FEM 3335Sustainable Cities

Assoc Prof Dr Sharifah Norazizan Syed Abd Rashid, APPMDepartment of Social & Development Science

Faculty of Human Ecology

Universiti Putra Malaysia

sharifah@putra.upm.edu.my

Content

• Sustainable Cities

- Why the focus on cities?

- Definitions and Basic Principle

- What makes a city sustainable?

• Urban 21 Conference –Quality of Life

• New Concepts

Compact City; Eco City; Healthy City; Safe City

• Practice

Why the Focus on Cities?

• The majority of the global population live in cities in 2008 and predictions suggest that the figure will have reached 70% by 2050.

• Furthermore, cities are currently responsible for up to 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions but only take up 2% of the world's land area.

• This shows that the scale of the sustainability challenge in the urban built environment is vast, tackling it is vital to creating long-term, systemic and sustainable change.

Ref: Eugenie Birch and Susan Wachter

Global Urbanization

In the Sustainable Society, Nature is not subject to systematically increasing...

1 …concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust.

2 …concentrations of substances produced by society.

3 …degradation by physical means.

4 … people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs or the needs of future generations.

Basic sustainability principles

Sustainable City

Being a sustainable city means "improving the quality of life in a city, including ecological, cultural, political, institutional, social and economic components without leaving a burden on future generations...."

Urban21 Conference, Berlin, July 2000

Pillars of Sustainable City

" Economy, ecology and social cohesion are the pillars of a sustainable city. These must be in balance and therefore require an integrated approach. Dialogue is the basic principle for achieving this for Local Agenda 21."

Sustainable City

Cities have become the focal points as major consumers and distributors of goods and services. However, many cities tend to be large consumers of goods and services, while draining resources out of external regions that they depend on. As a result of increasing consumption of resources, and growing dependencies on trade, the ecological impact of cities extends beyond their geographic locations.

Problems and Pressures of Cities

• Cities are increasingly becoming the engines of national economic growth and the magnets for new residents flooding in from rural areas. Globalization is having a significant effect on cities, forcing them to compete for international business with other cities worldwide and within their own countries.

• As a result, the sustainability of cities is under pressure. Decision-makers at all levels are faced with the task of how to resolve urban problems from transportation to waste management, from drinking water supply to the preservation of urban green space

A city is only considered to be sustainable when:

• It follows a development path where the present progress does not take place at the expense of future generations (i.e. bad planning, debt, environmental degradation, etc. does not export present problems to the future). 

• There is an equilibrium between different issues. In other words, the goal is an across-the-board development, instead of handling issues one by one.

SUSTAINABLE BALANCE

• Environmental Integrity• Economic Vitality• Community Well Being• Cultural Enhancement

 

PEOPLE, PLANET, PROSPERITY AND PRESERVATION

The concept of Sustainable Cities

• http://blog.cunysustainablecities.org/tag/architecture/

• http://www.urbanlab.com/h2o/

• http://growingwater.com/

• http://www.sustainablecitiesnet.com/

• http://www.livingcityblock.org/

What Are the Major Population Trends in Urban

Areas?

• Urbanization continues to increase steadily and the numbers and sizes of urban areas are growing rapidly, especially in developing countries.

URBANIZATION

Economy

Population

Half of the World’s Population Live in Urban Areas

• Urbanization• Urban growth

Natural increase Immigration from rural areas

• Pushed from rural areas to urban areas• Pulled to urban areas from rural areas

cont

• Four major trends– Proportion of global population living in urban

areas is increasing– Number and size of urban areas is mushrooming

• Megacities, hypercities – Urban growth slower in developed countries– Poverty is becoming increasingly urbanized;

mostly in developing countries

Urban Areas in Crisis

• Severe air pollution• Water pollution• 50% Unemployment• Deafening noise• Overcrowding• Traffic congestion• Inadequate public transportation• slums (barrios), squatter settlements, ghettos, etc

What progress is being made?

Global Outlook: Satellite Image of Major Urban Areas Throughout

the World

What Are the Major Urban Resource and Environmental Problems?

• Most cities are unsustainable because of high levels of resource use, waste, pollution, and poverty.

• But – what’s the alternative?

Urbanization Has Advantages

• Centers of:– Economic development– Innovation– Education– Technological advances– Jobs

• Environmental advantages

Urbanization Has Disadvantages

• Huge ecological footprints• Lack vegetation• Water problems• Concentrate pollution and health problems• Excessive noise• etc

Inputs Outputs

Energy Solid wastes

Food Waste heat

Air pollutantsWater

Water pollutantsRaw materials Greenhouse

gasesManufactured goods

Manufactured goodsNoise

MoneyWealth

Information Ideas

Permanent damage begins after 8-hour

exposureNoise Levels (in dbA) 85

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150

Normal breathing

Quiet rural area

Rainfall Vacuum cleaner

Lawn mower

Rock music Earphones at loud level

WhisperQuiet room

Normal conversation

Average factory

Chain saw

Military rifle

Thunderclap (nearby)

Air raid siren

Boom cars

Life Is a Desperate Struggle for the Urban Poor in Developing

Countries

• Slums

• Squatter settlements

• Shantytowns

• Terrible living conditions

• What can governments do to help?

