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Ballindamm / Glockengießerwall: This major traf- fic junction clearly illustrates the challenges of urban environmental protection. While favourable winds mean that Hamburg is rarely plagued by poor air quality, emis- sion levels still need to be reduced, for example through the use of electric cars or by building a corridor over the A7 motorway to the west of the city. Hamburg already has around 300 green taxis criss-crossing through the city, and each one saves three tons of CO2 emissions per year. Ballindamm/Reesendammbrücke: In the past, strong rains frequently flooded the Alster Lake with waste water. Today, transport sluices and retention basins prevent this pollution of the waters and the water is now clean enough for swimming. This is also great for the lake's eel, carp and pike population: more than 30 types of fish are once again splashing about in the Alster Lake. Kleine Alster / Rathausmarkt: There are choices aplenty for anybody standing at Rathausmarkt: every underground line stops here, soon including the new U4 line. Add to that multiple S-Bahn and bus lines. A good con- nection is not exceptional: there is hardly a resident in Hamburg that has to walk more than 300 metres to the next stop - no doubt one reason why passenger numbers have been rising for years. Mönckebergstraße/St.-Petri-Kirche: Mönckeberg- straße is Hamburg's largest shopping street. Ham- burg is not only the Green Capital, but also encour- ages conscious consumption. By supporting the “From the region, for the region” initiative, it is helping to increase demand for local products. When it comes to waste, however, there is still room for improvement, which is why Hamburg launched a recycling scheme in 2011. Expedition to the green capital 2 3 4 Expedition to the green capital 1 HOW DID HAMBURG WIN THIS EUROPEAN TITLE? FOR JUST EIGHT OF THE REASONS, TAKE A LOOK AT THE „HAMBURG FOR GREEN EXPLORERS” MAP. THE CENTERS { 68 } DES ANNUAL REPORT 2012

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