A capital, recognized as a green city, that converts waste into energy, prioritizes bicycles, and designs the future with bold architecture.
Copenhagen, the Danish capital, rewrites the rules of urban planning with projects that merge sustainability, innovation, and quality of life.
From a ski slope built on top of a waste incineration plant to urban rooftop gardens, the city is moving towards its goal of being the world’s first climate-neutral capital. With 60% of daily commutes by bike, green infrastructures, and controversial megaprojects, this metropolis with 1.3 million inhabitants demonstrates that ecology and urban hedonism can coexist.
Ski slope on waste incineration plant[/caption>
CopenHill: skiing on an incineration plant
Inaugurated in 2017, CopenHill is the most iconic symbol of this transformation. This facility burns 70 tons of waste per hour – from 300 daily trucks– to generate electricity and heating, while its roof hosts a 500-meter ski slope. “Normally these plants are isolated, but we want citizens to see how we turn problems into solutions,” explains a spokesman. The design by architect Viar Que Ingel includes a glass elevator with views into the incinerator and scalable walls, attracting both skiers and tourists.
Sustainable mobility: the reign of the bicycle
60% of the population uses a bicycle daily, thanks to a network of 500 km of lanes. “Here, everyone cycles: doctors, politicians, children. If you make it the fastest option, people choose it,” says Mikael Colville-Andersen, an expert in urban mobility. The city invested 300 million euros in the last decade to expand cycling infrastructures, although it now faces a new challenge: “We must create more bike parking, even above railway tracks,” warns a planner.
Bike parking[/caption>
Waste transformed into energy and the green city raising awareness
The Green Kayak initiative combines leisure and activism: anyone can sail for free in a kayak if they collect garbage from the canals. “We have removed 94 tons of waste with 60,000 volunteers,” celebrates one of its founders. Meanwhile, in the fashion industry, designers like Sigurd Bank promote upcycling, creating premium garments from textile waste. “Buying less is key, even if it sounds contradictory coming from a designer,” he admits.
Urban agriculture: gardens at height and cultivation facilities
On top of a garage, ØsterGro –the first rooftop urban garden in Denmark– grows organic food on 600 m². “We want to reconnect urbanites with nature,” explains Livia Banu Schønnemann, co-founder of the project. On a larger scale, Anders Riemann operates Europe’s largest indoor farm: 14 levels of cultivation producing 210 times more lettuce than a traditional field. “This way, we free up land for reforestation,” he argues.
Lynetteholm: the artificial island that divides opinions
The most controversial project is Lynetteholm, a 3 km² artificial island that will house 35,000 people and protect the coast from floods. While its promoters highlight that it will use 100 million tons of leftover construction soil, critics like Colville-Andersen warn: “It will destroy marine biodiversity and worsen the water quality of the Baltic Sea.” The project, scheduled for 2070, reflects the dilemma between urban growth and environmental preservation.
Green city: a model inspiring the world
Copenhagen, the green city, proves that sustainability is not a sacrifice, but a radical redesign of urban life. With an approach that integrates circular energy, active mobility, and hyperlocal agriculture, the city attracts global urban planners. “Here, every project must enhance daily life,” summarizes Camila Fandals, municipal architect since 2019. While debates like Lynetteholm’s continue, the Danish capital keeps pedaling towards its green future.
