Catalonia Steps Up

The merging of economy and environmentalism is an ambition realized by Catalonia in northeastern Spain. Here 17.9% of the population is unemployed; the highest rate in Europe, but as an alternative to polluting the environment in the name of industry and occupation, they’ve opted for an aggressive plan to create jobs in sustainable industry.

Solar panels constructed on schools, solar heated water systems in all new residential construction, a lofty goal to procure 11% of their energy from renewable resources by 2015, and requiring utility companies to teach students sustainable practices are among the steps that aim to provide Catalan citizens with employment, education and a clean place to live.

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/catalonia-steps-up-clean-en...