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
SO WHY DO WE THINK THAT CITIES CAN SAVE THE WORLD?
- The notion of the sustainable city is central to urban planning and policy discourse now.
- Urban planning is extreme prominent in global sustainability efforts.
So, the ideas and fields of practice around urban planning and sustainability are now fundamentally interlinked.
GREEN URBAN FUTURES
Climate change has become the overarching environmental issue for cities.
The Global Carbon Project estimates that cities release over
how much of global greenhouse gas emissions.
70%
WHAT ARE CITIES DOING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE?
MITIGATION
ADAPTATION
ADAPTATION
Preparing for the unavoidable impacts of climate change
MITIGATION
Reducing GHG emissions and avoiding future emissions
URBAN EQUITY
- Tackling urban poverty and exclusion.
- Addressing housing affordability issues.
- Targeting infrastructure and service improvements to disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
How do we achieve equitable urban futures where people are not marginalized or discriminated against based on race, gender, sexuality, wealth, migration status, etc.?
inclusive planning
Participatory planning processes are viewed as central for achieving inclusive policies and planning outcomes
The Baan Mankong Programme in Thailand
example of community-based “slum upgrading.”
The program directs infrastructure and housing subsidies and loans to poor communities, which then carry out improvements to their housing and communities themselves
COVID-19 IMPACTS ON URBAN POLICY
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed deep inequalities in urban societies and sparked calls for transformative urban policies to eliminate these inequalities.
Social protection policies are tools for redistributing wealth and addressing poverty and inequality.
–> For example, old age benefits, public health care, universal minimum income
Cities are increasingly interested in social protection policies, for example:
- Accessible and affordable childcare
- Government provision of affordable housing
- Utility subsidies or price controls
why do “Smart cities” use information and technology to improve operational efficiencies, services, and information-sharing?
Aim: Reduce costs and resource consumption by improving efficiency
Examples: Smart grids, intelligent transportation systems, bike-sharing systems, CCTV.
Large tech companies often have a big stake in these initiatives
INSTANT URBANIZATION: SIDEWALK LABS
- Project launched in 2017 by Waterfront Toronto to develop 190 acres of waterfront land
- Awarded to Sidewalk Labs, a Google subsidiary that advises on urban development
- First major project, which would have tested new technology and design ideas for “smart” city building.
- Halted in 2020 due to pandemic uncertainty.
IBM SMARTER CITIES CHALLENGE
- Philanthropic program to support data-driven urban policy and planning.
- Winning cities get access to IBM technology and expertise in analytics and data-sharing.
