Sustainable Cities - December 2013

SUSTAINABLECITIES DECEMBER 2013

Published by:In partnership with:

FOREWORD BY C40 CITIES’ NEW

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SPECIAL FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY AT

THE OLYMPICS

INTERVIEW WITH JANE HENLEY OF THE WORLDGBC

The fi ght against climate change will inevitably be won or lost in cities. More and more human activity is concentrated in urban areas and cities consume 75 per cent of all the worlds’ energy and emit around 80 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions. However, cities are uniquely positioned to lead the greening of the global economy and present the biggest opportunities to reduce the global ecological footprint.

Against this backdrop Climate Action - the United Nations Environment Programme supported communications platform - publishes Sustainable Cities. After being launched at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June 2012, we now present the third edition of Sustainable Cities; a resource for governments, industry and international opinion leaders to debate the case for sustainable development in cities around the world.

This edition features examples of sustainable urban practices and solutions from senior offi cials in cities around the world; including the Mayors of Adelaide, Heidelberg, and Copenhagen. We are also delighted to have exclusive interviews with Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee; Jane Henley, CEO of the World Green Building Council; and Greg Clark, Minister for Cities in the UK. We also present expert features written by: The United Nations Environment Programme; Dr Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-Habitat; Dr Andrew Steer, President of the World Resource Institute; Peter Ho, Chairman of the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore; and Gino van Begin, Secretary General at ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.

Sustainable Cities is circulated twice a year to Ministers, global Mayors, senior policy, planning and procurement staff, as well as international developers and architects.

To order additional copies please contact:

[email protected]

The information contained in this publication has been published in good faith and the opinions herein are those of the authors and not of Climate Action. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Climate Action concerning the legal status of any country, territory or city or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.Climate Action do not endorse any of the products advertised herein and cannot accept responsibility for any error or misinterpretation based on this information. The use of information from this publication concerning proprietary products for publicity or advertising is not permitted.Reproduction in whole or part of any contents of this publication (either in print form or electronically) without prior permission is strictly prohibited. Volume copyright Climate Action unless otherwise stated.

ISBN: 978-0-9928020-0-4Published December 2013

Publisher: Jane NethersoleEditor: William BrittlebankCommissioning Editor: Joanna StewartDesigner: Daniel BrownSub Editor: John SaundersPrinter: Buxton Press Limited

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SUSTAINABLE CITIES DECEMBER 2013 1

WITH THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS...

UNEP SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS AND CLIMATE INITIATIVE (UNEP-SBCI)The United Nations Environment Programme – Sustainable Building and Climate Initiative is a partnership of major public and private sector stakeholders in the building sector, working to promote sustainable building policies and practices worldwide. It works to present a common voice for the building sector stakeholders on sustainable buildings and climate change. It draws on the UNEP’s unique capacity to provide a global platform for collective action.

WORLD GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL (WORLDGBC)The WorldGBC is a coalition of more than 90 national green building councils, making it the largest international organisation influencing the green building marketplace. The WorldGBC’s mission is to facilitate the global transformation of the building industry towards sustainability through market driven mechanisms. The WorldGBC supports new and emerging Green Building Councils and ensures they have the resources needed to prosper, advocates the important role of green buildings in mitigating global climate change and promotes effective building performance rating tools and the development of mandatory minimum standards for energy efficiency in buildings.

ICLEI - LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITYICLEI is an association of over 1,220 local government members who are committed to sustainable development. The members come from 70 different countries and represent more than 569,885,000 people. It provides technical consulting, training, and information services to build capacity, share knowledge, and support local government in the implementation of sustainable development at the local level. The basic premise is that locally designed initiatives can provide an effective and cost efficient way to achieve local, national, and global sustainability objectives.

C40 CITIES CLIMATE LEADERSHIP GROUP The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a network of large and engaged cities from around the world committed to implementing meaningful and sustainable climate-related actions locally that will help address climate change globally. The organisation’s global field staff works with city governments, supported by their technical experts across a range of programme areas. The current chair of the C40 is New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who with the support the C40 executive leadership team, guides the work of the C40, along with the members of the C40 Steering Committee: Berlin, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, London, New York City, Sao Paulo, Seoul and Tokyo.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT (UITP)The International Association of Public Transport is the international network of public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It has the aim of doubling the market share of public transport worldwide by 2025. Over 150 signatories to the UITP’s Charter on Sustainable Development have made a voluntary but measurable commitment to monitor, measure and report on their own performance. UITP is a platform for worldwide co-operation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,400 members from 92 countries.

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7 FOREWORD By Mark Watts, Executive Director,

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group

SUSTAINABLE URBAN PLANNING

11 COMPACT CITIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE

By Dr Joan Clos, Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

16 INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HELP ASIAN CITIES GROW GREEN

By Bindu N Lohani, Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

20 A FRAMEWORK FOR LIVEABLE AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES

By Khoo Teng Chye, Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), Singapore

25 SPECIAL FEATURE: IRDA TOWARDS A LOW CARBON SOCIETY

26 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE SINGAPORE APPROACH By Peter Ho, Chairman, Singapore Urban

Redevelopment Authority

31 BUILDING RESILIENCE IN RAPIDLY GROWING CITIES

By Michael Berkowitz, Managing Director for 100 Resilient Cities, the Rockefeller Foundation

34 THE SMART GREEN CITY By Paul Bevan, Secretary General,

EUROCITIES

38 BIODIVERSITY, A RICH RESOURCE FOR CITIES AND PEOPLE

By Chantal van Ham, European Programme Offi cer in the European Union Representative Offi ce, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

42 CREATING RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IN CITIES By Soraya Smaoun, Acting Head, Built

Environment Unit and Sharon Gil, consultant, UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE)

CONTENTS

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POLICY & GOVERNANCE

46 GOING SMART PAYS OFF IN COPENHAGEN

By Lord Mayor Frank Jensen, City of Copenhagen

51 SUSTAINABLE CITIES: FROM VISION TO REALITY

By Dr Andrew Steer, President, the World Resources Institute (WRI)

55 LIVEABLE, COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE CHICAGO

By Karen Weigert, Chief Sustainability Offi cer, City of Chicago

58 THE UK’S GREEN STRATEGIST INTERVIEW WITH GREG CLARK

62 FINNISH MUNICIPALITIES COLLABORATE FOR CARBON NEUTRALITY

By Lea Kauppi and Jyri Seppälä, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)

67 A POST-CARBON ECONOMY INTERVIEW WITH LORD MAYOR OF ADELAIDE, STEPHEN YARWOOD

SPECIAL FOCUS: SUSTAINABILITY AND THE OLYMPICS

71 THE RIO 2016 OLYMPICS By Tania Braga, Rio 2016 and Luiz Eduardo

Pizzotti, Municipal Olympic Company (EOM)

76 TOKYO'S GREEN GAMES INTERVIEW WITH TSUNEKAZU TAKEDA, PRESIDENT, JAPANESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

