Prague

16 Sep Prague

As capital to the 12^th most sustainable country on the global Sustainable Development Goals 2021 Index, Prague has continued to push an agenda that reflects the will of the people and proposes a greener urban future.

Also called the City of a Hundred Spires, Prague’s stone-studded historic center masks a modern approach to urban living centered around the concept of sustainability. In May 2021 the city approved the 2030 Climate Plan that looks to reduce carbon emissions by 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030. The initiative aims to bring down consumption of heat and gas by 15 percent using more efficient heating technologies and introduce more private renewable energy sources by working with the community. The city will also reform its transportation network with the aim to cut fossil fuel usage in vehicles by 18 percent. Although the city’s public transportation is not expensive, 80 percent of those entering the city from the suburbs continue to come by private car. The plan also involves creating a more circular economy through the city’s first biofuels plant that will convert restaurant and household waste into biomethane for vehicles.

In terms of creating a greener environment, Prague is far ahead of the game with its advanced reforestation of green public spaces. In 2018, the city began its Tree Planting Action Plan, an eight-year program to plant 1 million trees within the urban limits. The initiative has continued beyond its mission despite challenges caused by COVID-19, with around 237,000 trees planted in 2020. Prague has held steadfast to its green commitments, which is expected to continue as sustainability becomes increasingly relevant to urban citizens worldwide and cities buck to the trend.