub off on your loved ones. Encourage everyone in your household—and beyond—to get involved.
Launching Your Zero Waste Lifestyle
Keep in mind that there’s no race to the zero waste finish line. Even the most environmentally conscious individuals admit that preserving the environment is a constant work in progress. Strive to make one small change at a time, and pat yourself on the back for making a difference for our planet and future generations.
Biodiverse nature is particularly beneficial for mental well-being. There is also growing and compelling evidence that contact with diverse microbiomes in the soil and air has a profound effect on depression and anxiety.
Mental health in our cities is an increasingly urgent issue. Rates of disorders such as anxiety and depression are high. Urban design and planning can promote mental health by refocusing on spaces we use in our everyday lives in light of what research tells us about the benefits of exposure to nature and biodiversity.
Mental health issues have many causes. However, the changing and unpredictable elements of our physical and sensory environments have a profound impact on risk, experiences and recovery.
Physical activity is still the mainstay of urban planning efforts to enable healthy behaviours. Mental well-being is then a hoped-for byproduct of opportunities for exercise and social interaction.
Neuroscientific research and tools now allow us to examine more deeply some of the ways in which individuals experience spaces and natural elements. This knowledge can greatly add to, and shift, the priorities and direction of urban design and planning.
What do we mean by ‘nature’?
A large body of research has compellingly shown that “nature” in its many forms and contexts can have direct benefits on mental health. Unfortunately, the extent and diversity of natural habitats in our cities are decreasing rapidly.
Too often “nature” – by way of green space and “POS” (Public Open Space) – is still seen as something separate from other parts of our urban neighbourhoods. Regeneration efforts often focus on large green corridors. But even small patches of genuinely biodiverse nature can re-invite and sustain multitudes of plant and animal species, as urban ecologists have shown.
It has also been widely demonstrated that nature does not effect us in uniform or universal ways. Sometimes it can be confronting or dangerous. That is particularly true if nature is isolated or uninviting, or has unwritten rules around who should be there or what activities are appropriate.
These factors complicate the desire for a “nature pill” to treat urban ills.
We need to be far more specific about what “nature” we are talking about in design and planning to assist with mental health.
Why does biodiversity matter?
The exponential accessibility and affordability of lab and mobile technologies, such as fMRI and EEG measuring brain activity, have vastly widened the scope of studies of mental health and nature. Researchers are able, for example, to analyse responses to images of urban streetscapes versus forests. They can also track people’s perceptions “on the move”.
Research shows us biodiverse nature has particular positive benefit for mental well-being. Multi-sensory elements such as bird or frog sounds or wildflower smells have well-documented beneficial effects on mental restoration, calm and creativity.
Acknowledging the crucial role all these senses play shifts the focus of urban design and planning from visual aesthetics and functional activity to how we experience natural spaces. This is particularly important in ensuring we create places for people of all abilities, mobilities and neurodiversities.
These converging illustrations suggest biodiverse urban nature is a priority for promoting mental health. Our job as designers and planners is therefore to multiply opportunities to interact with these areas in tangible ways.
The concept of “biophilia” isn’t new. But a focus on incidental and authentic biodiversity helps us apply this very broad, at times unwieldy and non-contextual, concept to the local environment. This grounds efforts in real-time, achievable interventions.
Using novel technologies and interdisciplinary research expands our understanding of the ways our environments affect our mental well-being. This knowledge challenges the standardised planning of nature spaces and monocultured plantings in our cities. Neuroscience can therefore support urban designers and planners in allowing for more flexibility and authenticity of nature in urban areas.
Neuroscientific evidence of our sensory encounters with biodiverse nature points us towards the ultimate win-win (-win) for ecology, mental health and cities.
