City vs. climate changes: The future and its (un)sustainability: The global applicability of Sarriguren and Jätkäsaari?

Abstract

The global reality, intensively exposed to the challenges caused by climate changes, demands new ideas, methods and tools which could eventually prevent or mitigate the consequences of carbon emissions. Therefore, the contemporary cities, as focal points of the new global comprehension, have become testing grounds for numerous initiatives based upon imperatives of sustainability, environmental consciousness, energy efficiency and 'green' life style. In Serbia, experience in matters of the built environment has had a tendency to be formed exclusively on the basis of authentic local initiatives, aspirations, successes and failures. In the global effort for sustainable development, considering the commitments imposed by climate change and carbon emission, a greater reliance on results achieved elsewhere would be a welcome change. Consequently, this article will present and comment two eco-driven projects - Sarriguren and Jätkäsaari, both covering a wide range of useful ideas, intriguing concepts and globally applicable solutions for the challenges caused by climate shifts.