CLEAN ENERGY

79 EVERYDAY CLEANTECH, WORKING TOWARDS SAVING THE WORLD

By Kaisa Hernberg, Executive Director, Cleantech Finland

82 SPECIAL FEATURE: DANFOSS RETHINKING ENERGY AND THE

ECONOMY

84 LOW ENERGY CITIES WITH A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL

By Eckart Würzner, Mayor of Heidelberg, Germany, and President, Energy Cities

CONTENTS

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URBAN TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS

88 URBAN MOBILITY WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT

By Alain Flausch, Secretary General, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP)

91 REINVENTING MOBILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN CITIES FOR ENVIRONMENT AND PEOPLE

By Gino van Begin, Secretary General, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

94 URBAN MOBILITY WITH INNOVATIVE FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES

By Erik Jonnaert, Secretary General, European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

GREEN BUILDINGS

98 BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS INTERVIEW WITH JANE HENLEY,

CEO, WORLD GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

102 SPECIAL FEATURE: OKITE SUSTAINABILITY BELOW

THE SURFACE

104 ECOLOGICAL ARCHITECTURE INTERVIEW WITH RENOWNED

ARCHITECT, PAUL F DOWNTON

109 SPECIAL FEATURE: FOAMGLAS®

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION BY SUITABLE PRODUCT CHOICE

URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT

111 WATER SENSITIVE URBAN DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

By Tony Wong, CEO, the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, Australia

117 SPECIAL FEATURE: ALIAXIS PLASTICS DRIVING URBAN

RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

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The Enova Conference 2014The Green Gold

The Enova Conference is a meeting place for decision

makers within the fields of official policy, business and

industry, organisations and associations, technology

development and innovation.

The theme of the 2014 conference is energy and

climate technology. The conference will take place in

the city of Trondheim, Norway, January 28th and 29th.

THEGREENGOLD28 29 January 2014

Enova is a government agency that manages the Norwegian Energy Fund. Enova is responsible for promoting the develop-ment, introduction and implementation of new technologies for energy and climate solutions.

While national and international governments continue to struggle to find common ground on the issue of climate change adaptation and mitigation, the good news is that meaningful action is already taking place in our world’s cities. This new edition of Sustainable Cities summarises current thinking and progress towards sustainability in some of the most innovative and creative environments in the world.

Climate Change 2013: the Physical Science Basis, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in autumn 2013, is probably the most comprehensively researched and peer-reviewed piece of science in history. It set out that human-induced climate change is ‘unequivocal’ and made clear the potentially catastrophic risks should greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue at their current levels. Despite the gravity of these findings, world leaders walked away from the UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw on a mostly inconclusive note, failing to agree on a binding policy to cut or hold each other accountable for GHG emissions. And yet there is a strong feeling of urgency among leaders of our cities, and it is here that progress is already being made.

By 2050 the UN estimates that seven out of every ten people will live in a city, so it goes without saying that what cities do today to mitigate climate change will greatly impact our global future. Around the world, urban dwellers are more likely

to endorse action on climate than rural dwellers – and this has pushed mayors out ahead of national leaders on climate issues in country after country.

In part, this is because city residents are more comfortable with the solutions to climate change – with transit, with density, with shared spaces and with cutting-edge technology. And in part, it is because cities face some of the greatest risks from climate change. Over 90 per cent of all urban areas are coastal, putting most cities on earth at risk of flooding from rising sea levels and powerful storms.

By Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group

FOREWORD

"What cities do today to mitigate climate change will greatly impact our global future."


FOREWORD

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FOREWORD


INNOVATION LEADING THE WORLD

Readers of Sustainable Cities will find in these pages a full collection of up-to-date material, presented in a form that encourages an understanding of the aspirations of cities all over the world, and their progress towards a sustainable future. The plans and innovations of city and local governments have been developed over a number of years, sometimes decades; and the frank discussion of best practice, challenges and triumphs forms a base for much thought and inspiration.

At C40, we understand that cities are leading the global fight against climate change. More nimble and action-oriented than their state and federal counterparts, the governments of C40 Cities – and cities around the globe – serve their own residents and lead the world by adopting innovative climate solutions and demonstrating their feasibility in some of the planet’s most challenging environments. Both on reducing emissions and preparing for the impact of climate change, C40’s research shows that cities are taking widespread action across key sectors – and are having a significant global impact. C40’s 63 member cities have already implemented a range of actions that, when fully realised, will cut GHG emissions by 248 million tonnes. And by continuing to lead the world in adopting and sharing innovative climate solutions, C40 Cities have the potential to reduce emissions by more than one billion tonnes a year by 2030.

Bogota, Colombia, has reshaped its transport system, making bus rapid transit a global phenomenon; Mexico City reduced its air pollution and the climate-forcing black carbon by 7.7 million tonnes from 2008 to 2012. Tokyo’s innovative cap-and-trade system among large buildings has driven energy efficiency improvements dramatically while controlling costs. Copenhagen will prove that prosperity does not require fossil fuels, as they take strides to become the world’s first large carbon-neutral city in 2025. And, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, New York has developed an aggressive climate adaptation plan that has set the model for the rest of the world.

CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AWARDS

In 2013 C40 partnered with Siemens to create the C40 & Siemens City Climate Leadership Awards, to provide global recognition to cities like Bogota, Tokyo and New York that are

demonstrating leadership in climate action. For the inaugural awards in 2013, nominees came from around the world. Each submission represented a project that was developed to respond to a specific challenge in a specific city. And, as much as they share commonalities, no two cities are the same. In some cities, transport is the key challenge; in others, solid waste; in some, new construction; in others, retrofitting existing buildings. But all of the nominated cities have several things in common: ambitious goals to mitigate and adapt to climate change; the political determination to follow through on these goals; and a commitment to continually measure and report progress. More detail can be found in the articles in Sustainable Cities.

2014 looks to be another big year for the C40. Together with Siemens we will soon launch the 2014 City Climate Leadership Awards cycle, which will showcase an entirely new and different set of innovative city-led projects and facilitate further sharing of best practices across our growing network. In February, the City of Johannesburg will host the fifth biennial C40 Mayors Summit, an event that gathers mayors from the world’s largest cities for three days to advance urban solutions to the climate crisis. Hundreds of urban and climate change leaders from around the world will join mayors in a series of round-table discussions and working sessions to focus on the themes of GHG measurement and adaptation. Here C40’s newly elected Chair, Mayor Eduardo Paes of Rio de Janeiro, will officially take the reins from the current Chair, New York City Mayor Michael R Bloomberg. C40 will publish its second Climate Action in Megacities report, detailing the thousands of climate actions being taken by our member cities.

At various times during his three years as C40 Chair, Mayor Bloomberg has been known to say that “nations talk, cities act”. That is not necessarily a criticism of nation states – they are designed to protect national interests, not to tackle global issues.

