The future is happening now is Heidelberg, Germany and other cities around the world where urban planners are putting human health and our planet’s future front and center of how we live and work. In 2018 U.S. transportation related emissions were the single greatest source of climate warming emissions. This is changing with strategic planning to build pedestrian centric communities like Heidelberg’s Bahnstadt, or Rail City where over 5,000 residents live in high rises that are “so well insulated that they require almost no energy to heat” according to the New York Times Jack Ewing Residents can walk or ride a bicycle to schools, grocery stores, and their offices. There are also six car sharing station, each with two electric vehicles. If residents or visitors need to go to the city center – where electric buses ply the streets- than they can take a train.

I can’t wait to visit someday!