Article

Original article in Spanish by Carlos Fresneda published 18, December 2009 in El Mundo.

Translated for Post Carbon by Evelyn Jackson

When he returns from Copenhagen, rather than going to Washington, the President should set his sights toward the northwest and make a quick trip to the distant city of Portland, Oregon. Surely, Obama remembers that historic meeting at the crossroads of the primary when thousands of cyclists greeted his pronouncement that the "new energy economy has arrived."

At other times we have referred to Portland as "the possible city". Now, we will rechristen her "the post carbon city" on the path set out by the urbanist Daniel Lerch... "Climate change and peak oil will alter drastically the way we live in cities. Here in Portland we have been preparing ourselves mentally...The world will be a very different place and we must be ready to change radically our policies of energy, transportation and the way we feed ourselves."

There is in Portland a "driving force" working toward adapting the city to what is coming. "It is no longer enough to create green areas in the urban environment or to have more breathable air," maintains Lerch. "We have to take a step well beyond that and prepare our cities for the great challenges of the 21st century."

Post carbon cities, transition cities, 'resilient'cities... Any of these three names will do in defining the urgent future of our cities, which, sooner or later, will see themselves reflected in Portland's mirror.

Portland initiated its visionary journey in the seventies. While other American cities strangled their urban centers with freeways enabling a savage suburban expansion, Portland turned to "smart growth" and forged resistance to these forces.

The city enacted very clear limits against suburban sprawl and saved its forests and agricultural lands. Rather than build highways around the city, Portland invested in light rail and created barriers against cars. The city reclaimed its public spaces, with Pioneer Square showcasing the before and after.

The 'repairers' of the city took note and occupied street intersections, turning them into colorful meeting points. Lawns have become urban farms, and there are more than 1000 kilometers of bicycle lanes in the metropolitan area.

"Portland has not been afraid to bet on a different future," says Daniel Lerch. "Undoubtedly there has been political support, but, above all, we have a culture and a local economy that allows change to happen fast. We have the majority of green buildings in the United States, and for a city of half a million people that is a great accomplishment."

Portland, the "post carbon city," is ahead of even its larger sisters, Seattle and Vancouver... Although in Seattle, urban visionary Alex Steffen (founder of Worldchanging ) has set a goal for that city to be carbon netural by 2030.

There is no turning back: the real race against climate change is already underway, and Portland marches ahead with a great advantage, pedaling at top speed toward the finish line.