City governments, on the other hand, are not so

"We understand that cities are leading the global fight against climate change."


FOREWORD

encumbered and are more able to engage openly with their peers. Since 2005, C40 Mayors have shown themselves to be highly capable of working together to share ideas and effect change – and have already taken thousands of climate-related actions that are helping them mitigate CO

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emissions while developing more sustainable and resilient futures for their citizens. And when cities choose to take action on adaptation and mitigation strategies, and share knowledge with one another, the collective impact is huge. �

Mark Watts took over from Jay Carson as Executive Director of C40 on 15 December 2013. A senior adviser

to the former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, for over ten years, Mark was instrumental in the creation of the C40 in 2005, including developing its partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative. As the Mayor’s climate change and sustainable transport adviser he led the development of London's Climate Change Action Plan and the associated programme of projects to reduce London’s carbon emissions 60 per cent by 2025. In 2008, Mark joined the global consultancy firm Arup, and advised a range of clients from the cities of Copenhagen, Sao Paulo, Addis Ababa and Melbourne, to major multi-national companies such as Mitsui and WPP. Mark’s Arup team won the 2012 UK Management Consultancy Award (Environment) for the work he led on C40’s Climate Action in Megacities report.

The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) is a network of large and engaged cities from around the world committed to implementing meaningful and sustainable climate-related actions locally that will help address climate change globally. C40 was established in 2005 and expanded via a partnership in 2006 with President William J Clinton’s Climate Initiative (CCI). The current chair of the C40 is Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is President of the Board. To learn more about the work of C40 and our Cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/C40Cities.

"Since 2005, C40 Mayors have shown themselves to be highly capable of working together to share ideas and affect change."

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FOREWORD New York City’s aggressive climate

adaptation plan is setting a model for

cities around the world

Compactness is an important attribute of the most efficient and sustainable cities. Not only can there be environmental advantages such as cutting transport distances and encouraging citizens away from motorised transport, but social and economic benefits are also available if careful planning is undertaken to manage expansion.

In ‘A New Paradigm for Urban Planning’, UN-Habitat’s contribution to Climate Action 2012, we took the opportunity to sketch out in broad terms a ‘new urban agenda’. This article concentrates on one important element of that agenda: the compact city.

The current global trend of urbanisation is well established. The urban population has increased nearly fivefold between 1950 and 2011 (United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects), and by 2030 demographers project that over 60 per cent of the global population will reside in cities. However, inevitable though the general trend appears to be, the form that urbanisation will take can be guided by effective planning. Cities are human constructs and we possess, now more than ever, the knowledge and technology required to shape urban life to better support human development. This period of rapid urbanisation, particularly in developing countries, provides a unique opportunity to control the urban structures that will be with us for many generations. And all signs

point to one broad type of urban form that we should promote: the compact city.

WHY COMPACT?

We should embrace policies that promote the compact city for various reasons, including to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Cities emit a substantial proportion of the world’s greenhouse gases (GHGs) that come about through anthropogenic causes. Depending on definitions as to what size of human settlement constitutes a city and whether one uses figures based on consumption or production, estimates of this proportion can vary from 30 to 70 per cent (UN-Habitat, Global Report on Human Settlements 2011 – Cities and Climate Change). While there are a range of policies available to reduce cities’ emissions, one fundamental approach involves promoting compact urban development. There is a general correlation between higher urban density and lower emission levels (Figure 1). A number of reasons can be given for this.

By Dr Joan Clos, Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

COMPACT CITIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE



Firstly, dense urban settlements usually provide opportunities for lower emission forms of transport. Urban density is one of the most important factors influencing the amount of energy used in private passenger transport, and therefore has a significant effect on GHG emissions. If all other variables are controlled, one study found that an increase in density of 1,000 housing units per square mile leads to a 1,200-mile reduction in vehicle miles per household per year (Brown et al, cited in UN-Habitat, Global Report on Human Settlements 2011). A similar study found that a doubling of the average neighbourhood density was associated with a 20-40 per cent decrease in vehicle use per household, leading to a corresponding decline in GHG emissions (Gottdiener and Budd 2005, cited in Global Report on Human Settlements 2011).

One reason that use of the private vehicle can decline with increased density is that higher densities make investment in urban transport infrastructure more viable. More sustainable modes of public transport such as bus rapid transit systems, light rail and non-motorised transport play an important role in reducing private vehicle dependency. These high-investment modes of

transport generally become more feasible when they can service larger volumes of commuters over shorter distances. With such investment, then, the use of public transport can increase. Research by the Neptis Foundation analysing 16 cities showed that compact cities such as Vienna and Madrid (pictured overleaf) had significantly higher public transport use than lower-density cities such as Atlanta and Houston (cited in World Bank, Cities and Climate Change, an Urgent Agenda, 2010).

Another reason why compact development reduces emissions relates to land use change. As cities grow horizontally they consume surrounding green fields; previously vegetated areas (one form of ‘carbon sink’) are cleared for built environments. Compact development, therefore, may reduce the GHG emissions associated with land-use change as compared with urban sprawl.

The compact city also yields other environmental benefits. Preparation of land for buildings may reduce permeable surfaces, fragment ecosystems and alter micro-climates. Again, if done carefully (for instance with attention to geographical and environmental features such as fragile ecosystems), compact development may reduce those negative impacts.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS

Compact urban form not only has positive environmental implications but also may yield social and economic benefits. Much of the growth in cities in developing countries is occurring as peri-urban informal settlements. UN-Habitat’s State of the World’s Cities Report 2012/13: The Prosperity of Cities suggests

Figure 1. City density versus GHG emissions per capita

Source: World Bank, Cities and Climate Change, an Urgent Agenda, 2010

"Dense urban settlements usually provide opportunities for lower emission forms of transport."

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two benefits for the urban poor from compact development. Firstly, the compact city may enhance livelihoods for the urban poor through better access to economic opportunities and affordable mobility within the urban environment. Secondly, a compact development pattern may lower degrees of social segregation through closer proximity of affordable housing options to places of work. Ensuring that a variety of housing types are within the reach of basic services and infrastructure further helps to ensure the urban poor are not marginalised.

More generally, urbanisation has shown a powerful and positive correlation with economic development. This is due to the agglomeration and proximity advantages of economic activities which are the products of a compact and connected city. The State of the World’s Cities Report 2012-13 notes that these intrinsic city-level factors benefit firms by allowing them to locate near customers and suppliers (reducing transport and communication costs), take advantage of increased flexibility between labour supply and demand, access a wider range of shared services and infrastructure, and benefit from concentrations of specialist industries.