Global Outlook: Extreme Poverty Forces

Hundreds of Millions to Live in Slums

Mexico CityExtreme example

• Urban area in crisis– Severe air pollution– Water pollution– 50% Unemployment– Deafening noise– Overcrowding– Traffic congestion– Inadequate public transportation– 1/3 live in slums (barrios) or squatter settlements

• What progress is being made?

Cities Can Grow Outward or Upward

• Compact cities– Hong Kong, China– Tokyo, Japan– Mass transit

• Dispersed cities– U.S. and Canada– Car-centered cities

Motor Vehicles Have Advantages and Disadvantages (1)

• Advantages– Mobility and convenience– Jobs in

Production and repair of vehiclesSupplying fuelBuilding roads

– Status symbol

• Disadvantages– Largest source of outdoor air pollution– Accidents: death and injury – Helped create urban sprawl– Traffic congestion

Reducing Automobile Use Is Not Easy, but It Can Be Done

• Full-cost pricing: high gasoline taxes

• Difficult to pass in the United StatesStrong public oppositionMass transit: not an option in most citiesDispersed nature of the U.S.

• A tax shift?

cont

• Raise parking fees

• Tolls on roads, tunnels, and bridges into major cities

• Car-sharing

• Charge a fee to drive into a major city

Some Cities Are Promoting Alternatives to Car Ownership

• Bicycles

• Heavy-rail systems

• Light-rail systems

• Buses

• Rapid-rail system between urban areas

TRADE-OFFS

Bicycles

Advantages Disadvantages

Affordable Little protection in an accident

Produce no pollution

Do not protect riders from bad weather

QuietImpractical for long tripsRequire little

parking space

Easy to maneuver in traffic

Take few resources to make

Lack of secure bike parking

Can be tiring (except for electric bicycles)

TRADE-OFFS

Mass Transit Rail

Advantages Disadvantages

Uses less energy and produces less air pollution than cars

Expensive to build and maintain

Requires less land than roads and parking areas for cars

Cost-effective only along a densely populated corridor

Causes fewer injuries and deaths than cars

Commits riders to transportation schedules

Reduces car congestion in cities

Can cause noise and vibration for nearby residents

TRADE-OFFS

Buses

Advantages Disadvantages

Can lose money because they need low fares to attract riders

Can be rerouted as needed

Cost less to develop and maintain than heavy-rail system

Can get caught in traffic and add to pollution

Commits riders to transportation schedules

Can greatly reduce car use and air pollution

Noisy

TRADE-OFFS

Rapid Rail

Advantages Disadvantages

Can reduce travel by car or plane

Expensive to run and maintain

Ideal for trips of 200–1,000 kilometers (120–620 miles)

Must operate along heavily used routes to be profitable

Much more energy efficient per rider than a car or plane

Causes noise and vibration for nearby residents

Potential Routes for High-Speed Bullet Trains in the U.S. and Parts of Canada

How Important Is Urban Land Use Planning?

• Urban land-use planning can help to reduce uncontrolled sprawl and slow the resulting degradation of air, water, land, biodiversity, and other natural resources.

Conventional Land-Use Planning

• Land-use planning – Encourages future population growth– Economic development – Revenues: property taxes– Environmental and social consequences

• Zoning– Mixed-use zoning

Smart Growth Works

• Smart growth – Reduces dependence on cars– Controls and directs sprawl– Cuts wasteful resource

Europe : Compact Cities

SOLUTIONSSmart Growth Tools

ProtectionPreserve existing open spaceBuy new open spaceBuy development rights that prohibit certain types of development on land parcels

Limits and Regulations

Limit building permits

Urban growth boundariesGreenbelts around cities

Public review of new development

Tax land, not buildingsTaxes

Tax land on value of actual use (such as forest and agriculture) instead of on highest value as developed land

Zoning

Encourage mixed use of housing and small businesses

Concentrate development along mass transportation routes

Promote high-density cluster housing developments

Tax BreaksFor owners agreeing not to allow certain types of development (conservation easements)For cleaning up and developing abandoned urban sites (brownfields)Planning

Ecological land-use planning

Environmental impact analysis

Integrated regional planning

State and national planning

Revitalization and New GrowthRevitalize existing towns and cities

Build well-planned new towns and villages within cities

Preserving and Using Open Space

• Urban growth boundary– U.S. states: Washington, Oregon, and

Tennessee

• Municipal parks– U.S. cities: New York City and San Francisco

• Greenbelts– Canadian cities: Vancouver and Toronto– Western European cities

Central Park, New York City, USA

How Can Cities Become More Sustainable and Livable?

An ecocity allows people to: choose walking, biking, or mass transit for most transportation needs; recycle or reuse most of their wastes; grow much of their food; and protect biodiversity by preserving surrounding land.

