The remarkable green transformation of Germany’s Ruhr area

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The Ruhr region, Europe’s third-largest conurbation, is home to over five million people, with more than half of them residing in the cities of Duisburg, Oberhausen, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Bottrop, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Bochum, and Dortmund. It is also one of the most multicultural regions of Germany, where residents come from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. 

In the last few decades, the Ruhr Metropole has undergone a remarkable transformation. Whereas mining and the steel industry characterized the people and landscape of the Ruhr region in the previous century, today, this city is known for some of the most progressive green policies and a very high level of innovations. How was this extraordinary change achieved?

In Ruhr area’s transformation story, The Internationale Bauausstellung Emscher Park played a very important role. It began in 1989 with the goal of providing impetus for conceptual structural change in the central Ruhr area. Landscape planning and urban development projects spanning over 800 square kilometers were implemented to revitalize the former industrial region’s ecology, economy, and culture, which was a very ambitious goal. 

Cities, initiatives and partners collaborated to carry out 117 projects with an ultimate goal to give this former industrial region a massive face-lift. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia initiated the IBA Emscher Park. In addition to state funds, federal and EU funds were also used for financing. Some other German cities have also undergone similar transformations in the past. However, hardly any was as remarkable as this one. This is primarily due to the Ruhr region’s more holistic approach, which ensured that no aspect was overlooked on the road to becoming an urban, green, and vibrant metropolitan area.

The results of this remarkable change are very much present today. This transformation made global headlines and drew significant attention to this entire region. Nowadays, North Rhine-Westphalia is one of Germany’s most vital socioeconomic regions, and it has long been a popular location for foreign companies looking to establish a European base. The achievements of the previous breakthrough were further recognized with numerous awards won by the cities in the Ruhr area.

The European Commission named Dortmund as the European Capital of Innovation in 2021. The award recognizes cities’ long-term efforts to foster an environment that fosters and inspires creativity. Dortmund, once an industrial city, has undergone significant transformations and has succeeded in transforming itself into a modern, sustainable, and multicultural city where technology and innovation thrive. 

Furthermore, the city of Essen was named the European Green Capital for 2017. The European Green Capital Award recognizes and rewards efforts and commitment to improving the urban environment and raising awareness of the importance of environmental change at the local level. According to the European Commission, The award encourages cities to commit to ambitious goals for further environmental improvement. The French city of Grenoble is carrying the title of the European Green Capital for 2022, while the winning city for next year is the Estonian capital Tallinn

This innovative German region is not showing signs of slowing down. In the recent past, this region has put a strong focus on one of the most urgent issues we are faced with – the climate. Climate policy initiatives and projects in the region are conducted as part of the umbrella project titled klimametropole RUHR 2022 (Climate Metropolis RUHR 2022). In pursuit of a more sustainable future, the ambitious project focuses on creating opportunities for exchange, presenting innovative ideas and solutions through various projects and increasing the awareness about this issue in society. (photo credit: rawpixel. com/Freepik)