2015년 2월 1일 일요일

[BBC Travel] What Copenhagen can teach the world

BEYOND THE HEADLINES | 13 April 2012

What Copenhagen can teach the world

By Suemedha Sood

Cyclists bike down path in the center of Copenhagen, Denmark. (Associated Press)

Copenhagen frequently tops rankings of the world’s happiest, most liveable and best-designed cities.

This is likely because the city strives for sustainability in nearly every aspect of policy and culture. While Denmark’s capital may not be perfect, its successes in a few key areas provide teaching points for metropolises around the world.

Work/life balance
Family is central to Danish life. According to BBC News, parents typically receive an entire year of maternity/paternity leave (which can be spread out over nine years), half fully paid and half up to 90% paid. In addition, government subsidies often cover 75% of pre-kindergarten childcare costsand the majority of education and healthcare. Culturally, BBC News adds, there is little pressure to work overtime, leaving people more time to spend with their families.

While all of this leads to much higher taxes (Denmark has the highest income tax in the world), Danes are willing to bear the cost since, studies show, they have a high degree of trust in their government.

Infrastructure
The importance of liveability in Danish culture is exemplified in the sustainable infrastructure of its capital city. Copenhagen is friendly to pedestrians, and perhaps even friendlier to cyclists. Nearly 480,000 people (40% of residents) commute by bike each day, causing some to call Copenhagen the number one cycling city in the world. The city’s bike-sharing program, Bycyklen København, provides bikes to locals and visitors for free, and Copenhagen has a network of about 350km of off-road bike paths, complete with traffic lights. Plus, there’s the S-tog commuter train, the Metro and an extensive bus system.

Residents usually prefer to cycle or take public transport since there are deterrents to driving in Denmark – namely, some of the highest petrol prices in the world and a petrol tax of about 4 Danish kroner per litre.

Sustainable architecture is also central to city policy. Most new buildings, for example, are required to have roofs covered with plants and vegetation, and most old buildings have been retrofitted to meet these standards. Green roofs reduce storm water runoff and help control the building’s interior climate, reducing both utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition city plans say that by 2015, 90% of residents will be able to walk to a green space in just 15 minutes.

Copenhagen is also trying to diversify its energy portfolio, purchasing some wind energy, for instance, from the nearby Danish island of Samsø. Samsø is an inspiration for Denmark’s capital, as it is an entirely carbon-neutral island that produces 100% of its electricity with wind power.

As Copenhagen itself strives to be carbon-neutral itself by 2025, sustainable economic growth remains a major concern. To address the challenge of merging environmental and economic goals, Copenhagen will host the Global Green Growth Forum, an annual summit of 200 world leaders, this October.

Science and technologyThe city’s many research companies are being joined by thriving medical technology and communications technology sectors, all big job creators, according to the German news source Der Spiegel. The broader entrepreneurial tech sector is flourishing as well. Copenhagen is turning into a major startup city, which some attribute to its commitment to design and its culture of collaboration. The city hosts many events to support entrepreneurs, such as startup “bootcamps” and competitions for seed funding.

Indulgence
One of the biggest contributing factors to Copenhagen’s happiness and liveability is purely cultural: Copenhageners know how to have a good time while also taking care of the environment. Copenhagen consumes more organic food than any other place in Europe, is home to more breweries per capita than anywhere else in Europe (many of which are organic), and also has more Michelin stars than any other Scandinavian city – 14 to be exact. Leading the city’s recent food and drink renaissance, is Noma, a local food-obsessed establishment named the world’s best restaurant two years in a row.

Mixology is also blossoming in Copenhagen, with craft cocktail professionals promoting inventive concoctions beyond just beer.

Travelwise is a BBC Travel column that goes behind the travel stories to answer common questions, satisfy uncommon curiosities and uncover some of the mystery surrounding travel. If you have a burning travel question, contact Travelwise.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the number of residents that commute by bike each day. This has been fixed.

2014년 10월 12일 일요일

[CNN] The CNN 10 Healthiest Cities - Copenhagen

Where happiness is the truth

1 of 10

By Danielle Dellorto, CNN

Copenhagen is a bustling city full of ambitious professionals and young families. Yet working long hours here is frowned upon.

Just 2% of employees in Copenhagen work 40 hours a week or more, according to an OECD report, freeing them up to spend time with family, join organized sports, volunteer or participate in other community programs.

The cost to participate in those programs, which range from laughter yoga in the park to basket weaving? Free. This helps encourage residents to get involved.

Their ability to balance work with quality time with friends and family not only keeps their stress levels down, it gives them a happiness boost. Studies show that people who focus on experiences versus things have higher levels of satisfaction long after the moment has passed. That’s one reason Denmark takes the top spot as the happiest nation in the annual World Happiness Reportcommissioned by the United Nations.

Other things play into Copenhagen's relaxed atmosphere. Residents walk to restaurants and walk to get groceries. There are outdoor food markets with fresh produce and vegetables within a few blocks of most spots in the city.

Men cycle to work in their slim-fit suits, and women don’t shy away from pairing a bike helmet with their sundresses and wedge heels. The city has 249 miles of bike paths, which makes biking an easy and safe option. And people use them: Nearly half of commuters in Copenhagen travel to work or school by bike each day.

Though parks and bike paths are plentiful, the government is upping its efforts. By 2015, all residents must be able to reach a park or beach by foot in less than 15 minutes, according to a new official municipal policy. Many of the new parks created will be “pocket parks,” or small green spaces for city residents. The hope is that they will help keep residents fit and help the environment by reducing traffic and pollution.

Here’s one more stat that may make you want to start packing your bags for Denmark: Ninety-six percent of residents in Copenhagen say they can count on someone if they are in need.

This supportive society is just another reason Copenhagen earns a spot as one of the healthiest (and happiest) cities.

The 10 cities: Copenhagen, Okinawa, Monte Carlo, Vancouver, Melbourne, New York, Jonkoping, Havana, Singapore, Napa
http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2014/09/health/cnn10-healthiest-cities/?sr=fb090614HealthiestCities12pStoryLink

Introduction

Our health is not just a byproduct of how we live. It’s also about where we live. Just ask the residents of these 10 cities.

A truly healthy city makes it easy for residents to adopt a healthful lifestyle, whether it’s by providing quality health care, encouraging preventive medicine or reducing air pollution. These cities top our list because they shine in one or more areas of good health.

The leaders of these cities have implemented laws and policies that ensure locals have access to parks, nutritious food and public transportation. They’ve created innovative programs to combat disease and increased the quality of life for residents long into old age.

But of course, good health isn’t just up to the government. Citizen engagement is also crucial when it comes to creating a healthy community.

In response to a query from CNN iReport, residents of Napa, California, and other cities around the globe told us how their city inspires good health and why they strive to make wellness a priority. From line dancing to surfing rivers to life-size games of chess, they show us that staying active doesn’t have to be a chore.

So take a quick trip around the globe with The CNN 10 and pick up a tip or two from these healthy cities. Your body and mind will thank you.