As 2015 came to an end, 195 of the world's nations came together to adopt a major plan for tackling climate change.
That landmark agreement, reached after two weeks of negotiations at the United Nations' COP21 summit in Paris, is a big deal for the future of the planet.
But sometimes, the battle against climate change starts at the local level. Many individual cities and communities have led the way in creating projects and initiatives that promote environmental sustainability.
That's not a surprise to Max Young, vice president of global communications and marketing at 100 Resilient Cities, an organization that helps cities prepare for "physical, social, and economic challenges," including climate change. The reason, he says, is simple: "cities can act."
"Whether it's controlling a police force or a transit system, cities are not paralyzed by politics — most times, they're pragmatic," Young, whose group brought together mayors from around the globe to participate in a "Resilience Day" at COP21, explained to Refinery29. "If you look at the federal governments around the world, they're polarized and paralyzed by politics. Cities, by and large, don't find themselves in that situation."
From a mesmerizing pedestrian bridge in Copenhagen to Rotterdam's storm-drainage system — which doubles as a park — we've rounded up some of the best ways that individual cities are paving the way in the fight against climate change.
Copenhagen's Pedestrian Bridge
Steven Holl Architects' Copenhagen Gate, a pedestrian bridge project, is as awe-inspiring as it is eco-friendly. The proposed bridge would connect two skyscrapers — facilitating commuters traveling by foot — all while suspended 213 feet above water. The architects are conducting studies on how to make the bridge as accessible as possible for pedestrians. Construction on the Copenhagen Gate is planned to begin later this year.
Copenhagen is already way ahead of the pedestrian-friendly curve — no homes in Copenhagen can be more than 500 meters from public transport, Fast Company notes.
Photo: Courtesy of Steven Holl Architects.
School Districts Institute "Meatless Mondays"
In 2013, the Los Angeles Unified School District instituted an official rule that schools won't serve meat in its cafeterias on Mondays. And since Los Angeles has the United States' second-largest public school district, going meatless even one day a week could have a huge environmental impact.
Besides exposing children to a variety of vegetables and protein options, meatless Mondays also help schools cut down on water usage and reduce their carbon footprint. A 2014 study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that giving up red meat could reduce our carbon footprints more than giving up cars would.
Photo: Tooga/Getty Images.
Rotterdam's Drain System That's Also A Park
Rotterdam, Netherlands has an incredibly aesthetically pleasing way of collecting runoff water. De Urbanisten, a Rotterdam-based urban design company, created the Benthemplein water square, a drainage system that doubles as a public park.
Rainfall management is a top priority in Rotterdam, Next City explains. A warming globe has caused the sea level to rise, which in turn means there are more frequent storm surges and increased rainfall in Europe.
The Benthemplein water square, which lies in a high-flood district, combines the functionality of keeping the area dry with creating a new space that's accessible for residents. When there's not excess rainfall, the water square doubles as a skate park and amphitheater. "It improves social cohesion," Young told Refinery29 of the water square.
Photo: Ossip van Duivenbode/Courtesy of De Urbanisten.
San Francisco's Push For Zero Waste
San Francisco has a lofty goal — completely eliminating waste from the city by 2020.
Much of San Francisco's initiative includes encouraging consumers to buy less so that they'll produce less waste. The city has banned single-use plastic bags and encourages consumers to bring their own reusable mugs to coffee shops, dining in rather than using takeout containers, and bringing their own food storage containers to bring leftovers home.
In addition, more than half of waste in landfills could be recycled or composted, according to the San Francisco Department of the Environment. San Francisco has instituted green compost bins, and the food scraps are used to create natural fertilizers for local farms.
Waste management may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about climate change. But according to the EPA, between 1% and 5% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States come from traditional waste management services.
Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.
Auckland's Plan To Reduce Emissions
Auckland, New Zealand recently joined C40, a network of cities dedicated to fighting climate change. Auckland, which has a goal of significantly reducing emissions by 2040, wants to become "the world's most livable city," according to C40.
To reach its lofty goals, Auckland is focusing on improving public transportation systems. The city is also developing a "Natural Hazards Risk Management Action Plan" for adapting to climate change and being prepared for natural hazards, C40 notes.
Photo: Alex Livesey/FIFA/Getty Images.
Smog-Eating Paint
Beijing's fight against murky smog has been ongoing for years, and residents are constantly thinking of new ways to combat the pollution. One of the most creative proposals is Ecopaint, a titanium dioxide paint solution that reduces levels of nitrogen oxides in the air.
Titanium dioxide literally eats the nitrogen oxides, which contribute to air pollution. The paint uses natural sunlight's UV rays to neutralize the nitrogen oxides.
New York and Mexico have used titanium dioxide to fight pollution in the past. Gizmodo's Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan proposes that Beijing, too, should use solutions like Ecopaint to fight its smog crisis.
Photo: Wu Wei/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images.
Boulder's Flood Management Plans
When extreme rainfall hit Colorado in 2013, Boulder avoided what could have been devastating damage, thanks to its diligent planning.
The 2013 flooding, which the National Weather Service said is likely to happen less than every 1,000 years, left Boulder "damaged but not destroyed," according to Next City. If Boulder hadn't been prepared for the effects of climate change, which include storm surges and heavy rainfall, the destruction could have been significantly worse.
Colorado's planning centered on the idea of adapting to the floods and accommodating them, rather than trying to contain them. Urban flood planners used rocks to create drop structures in Boulder Creek, making the water less likely to overflow. The planners also made sure that the bridges bordering Boulder Creek are "breakaway bridges" — they'll let the water flow through them, rather than crumbling and becoming dangerous debris.
The Colorado planners may not have had all of climate change's effects in mind when planning for the flooding. But Boulder's forward thinking could be an effective guide for other cities that may experience increased flooding as a result of climate change.
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