Urban Sustainability - Freiburg, Germany - Case Study Revision Notes for AQA GCSE Geography

4.1.4 Urban Sustainability - Freiburg, Germany - Case Study

Doing things in a way that meets current needs without compromising future generations.
Behaving in a way that doesn't irreversibly damage the environment.

Big cities use many resources, making complete sustainability challenging, but improvements can be made.

Local Communities:
- Involvement in sustainability efforts and employment opportunities.
Fossil Fuel Reduction:
- Decreasing reliance on fossil fuels and rethinking transport options.
Green Spaces:
- Providing more green spaces.
Brownfield Sites:
- Minimising use of greenfield sites by repurposing brownfield sites.
Recycling Water:
- Conserving supplies by recycling water, including grey water.

Conservation:
- Protecting cultural, historical, and environmental sites and buildings.
Solar Valley:
- Large cluster of solar manufacturers located in the city.

Green roofs and solar panels in Freiburg.

Cycle Lane in Freiburg.

Recycling:
- More than 88% of packaging is recycled.
Waste Reduction:
- Annual waste disposal reduced from 140,000 to 50,000 tonnes in 12 years.
Community Collection Points:
- 350 points for recycling.
Employment**:**
- Over 10,000 people employed in 1,500 environmental businesses.
Renewable Energy:
- Investments in solar, windmills, and hydroelectric resources.
- Energy conservation scheme at local school.
Green Spaces:
- 40% of the city is forested.
Green Roofs:
- Attractive roofs used to harvest rainwater.
Solar Energy:
- 10 million kilowatts of electricity per year from solar energy (400 solar panels).
Cycle Paths:
- 400 km of paths with 9,000 parking spaces for bikes.
- "Bike and ride" facilities at railway and bus stations.
Car Restrictions:
- Car parking spaces in the city centre cost $£20,000$ per year.