In search of green cities
BBC World Mayors of cities around the world gather in San Francisco, USA, between 1 and 5 June to exchange ideas and sign a number of environmental agreements.
The Mayors meeting takes place in the framework of the celebration of World Environment Day, on June 5, whose theme this year is "Green Cities."
According to the UN Program for Environment (UNEP), the proposal is to "give a human face to environmental issues and empower people to take the role of active agents in the sustainable and equitable development."
In San Francisco, city officials seek to achieve environmental agreements in the areas of energy, waste reduction, urban design, urban nature, transportation, environmental health and water. These
categories were formulated to promote a sustainable lifestyle in the cities while improving the quality of life for its inhabitants.
Latin America and urban America is the region most urbanized developing world.
Over 75% of the population lives in cities, which generally took place without adequate planning, as he explained to BBC World Ricardo Sanchez Sosa, Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
There are millions of people living in areas not classified to the habitat. Moreover, this growth has led to serious environmental problems, such as solid waste management-only 40% is handled properly, and problems with air quality, as public transport in most countries exceeds 15 years Ricardo Sanchez Sosa, Director of UNEP for Latin America.
"This implies that there are millions of people living in areas not classified to the habitat. Moreover, this growth has led to serious environmental problems, such as solid waste management, only 40% is handled properly, and problems with air quality, as public transport in most countries exceeds 15 years. "
However, several Latin American cities are already acting to reduce environmental pollution.
City Bus from Mexico to debut a mid-July, following a Colombian experience, and is currently developing other projects to improve air quality, as told BBC Claudia Sheinbaum, Secretary of Environment of the Federal District of Mexico.
"We are working on two projects. One who seeks to strengthen the verification that the vehicle meets all environmental standards and the other is to update the program" Hoy No Circula "which holds that when the vehicle is 10 years old, then no longer necessarily circular one day in the city. "
According to the Environment Secretary, in recent years the government Federal District has replaced buses and taxis that are so old, had become a major source of pollution.
Sheinbaum said that all these policies have reduced by 25% ozone concentrations in Mexico City in the last five years.
A green city?
When you think of green cities might imagine a city some uncontaminated natural areas for recreation of its inhabitants and low emissions.
For others a green city is also one in which homes and buildings are built with renewable resources, as told BBC Mundo, Juan López Duralde, director of Greenpeace Spain.
"You need a materials management, cities advocate the use of sustainably harvested wood certified. That boosts the construction of renewable energy systems, change current construction clichés speculation based on urban and go towards a model of urban system more sustainable and bioclimatic construction. "
Experts agree that while Latin America is acting to improve the quality of the environment, there is still a long way to go.
United Nations Program for Environment is finalizing a series of reports in 30 Latin American cities assessing the environmental situation.
The idea is that these reports, in which governments were consulted, citizens and non-governmental agencies for their development, help to plan strategies for sustainable development and improving the environmental situation.
The World Environment Day is celebrated every year in a different city since 1987.
is the first time the event takes place in the United States and commemorates the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco 60 years ago. BBCMundo.com
Note: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/hi/spanish/science/newsid_4594000/4594479.stmPublicada: 2005/06/01 9:50:21 GMT © BBC MMIX
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