Nantes – a city learns from its citizens

In 2013 Nantes will be Europe’s Green Capital. On the way to an ecological future, Nantes attributes a central role to cooperation between politicians and citizens. The “L’Atelier Climat” project is one example of this – it is running until June 2011 and will affect the city’s future environmental policy.

By 2025 Nantes wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent. In order to achieve this ambitious target, the city is taking a route that is unique in France up to now: 150 households from the city are participating for one year in the so-called “L’Atelier Climat”. In regular training courses, they not only learn more about their own behavior, but also help develop the city’s climate strategy. The project is intended to make citizens aware of eco-friendly behavior. Additionally, a detailed evaluation takes place, for example via surveys distributed monthly and a determination of participants’ individual CO2 output. Based on these data, the city wants to develop measures and recommendations for its citizens, custom-made to their individual needs.

Public transportation instead of private car

Nantes was the first city in France to reintroduce the streetcar in 1985. Today the streetcar network in the Loire city is the longest in the country at 42 kilometers. Ferries and buses round off the public transportation system. Nantes exemplifies the notion that economics and ecology are not mutually exclusive. The Atlantic metropolis ranks among the fastest-growing cities in France. The well-developed local transportation system has contributed to reducing car traffic in recent years. In 2009 Nantes received an EU award for its sustainable urban traffic. In Hamburg, passenger numbers on local public transportation are also rising. In 2011 the city is also increasing electric cars for car-sharing as well as hybrid buses.

Green lung of the city

Quality of life and air quality are key elements of urban planning for Nantes. So no one needs to walk more than 300 meters to experience pesticide-free biodiversity, there are 57 square meters of green area per resident: 3,366 hectares in all. Since 2006, Nantes has also cultivated three city forests – by 2016 there will be 800 hectares of forest area in the northwest, southwest and southeast of the city.

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