TREND AWAY FROM COMPACTNESS

Despite the considerable benefits that thus can be derived from the compact city, the general trend

in urban development over the past century has been away from density towards urban sprawl. The average density of built-up areas in both developed and developing country cities is declining, and some of the largest decreases can be seen in developing countries. It is estimated that the total population of cities in developing countries will double between 2000 and 2030, but their built-up areas will increase threefold over the same period, from about 200,000 to 600,000 sq km (World Bank, cited in UN-Habitat’s Global Report on Human Settlements 2011). The post-World War II era of cheaper fossil fuels, and growing automobile ownership in developed countries, encouraged less dense patterns of urbanisation. Now with the urgency of climate change and higher fuel prices, a compact urban form is critical to bring together employment and housing opportunities and to reduce commuting distances and associated GHG emissions.

COMPLEMENTARY POLICIES FOR COMPACT CITIES

A compact urban form must be balanced with appropriate provisions of public space, particularly an efficient street network and public green areas. Streets facilitate the exchange of goods and the movement of people. They serve as the backbone of infrastructure networks including transport, drainage and electricity. Carefully planned street

Compact cities such as Madrid have significantly higher public transport use than lower-density cities



networks can facilitate efficiencies in these aligned critical infrastructure systems.

Public green space is a way to maintain the liveability of a compact city, providing respite within a dense urban environment. Well-chosen green areas, carefully developed and maintained, are also essential for supporting the ecological systems of the city. Cities can be greened while remaining compact. An example of effective greening comes from Chicago, where the city adopted a comprehensive plan titled ‘Adding Green to Urban Design’ in 2008; and in 2009 launched an ‘Urban Forest Agenda’. The Plan and Agenda include actions to improve the design of important green infrastructure areas in the city such as rooftops, building facades, landscaping around buildings and in parking lots, sidewalks, parkways and streets. Chicago recently reported 7 million sq ft (650,000 sq metres) of green roofs finished or under construction, 120 green alleys installed, and 6,000 trees planted in urban heat island communities.

‘Transit oriented development’ is one way to achieve high density along with other positive outcomes. Under this approach, planners may concentrate dense development at certain points (Figure 3): along public transport trunk routes, areas in or around urban nodes (such as interchanges, public transit stops, economic centres), and on the periphery of open spaces to increase passive surveillance and safety.

The scale of densification should be context-specific and take into account such issues as cultural perceptions, building standards, housing demand, land and building costs and the supporting infrastructure systems. While the exact policies thus may vary according to context, the focus – particularly in the global South – should be on basic urban planning. Delineation of public versus

private lands, and setting aside areas of green space, should be prioritised. These plans can be developed without detailed and expensive urban planning processes. This focused approach is particularly appropriate for developing countries that may have fewer resources to draw upon in urban planning processes.

DENSIFICATION A PRIORITY

Encouraging compact development is just one strategy for creating more sustainable, liveable cities, but the current trend towards lower densities, combined with urbanisation and climate change,

PLANNING POINTS FOR A COMPACT FORM

While the general trend is towards greater sprawl, this tendency is by no means inevitable or universal. Between 1995 and 2005, cities such as Oslo, Portland and Frankfurt maintained stable levels of density, while in this period other cities such as London and Helsinki actually became denser. Concerted planning can help to reduce and reverse a trend towards sprawl. Depending on circumstances, policies that can support this densification include consolidation of plots for better-use redevelopment, redevelopment of brownfield sites, sub-division of existing plots and delineation of containment edges for urban development. A focus on compact form and connections to existing infrastructure can keep environmental impacts and GHG emissions to a minimum. With proactive urban planning, larger city populations do not need to translate to correspondingly large land footprints.

Chicago has adopted comprehensive plans including ‘Adding Green to Urban Design’ and the ‘Urban Forest Agenda’

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highlights the importance of this approach. To provide for expanding city populations and avoid uncontrolled urban expansion and its environmental impacts, urban planners should prioritise densification.

In 2016, UN-Habitat will host the Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III). The conference will provide the opportunity for world leaders and stakeholders to outline and address the challenges of the present and future, including

urban planning for a compact city. Habitat III will offer a platform to discuss the role that cities must play in climate change mitigation and sustainable human development in a world where the majority of people reside in urban areas. To avoid tackling the challenge of urbanisation and climate change as interconnected issues is to miss a significant opportunity for a better global future. �

Dr Joan Clos was appointed Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) at the level of Undersecretary-General by the United Nations General Assembly. He took office at the Programme’s headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, on 18 October 2010. He is a medical doctor with a distinguished career in public service and diplomacy, and was twice elected Mayor of Barcelona, serving two terms during the years 1997-2006. He was appointed Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade of Spain (2006-2008) under President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. In this role, he helped rationalise the Iberian energy market in line with European Union policies. Prior to joining the United Nations, he served as Spanish ambassador to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat’s programmes are designed to help policy-makers and local communities get to grips with human settlements and urban issues and find workable, lasting solutions. UN-Habitat’s work is directly related to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, particularly the goals of member states to improve the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by the year 2020 (Target 11, Millennium Development Goal 7); and Target 10 which calls for the reduction by half of the number without sustainable access to safe drinking water.

Figure 3. Transit oriented development

Source: Calthorpe 1993, in UN-Habitat 2013, Urban Planning for

City Leaders



Asia is one of the most rapidly urbanising regions in the world. More than half of the world’s largest cities are found in Asia. By 2015, there will be 12 Asian megacities, and by 2022 the urban population is expected to surpass the rural population, according to the ADB publication Asian Water Dev elopment Outlook 2013. The ADB is backing a number of innovative projects to help growing cities overcome deprivation and become more sustainable.

How cities develop in Asia is vital to the effort to eliminate poverty in the region. Cities generate more than 80 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in many countries in Asia and the Pacific. Half of the 600 cities that account for 60 per cent of GDP are in Asia, as noted in the report Urban World: Mapping the Economic Power of Cities, published by McKinsey Global Institute in March 2011.

The quality and efficiency of Asian cities will determine the region’s long-term productivity and overall stability. In India by 2030, the urban economy will provide 70 per cent of all new jobs and 70 per cent of GDP. The ADB Urban Operational Plan 2012–2020 estimates that the economy of the city of Delhi will be bigger than Malaysia’s economy is today.

At the same time, second-tier cities will become more important. The world’s 23 megacities now

account for 14 per cent of global GDP. But this figure is expected to moderate to just over 10 per cent by 2025. This means that the remaining second-tier cities, around 577, have and will account for around 50 per cent of global GDP until 2025. Of these 577 cities, 407 are in developing countries, accounting for 40 per cent of global growth, the McKinsey report noted.

Asia’s cities are the engines of economic growth that have lifted millions of people from poverty – and they are under increasing strain. These cities will become home to another 1.1 billion people in the next two decades as the poor continue to be drawn to better opportunities. By 2015, it is estimated that nearly 700 million people will live in urban slums.