New Urbanism Is Growing

• Conventional housing development

• Cluster development

• New urbanism, old villageism– Walkability– Mixed-use and diversity– Quality urban design– Environmental sustainability– Smart transportation

Example of planning housing development that gives priority and

safeguard the natural landscape – the creek, rivers and pond are maintained.

Undeveloped land

Creek

Marsh

Fig. 22-18b, p. 605

Typical housing development

Cluster

Cluster housing development

ClusterPond

Creek

The Ecocity Concept: Cities for People Not Cars

• Ecocities or green citiesBuild and redesign for peopleUse renewable energy resources Recycle and purify waterUse energy and matter resources efficientlyPrevent pollution and reduce wasteRecycle, reuse and compost municipal wasteProtect and support biodiversityUrban gardens; farmers marketsZoning and other tools for sustainability

Science Focus: Urban Indoor Farming

• Rooftop greenhousesSun Works: designs energy-efficient greenhouses

• Growing Power and Will Allen http://www.growingpower.org/

• Hydroponic gardens• Skyscraper farms• Ecological advantages and disadvantages• Growing localvore and organic food movement

http://www.foodfightthedoc.com/foodfight.html

Greenroofs – EPA Building in Denver

China’s Vision for an Ecocity

• 2008: Dongtan, China, ecocity

• Carbon neutral city: use renewable resources for energy

• Reduce the need for cars, or use electric- or hydrogen-powered cars

• Public transportation

The Ecovillage Movement Is Growing

• Ecovillage movementEco-hoods

• 1993: ecovillage in Los Angeles, CA, U.S.What is making it work?http://www.laecovillage.org/

• Other ecovillagesSuccess stories

Towards Healthy City Concept

• Today environments have designed out physical activity

• Excessive high energy food intake• Insufficient physical activity in daily life• Diminished social interaction

Background to Healthy Cities

The international Healthy Cities movement was first conceived in Canada in 1984 as a result of the Healthy Toronto 2000: Beyond Health Care symposium, and was launched in Europe in 1986 by the World Health Organization (WHO). The movement has since spread across the globe and now involves more than 3,000 municipalities.

Health Determinants in an urban setting

Genetic Predisposition

Physical Environment

Social Environment

Life-style

Physical Environment

Geography, landscape and climate

Ecological footprint

Architecture

Housing, streets, and physical layouts

Physical, chemical and biological systems

Social Environment

Culture, social and religious norms

Social structure, cohesion and participation

Traditional and formal social support networks

Economic opportunities, system and structure

Participation in economy and decision making

Behaviour

Healthy lifestyle

Social mindedness and consciousness

Self esteem happiness

Aspiration, ambition, dynamism

Living in a city: health and quality of life

People live longer and healthier lives if:

They breath clean air and drink safe waterThey live in safe and comfortable housingThey have health supporting behaviour and

easy access to health care services They have meaningful jobs and income.They have securityThey have friends and feel they belong to their communityThey can make choices for their lives.

They have a peaceful homeThey have trees, plants and feel they relate to the

architecture.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

WATERSUPPLY

SANITATION

HEALTHSERVICES

SOCIALSERVICES

INCOMEGENERATION

HEALTHY CITYCONCEPT

The Aims of Healthy City Initiatives

• Improve health and environmental services

• Make people partners

• Strengthen social support network

• Stimulate economic development

• Put health at center of city social and political agenda

CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY COMMUNITY

Healthy Unhealthy

Optimism, hope and 'we are in this together’ Cynicism"We can do it 'Nothing works'Value intangibles like vision and values Emphasis only on tangiblesConsensus building PolarisationCollaboration ConfrontationFocus on the future Debate the pastInterdependence ParochialismBroad community participation Few do everythingLeadership renewal Same old facesThink and act in long term Short term thinkingListening AttackingReconciliation Hold grudgesWin-win solutions Win-lose solutionsPolitics of substance Politics of personalityDiversity and involvement ExclusionChallenge ideas Challenge peopleProblem solvers Blockers and blamersView challenges as opportunities See themselves as victims

 

 

THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS AFFECTING SAFETY

•PEOPLE KNOWING EACH OTHER

•PEOPLE ACTING TOGETHER

(According to Jody Kretzmann)

A Safe Environment

• A safe environment is the foundation of a healthy city

• Environment sustainability = health for people • Characterised by walkable neighbourhoods, local food production, quality open space and mixed local landuses

• Sustainability policy is well entrenched in planning policy and practice

ConclusionAdvantages of Sustainable Cities

By promoting sustainable urban form and function, cities become healthy, viable communities for citizens. Efficient urban form also helps protect the hinterland ecosystems that cities depend on. In many ways, the advantages to sustainable communities are underlined in the characteristics and definitions of urban sustainability. A good quality of life, natural open spaces, reduced waste, equality, access, lower crime, sense of community, clean air and water quality, and environmental diversity are just a few beneficial characteristics previously mentioned.

cont

The most important advantage of a sustainable city is that it follows such a development path that allows for an integral and long-term development without compromising future generations.

Thank You