Copenhagen - The world’s greenest capital city? | DW Documentary

Copenhagen is renowned for being bike friendly and for its cutting-edge design and architecture. But the Danish capital has also become a hub of environmental protection and sustainability.

Once a fishing village, today Copenhagen is a bustling metropolis where designers turn fabric remnants into hip fashion and restaurants grow lettuce in indoor warehouses. City architect Camilla van Deurs says the goal is to create a livable city. Internationally renowned Copenhagen-based architect Bjarke Ingels calls it ‘hedonistic sustainability.’ The documentary shows us around the city and introduces us to the people that are helping to make Copenhagen one of the best places in the world to live.

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[michaelzieniewicz]

As a resident of Copenhagen, I feel compelled to offer a different perspective on the city's portrayal as the greenest. While Copenhagen undoubtedly has its charms, the reality of its environmental efforts often falls short of the glossy image projected.

Let's talk trees - or rather, the lack thereof. Contrary to the narrative, the city isn't exactly teeming with greenery. In fact, the municipality's reluctance to invest in tree planting has resulted in a noticeable scarcity of foliage, with existing trees often falling victim to budgetary concerns. Remember that wave of excitement when they planted a slew of trees a few years back? Well, they were promptly deposited in a forest miles away from the urban sprawl. Yet, conveniently, they're still counted in Copenhagen's 'green' credentials.

And then there are the heralded projects like CopenHill and urban gardening initiatives. While touted as groundbreaking, they're hardly novel and certainly not representative of everyday life for Copenhageners. Instead, new urban developments predominantly feature a sea of concrete and glass, with sustainability taking a backseat to profit margins.

Let's not forget Lynetteholm, a stark reminder of misplaced priorities where community well-being takes a backseat to monetary gain.

Copenhagen is a city with immense potential for environmental stewardship, but the current narrative of it being the greenest capital couldn't be further from the truth. So, by all means, visit, enjoy the sights, but let's not turn a blind eye to the reality beneath the surface. Only through honest critique and a collective commitment to change can we hope to see Copenhagen truly live up to its green aspirations. Thank you.

[WaclawKusnierczyk]

The most accurate part of the title is the question mark.
If you've ever lived in Copenhagen, you must have noticed how little green there is, save for a few parks.

[ekno]

I live near Malmö so I get to visit Copenhagen fairly often. I absolutely love exploring Copenhagen. Never seen so many innovations that looked as modern and fun while respecting the environment the way as in this city. It is truly a city of the Future. Congrats to the Danish people!

[breal]

Many thanks to DW for creating such well-produced documentaries and for making them accessible. It's great to know that there are some forward-thinking politicians and corporations who genuinely care about the citizens (no such luck here in the States).

[Deleted_personality]

Somewhere around 60% of denmark is agricultural land. Wild nature is almost nonexistent. We have several organizations where private citizens can donate to buy back land from farmers to save nature, because our shifting goverments utterly fail to protect nature time and time again.
The danish populations consumption is such that if everyone on the planet lived like us we would need 1, 7 earths to sustain it.
But our politicians sure are talented at greenwashing, bullshitting and padding themselves on the back and the population, for the most, buy into it.
Things could be better, they'll probably get worse, seems to be the worldwide trend these days.

[colonel.h.stinkmeaner]

As an American, I have to say, I really appreciate all of the documentaries DW puts together. Engaging, informative, and broad in scope - the quality of your documentary channel is unmatched.

[gr-gxzy]

Positively shocked to say at least that ppl from Belgrade came for advice and want to do something positive for the city. Hope they actually do something and that this was not some part time vacation for them. Same change needs in Novi Sad and other Serbian cities.

[najah.]

As a Dane I feel proud!🎉🇩🇰 But I feel like there is a need to say, that this only looks so good because most countries don't do any climate actions at all.
All of these things in the video is great, but Denmark is still behind on it's climate targets for 2030.
I wish more Danes demanded more from the government in accordance to climate actions.

[DanielSouza-mhqb]

Love Copenhagen! What a beautiful place to visit & enjoy!

[stefanmiletic]

Sorry but am I crazy, as a tourist I just didn't see Copenhagen being even close to being green at all let alone, , greenest capital city''. Even in this documentary, everything is gray and bare concrete. One rooftop garden and garbage incinerator are just not green in my eyes. A lot of streets in the city center are like a canyon with concrete and stone. Berlin and Stockholm are much bigger cities and they are just a gazillion times greener than Copenhagen. Using bicycles everywhere is nice for the environment but if they want to have, the, greenest capital city'' they need more. Also not a huge fan of the star architect his architecture is just green in his eyes but realistically speaking he has a lot of projects that you can clearly see that maximizing profit was the main goal. A lot of greenwashing and gimmicky stuff such as vertical farming not a lot of nature-oriented projects.

[CnMinus]

The title is a bit funny to read as a Swede. Whenever I travel over from Malmö and exit the train, the central station area absolutely reeks of diesel because the Danish trains still run on this stuff. In Sweden that's not the case. That being said, Copenhagen is still a great town to visit any day of the year! ... but environmentally friendly? The feeling I get when visiting is that the ambition is there but the reality is different.

[pristine_the_tech_guy]

DW is the best in Documentary. What an amazing piece of work. Thanks for giving us great documentaries this far

[troygoss]

As a u.s. citizen, i find sad that our country is so behind times, globally. The infrastructure is crumbling. Our leaders put the money in the military industrial complex.

[samuelmatara]

Copenhagen is a beautiful city. I was there last year.

[jim]

More documentaries like this should be made. Its good to know that others are also doing something about the future.

[RobertoPoncebk]

A well educated country and one of the most beautiful and sustainable capitals of the world, tbis documentary is a good example of how to invest and create a beautiful life in beautiful Copenhagen❤

[lesliespeaker]

Copenhagen has an extraordinary good indie pop scene.

[miriamzajfman]

We do have a lot to learn from them ! - Canada

[KJSvitko]

Riding a bicycle is a great way to exercise. Ebikes are bringing many older adults back to cycling.
Cities need to do more to encourage people to ride bicycles. Safe protected bike lanes and trails are needed so adults and children can ride safely. Speak up for bicycles in your community. Bicycles make life and cities better. Ask your local transportation planner and elected officials to support more protected bike lanes and trails. Children should be riding a bicycle to school and not be driven in a minivan. Be healthier and happier. Ride a bicycle regularly.

[mohammedsaysrashid]

Another wonderful documentary about Copenhagen city... government and people coordinate between themselves for increasing living green 💚 area's, cleaning polluted positions, converting trash to clean electricity ( environment friend 🧡), reducing atmospheric warming by bicycle 💚🚲 💚... good doing by respectful 🙏 Danmark....thank you 🙏 ( DW) documentary channel for sharing