Sustainable Urban Developments

Question 1

Cities and he environment

Answer 1

Cities- threat to enviro

Consume 75% of world resources and most of world’s waste and air pollution

The impact of a city can be measured using something called an ecological footprint

Question 2

Ecological footprint

Answer 2

Way to measure the environmental impact of a city

It is the area of land and water needed to produce the resources a population uses and absorb the waste it produces

Urban areas- bigger footprint then rural

Wealthier cities have larger footprints as more resources are consumed and more waste produced

London’s footprint is 2x as big as UK

Question 3

Definition of sustainable city

Answer 3

Provides

• employment and high standard of living (eco)
• clean and healthy enviro
• good governce (soc)

Question 4

5 feautures of sustainable city

Answer 4

1- green and efficient transport system- likely to focus on public transport but can include restrictions on car usage. Intergrated transport systems are ones which are connective

2- Greenbuilt environments which use energy and water efficiently and produces low amounts of MSW

3- Planned urban expansion
Focus of compact cities in which brownfield duties are regenerated before greenfield sites used

4-Green spaces are preserved and enhanced created by SUDS and wildlife habitats to reduce flood risk and enhance biodiversity

5-Historic and cultural sites are presenced and made accessible to the community to develop a sense of pride and attachment

Question 5

Is a circular system sustainable

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

Is a linear system sustainable

Answer 6

No

Question 7

Check sheet of circular and linear system

Answer 7

Ok

Question 8

Squatter settlement and slums population increasing

Challenges

Answer 8

Poor quality housing inner cities or shanty towns and high youth under employment and unemployment

Question 9

Squatter settlement or slum population increasing opportunities

Answer 9

To regenerate areas suffering through deindustrialisation (HICS)

or shanty towns which develop through rapid urbanisation (LICS) to create improved homes and employment opportunities

Question 10

Inefficient use of water and electricity

Inefficient waste management strategies

Challenges

Answer 10

Lack of universal water supplies (LIC) and inadequate waste management/disposal practices.

Over consumption (HICs)

Question 11

Inefficient use of water and electricity

Inefficient waste management strategies

Opportunities

Answer 11

To improve recycling and waste management systems and to reduce over consumption

This is to be done through incentives to householders and subsidies to companies

Question 12

Economic inequality

Challenges

Answer 12

Increasing wealth gap between poorest and wealthiest in urban society. Social polarisation

Question 13

Economic inequality

Opportunities

Answer 13

To inc employment in new service occupations (HICs) and in formal occupations (LICS)

Investments in green infrastructure and strategies to create sustainable employment

Question 14

Food insecurity

Challenges

Answer 14

Lack of access to nutritious affordable food for poorest citizens

High quantities of food waste in landfills

Question 15

Food insecurities opportunities

Answer 15

To invest in urban intensive agriculture, reduce food subsidies and develop organic/composting strategies

Question 16

Access to energy supplies

Challenges

Answer 16

Use of polluting energy sources (coal) leading to air pollution (NICs)

Energy wastage through poorly designed buildings

Question 17

Access to energy supplies

Opportunities

Answer 17

To invest in green energy solutions such as solar panels, solar coolers (LICS) and wind turbines

Improved building design and insulation

Question 18

Climate change

Challenges

Answer 18

Higher rainfall

Increased flood risks

Higher temperatures and consequent use of air conditioning

Question 19

Climate change opportunities

Answer 19

To invest in green energies, reduce use of cars in urban environments

Subsidies for green public transport m
All to reduce carbon outputs

Question 20

Strategies for sustainable cities

Answer 20

Investments in infrastructure roads waste sewers electricity and services like school and health care

Green investment in low income countries can help poorer cities ‘leapfrog’ from high carbon energy use to a zero carbon development path

Investment in the production and use of renewable energy sources as well as the renovation of infrastructure, retrofitting of buildings and improved electricity and water efficiency

Investments in the reduction of waste production and improvement of waste collection and recycling

Provision of more green areas

Investments in more sustainable and affordable housing

Adoption of local currency

Active participation of different city stakeholders inc gov residents and local business in urban planning

Disaster risk reduction

Reduce rural urban migration

Question 21

Investments in infrastructure roads waste sewers electricity and services like school and health care eg

Answer 21

Curitiba Master plan introduced in the 1970s

An extensive network of dedicated bus lanes provides a service comparable to underground or subway systems but at a cost estimated to be about 200X less

Question 22

Investment in the production and use of renewable energy sources as well as the renovation of infrastructure, retrofitting of buildings and improved electricity and water efficiency eg

Answer 22

Freiburg Germany

Low energy construction standards have also been introduced in a bid to reduce C02 emissions by 40% by 2030

Question 23

Investments in the reduction of waste production and improvement of waste collection and recycling eg

Answer 23

Curbita

‘Garbage purchase’ programme encourages residents in favelas to sell rubbish back to city in exchange for food bustokens and football tickets

Scheme helped clear up populated areas that rubbish vans can’t reach

Question 24

Provision of more green areas

Eg

Answer 24

The British environmental charity Groundwork published a report in 2012 entitled ‘Grey places need green spaces’ in which they outlined the benefits of green spaces in cities

Question 25

Investment in more sustainable and affordable housing eg

Answer 25

BEDZED development and Greenwich Millenium Village in London

Environmentally sustainable, recycled and local materials were used in their construction and the acommodation compromises a mix of social housing and private units

Question 26

Adoption of a local currency

Eg

Answer 26

Local currencies such as Bristol Pound serve the needs of local people because they keep money within the local economy