Sustainable Urban Development

Question 1

sustainability definition

Answer 1

meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of the future

Question 2

example of a sustainable city

Answer 2

curitiba

Question 3

example of a sustainable area in London

Answer 3

BedZED

Question 4

what does bedzed have that makes it sustainable

Answer 4

facilities and resources all in one area- eg: 82 homes, 18 workplaces, retail and leisure areas, sustainable energy (eg rainwater recycling system)

Question 5

what does a sustainable city have to provide

Answer 5

employment, a high standard of living, a clean, healthy environment and fair governance for its residents.

Question 6

examples of environmental dimensions of sustainability (important)

Answer 6

environmental management, waste and recycling management, energy efficiency, water management, air quality conservation, adaption to and mitigation of climate change

Question 7

examples of social dimensions of sustainability

Answer 7

adequate provision of schools and health services, public transport provision and energy access, recreational areas and community support, availability of food supplies, ‘green’ housing and buildings. Active involvement of local communities in the processes of improving their local neighbourhoods

Question 8

in order for a city to be politically sustainable what does it have to be

Answer 8

a democracy

Question 9

economic dimensions of sustainability examples

Answer 9

local employment opportunities, production and distribution of renewable energy supplies and investment in green technology and innovation.

Question 10

how can political will impact sustainable development

Answer 10

there needs to be long term planning involving all relevant stakeholders– doesn’t really work in democracies such as the UK as governements think in the short term

Question 11

sustainability can affect liveability. what is liveability?

Answer 11

the characteristics of a city, which improve the quality of life for people living there

Question 12

liveability can depend on … (4 factors)

Answer 12

jobs
crime rates
open space
access to education

Question 13

are urban areas easier to make sustainable than rural areas?

Answer 13

yes

Question 14

3 reasons why urban areas easier to make sustainable than rural areas

Answer 14

people are more densely concentrated so provision of services (eg clean water) is easier and cheaper
importance of urban sustainability is being recognised more= more research and investment into solutions
gov invest more in urban areas than rural as it benefits more people

Question 15

problems with making urban areas sustainable (why its difficult)- 4 reasons

Answer 15

requires a lot of investment which cities can’t afford
cities are rapidly expanding and services are failing to meet the needs of the larger population
people unwilling to change their habits
some cities don’t have the appropriate infrastructure (eg roads are not wide enough to build cycle lanes)

Question 16

strategies to improve sustainability: how to have less cars on the road

Answer 16

put in cycle lanes, park and ride schemes and public transport schemes provision

Question 17

strategies to improve sustainability: how to have less urban waste

Answer 17

expand recycling facilities

convert to incineration with energy recovery

Question 18

strategies to improve sustainability: how to reduce water usage

Answer 18

fit buildings with water meters and water efficient fittings

Question 19

strategies to improve sustainability: green space - what to put in

Answer 19

river clean ups, wetland restoration and tree planting (reduce pollution and increase biodiversity)

Question 20

what is a sustainable city

Answer 20

a city, which provides employment, a high standard of living, a clean and healthy environment and fair governance for all its residents

Question 21

what is the ecological footprint

Answer 21

the total area of productive land and water required to produce the resources a population consumes and adsorb the waste produced

Question 22

in 2007 what was the average ecological footprint for each person

Answer 22

2.7 global hectares

Question 23

in 2007 what was the ecological footprint for Londoners

Answer 23

5.48 hectares per person