The importance of urban and green infrastructure – European Year of Greener Cities 2022
4.6.2020
Question for oral answer O-000039/2020
to the Commission
Rule 136
Sirpa Pietikäinen, Christel Schaldemose, Karin Karlsbro, Bas Eickhout, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Idoia Villanueva Ruiz
on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
The ‘European Year of Greener Cities 2022’ is the initiative of a platform of European NGOs consisting of organisations covering issues ranging from the rights of children, persons with disabilities and elderly people, to allergy and asthma sufferers, sports organisations, environmental groups and citizens’ organisations. Its aim is to highlight the fact that bringing nature into cities and greening our neighbourhoods is one of the biggest underutilised opportunities to increase the quality of life of European citizens; to increase the quantity and quality of research and the development of new innovations; to encourage citizens to act and improve their own neighbourhoods; to create a culture of appreciation of green spaces; to increase the number of green infrastructure projects; to create a roadmap for greening European cities by 2030; and, ultimately, to connect all of the existing initiatives in the area of green infrastructure, share best practices and create momentum for the overall agenda at local, national and EU level.
Green infrastructure could address many of the challenges faced by urban environments, such as extreme weather, biodiversity loss, CO 2 retention, pollution and health risks, in a simple and cost-effective manner.
- 1.Does the Commission envisage creating, or supporting the creation of, a themed year on greener cities in 2022 that would draw attention to the importance of green infrastructure in urban environments?
- 2.How is the Commission currently facilitating the exchange of best and innovative practices between Member States and cities on greening urban environments? Furthermore, in the light of the report on the review of progress on implementation of the EU green infrastructure strategy, what measures will the Commission take to scale up the deployment of green infrastructure and to address the issues raised?
Submitted: 04/06/2020
Lapses: 05/09/2020