SGGP
Can a metropolis of millions of people really be environmentally friendly? That's what the French capital Paris is experimenting with as it prepares for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
 |
| The Eiffel Tower area in Paris has been and is being covered with lots of trees. |
The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame Cathedral are just a few of the famous landmarks that make Paris one of the most visited cities in the world. But there is another side to the French capital that is hard to ignore: crowded boulevards, street noise, and trash.
Fortunately, there are a growing number of green initiatives in the city to combat this. From industrial parks turned into parks to apps that encourage walking instead of cars. In the 18th arrondissement of Paris, the eco-cultural project Recyclerie is located on the old Petite Ceinture railway, a 32km circular railway that runs around Paris and is no longer in use. Over the years, thanks to the project, the space around the tracks has been filled with greenery. Cafes and urban gardens along the tracks have also been greened. Many shops have switched to selling organic food and natural wines. There are even vegetable gardens and chicken coops in small urban farms. Or the Coulee verte Rene-Dumont, a 4km-long abandoned elevated railway near Place de la Bastille in the city centre, which has been transformed into a “suspended park” perfect for strolling.
It is no surprise that old train tracks in Paris are being repurposed, as France and Europe increasingly invest in sustainable development. Despite the well-developed public transport system, many Parisians have switched to cycling to work in recent years. The network of bike lanes continues to expand.
These days, there’s no need to hop on a classic tourist bus to see Paris. Tourists can take a more sustainable approach by using an app called Balades Paris Sustainability (Walks in Sustainable Paris). Developed by the city, the app allows people to leisurely explore Paris’ green areas on foot, with more than 20 routes that take in most of the city’s neighborhoods. In the southeast of Paris, the former Cite Fertile freight station has been transformed into a vast eco-zone with around 250 species of plants. This urban oasis was created four years ago as part of the Pantin eco-zone.
On Sundays, many families come to the Cité Fertile to relax in the fresh air. Both the Recyclerie and the Cité Fertile are seen as places for Parisians to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and to explore ways to create a sustainable future. In addition to summer festivals, the Cité Fertile also hosts a variety of sports classes and serves as a forum for environmental topics. The aim is to bring together ideas on sustainability from a variety of fields.
In preparation for the 2024 Olympics, Paris is also planning a number of environmental changes to the city’s busiest squares. The government hopes to reduce traffic in tourist hotspots and provide more space for pedestrians. For example, the area around the Eiffel Tower will be expanded and landscaped. The view from the top of the Eiffel Tower will reveal a vast urban area filled with greenery.
Source
Comment (0)