Barcelona to Invest $628 Million to Become a Greener City

Barcelona, Spain is planning to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in the next decade, after declaring a “climate emergency” and calling for a “paradigm shift” to a new green economic model to protect future generations.

City officials called for cooperation by all – from residents to multinational corporations as well as the port and airport – in order to help the government meet its emissions reductions target.

To start the push forward, the city hall is planning to invest $628 million, on actions including producing more renewable energy, improving energy efficiency in residential buildings, reducing the number of private cars on roads and improving its door-to-door waste collection and recycling.

The city also plans to enlarge public green space by 40 hectares, designate a hundred municipal facilities as “climate shelters” for when heatwaves or floods hit, and pedestrianize more areas.