As the macrocosm celebrated Earth Day on 22nd April 2021 The International Association of Horticultural Producers , AIPH , was also mark the day by urge people to consider about the successful integration of nature into the built environment .
The AIPH 2021 International Green City league brought together a worldwide consultation of master , organizations , city council and government administrations to hear how outside expert on greening urban spaces have encounter this challenge .
Incremental stone’s throw to hand for the skiesFor the keynote speaker , Professor Rob Adams , his journeying to green the metropolis began in the early eighties in Melbourne , Australia , when he was an urban designer helping to write a 1985 strategy plan to make Melbourne “ a better urban center to pull people ” . Through incremental actions to meliorate the characteristics of the urban center that they already had , he spoke stormily on how they regenerate street space , widen tract , tore up the “ mineral pitch and planted trees ” creating combat-ready recreational areas with natural shading canopies . In 1992 there was a breakthrough in dealings routing , pushing ahead the rejuvenation and pedestrianization of the metropolis . Melbourne is now recognized as one of the most liveable cities and acts as an exemplar of the struggle against mood change .
In a question - and - reply session after his speech communication , Prof Adams said a “ political inactiveness trouble for many cities is carry back progress ” .
Cool streets and community spiritFor the retiring ten years , Vienna in Austria has been planning and managing its unripe modulation . To put this into context , Vienna has 23 boroughs , substantial public transport substructure , and a population that grows annually by 25,000 with 62 % living in subsidised housing . Now Vienna is 53 % greenish , and its journeying has included the coaction of the public and secret sphere , “ shared visions , and strategies and a acculturation of working together intimately over longer menstruation of prison term ” . The family has been at the heart of the vision to create spaces for child to grow up and thrive , changing brownfield sites into living quarters , connecting to the metropolis with green walkways , and the public ’s community intent with urban farms . stilted island protect the city from implosion therapy and are also weekend retreats to unwind . nerveless streets pop up for citizen to fly the coop the summertime high temperature , with no concrete seeable , only vertical planting and shady trees .
Former Vice Mayor Ms. Maria Vassilakou proudly took us on a virtual tour of the metropolis that holds the number one deed of conveyance as the world ’s most livable metropolis for the past three years . She is now dish as a extremity of the EU - Horizon Mission expert board on “ Climate - impersonal smart Cities ” , notify the European Commission on the aim and execution of the respective mission . Ms. Vassilakou sum up , “ Urban recuperation after the pandemic will pretty much rely on the transformation and the rejuvenation of public space to create metropolis that we eff and new opportunity for us all . ”
The want for better planningMr Peter Massini , Director of Future Nature Consulting Ltd , UK , presented an overview of greening metric that are used in policy maturation , discussing some of the challenges and drawbacks and how effective they are in practice . When talking about the challenge in the UK , he say , “ If we are go to make London a sustainable city , then its dense urban spaces have to provide space for mass , space for wildlife , but hold functional benefits around clime change and public wellness . ”
Empowerment for climate changeEmpowerment is a vital tool , and green recuperation needs a powerful voice . Ms. Jennifer McKelvie , Councillor for the City of Toronto , Canada , throw insight from her experience in inspiring the next generation of climate leaders through the C40 Women for Climate mentorship computer program . This program builds upon the City of Toronto ’s committal to oppose clime change as participants work on self - initiate projects that array with TransformTO and the Resilience Strategy . Launched in 2017 , TransformTO lay out a set of long - terminus , low - atomic number 6 destination to trim down local greenhouse gas discharge . The Resilience Strategy set out a vision , goals , and actions to help Toronto come through , conform , and thrive in the font of any challenge , particularly climate change .
For the love life of natureProf . Tim Beatley , the founder of Biophilic Cities , USA , explained the top executive of community in gain cities more nature focussed and the influence of biophilia in inspiring change . He poignantly pointed out that city unplug from nature , and we desperately require to find ways to reconnect . He gave examples of biodiverse activities across the world where people are actively pursue wildlife home ground in the construction of city centers .
Ms. Ingrid Coetzee , Director of Biodiversity , Nature & Health for ICLEI Africa , described the organisation ’s task on mainstreaming nature , its benefits , and nature - based solutions into urban preparation and decision - making in cities and city - regions thereby help them become healthy and more springy , and liveable places . She said we should be “ flick on the green switching ” as a top priority for the planet , manhood , and society ” .
Green City toolsDr Audrey Timm , Technical Advisor to AIPH , presented the late update of the AIPH 2020 Green City Guidelines – a digital resourcefulness providing evidence that stand innovative insurance and practice in immature city . It has theme on Green Neighbourhoods , Green Streets , Green Buildings , and case studies on Green Cities .
Green City showcase studiesAIPH ’s Green City principle promote the crucial role of plants in creating vivacious urban region in which people and business concern can thrive . We heard case study from the follow experts .
Ms. Anne Jaluzot , deliver a case subject of Barcelona , the city which changed dealings pattern , replacing roadway with living green , thereby increasing societal fundamental interaction , and reducing pollution .
Mr. Niek Roozen , the founder of Niek Roozen Landscapes , Netherlands , introduced the power of plant life selection in master landscape painting performance , using Almere as a case subject for motivating plant selection linked to function and the multi - functionality of urban greening .
Dr. Andrew Hirons , Senior Lecturer in Arboriculture at Myerscough College , UK , explained the scientific discipline of tree excerpt for metropolis landscape and how essential this is to creating resilience in our urban forests . He also stressed how vital flora health is , and the careful management of each Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and shrub in situ is essential for the endurance of dark-green space in urban center landscape .
‘ Make unripened spaces for masses , not parking for cars’AIPH Green City Chair , Mr. Bill Hardy brought to focus the AIPH Green City initiative and how the content of this conference program integrates with the AIPH visual modality as the world ’s champion for the power of plants . In summing , he said , “ Today there has been a wealthiness of information and inspiration . We have ascertain how new city can be work up using Green City principles . We also learned how elderly city can be specify to meet the same destination without huge base costs . We need to rethink our street , and make greenish spaces for people , not park for cars . ”
All recording are available towatch here .
