Curitiba is one of the few Brazilian cities with a very high Human Development Index (0.856)
In 2010 Curitiba was awarded the Global Sustainable City Award, given to cities and municipalities that excel in sustainable urban development.
Curitiba's crime rate is considered low by Brazilian standards and the city is considered one of the safest cities in Brazil for youth.
Since the 1970s Curitiba has researched ways to reduce the negative impacts of urbanisation on rivers. E.g. they built parks and artificial lakes along the rivers to absorb and hold water to reduce floods.
Seven massive shopping malls are found in Curitiba, they were created by the mayor Jaime Lerner in the 1970s when he forced the city to pedestrianize streets by filling them with children’s activities for 24 hours.
The Rua da Cidadania is the symbol of decentralised government; it is a reference point and a meeting place. Government offices are annexed to public transport terminals across the city.
Jaime Lerner is perhaps Curitiba's best-known mayor. He was the mayor three times, the first time in the early 1970s. His leadership was crucial to some major changes in the city.
Curitiba built a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a bus system that works like a light rail system but is 10 times cheaper.
Curitiba has a planned transportation system, which includes lanes on major streets devoted to a bus rapid transit system.
Curitiba started a massive recycling scheme that included giving people bus tokens in return for recylcing waste.
For large objects that people find hard to dispose of correctly, homeless people are encouraged to collect the items, recycle it in return for food.
Curitiba is home to many multinational industries, such as Nissan, Renault, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, HSBC, Siemens and ExxonMobil.
In 1994, tourism generated US$280 million or about 4% of the Curitiba’s net income.
Entrepreneurial "Sheds", business incubators designed to help small companies get established and prosper were created around Curitiba to help encourage employment and creativity.
Among Brazilian capitals, Curitiba has the highest literacy rate, and ranks number 1 in education among the Brazilian capitals.
In the 1990s, Curitiba started a project called Faróis do Saber. These lighthouses are free educational centres that include libraries, Internet access and other cultural resources.
At the Open University, any resident can take courses in subjects such as mechanics, hair styling and environmental protection for a small fee.
The city bought a large plot of land in 1985, "Novo Bairro", to house 50,000 families. People built the houses themselves, but received two trees and an hour with an architect.
COHAB (the city’s housing association) also built Technology Street, an avenue of 24 homes in the centre of Novo Bairro, each built using different construction techniques.
Curitiba has public health, education and day care networks, neighbourhood libraries shared by schools and citizens and Citizenship Streets, where essential public services, sports and cultural facilities are near transportation terminals.
The city reused an abandoned quarry and turned it in to an opera house. It was built quickly (75 days) out of simple materials (steel tubes).
Curitiba's infrastructure makes bus travel fast and convenient, creating demand for bus use in the same way that traditional cities create demand for private cars.
Curitiba buses are split into three sections (bi-articulated) and stop at designated elevated tubes, complete with access for disabled riders. Buses charge one price regardless of distance.
The city preserves and cares for its green areas, boasting 51.5 m2 of green space per inhabitant.
Urban "acupuncture" reclaims land for the public and emphasises the importance of community. Small improvements that can be accomplished quickly to create an immediate impact.
The city's 30-year economic growth rate is 7.1%, higher than the national average of 4.2%, and per capita income is 66% higher than the Brazilian average.
A Curitiba initiative was the South-Circular bus line, which links the southern and eastern regions of town where unemployment was higher but potential to develop industries also existed.
Curitiba’s buses are 28 meters in length and have capacity for 250 passengers. The buses operate only with soy-based biofuel, which reduces pollutant emissions by 50%.
