Sustainable communities in Colombia: COP 16 session insights

LEED for Cities and Communities Steering Committee member Esteban Martinez shares takeaways from his panel at the global event.

On the last Saturday of October, I had the privilege of participating in COP 16 in Cali, Colombia, as a panelist for the session "Sustainable Communities in Colombia: Supporting Health of People and Nature," together with influential leaders like Vatsal Bhatt from USGBC, Diego Ospina of Constructora Bolívar, Cesar Ruiz R. of Setri Sustentabilidad, and Oscar Tapias from MARVAL. We gathered in the COP 16 Green Zone (Zona Verde) that afternoon to share insights on the impact of sustainable frameworks in shaping our communities.

Esteban Martinez, Vatsal Bhatt, and Green Loop team members pose together at COP 16. Photo courtesy of Green Loop.

While waiting for the panel discussion, I took some time at noon to explore the open area of the Green Zone. Walking along the Bulevar del Río, I was overwhelmed by the city's energy and commitment to biodiversity conservation. The Zona Verde was alive with exhibitions, booths and public initiatives, each demonstrating the role of various industries in conserving biodiversity. It was the perfect backdrop for the panel to follow-a discussion that would underscore the transformative power of frameworks like LEED for Cities and Communities in building sustainable, resilient communities in Colombia.

A framework for designing, not just assessing

The central theme of my presentation was the idea of using the LEED for Cities and Communities framework not just as an assessment tool, but as a powerful guide for design. Too often, sustainability frameworks are seen as checklists, used merely to document strategies and tick off boxes. But at Green Loop, we see that LEED is also a proactive design framework. Our approach involves workshops centered on specific LEED credits, which actively shape each project's design and strategy to achieve the most sustainable master plans possible.

Evolving with LEED for Cities and Communities

Our journey with LEED for Cities and Communities began with Parque Vivero, Latin America's first LEED-certified community project. It marked a turning point for us-at that time, we understood the core principles of urban sustainability, yet we hadn't fully developed our approach to implementing them effectively.

Parque Vivero happened to meet much of the LEED framework's standards, with only a few strategic adjustments required, but this experience revealed the rating system's immense potential. Inspired, we committed to developing a unique approach at Green Loop that would amplify its impact. This was when we created our workshop alignment model, transforming individual credits into collaborative design sessions that guide our clients toward the most sustainable master plans.

Parque Residencial Vivero is the first project certified in South American under LEED for Communities. Image courtesy of Green Loop.

Green space as a pillar of urban well-being

One of the key ways we've applied this model is through the LEED green spaces requirement. This credit calls for communities to provide at least 15% of their area as accessible green space, with 90% of residents living within a half-mile walk of these areas. Given that cities like Bogotá average just 4.6 square meters of green space per person, this framework requirement has been pivotal in motivating our clients to exceed baseline standards and deliver green, vibrant spaces. By creating urban plans where greenery is central, we've been able to build communities that foster biophilia-nature's capacity to enhance well-being, reduce stress and increase quality of life for residents.

One of our proudest achievements has been the consistency with which our projects exceed the baseline of 11.25 square meters of green space per person-often delivering over three times the amount of green space typically seen in Latin American communities. This metric, which surpasses the standard by a significant margin, brings biophilia into our projects, strengthening the community's connection to nature and enhancing well-being.

The Parque Central Los Robles development in Bogota, Colombia, will have over 25% green space. Image courtesy of Green Loop.

Ecosystem restoration as a community mandate

Another priority for Green Loop is turning LEED's ecosystem assessment prerequisite into a full-fledged regenerative plan. With guidance from the Society for Ecological Restoration and the support of biologists, botanists and other environmental experts, we are now conducting assessments to gauge local ecosystems against reference models. This allows us to chart restoration goals for flora, fauna and biodiversity over a span of 5-20 years. The result is a plan that not only measures ecosystem health, but proactively restores it, setting metrics for vegetation, wildlife and ecological balance.

This restoration approach isn't just theoretical-it has real benefits for community well-being. Studies consistently show a correlation between urban greenery and reduced crime rates, as seen in research like The Impact of Green Space on Violent Crime in Urban Environments: An Evidence Synthesis and The Impact of Urban Green Spaces on the Probability of Urban Crime in Indonesia. When we create high-quality green spaces, we help restore balance in neighborhoods, improve safety and enhance residents' quality of life.

Esteban Martinez and panelists at the session "Sustainable Communities in Colombia: Supporting Health of People and Nature" at COP 16 in Cali, Colombia. Image courtesy of Green Loop.

Compact and complete centers: The 15-minute city in action

In harmony with the "15-minute city" concept, our approach embraces the idea of compact, complete centers, inspired by sustainable urban design principles from visionaries like Douglas Farr. In Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature, Farr describes sustainable communities as places where "human habitats function in harmony with nature," emphasizing the importance of creating walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that reduce reliance on cars and bring essential amenities closer to residents.

Inspired by these principles, we work to create communities where grocery stores, schools and parks are within a 10- to 15-minute walk for every resident. This approach builds a strong identity for each community and encourages a sense of belonging, drawing people from nearby areas and boosting local economics, resilience and community spirit.

Sustainable urban drainage systems as green corridors

We also see sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) as essential in these designs. Rather than only managing runoff, SUDS become green corridors, promoting biodiversity and adding layers of green infrastructure that enhance the urban environment's symbiotic relationship with nature. It's not about curbing expansion, but learning how to expand responsibly, with a deep respect for ecological connections.

In essence, LEED for Cities and Communities is more than a rating system; it's a call to integrate urban design with sustainable principles. With this mindset, we can move toward regenerative, resilient cities that support thriving ecosystems, economies and communities.

Since 2019, I've had the privilege of applying these principles to more than 12 projects. This experience has brought me to a place where, as a member of the LEED for Cities and Communities Steering Committee, I can collaborate with others to create a powerful framework to guide the transformation of existing communities and the planning of new ones. This vision for LEED is my conviction and my mission-and I believe it offers a path forward for sustainable urban growth.

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