How Essen has thrown off its heavy industrial past to become a model of sustainability
Making a cities eco-friendly and liveable places for their inhabitants is a challenge with which policymakers and local authorities are familiar. The good news is, there are plenty of inspiring and affordable blueprints to follow. Take Essen in North Rhine Westphalia. This former industrial powerhouse is a model of structural change for any city leader looking at boosting sustainability – and keen to deploy the power of smart technologies to do so.
Over the last few decades, Essen has transformed itself from a mining city of coal and steel into the third greenest in Germany. How? By working with partners to implement a highly replicable, integrated environmental management system that won it a coveted award. To find out how this big city deployed a winning strategy to bring about an environmental vision that is not only improving the lives of its citizens, but generating economic growth read more..