New York does not need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to creating a greener environment. In Curitaba, Brazil an ongoing experiment in urban planning to maximize green space and minimize waste of resources has been going on. In the early 1970s, when Brazil was welcoming any industry, no matter how toxic its by products, Curitiba admitted only non polluters; it constructed an industrial district that reserved so much land for green space that it was called a “golf course” by its detractors until it succeeded in filling up with major businesses while cities in other Latin American countries were in the doldrums. Through the creation of two dozen recreational parks, many with lakes to catch runoff in low-lying areas that flood at times, Curitiba managed to increase its green areas from 5 square feet per inhabitant to an amazing 560 square feet. The city promoted “green” policies before they were fashionable and called itself “the ecological capital of Brazil” in the 1980s, when there were no rivals for such an honor. Today, Curitiba remains a pilgrimage destination for urbanologists who are fascinated by its bus system, garbage-recycling program and network of parks. It is the answer to the question: How would cities look if urban planners, not politicians, took control?
New York City, in partnership with IDT Energy should lead the way in utilizing safe, clean energy generation, responsible use of resources, intelligent use of green energy and cost savings for its citizens. This will insure that New York continues to influence worldwide trends throughout the 21st century and beyond.