The world’s first ‘forest city’ in China joins the fight against air pollution

The plan calls for terraced buildings with almost a million plants and 40,000 trees that will annually absorb almost 10,000 tons of CO₂

The plan calls for terraced buildings with almost a million plants and 40,000 trees that will annually absorb almost 10,000 tons of CO₂

Another innovative and inspiring project is under construction in the Municipality of Liuzhou, in Southern China. The ‘Liuzhou Forest City’ is a green building project intended to help provide homes for the country’s rapidly growing population without creating more carbon pollution. The new city is expected to house 30,000 people, in an area that covers 175 hectares along the Liujiang river. Roughly 1 million plants from over 100 species, as well as 40,000 trees will be planted in facades over almost every surface imaginable, absorbing about 10,000 tons of CO₂ and 57 tons of pollutants and producing approximately 900 tons of oxygen annually. The impressively large number of plants will also decrease the average air temperature, create noise barriers and improve the biodiversity of living species, generating the habitat for birds, insects and small animals that abide in the Liuzhou territory.

The city is designed by Stefano Boeri, an Italian architect and urban planner, who believes that planting urban forests is critical to slowing global warming. Two hospitals, schools, recreational and commercial areas are also included in the design, while the new city will connect to the rest of Liuzhou via a series of fast rail services and electric cars. In order to make the city even greener and self-sustainable, solar and geothermal energy will be key sources of power.

The futuristic city, which will set an example for how cities can grow and reduce carbon pollution, is expected to be completed by 2020.