Freiburg, Germany: Germany’s Eco-Capital

Abstract

Nestled in the southern corner of Germany near the Swiss and French borders, the city of Freiburg has long been considered a model of sustainable development for Europe and the world (see table 3.1). Freiburg is a moderate-sized city of approximately 220,000 people, with a unique combination of topography, climate, leadership, and history that have merged to make it a pioneer in renewable energy (especially solar), nature protection, transportation, and environmental planning. Freiburg’s proliferation of renewable energy industries, clearly defined landscape plans and urban forests, vibrant public transportation system, and environmentally designed housing in projects in Rieselfeld, Wiehre Bahnhof, and Vauban reflect how environmental protection, economic growth, and social inclusion policies are not mutually exclusive, but interrelated. Freiburg’s success can be more appreciated when one considers that it has sustained steady and continuous population growth for over thirty years.