Asia’s cities are grappling with environmental degradation, traffic congestion, inadequate urban infrastructure, and a lack of basic services, such as

By Bindu N Lohani, Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HELP ASIAN CITIES GROW GREEN

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AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND WATER SECURITY

water supply, sanitation and waste management. Maintaining vital economic growth, while creating sustainable, liveable cities for all, is the biggest urban challenge facing Asia. In essence, Asia’s urban areas must be transformed from being archetypally chaotic, polluted, inequitable and financially constrained, to becoming competitive, green and inclusive.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

The over-arching goal of the Asian Development Bank is the elimination of poverty in Asia and the Pacific. Guided by its long-term strategic framework, Strategy 2020, ADB’s work to help build sustainable cities focuses on integrated approaches that target the poor; promote economic development; treat cities as living ecosystems; involve the private sector and civil society; and adopt measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change. All ADB project data in this article comes from the ADB website or ADB experts.

ADB is supporting innovative solutions across a broad spectrum of sectors and focus areas in order to make the region’s cities more prosperous and sustainable.

Transport. In the area of transport, ADB sees urban mobility as a key enabler of development by providing access to jobs, education, healthcare and markets. Low-cost urban mobility solutions such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems mean that a wider spectrum of cities can now afford quality public transport. In January 2013, the ADB-financed BRT system and cycleway in Lanzhou (People’s Republic of China) opened for operations. Likewise, ADB is helping finance public transport and pedestrian networks in cities such as Dhaka (Bangladesh), Davao (the Philippines), Ha Noi (Viet Nam), Ho Chi Minh City (Viet Nam), Jaipur (India), Kathmandu (Nepal), Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), and Vientiane (Lao PDR).

ADB is working with the Philippines to transform the public transport sector by supporting the use of electric vehicles, specifically tricycles (e-trikes). There are about 3.5 million conventional combustion engine tricycles and motorcycles operating in the Philippines, contributing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions to the environment every year. An ADB project aims to promote the adoption of 100,000 e-trikes in the next five years. The e-trike produces no noise and zero tailpipe emissions and can be charged at night during off-peak electricity hours.

Energy efficiency. To support the provision of clean energy to Asia’s cities, ADB is backing transformative renewable energy projects that will accelerate the region’s transition over to low-carbon, sustainable growth. The region is expected to consume more than half the world’s energy supply by 2035, with electricity consumption more than doubling as economic growth and rising affluence drive demand. Buildings and industries currently consume 85 per cent of the region’s electricity, making urban transformation through greater energy efficiency crucial to future energy security. ADB has advised that immediate interventions for greater efficiency can be taken in public buildings and public industries, and municipal lighting. Early investment in energy efficiency can have great benefits; ADB has found that investments of 1 per cent to 4 per cent of overall energy sector spending can meet up to 25 per cent of the projected increase in primary energy consumption.

ADB is supporting a project in the Philippines to improve demand-side energy efficiency. The project helped finance lighting retrofits of government buildings, as well as the installation of 9 million

"ADB sees urban mobility as a key enabler of development by providing access to jobs, education, healthcare and markets."



compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) in private homes. These energy efficiency improvements have reduced the cost of energy production and decreased oil imports in the Philippines; in turn, this has helped mitigate emissions of sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and carbon dioxide.

Water. In Bhopal, India, ADB has undertaken an innovative water project that has improved the city’s water supply while helping to clean up one of the area’s top tourist attractions. The Urban Water Supply and Environment Improvement Project has improved access to water for 5.3 million people, improved sewerage and sanitation for 500,000 people, and improved solid-waste management for 4.7 million people.

In addition, the project rehabilitated six pumping stations at Bhopal’s Upper Lake – a local tourism spot known for its scenic beauty, bird life, and boating facilities – and it now provides six million gallons of water each day. It is also free from pollution and has enhanced the quality of life in the city.

Water-related risks. To help cities address urban flooding, assessments of demographic and

geographic vulnerability to water-related disasters are urgently needed to increase capacities for disaster risk reduction in Asia, which is prone to natural disasters. ADB is supporting the use of meteorological observation systems to predict threats – such as flooding – more precisely than many other methods. Precipitation data gathered by satellites is used to warn people living in areas at risk before a flood occurs. In addition, during and after a flood, high resolution images of inundated areas can support rescue and recovery operations.

Water-related disaster risk reduction and management, including more community-based approaches and climate change adaptation measures, must be more deeply incorporated into urban planning. Screening proposed infrastructure investments for climate risks will enable not only mitigation of disasters but also improved adaptation to the expected impacts of climate change.

Sanitation and waste water. In Viet Nam, an ADB project enlisted the help of women’s organisations in urban areas to help solve problems associated with sanitation and waste water. The Central Region Urban Environmental Improvement Project improved living conditions in six medium-sized coastal towns, in part through the use of a community awareness programme supervised by local organisations made up primarily from chapters of the Viet Nam Women’s Union.

Project funds were used to provide start-up capital for a household sanitation credit scheme that operated as a revolving fund. The programme resulted in about 2,230 houses having new latrines and septic tanks. This improved the sanitation situation and contributed to enhancing human dignity.

To accelerate access to sanitation in the Asia-Pacific Region, ADB and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have jointly established the Sanitation Financing Partnership Trust Fund under the ADB-administered Water Financing Partnership Facility. The trust fund aims to support innovative sanitation solutions – policies, business models and technologies – to expand non-sewer sanitation and septage management in Asia.

Solid waste. In the People’s Republic of China (PRC), ADB is supporting innovative practices to help address issues related to municipal solid waste. In 2009, ADB signed a private sector agreement to lend up to US$200 million to China Everbright

ADB is supporting the Philippines in the use of electric

vehicles, specifically e-trikes

"Assessments of demographic and geographic vulnerability to water-related disasters are urgently needed."

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International Limited to develop waste-to-energy plants (WTE) in cities across the PRC. So far, the company has built WTE plants in 7 secondary cities and the annual municipal waste processing capacity is more than 8 million tonnes. In 2012, more than 1,300 million kWh of gross green electricity was generated, with a huge impact on reducing carbon emissions.

Integrated urban planning. In Nepal, ADB is using integrated urban planning in Bharatpur to improve the city’s environment while at the same time making it more climate-resilient. Improving the city attracts residents and takes pressure off the congested capital city of Kathmandu. This spreads economic development more evenly across the country.

An ADB project in the city has improved municipal planning and helped upgrade infrastructure used for water supply, drainage, and sanitation. At the same time, it has supported the municipal government in transforming the city’s riverside into a green space with a cement embankment that protects the residential land from erosion and provides steps down to the river’s edge. This protects from landslides while at the same time making the city more liveable.

A LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT

Since the 1960s, ADB has been assisting its developing member countries in making their cities more prosperous and sustainable. This has included more than US$15 billion in funding spread among hundreds of urban development projects.

Over the years, the role of cities has changed as more people migrate to urban areas looking for economic opportunities as well as quality-of-life improvements in education, health, and housing. But urban citizens do not share equally in the benefits of economic growth and progress, and failure to prepare for and address the needs of urban poor in cities has created overcrowded inner-city tenements, slums, and informal settlements.

