Green Cities – More Than a Trend, It’s Today’s Necessity
In an era of climate challenges and growing environmental awareness, the concept of Green Cities has ceased to be a utopian vision of futurists and has become an urgent necessity of contemporary urban planning. What started as a grassroots social movement in Berkeley in the 1970s has today transformed into one of the most important trends in urban development worldwide, particularly in Europe.
Revolution’s Roots: From Berkeley to Brussels
The history of Green Cities dates back to 1975, when a group of visionary architects and activists from the Urban Ecology organization in Berkeley first looked at cities through the lens of natural ecosystems. Richard Register, the pioneer of this movement, in his groundbreaking publication „Ecocity Berkeley: Building Cities for a Healthy Future” from 1987, introduced the term „ecocity” – an urban center functioning like a self-sufficient biological organism.
Register and his team created a definition that still sets urban development standards today: „An ecocity is a human settlement modeled on the self-sustaining, resilient structure and function of natural ecosystems.” Crucially – such a city not only doesn’t harm the environment but actively supports it, producing more renewable resources than it consumes and eliminating more pollution than it generates.
European Green Deal: Who Really Stands Behind This Transformation
The true catalyst for the mass introduction of Green Cities concepts in Europe turned out to be the European Green Deal, presented by the European Commission in December 2019. This is an initiative of unprecedented scale – the European Commission committed to mobilizing at least 1 trillion euros in sustainable investments, with an additional Fund providing an estimated 72.2 billion euros over 7 years to finance building renovations, access to zero-emission and low-emission mobility.
Behind this transformation are primarily politicians and officials from Brussels, but equally important roles are played by local leaders of European cities who saw in the Green Deal an opportunity to secure significant financial resources while simultaneously improving residents’ quality of life.
Who Actually Benefits from Green Cities?
Analysis of recent years shows that the main beneficiaries of this transformation are:
City residents – who gain better air quality, access to recreational areas, and overall improvement in living conditions. As experts note, smart cities are not an end in themselves – they are an idea connecting many actions leading to the development of cities where life will be more pleasant, healthier, more convenient, and cheaper.
Construction and technology sectors – companies specializing in green technologies, building energy renovation, or smart city systems find new, dynamically developing markets.
Local authorities – which through implementing projects related to city greening can obtain significant co-financing from European funds.
Real estate sector – properties in green locations gain value, which is particularly visible in rankings of the best cities to live in.
Poland on the Green Cities Map
Research conducted by the Schuman Foundation in 2021 showed that in Poland, Lublin became the leader of „green” cities, with Katowice in second place and Łódź in third. At the same time, the latest analyses from 2025 show that in terms of the share of green areas in the city’s surface, Zielona Góra leads with over 67.5% of the area, while Koszalin achieves even 70%.
These differences in rankings show that a „green city” is a multidimensional concept – it’s not just about the number of trees per square kilometer, but about a comprehensive approach to sustainable development, including public transport, waste management, energy efficiency, and civic participation.
Trend or Necessity? The Future of Green Cities
Green Cities today are much more than an ecological trend. They are a response to the pressing challenges of the 21st century: climate change, air pollution, natural resource shortages, and growing urbanization. Access to green areas in European cities is not equal, which means we still have a long way to go to fully realize the ecocity vision.
In the coming years, we can expect further development of this trend, driven not only by environmental considerations but also economic ones. Cities that do not adapt to new standards may lose access to European development funds, but also competitiveness in attracting residents, tourists, and investors.
A Revolution That’s Just Beginning
The concept of Green Cities, born in California’s Berkeley almost half a century ago, today shapes the face of European metropolises. From a grassroots social movement, it has transformed into the mainstream of urban policy, supported by billion-dollar investments from Brussels.
The real winners of this transformation are not only city residents benefiting from cleaner air and better quality of life, but also entrepreneurs able to see the potential in green technologies and politicians skillfully utilizing European funds.
Green Cities have ceased to be a utopia – they have become a reality that defines the future of European urbanism. The question is no longer „whether,” but „how quickly” the next metropolises will join this green revolution.