Author | Diana PardoUrban allotments, flowers, aromatic plants, bushes, viewpoints and even trails, form part of the rooftops in the city of Copenhagen. Because, apart from being the largest city in Denmark, with a population of two million, the Nordic country is a fine global example of environmental sustainability.Its goals are ambitious: to become the world’s first carbon neutral city by 2025 and to achieve this, it has launched a radical plan. Copenhagen, which now recycles the majority of its waste, and can boast that 62% of its residents ride a bike to work, has decided to turn its rooftops green as part of this strategy. With this initiative, the city hopes to improve its air quality and reduce its carbon footprint.
Copenhagen Climate Plan: focusing on green roofs

Extensive
Extensive roofs are those that barely need a thickness of 5-10 centimetres to be installed. The type of plants and shrubs used will therefore depend on the available depth. The most common is this case is lawn or moss, which barely require maintenance as they feed off rainwater. The cost is much lower than intensive green roofs, which is why they are more common in the city.Intensive
Intensive roofs need a thicker layer (30 centimetres) and the buildings that house these need to have a strong structure given the weight involved. They are generally used as gardens and parks, so users can take a stroll and sit on their benches to admire the numerous plants species. Maintenance of these is higher than in the previous case and more expensive, therefore they are less common.A good example of an intensive green roof is the Novo Nordisk park located in the north of the city.What are the benefits of green roofs?
