Toward a Green City: Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu Visits Denmark for Observation

(Taiwan Business News) Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu, at the invitation of the Copenhagen city government in Denmark, the green capital, led the "2014 Green Capital Delegation" to call on the Copenhagen city government on the afternoon of the 15th, local time in Denmark, and visit the Orestad new urban district development project. Copenhagen's chief architect Tina Saaby Madsen introduced the important process by which the city was selected as the 2014 European Green Capital, and held talks and exchanges with Mayor Chen Chu on topics such as how to move Kaohsiung toward becoming a green city.

Copenhagen is an ancient city. In the face of urban re-planning, unlike other European cities that carry out zoning plans based on residential or industrial use, Copenhagen takes the perspective of residents' lives to carry out comprehensive urban renewal plans. The city's overall development also incorporates climate conditions, rainwater collection, architectural design, bicycle space and other green transport into planning considerations. In addition, diversified urban development, encouraging citizens to walk more and increasing time spent outdoors are also three key elements actively promoted by government departments, with relevant data compiled and reviewed every year.

Copenhagen's chief architect Tina said that Copenhagen was selected for the 2014 European Green Capital Award with the goals of green mobility, clean water sources and becoming the world's first carbon-neutral city by 2025.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu said that Kaohsiung is Taiwan's largest industrial center and also Taiwan's largest international commercial port, and like Copenhagen it is a port city. Over the past 10-plus years, the city government has made considerable efforts to protect the environment and improve citizens' quality of life, such as greatly increasing the sewage sewer connection rate, setting up 159 public bicycle rental stations at MRT stations and important scenic spots, designating 650 km of dedicated bicycle lanes, and building flood detention ponds that combine ecology and flood control. Kaohsiung is gradually transforming into an ecological and livable city.