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City of Luxembourg

G. Do you think that the lifestyle of the inhabitants of your town or city reflects behaviour that is in line with the concept of sustainable development? In your opinion, what should be improved?

April 5, 2013, Alejandra Manzanares Bertrán. IE EMBA Candidate - Class Nov 2013

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Index

1. Introduction2. Sustainable development3. Measures from Luxembourg’s public

authorities4. Luxembourgish citizens behaviour5. What could be improved? 6. Sources of information

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1.Introduction• The city of Luxembourg is the capital of the Country of Luxembourg • The city only represents 10% of the countries’ population• In December 2012, the City of Luxembourg recorded 100,390

inhabitants and additional 30,000 daily cross-border employees from Belgium, France and Germany

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1.Introduction – cont’d• Only 33% of the 100,390 inhabitants are of Luxembourgish origin• Of the 67,492 foreign inhabitants 94% are of European origin• Up to 153 nationatilies coexist in the City of Luxembourg

Luxembourgish33%

French16%Portuguese

14%

Italian6%

Belgian4%

German4%

British 2% Spanish

2% Other19%

Breakdown of nationalities

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1.Introduction – cont’d• 31.5% expansion in 27 years

increasing its population from 76,354 inhabitants (or a 34% between 2001 and 2012).

• The reason for such increase is due to the development of the financial services sector, which represents 5x the real economy.

19851988

19911994

19972000

20032006

20092012

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

Total InhabitantsLuxembourgishForeigners

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1.Introduction – cont’d

• Additional 25,000 inhabitants and 70,000 employees are expected in the next 20 years.

• …expanding the City of Luxembourg by 50%

CHALLENGE

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1.Introduction – cont’d

• How can the City of Luxembourg and its inhabitants ensure a correct and sustainable development to such a challenge?

• Does the lifestyle of the city of Luxembourg inhabitants reflect a behaviour that is in line with the concept of sustainable development? What should be improved?

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2. Sustainable Development• The International Institute for Sustainable Development defines

“Sustainable Development as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

• Sustainable Development (or “SD”) relies on three main pillars:– Natural systems– Social challenges– Economic sustainability

Economic sustainablity

Social challenges

Natural Systems

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2. Sustainable Development• All EU members form part of the European Sustainble Development Network• In 2010, the Ministry of Environment of Luxembourg issued the National

Reform Plan for Sustainability Development whose pillars are:• Priority 1: Intelligent Growth via

– Increase of public and private investments in R&D to a 3% of the Luxembourgish GDP

– Reduce school drop out rate < 10%• Priority 2: Sustainable Growth via

– Reduction of greenhouse emissions by 20%– Increase the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption to 20%

• Priority 3: Inclusive Grouth via– Increase the employment rate to 75% of the inhabitants between 20- 64

years old– Lift 6,000 inhabitants from the risk of poverty and exclusion

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2. Sustainable Development• The City of Luxembourg does it own Plan d’action environmental

covering 8 themes into 26 objectives developed in 200 actions as follows: • reduce energy consumption

• promote renewable energy• improve the quality of water, air and soil

Preservation of natural assets

• reduce energy consumption• applying ecological criteria in construction

Responsible consumption

• integrate environmental aspects in urban planning and designUrban planning and design

• Promote sustainable mobility by acknowledging the relationship between transport, health and environment

Improved mobility and reduced traffic

• Promote health of the citizensLocal actions for public health

• Reinforce international cooperation• Integrate climate protection in politicsFrom local to global

• Involve all locals in decision-making• Effective management cycles in the administration

Governance and local management towards sustainability

• Inform the general public, especially children and youthInformation and awareness-raising

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3. Measures from Luxembourg’s Public authorities

1. Preservation of natural common assets - Water:

• Luxembourg’s city annual supply of drinking water amounts to 7.8m (which represents 18% of the countries water consumption)

• Water sources are the Syndicat des Eaux du Barrage (SEBES) from the lake of Esch-sur-Sure (40% ) and of waters collected by the city council through 71 capture centres and 400 reservoirs (60%)

• SEBES sources can assure the supply of edible water until 2024

• Although water consumption has been reduced in a 20% from the 10m3 recorded in 2000, supply problems could be expected in the mid-term

• Main risks are drought and an intense population increase

• In the short term a mayor upgrade of the sewage systems is underway to improve the loss of water in pipes and underground water

20002002

20042006

20082010

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Drinking water in bn m3

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3. Measures from Luxembourg’s Public authorities

2. Responsible consumption:• Up to seven cogeneration centres have been

developed in the city of Luxembourg which combine production of heating and electricity which allows a saving of 35% of primary energy

• Optimal insulation of houses. All buildings in Luxembourg have a certificate of quality depending on the type of energy consumption. With a proper isolation up to a 60% of energy consumption can be assured

• Although the mayor risk is the difficulty to reduce CO2 from traffic emissions

After Isolation

Before Isolation

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3. Measures from Luxembourg’s Public authorities

