Challenges In The Human Environment - Sustainable Urban Development Flashcards
Sustainability
Ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Problems of urban sustainability
There are a lot of people competing for space, energy, water and other resources
Problems of waste disposal and traffic congestion
Social, economic and environmental planning needed
Freiburg facts
Southern Germany
No cars, everybody cycles
Tree-lined streets
Ideal for raising families, peaceful
Organic food
Renewable energy (energy surplus in many areas)
Freiburg - social
More than 10,000 people are employed in 1500 environmental businesses
The inner district of Vauban houses 5500 people in eco-homes
Freiburg - economic
Locals have invested over £5 million in 9 windmills, 8 solar energy systems and one hydroelectric plant
More than 10,000 people are employed in 1500 environmental businesses
Freiburg - environmental
350 community collection points for recycling
Provided 28,000 homes with energy by burning waste
Building a biogas digester for organic foods
3 aims for Freiburg
Sustainable -
Water supply
Energy supply
Green spaces
Water supply
Water is collected and recycled by homes with roof gardens and facilities for harvesting rainwater and wastewater
Groundwater is not exposed to pollutants
Energy supply
Energy saving, efficient technology and use of renewable energy resources
By 2050, Freiburg will be 100% renewable energy
They will increase energy efficiency in homes, offices and factories
Solar power produces 10 million kilowatts of electricity and there are 400 installed
A large proportion of energy comes from biomass
Biogas is made from waste wood and raspeed oil heating 3 swimming pools
Green spaces
‘Green lungs’ - the air is clean because of trees
Green spaces provide nature and is a free recreational resource
44,000 native trees have been planted
44% of wood is used, but 75% grows back
Traffic congestion in Freiburg
Tram networks are cheap, efficient and accessible
They have also reduced car journeys by 30,000, increasing the number of tram journeys to 25,000, 70% of the population live within 500m of a tram stop
There are 400km of cycle paths and 9000 parking spaces for bikes
Parking restrictions are £20,000 for a space in Vauban
Traffic congestion in Singapore
Traffic is a problem as it is a small island with limited space
Electronic road pricing - high petrol prices, high vehicle registration fees
Successes = 45% less traffic, 25% fewer accidents, traffic to the city centre reduced by 40%, 2/3 of all journeys are done by public transport
Traffic congestion in Beijing
Traffic is a problem as the city is gridlocked
Strategies - car sales are limited (20% who apply to own a vehicle get it), increased parking fees, public transport expansion (30 new metro lines), cars are banned from the city one day a week
Successes = 20% drop in car use
However, widening and building roads has increased car use at the expense of cycling
