Did you know that cities all over the world are adopting new strategies to boost economic growth? Specifically, urban planners are looking to use strategies that balance environmental health, social well-being, and economic prosperity.

By designing urban spaces with sustainability in mind, cities are creating more job opportunities and building resilient economies for the future. How, exactly, does sustainable urban planning boost economic growth, though?

In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some case studies that illustrate how sustainable urban planning can boost economic growth. First, though, we’ll talk about what sustainable urban planning is and how it works.

What is Sustainable Urban Planning?

In a nutshell, sustainable urban planning involves designing cities and communities in ways that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

This means making certain choices about how cities use resources and interact with the environment. 

To give you a few examples, sustainable urban planning might include:

  • Efficient public transportation (in order to reduce traffic and carbon emissions)
  • Green infrastructure (like parks and urban forests) to improve air quality and biodiversity in the city
  • Renewable energy projects that lower dependence on fossil fuels
  • Waste reduction and recycling programs (which are meant to minimize environmental harm as much as possible)
  • Affordable housing to ensure inclusivity and equal access to resources

The great thing about these initiatives is they don’t just make cities more sustainable – they also create opportunities for economic growth (i.e. sustainable cities tend to attract new businesses and encourage innovation).

Small businesses, in particular, have a huge opportunity to grow in green cities. In order to succeed as a small business in a green city, though, understanding small business loan criteria is very important. We’ll talk about this in more detail below.

Opportunities For Small Businesses in Green Cities

These days, several governments are offering incentives and funding to support green projects. This makes it a lot easier for businesses to adopt sustainable practices (or even contribute to sustainable urban planning efforts). That said, you might still need to take out a small business loan (more on this shortly).

Companies that are involved in sustainable construction, renewable energy, or green technology shouldn’t have any trouble finding new customers in sustainable cities. Even if a company decides to take on a smaller project (like installing energy-efficient lighting, for example), this could lead to business growth.

By investing in green projects (e.g. taking out small business loans), small businesses can not only save on expenses but also gain easy access to SBA loans that are designed to support sustainability efforts.

Businesses that want to tap into these green initiatives might find platforms like Lendio helpful. Lendio connects small businesses with lenders that offer small business loans (including loans for green projects). It only takes about 15 minutes to apply for financing through Lendio. We’d definitely recommend it.

Case Studies

Here are some examples of cities that are currently leading the way in sustainable urban planning:

Singapore

Singapore is one of the cleanest cities in the world in terms of air quality. The city is filled with parks, and hiking and biking trails. For this reason, Singapore is a beautiful city, but its urban green spaces also make life more enjoyable for residents, lower temperatures, and support wildlife.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark is one of the greenest cities in the world. A major reason for this is that more than half of its residents commute by bicycle. The city is pushing to be carbon neutral and is a leader in recycling and urban agriculture.

Portland, Oregon (U.S.A)

Portland has over 300 miles of bike trails and a reliable public transit system. The city encourages sustainable practices like urban farming. In fact, it has several community gardens and farmers’ markets, and residents can even raise bees and small livestock if they want to.

Conclusion

Sustainable urban planning is clearly extremely important – both for economic growth and the health of the planet. As more cities embrace sustainable urban planning, we’re likely to see an increase in small businesses growing by participating in green incentives. Taking out small business loans for green projects is worth it, and with platforms like Lendio, it’s pretty easy, too!

Author

Rethinking The Future (RTF) is a Global Platform for Architecture and Design. RTF through more than 100 countries around the world provides an interactive platform of highest standard acknowledging the projects among creative and influential industry professionals.