By Elena Basati,
Curitiba is a city that proves why sustainability should be prioritized. While many urban centers around the world are facing severe problems with pollution, traffic congestion, and inhumane living conditions, this Brazilian city has long been a model of forward-thinking urban planning. What makes Curitiba unique isn’t just its green spaces or efficient public transport —it’s the way the city has embraced innovation with a can-do spirit that has set an example for cities worldwide.
Jaime Lerner, a young architect who would later become Curitiba’s mayor, saw a different future. Instead of designing a city for automobiles, he wanted to design it for people. He and his team rejected the idea that urban growth had to mean chaos. Their approach was simple: act fast, avoid lots of paperwork, and let the results speak for themselves. This philosophy was the foundation for Curitiba’s transformation.
One of the city’s most striking achievements is its abundance of green space. Curitiba has 52 square meters of green space per person, far exceeding the standards of most cities around the world, Athens only has 6.45 square meters of green per person. But these parks help with flood prevention. Rather than controlling the Iguacu River with concrete barriers, Curitiba allowed nature to do the work, using its parks as a flood control system. Instead of spending millions on infrastructure that fought against the environment, they designed the city to work with it.
Curitiba also revolutionized public transportation. In 1974, while most major cities were investing in expensive underground metros, Curitiba introduced the world’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. With dedicated bus lanes and creative tube-shaped boarding stations, public transportation is now as quick as a subway but much less expensive. Additional improvements were added throughout time, such as higher platforms to facilitate speedier entry and exit, pre-paid boarding to reduce delays, and longer buses to boost capacity. Leading to the increase of the use of public transportation. The Curitiba model has now been adopted by more than 300 towns globally.
Another one of Curitiba’s groundbreaking initiatives is its waste management system. Long before recycling became a global priority, Curitiba implemented a program that encouraged citizens to exchange waste for food. The Green Exchange Program allows residents to trade four pounds of trash for a pound of fresh produce, reducing waste while supporting lower-income families. As a result, Curitiba now boasts one of the highest recycling rates in the world, with 70% of its waste being repurposed. Nearly 90% of residents participate in some form of waste separation, ensuring that the city remains one of the cleanest and most sustainable in Brazil.
When Curitiba’s transformation didn’t come from unlimited resources or massive government spending. In fact, Lerner often joked that if you want creativity, you should cut one zero from the budget —if you want sustainability, cut two. His philosophy was simple: Smart solutions don’t have to be expensive. The city found ways to innovate with limited resources, proving that good urban planning is more about vision than money.
Of course, Curitiba isn’t perfect. As car ownership has increased over the years, public transport use has declined. Some neighborhoods still struggle with poverty, and crime rates remain close to the national average. Yet, despite these challenges, Curitiba continues to stand as a beacon of what’s possible when a city puts people and sustainability first.
References
- Sustainable cities: Curitiba, Brazil. Think Sustainability. Available here
- Story of cities #37: How radical ideas turned Curitiba into Brazil’s ‘green capital’. The Guardian. Available here
- Lerner, J.. “Urban acupuncture: Celebrating pinpricks of change that enrich city life”. Island Press. Washington. 2014