3. Urban planning and desing:Existing land will be used under the form of lease agreement to find room to host new offices, houses and commercial establishments. In such way especulative prices are controlled. The areas to be deemed to be transformed are:• Plateau Kirchberg, 300ha managed by the Fond de

Kirchberg will ensure a proper development plan to house 7,000 inhabitants by 2020

• Royal Hamilius, 0,7ha will be transformed to host 35,000m2 of offices, shops and houses. Investment of EUR 180m. Promotor: Codic. Architect: Norman Foster and Tetra Kayser. Available in 2017

• Lux Central: extension of the central train station and reconfiguration of 27ha of 366,000m2 building land available in 2020. Major infrastructure investment between the CFL and the City of Luxembourg

• Former headquarters of the iron and steel company Paul Wurth would host other 375,000m2 in 23hc available as from 2015

• Porte de Hollerich: German and Luxembourgish promoters would develop 147ha into 870,000m2 available in 2030

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3. Measures from Luxembourg’s Public authorities

4. Improved mobility and reduced traffic:• LuxTram project: By 2017 a EUR 315m

investment will be deployed to connect in 21 minutes and 14 stations the 7.5Km distance between the city centre and the outskirts of Kirchberg

• To complement rail infrastructure of the Tram, up to five inter-modal commuting centres will be built in different points of the outskirts to decrease the existing 200,000 drivers from the city centre by 2020.The project will imply an additional investment of EUR 100m

• Free use of Park& Bike and Bike rental (Ve´loh) services already invite citizens to bike around the City of Luxembourg

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3. Measures from Luxembourg’s Public authorities

5. Local actions for public health:• Through several publishings the council of

Luxembourg shares information and advises the citizens on key topics like nutrinition, electromagnetique waives, water and air quality, responsible consupmtion

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3. Measures from Luxembourg’s Public authorities

6. From local to global:• Since 2000 and in coordination with the Ministry

of Family, integration , cooperation and human aid, Luxembourg applies a 0,7% of its GDP to development programmes

• Since 2009 Luxembourg is the biggest donnor in the World with USD 432m which represents 1% of its Gross National Income (GNI)

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3. Measures from Luxembourg’s Public authorities

7. Governance and local management towards sustainability:• Only in 2008, Luxembourg allowed its citizens to

have more than one nationality• A new law has been enacted reducing from 7 to 5

the number of residence years in Luxembourg subject to a satisfactory Luxembourgish test.

• An exemption has now been introduced which allows to those residents living in Luxembourg for 20 years to automaticaly become Luxembourgish

• However, Luxembourg citizens with a foreign nationality cannont vote, even if they represent more than 63% of the population. A reform of the constituion is under discussion to allow foreigners to take part of local and general elections

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3. Measures from Luxembourg’s Public authorities

8. Information and awareness-raising:• A number of publications are freely distributed

in each household, office and shop to share all the Sustainable Development plans in order to influence in the behaviour of its citizens

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4. Luxembourgish citizens behaviour

• In 2012 1m Kg of plastic, metal and cardboard were collected for recycling purposes, which represents 14,1Kg per inhabitant per yearPreservation of natural assets

• Drinkable water consumption has decreased by 20% since the year 2000 despite the 31,5% increase in populationResponsible consumption

• 75% of the Park& Ride parkings in the outskirts are full during the day

Improved mobility and reduced traffic

• Families often participate in all events and participate in fund raising activities. The 52nd Bazaar International in 2012 was visited by a 30% of the city of Luxembourg raising EUR 0,5m.

From local to global

• A high proportion of foreigners living in Luxembourg between 5 to 10 years consider sitting the Luxembourgish test to obtain the double nationality

Governance and local management towards sustainability

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4. Luxembourgish citizens behaviour

• In my opinion the inhabitants of Luxembourg represent an integrated community aware of the privilege of living in a city that provides the services of a European capital and the luxuries of a village

• Luxembourg residents will engage in charity and actively recycle to protect their current state of well-being

• As well as learn an average of four languages to integrate with other nationalities

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5. What could be improved?

• Hardly none of the 63% of the foreign population consider Luxembourg as their fix residency. Most expect to move back to their hometown or to a new destination

• Despite the abusive price of tickets from the national flag-carrier, foreign residents often return home to visit their relatives, especially during school holidays leaving behind a phantom city

• Luxembourg inhabitants find difficulties in using public transport and keep driving for individual use instead of car pooling

• Efforts need to be done to continue reducing the consumption of drinking water

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6. Sources of information

• International Institute for Sustainable Development • National plan for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth

Luxembourg 2020• http://www.eukn.org/Luxembourg/lu_en/E_library/Urban_

environment/Environmental_sustainability/Environmental_Sustainability/Luxembourg_City_%E2%80%93_Environmental_Report_2010_and_action_plan_2011

• http://www.eauxpotables.com/archives/2007/11/14/6581849.html

• http://www.luxtram.lu/luxtram_Luxtram-dans-la-presse.66-2.html

• http://www.mae.lu/cooperation• www.vdl.lu