Curitiba is a brazilian city located in the South of the country, in a state called Paraná. The city has become internationally known for its untiring efforts for sustainable development and environment preservation. In the past years, the city municipality invested huge amounts of money and workforce in order to improve the public transportation system, waste recycling, green parks and urban planning. As a consequence, Curitiba became a model for cities around the world and is considered one of the most eco-friendly cities in Latin America and in the world.

Curitiba has almost 600 square feet of green space per resident, mostly in the form of municipal parks. Curitiba has its residents' well-being as the priority of its layout, with over 90 miles of bike paths and many shopping areas built around pedestrian-only zones. As part of the city's aesthetically beautiful city design, there are 16 major parks and 14 forests in the metro area. At one point in the early planning stages, 1.5 million trees were planted throughout the city.

Curitiba is considered to be the greenest city in the world, Within the larger green space, there is a world-class botanical garden and an opera house built in the dramatic setting and the so called ?brazilian central park?.

The city is also known for its public transportation system, called BRT, a revolution in the city's mobility with ability to move people around the city quickly compares favorably to underground or elevated rail systems. Curitiba is heavily invested in alternative fuel technologies operating what stand as the first biodiesel-only buses in Latin America. Cities worldwide using just some of Curitiba's bus practices could greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The system is a model for cities like Bogotá, Mexico City and other cities around the world. Likewise, its waste recycling system and preservation of green areas and public conscientization methods serve as an example of commitment to sustainability and urban planning.

Videos to know more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIgWDaZeajY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-MtqyWOj7g

Sources:

http://www.greencitytimes.com/Sustainable-Cities/curtiba.html

http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/2299325/curitiba_the_greenest_city_on_earth.html