Green Growth in Cities
This report synthesises the findings from six case studies of urban green growth policies, four at city level (Paris, Chicago, Stockholm, Kitakyushu) and two at the national level (China, Korea). It offers a definition of urban green growth and a framework for analysing how it might play out in different types of cities. It demonstrates the importance of urban policies for achieving national environmental policy goals and discusses the increased efficiency of policy intervention at the urban level. It identifies urban activities to reduce environmental impact that are most likely to contribute to the policy priorities of job creation, urban attractiveness, metro-regional supply of green products and services, and increased urban land values. It also provides guidance on addressing potential financing and governance challenges that may arise in pursuing urban green growth. Finally, the report offers a preliminary proposal for how green growth in cities could be measured.
Foreword
Green growth has been a strategic pillar of the OECD’s work since 2009, when OECD member countries mandated the organisation to develop a Green Growth Strategy. Green growth has entered almost all areas of work across the OECD, including the Directorate for Public Governance and Territorial Development. The directorate’s mission is to help governments at all levels design and implement strategic, evidencebased and innovative policies to strengthen public governance; respond effectively to diverse and disruptive economic, social and environmental challenges; and deliver on governments’ commitments to their citizens.