The stakes are high. If urban expansion goes unchecked in the developing world the environmental impact will be catastrophic. About 75 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are generated by urban areas.

ADB is determined to make cities liveable and inclusive by addressing the problems resulting from

rapid urbanisation and the limited capacity of basic service delivery systems to keep pace with growth. This involves managing rapid urbanisation by promoting compact, energy-efficient, green, slum free, safe and liveable cities, more reliant on mass transit than on cars.

Finance is just one aspect of this effort. In light of this reality, ADB has developed a new concept around ‘Finance + +’. We hope to build upon our own financial resources by leveraging partnerships and by providing knowledge to our developing-member countries. Diversified finance along with advice and knowledge resources makes for a potent set of tools in affecting change on the ground.

We can individually and collectively work to leverage value from catalytic examples that will drive wider change. Seemingly small actions, whether inspired by development banks, national and local governments, NGOs or local communities, can make a difference if they lead to replication. All these ingredients are vital to building healthy, prosperous cities, but the most important factors are strong local and national leadership, and community participation. �

Bindu N Lohani is Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development at the Asian Development Bank. Mr. Lohani is responsible for ADB’s Economics and Research Department (Office of the Chief Economist), Office of Regional Economic Integration, Regional and Sustainable Development Department (RSDD), and the Office of Information Systems and Technology. Prior to this position, he was Vice-President for Finance and Administration.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region.

"If urban expansion goes unchecked in the developing world the environmental impact will be catastrophic."



Singapore’s situation, constrained in a limited geographical area, has allowed the city planners and citizens to develop unique solutions to the challenge of urban liveability. The city’s high density, in particular, has promoted the use of a set of planning criteria or ‘rules’ for achieving a high standard of living.

Singapore is a densely populated metropolis with more than five million inhabitants living on 716 sq km of land. In liveable city surveys over the last few years, including Mercer’s Quality of Living Survey of 2011, Singapore is one of few high density cities that are able to achieve high liveability standards. In the 1960s, it would have been hard to imagine that Singapore – then a fledgling nation troubled by high unemployment, urban slums, poor infrastructure, lack of sanitation, and an unskilled labour force – would make the leap from a developing nation into a thriving global city in the space of 40 years. Today, many highly liveable cities exist in large geographical spaces with low-rise developments, less dense populations and low polluting industries. Cities such as Sydney or Vancouver are often cited. Singapore is one of the outliers that have combined highly dense urban structures with high standards of living. This represents an intriguing possibility that high-density living does not have to compromise on quality of life. How is this achieved? And, what has Singapore learnt in the

process? These are key questions that Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) will address.

METHOD: URBAN SYSTEMS STUDIES

When Singapore’s pioneering leaders started to build the city, they did not have a particular framework in mind, or a written set of principles and guidelines. CLC’s challenge is to distil these – not just the formal institutions of urban development, but also the tacit knowledge from those that led Singapore’s urban planning and governance over the decades. In exploring these, we paid special attention to the role of key actors, enabling processes and innovative policies that we believed to be crucial to understanding the transformation of Singapore. The basic units of analysis were the institutions, which we defined as ‘rules of the game’. Formal institutions include the law, formal rules and regulations, and structures of governance. Informal structures include norms, principles and values. These research outcomes are captured in CLC’s ongoing research in Singapore’s urban systems.

By Khoo Teng Chye, Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), Singapore

A FRAMEWORK FOR LIVEABLE AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES

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SNAPSHOT OF THE CLC FRAMEWORK

The purpose of the CLC Framework is to provide a lens through which city leaders can view their cities and analyse the actions or approaches open to them to achieve high liveability.

Three outcomes have been constant in how Singapore envisioned liveability:

First, Singapore needed a competitive economy in order to attract investments and provide jobs.

Second, the city has to survive with limited natural resources in terms of land and water.

Third, it has to maintain an acceptable quality of life, which includes addressing environmental and hygiene problems, as well as providing affordable education, housing and healthcare.

These three outcomes are highly visible, and could be a statement of policy goals. But what are the processes and mechanisms that enable this transformation? What are the ‘rules’ that must be in place to sustain these desirable outcomes? In short, how did Singapore achieve these outcomes?

These mechanisms, or operating rules, are not so apparent. We explain this with the CLC framework graphically represented by the diagram (Figure 1). As a working hypothesis, we take two elements as key in understanding the institutional change of Singapore – first, integrated planning and development, keeping the outcomes of a liveable city in view over the long term; second, urban governance of a dynamic nature that sustains the conditions for a liveable city to thrive.

THE LIVEABLE CITY OUTCOMES

These outcomes have remained consistent over the last 50 years. From Singapore’s experience, there are often no absolute levels whereby liveability is met. It is more often than not about optimising the trade-offs at each stage of development, adapting to the circumstances and challenges prevailing at the time.

Outcome 1: a competitive economy The presence of a competitive economy is crucial to a city’s liveability. Residents must have the opportunity to make a living and achieve a degree of economic security. Likewise, the city must be able to generate income in order to sustain itself, invest and create further opportunities for economic growth. Singapore’s urban systems have

Figure 1. The CLC Liveability Framework



had an integral role in supporting the country’s economic development. This includes the allocation of land and facilities for industrial use, transport networks, and the supply of water and the provision of sewerage facilities. Its economic policies have also been dynamic and adaptive to changing global conditions, with government agencies well aligned to compete for foreign investments for development.

Outcome 2: a sustainable environment Environmental sustainability also means the long-term sustainability of resources that are vital to the survival and functioning of Singapore. As much as the Singapore government placed huge priority on economic development in the early years, it did not take the ‘develop first, clean up later’ approach of many developing nations. The city-state brought environmental protection in line with both economic development and city planning. During the 1960s and 1970s, Singapore paid attention to a clean and green environment in order to improve public health, inculcate social responsibility, and show foreign investors that the country was well run. Environmental values were therefore embedded into a larger social and economic narrative by framing it as a means to distinguish Singapore from regional peers. This was a key factor in understanding how environmental concerns had an early and important place at the policy table.

Outcome 3: a high quality of life In the early stages of Singapore’s development, slums, squatters and substandard living conditions were prevalent. At that time, improving quality of life would have incorporated basic accommodation, sanitation and an elementary public health system. In order to meet this, Singapore’s Public Housing Programme provided accessible and affordable housing and amenities for its citizens. Until today, it encourages home ownership with over 80 per cent of Singaporeans living in apartments built by the Housing Development Board (HDB). The government also made a conscious decision to keep Singapore green and more pleasant for its residents. Social integration has, likewise, played a part in the building of Singapore. Initiatives such as the 2004 Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme sought to transform urban infrastructure into aesthetic landscapes and recreational spots. Numerous cultural initiatives have given rise to the city’s Esplanade theatres, various museums and cultural venues.

