Greenpeace demands urban green offensive on the world day of biodiversity

For the world day of biodiversity on tomorrow, Greenpeace draws attention to the hidden opportunities of urban spaces: cities can also become biodiversity hotspots when political framework conditions are correct. The environmental protection organization presents five international examples that show how more biodiversity and climate protection can succeed in the middle of the city. At the same time, Greenpeace calls on the Austrian Federal Government to implement the EU Redaturation Ordinance ambitiously in cities.

Melanie Ebner, Greenpeace spokeswoman: “City green is not a luxury, but a necessity. More nature in our cities protects against heat, stores water and creates a habitat for animals and plants. Austria now has to set the course so that our cities become future fit and remain worth living.”

International cities are already showing how they bring nature back to urban rooms. With the “Pollinator Highway”, a 14 km long corridor for pollinator insects in the middle of the capital was created with the “Pollinator Highway”. London has successfully settled Biber in an urban wetland in the Ealing district who act as natural flood protection. Paris plans to create around 300 hectares of new green spaces by 2030- among other things through roof and facade greening, cleared road rooms and a citizen: inner program- to promote biodiversity and quality of life. Seoul demolished an inner -city motorway, renatured a river and thus brought over 300 plant species back into the city. And Singapore has long since been thinking together – with a binding greenery for new buildings and an extensive network of ecological corridors.

Despite the climate and species crisis, green areas are still sealed in Austria’s cities instead of creating new ones. Cities can actively contribute to adapting to the climate crisis and creates habitats for more biodiversity.

Greenpeace calls for an immediate stop of the net lust of green spaces and treetops in cities, as well as more space for plants and natural areas – not only in parks, but across the board. The environmental protection organization also requires clear legal requirements of the federal, state and municipalities for comprehensive city greening.

Link to the factsheet “Nature in the city”: https://act.gp/NaturinderStadt
Illustration & images: https://act.gp/Bildmaterial