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The UK Leads Europe in the development of eco-cities. Unfamiliar with the term?  Researchers at the University of Westminster, together with teams from Johns Hopkins University and the Smithsonian Institute have released the first comprehensive, international survey on eco-cities.  They define the eco-cities as projects “aimed at achieving various environmental, social and economic sustainability goals,” and “encouraging, renewable energy use, promoting public transport, reducing waste, improving water quality, and generally making cities more habitable for its residents. “

According to Professor Simon Joss, lead researcher, University of Westminster, the concept of eco-cities and the increase of these projects in mainstream government policy making, reflects “the key role played by cites both as the cause of, and potential solution to” environmental changes, 

He said the study aimed to gain a better understanding of the innovation and governance processes that “drive and shape eco-city developments” and sought to discover why eco-cities “seem to have become globally mainstream in such a short period of time.”

The study profiles details of 174 eco-cities projects around the world. China led with 25 eco-cities in the works. And Asia in general took the lead with a third of all eco-cities projects taking place in that part of the world. 

In Europe, the UK led with 17 eco-cities projects, compared to 13 in its nearest rival, France. Among the UK projects profiled were Aberdeen, Glasgow, London’s Elephant and Castle. The Isle of Wight’s Eco-Island project was a late inclusion on the list.

For full details of the eco-cities survey, including a full, downloadable copy of the Global Eco-cities Survey, visit the University of Westminster’s Eco-Cities website.