More than half of the world's population now lives in cities. And the trend is rising. Our cities already consume 75 percent of the energy generated worldwide and thus contribute significantly to the climate crisis. The larger the places become, the more susceptible they tend to be to heat or heavy rain. But there are original ideas we can use to make cities greener and more livable.
In Colombia, urban planners are using green corridors to improve air quality and, at the same time, social projects to improve the social climate in the former drug stronghold of Medellín.
With the "serial renovation" method, older residential buildings can be modernized quickly and inexpensively. Sustainable building materials are used to produce facade components with insulation and windows, which are then screwed onto old buildings like a second skin. Following this method, over six and a half million homes could be renovated each year in Germany alone.
The small Polish town of Konin is initiating the energy turnaround without the help of the Polish government. It is converting its coal-fired power plants to biomass and has now built Poland's largest photovoltaic plant.
On the Indonesian island of Lombok, which was hit by terrible earthquakes a few years ago, new schools and homes are being built from former plastic waste. The lightweight construction gives people more security. At the same time, plastic waste is recycled.