INTEGRATED MASTER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Integrated master planning goes beyond the making of physical plans. It addresses the need to optimise planning decisions such that the outcomes for the environment, economy and quality of life can be balanced, especially with competing demands for use of limited land. It must also ensure that meeting

Figure 2. The CLC Liveability Matrix diagram

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long-term outcomes as well as short-term needs are optimised. But the key differentiating factor for Singapore’s planning is that its plans do not stay just on paper – they are implemented and executed with dedicated organisations, expertise and resources.

At each stage in the integrated master planning and development process, there have been five implicit operating rules that have remained remarkably consistent over the years.

Rule 1: think long-term Thinking long-term helps officials keep the three outcomes in balance at both the planning and implementing stages. A longer-term view can also help planners make decisions on developing a good project that may be before its time. Long-term thinking provided government agencies with a sense of mission and direction: at every point in time, rigorous decisions in evaluating and implementing projects have to be made to deal with challenges based on the best knowledge and information available at that time.

Rule 2: fight productively In a rational, interest-based analysis, government agencies tend to focus on their own targets rather than the larger goals of government. An inter-agency structure forces various government departments to acknowledge each other’s concerns and goals. Such a structure and the resulting processes give room for ‘productive fights’. Conflict is productive when it helps officials to surface their concerns and differences, challenge proposals, and reach decisions on planning and implementation that optimise the three liveability outcomes. Unresolved issues are escalated for resolution by considering overall strategic goals and national interests.

Fights are not just a result of different interests, but also sometimes of different perspectives. For example, our research has shown some instances where political and professional ideas and assessments diverge. In these cases, it is not mere power that resolves the issue – there is a historical and deep respect for professional expertise in public policy planning and implementation in Singapore.

Rule 3: build in some flexibility While planning is necessarily for the long term and done in some detail, city planners need to accept that no plan is perfect, just as no future is predictable. Planning needs some operational flexibility. Regular reviews of land use and development policies take into account new

technologies, changing circumstances and public feedback. This process allows for the re-evaluation of development strategies as well as the strategic and specific land use plans to cater for changing economic and social needs.

Rule 4: execute effectively A plan is only as good as its successful implementation. The government set up action-oriented agencies or statutory boards for implementation of policies and programmes in view of larger national objectives. The emphasis is on delivering the mission. In this, leadership, especially in the civil service and statutory boards, professional expertise, and clear benchmarks and indicators of performance have made a crucial difference. Technocratic excellence is also sustained by committing the necessary resources to ensure that agencies stay on track.

Rule 5: innovate systemically Singapore learns from the experience of many countries. But, instead of merely imitating successful practices, officials seek to understand the underlying causes and then adapt the principles to the local context to achieve their policy objectives. This systemic mindset has led to many policy innovations in dealing with urban development challenges in Singapore. Through continuous experimentation, learning and adaptation, Singapore has achieved significant breakthroughs in areas such as economic development, public housing, water management, transport regulation, and industrial infrastructure.

DYNAMIC URBAN GOVERNANCE

Singapore’s geographical scale and structure of government allows for efficiency in policy formulation and implementation. Having delivered on security as well as economic and institutional development, Singapore’s challenge is to achieve dynamic and effective governance that enables public leaders and citizens to interact to make optimal decisions and choices in an environment that is unpredictable and constantly changing.

Urban governance refers to the manner in which public leadership interacts with citizens and other stakeholders to make decisions regarding, and have oversight over how a city plans, develops, utilises and manages its physical and environmental resources to achieve national outcomes. Of the many implicit ‘rules’ that had an impact on Singapore’s urban governance approach, five stood out:



Rule 1: lead with vision and pragmatism Leadership has an important impact on planning and implementation. One important aspect of leadership is having the political will to push through policies or projects that are considered unpopular or politically difficult, if leaders are convinced that such policies or projects are for the long-term benefit of the city. Although they may have a long-term vision, pragmatic leaders are able to focus on what needs to be done immediately, or what can feasibly be done, rather than adhering to ideological principles for their own sake.

Rule 2: build a culture of integrity Public sector culture espouses values and beliefs that affect how civil servants, public officers and politicians execute their responsibilities, as well as promote legitimacy among the citizens. Accountability, too, is of equal importance. Governments must ensure that sound financing mechanisms are in place to maintain fiscal solvency and, hence, the sustainability of projects. Formal structures to defend against corruption include systems that are transparent, high disclosure requirements, and severe and public punishments.

Rule 3: cultivate sound institutions Institutional rules and norms, both formal and informal, enable government agencies to work effectively together, irrespective of different (or competing) interests or professional opinions. These institutions should foster clear and transparent policies as well as incentive structures. The formal institutions can be simple or complex, fixed or adaptive – the variety of forms has been captured in the CLC urban systems studies in areas such as housing, transport and infrastructure, with milestones of the key institutional changes that are needed to cope with the changing policy context.

Aside from these formal institutions, what is more difficult to build, describe, and thus to transplant, are informal institutions – norms of governance such as a rational approach to policy, respect for sound professional competence, rejection of corruption, a mature meritocracy, and a culture of integrity. The separation of politics and professional services as embodied in Singapore’s institutions is also a significant factor.

Rule 4: involve the community as stakeholders Creating a liveable city is a huge and complex undertaking and city planners need the support of the city’s inhabitants. The government engages the community by creating avenues for participation in

the policy-forming processes or in various projects. Even though policy and planning decisions are fundamentally undertaken by the government, the government has increasingly engaged the public on various initiatives to build up the legitimacy of decision-making and the policy outcomes.

Rule 5: work with markets A key governance approach has been to harness market forces where they would improve efficiency. This is a matter of fiscal prudence, and the government has successfully privatised telecommunications, power generation, and some parts of public transport. At the same time, there are limits to private sector provision. For example, the government has not privatised water provision, and the majority of healthcare continues to be provided by the public sector. The role of the private sector therefore is called into service for, and calibrated against, the overall public role of government.

SUSTAINABLE LIVEABILITY

As outlined, the CLC Framework derives from Singapore’s urban development experience and is not meant to be exhaustive, but is a useful guide for developing sustainable and liveable cities. The urban systems described in the Framework are of most relevance to cities that are densely populated with limited natural resources. These general principles for building an effective integrated master planning and development process, and a dynamic urban governance system are worth a look by any city interested in raising and sustaining their liveability standards. �

Khoo Teng Chye has been the Executive Director of the Centre for Liveable Cities since July 2010. Mr Khoo is concurrently the Chairman of Singapore International Water Week Pte Ltd. He was the Chief Executive and Board Member of PUB, Singapore’s Water Agency, from December 2003 to 2011 and was the Chief Executive Officer/Chief Planner from 1992 to 1996 at the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

The Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) was set up in 2008 based on a strategic blueprint developed by Singapore’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development. The Centre’s mission is to distil, create and share knowledge on liveable and sustainable cities. CLC distils key learning points from Singapore’s experiences over the last half-century, while creating knowledge to address emerging challenges. It also shares knowledge with, and learns from, other cities and experts.

