Sustainable Urban Developments Flashcards
Cities and he environment
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
Ecological footprint
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
Definition of sustainable city
Provides
- employment and high standard of living (eco)
- clean and healthy enviro
- good governce (soc)
5 feautures of sustainable city
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
Is a circular system sustainable
Yes
Is a linear system sustainable
No
Check sheet of circular and linear system
Ok
Squatter settlement and slums population increasing
Challenges
Poor quality housing inner cities or shanty towns and high youth under employment and unemployment
Squatter settlement or slum population increasing opportunities
To regenerate areas suffering through deindustrialisation (HICS)
or shanty towns which develop through rapid urbanisation (LICS) to create improved homes and employment opportunities
Inefficient use of water and electricity
Inefficient waste management strategies
Challenges
Lack of universal water supplies (LIC) and inadequate waste management/disposal practices.
Over consumption (HICs)
Inefficient use of water and electricity
Inefficient waste management strategies
Opportunities
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
Economic inequality
Challenges
Increasing wealth gap between poorest and wealthiest in urban society. Social polarisation
Economic inequality
Opportunities
To inc employment in new service occupations (HICs) and in formal occupations (LICS)
Investments in green infrastructure and strategies to create sustainable employment
Food insecurity
Challenges
Lack of access to nutritious affordable food for poorest citizens
High quantities of food waste in landfills
Food insecurities opportunities
To invest in urban intensive agriculture, reduce food subsidies and develop organic/composting strategies
Access to energy supplies
Challenges
Use of polluting energy sources (coal) leading to air pollution (NICs)
Energy wastage through poorly designed buildings
Access to energy supplies
Opportunities
To invest in green energy solutions such as solar panels, solar coolers (LICS) and wind turbines
Improved building design and insulation
Climate change
Challenges
Higher rainfall
Increased flood risks
Higher temperatures and consequent use of air conditioning
Climate change opportunities
To invest in green energies, reduce use of cars in urban environments
Subsidies for green public transport m
All to reduce carbon outputs
Strategies for sustainable cities
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
Investments in infrastructure roads waste sewers electricity and services like school and health care eg
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
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
Freiburg Germany
Low energy construction standards have also been introduced in a bid to reduce C02 emissions by 40% by 2030
Investments in the reduction of waste production and improvement of waste collection and recycling eg
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
Provision of more green areas
Eg
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
Investment in more sustainable and affordable housing eg
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
Adoption of a local currency
Eg
Local currencies such as Bristol Pound serve the needs of local people because they keep money within the local economy
