Denmark’s capital city stands out as an international leader in sustainable development.
Strolling through the historic streets of Copenhagen, visitors may find their eyes drawn to crowds of cheerful cyclists on their daily commutes, swimmers enjoying a dip in one of the many harbor baths, or residents enjoying a breath of fresh air at one of the city’s picturesque parks.
Caught up by the sights and sounds of the city, visitors may not notice the Google Street View car rolling through town, equipped with an array of technologically advanced air quality measurement sensors which detect a number of particles like black carbon (soot), fine and ultrafine particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxides. Tucked into the heart of the city, they may also look over Copenhagen’s Street Lab, a center for public-private partnerships and a living test area for cutting-edge smart and sustainable technologies.
Amongst the countless coffee shops and eateries that have brought the city international acclaim, vital work is being carried out by scholars and policymakers to make Copenhagen one of the most sustainable cities in the world.
Recent reports call Copenhagen one of the ‘coolest’ cities to visit in the world, and since 2014 the city has earned countless accolades, such as being named the European Green Capital by the EU and the “Most Livable City” by Monocle.
These awards have been earned for success in a number of sustainable development initiatives, ranging from advanced air quality measurement systems, to the implementation of smart street lights, and the promotion of alternative forms of transportation like cycling.
Copenhagen is especially remarkable for its commitment to clean air through ‘Project Air View,’ a unique partnership between Google, university researchers, and the local government. From 2018-2019, a Google Street View car, equipped with air quality measurement technology developed by researchers at Utrecht University, rolled through the streets of Copenhagen to collect information on pollutants in the city’s air.
Dr. Roel Vermeulen, Professor of Environmental Epidemiology and Exposome Science at Utrecht University, noted this project “is unique, because it allows us to use actual measurements at street level to map air pollution at an unprecedented resolution in an entire city. This wealth of data will help us to better understand what drives air quality in Copenhagen and what improvements we can make.”
In the years that have followed since Project Air View, leaders and researchers in Copenhagen have developed new programs and more advanced technologies to continue monitoring and improving air quality. Since 2016, the city has worked with private firms to develop small, portable measurement devices that can be moved quickly in order to monitor air conditions across Copenhagen. These devices, and the data they collect, have played key roles in informing the decisions of policymakers and promoting legislation that seeks to cut carbon emissions and promote clean air initiatives.