Green lessons from Paris
THE CITY of Paris has embarked on environmental challenges meant to improve the quality of life for the residents and visitors. AMADO DE JESUS
As the City of Paris prepares to host the International Conference on Climate Change in December 2015, it has embarked on environmental challenges meant to improve the quality of life for the residents and visitors.
The green concept is to develop innovative revegetation programs so that nature is no longer limited to parks, gardens and forested areas but spread out through highly developed neighborhoods and buildings. Project completion is set for 2020.
Paris intends to create 30 hectares of public green spaces which are intended to be used for various activities for sports, culture and entertainment.
The city will also revegetate 100 hectares of roofs and façades, with one-third meant for edible landscaping.
The project is backed up by both public and private partnerships and is estimated to be a source of employment and innovation.
With the massive proliferation of green roofs and the development of the revegetation program, it is estimated that the City of Paris will greatly benefit by means of improved air quality, development of biodiversity, rainwater harvesting and the regulation of ambient temperature.
The project is also meant to raise the level of awareness of the younger generation regarding the preservation of biodiversity. In a similar way, Paris is providing educational vegetable gardens in schools to promote the creation of urban farms.
Lessons for Metro Manila
While we have seen a number of good greenery in Metro Manila, we do not seem to have a green comprehensive masterplan for making our city greener and more livable. This is perhaps easier said than done, but with the help of our planners and designers from diverse disciplines, plus the political will to implement the plan, the project will be a success.
I once heard a government official complain that the skills and expertise of our planners and other designers are not tapped in the planning and implementation of public projects—whether it is for greening the city or for other projects. These experts are in a very good position to offer varied options so that the government officials can make valid informed decisions. The Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners, or PIEP, is one example of a group of experts and respected personalities from professional building organizations and the academe that can be of help.
In many cases, projects are awarded to favored suppliers and contractors who need guidance. For example, I have observed landscaping under vehicular overpasses that include young trees which grow beyond the underside of the overpass. A few weeks after the trees were planted, perhaps after realizing the mistake, they were removed and replaced with more appropriate plants.
Other cities going green
After Storm “Katrina,” New Orleans’ recovery is remarkable and cultural vibrancy is strongly exhibited. Growth tends toward higher ground in the flood-prone city. New developments are concentrated on affordable housing and some include urban agriculture. One good strategy they are employing to counter blight has been enlivening commercial corridors, which has improved street life.
Dubai’s sustainability plans to become the most sustainable city by 2020 include supplying electricity photovoltaically and outlawing energy-inefficient buildings.
Consistency in green practices
The term “urban metabolism” has emerged as smart-city practices go under scrutiny. Are electric vehicles powered by coal-fired plants? Does urban farming cause a rise in the sale of insecticides and fertilizers?
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