class 8.2 Flashcards
CAN CITIES SAVE THE WORLD?
Angelo and Wachsmuth (2020) ask: why does everyone think that cities can save the world?
The authors argue that the centrality of cities in sustainability agendas emerges from three issues:
- Urban sprawl in cities of the Global North
- Informal settlements in cities of the Global South
- Global climate change
FROM CITIES AS PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS
The ideal of the “sustainable city” is central to urban planning and policy discourse.
Scholars, activists, social movements focus on cities as spaces for achieving a progressive vision of sustainable life.
when does the idea that density has environmental and social benefits begins to emerge?
what doe we also see
1990s-2000s
a growing focus on the benefits of urban greening for natural environment and humans
– e.g. urban trees, parks, wetlands.
PROBLEM 1: URBAN SPRAWL
in early to mid-20th century, suburban development was seen as a cure for urban environmental problems.
In the 1960s-70s, environmentalists begin to challenge the resource- intensity of low-density development.
Environmentalist suburban critique tied to critiques of the economic model driving urban growth – capitalism
solution to urban sprawl
urban density
PROBLEM 2: INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
what did urbanists first assume?
what was the logic?
what did they realize?
- In the mid-20th century, urbanists assumed that informal settlements would formalize over time.
- If informal settlements act as “arrival” cities, then rural-urban migrants will move on to formal areas over time.
- Rapid growth of informal settlements became a major concern as development scholars/practitioners realized that informality persists and indeed is growing
early approach to the informal settlements problem?
Early approach was to “upgrade” or clear informal settlements
what do informal settlements become associated with in early 2000s
In the early 2000s this began to shift
informal settlements becomes associated with sustainable qualities of urbanism (density, walkability, community networks of support, creativity, resilience)
PROBLEM 3: CLIMATE CHANGE
- Climate change has become the dominant issue in global environmental politics.
- Cities are major locations for emissions production – particularly wealthy Global North countries.
- Cities are major targets and leaders for emissions reduction policies and addressing the impacts of climate change.
PROBLEM 3: CLIMATE CHANGE
- Climate change has become the dominant issue in global environmental politics.
- Cities are major locations for emissions production – particularly wealthy Global North countries.
- Cities are major targets and leaders for emissions reduction policies and addressing the impacts of climate change.
are Cities major sites for resilience-
building projects
yes
Role of urban climate networks (C40)
- Knowledge-sharing and learning
- Political advocacy
- Showcasing urban climate action
THE URBANIZATION OF SUSTAINABILITY DISCOURSE
Sustainability policy evolved in the context of international development debates – it was already global in scope.
Sustainability’s urban turn was a response to urban changes – particularly rapid urbanization.
While there are visions of de-urbanization in sustainability debates, policy generally follows a pro-urbanization approach.
Focuses strongly on the environmental benefits for density, technology, and liveability.
how were Early debates about urbanization and sustainability anti-capitalist in nature?
what is the difference with Mainstream sustainability
they emphasized limits to growth
Mainstream sustainability now is pro-growth
what are the SDGs all about?
The SDGs are all about the sustainability (and inclusivity) of economic growth
