Throughout my time here in Paris I have grown to love the sustainability and greenery of the city. From the many parks to the policy initiatives, I appreciate the care put into making a major city like Paris green, yet functional.

I am taking a class called “Green Growth, Sustainability, and The New Economy” which has a major focus on how Paris’s sustainable policies compare to cities worldwide. The most recent mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, worked very hard to shift car dependability within the city to biking! She removed half of the parking spaces in the city and lowered the speed limit of the highway surrounding the city in order to incentivize Parisians to ditch the cars and ride a bike or metro. The amount of bikes lanes matches the lanes for cars! I absolutely love this push towards greener modes of transportation, especially when it comes to walking the streets of Paris. As a pedestrian, the air feels cleaner and there is less sound pollution.

A more scenic and classic part of Paris is the beautiful parks. I have found that I can stumble across a park whenever I wander the city, something I have not taken for granted. My favorite park is called Park Buttes Chaumont in Belleville, on the edge of the 19th arrondissement. I love to bring a book and headphones there to relax in the sun. It is the perfect spot for people watching because this park is very popular amongst locals. These plentiful parks provide more than just a nice place to relax, they also act as “cooling islands” which is very important to have in cities that are consistently heating up. The shade offered in parks and gardens helps to provide a cool environment during the hot summer months and they are completely free to use!

I love to learn about these policies applied to such a popular and historic city. It solidifies the idea that any city can implement sustainable infrastructure and initiatives if one of the most touristic and aesthetic city can. Enjoying the beautiful weather in this green city!