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The people of Iskandar Malaysia can look forward to enhanced quality of life and a more energy-efficient lifestyle by 2015, with the implementation of 10 priority programmes identified in the Iskandar Malaysia Low Carbon Society Blueprint (IMLCSB).

The Iskandar Malaysia Low Carbon Society Implementation Book outlines the programmes and was launched by Malaysia Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak. They include awareness campaigns at all levels of society and include:

Iskandar Malaysia’s Mobile Management System;The MMS system uses technology to promote sustainable transport and manages the demand of car usage by changing the public’s attitude and behaviour towards public transportation. It would coordinate information, services and activities to optimise the effectiveness of urban transportation.

Green Economy Guidelines;This will develop green economy guidelines which look into procurement, operations, and supply chain management to minimise environmental impacts in the construction, transport and manufacturing sectors.

Eco-Life Challenge Project for Schools;The ELC Project is creating awareness and accountability through eco-household accounting of energy. Students will record down the energy usage before and after taking energy saving measures to see the difference such steps could make.

Portal on Green Technology;Through this Portal, communities, government officers, private businesses, developers and investors can access information relating to green technology and industry. It provides latest news on green matters, strategies, policies and guidelines on green technology.

Trees for Urban Parks/Forests;This involves retaining and reintroducing endemic tree species into urban parks. These are effected through road development, reuse of spaces and non-endemic species. Urban forests covering several acres of land dedicated to public use for recreation will act as green lungs for cities.

Responsible Tourism and Biodiversity Conservation;This aims to promote shared responsibility and environmental consciousness in eco-tourism involving businesses, agencies and in particular the local communities in developing and promoting tourism.

Bukit Batu Eco-Community;This concept will show how village communities carry out economic activities within a low carbon society context and aims to improve the sustainability of villagers’ life styles by implementing green technologies and blueprints.

Green Accord Initiative Award & Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency;The GAIA initiative will encourage corporate commitments to the environment and will award organisations that develop green products and projects.

FELDA Taib Andak as a Low Carbon Village;This project focuses on community’s participation in low carbon action plans for the village and their involvement in implementing low carbon lifestyles among the rural community.

Pasir Gudang as a smart, clean and healthy city;Pasir Gudang is a key centre of Iskandar Malaysia and the industrial hub in the Flagship D development. The programme aspires to transform Pasir Gudang into a clean and smart region.

“With the implementation of these plans we can look forward to a better quality of life equating to a healthier lifestyle, more open and green areas for exercise and outdoor gatherings, cleaner rivers and energy-efficient buildings,” according to Datuk Ismail of IRDA. �

TOWARDS A LOW CARBON SOCIETY


SPECIAL FEATURE: IRDA

In the past 50 years, Singapore has developed into a thriving and distinctive global metropolis, with the vast majority of people living in good quality housing. This would not have been achieved without deliberate urban planning and careful implementation. The challenges faced by Singapore have taught planners and policy-makers to seek out a variety of sustainable new solutions.

Singapore is a compact city-state like very few others in the world. Its land area of 716 sq km is similar to London’s; yet it has to accommodate all the diverse needs of a country, such as airports and ports, water catchment areas, as well as military training areas. In comparison, Denmark, with a population slightly larger than Singapore’s 5.4 million, covers about 60 times the area. Because the need to accommodate ‘big needs on a small island’ was an imperative from the beginning, sustainability in development is not a new concept to Singapore.

SINGAPORE IN THE 1960S

In 1965, when it became a sovereign nation, Singapore faced an acute shortage of housing and basic utilities, and was beset with slums. There were 350,000 households but only 250,000 proper housing units available then. Three-quarters of the population were crammed into ‘shop-houses’ within the central area, lacking basic infrastructure and utilities such as a sewer network.

At the same time, with an unemployment rate of 10 per cent, there was an urgent need to generate jobs for the rapidly growing population. Urban renewal was critical in order to free up prime land in the city centre for the development of a Central Business District (CBD). The government enacted the Land Acquisition Act in 1966, allowing the state to acquire land quickly at a reasonable compensation rate. Land parcels in the CBD could then be assembled and systematically sold for commercial and other developments under the Government Sale of Sites Programme.

To house the population displaced from the city centre, the government embarked on a massive

By Peter Ho, Chairman, Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE SINGAPORE APPROACH

"Sustainability in development is not a new concept to Singapore."

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public housing exercise, and by 1976, more than half of the population lived in comprehensively-planned new towns with a full range of amenities.

PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM GROWTH

In the 1960s, the term ‘sustainable development’ had not gained currency. However, the government realised that it could not leave things to chance. It saw an urgent need to draw up a long-term land use plan that could guide the physical development of the island state.

With the help of an expert team from the United Nations, Singapore completed the first Concept Plan in 1971, aiming to accommodate a projected population of 4 million, double the population in 1970. To achieve that, a ring of self-sufficient new town developments was envisaged around the central water catchment. A major industrial estate was planned in the west, to keep pollution away from the residential population; whereas lighter industries would be located close to or within new towns, in order to bring jobs closer to homes and reduce the need for commuting. Land was also safeguarded for infrastructural development, such as an island-wide network of expressways, a mass rapid transit system and the relocation of the port and airport. In fact, the structure of Singapore today still bears the imprint of the 1971 Concept Plan, a testimony to the far-reaching impact of long-term planning for Singapore.

As the national planning agency, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) oversees the review of the Concept Plan every 10 years. The latest land use plan was drawn up in 2013 to guide the physical development of Singapore up to 2030, catering for a population of 6.9 million.

The long-term strategies of the Concept Plan are translated into the Master Plan – a detailed statutory land use plan that guides development over the next 10-15 years and will be reviewed every five years. Consultation is an integral part of the planning

process to seek inputs from the general public and key stakeholders. This planning framework has enabled Singapore to better anticipate future trends affecting land use, such as demographic shifts, and make the city’s plans more robust. Together with the government land sales programme and development control system, the comprehensive planning and development process has helped to transform Singapore into a modern metropolis.

OPTIMISATION OF LAND RESOURCES

To overcome the constraints of a limited land area, Singapore adopts a range of planning strategies, the key among which is to create and optimise land resources through the innovative use of capital and technology. Through land reclamation, Singapore has expanded its geographical area by 25 per cent since the 1960s.

Singapore has also explored underground spaces for a wide variety of uses, from roads and tunnels, pedestrian linkages, utility services to oil and ammunition storage in deep caverns. In Western Singapore, the Jurong Rock Caverns are being built as an underground oil storage facility, which will eventually free up 60 hectares (about 70 football fields) of usable surface land. In the north, by storing ammunition in a deep underground facility, the safety buffer around the depot can be substantially reduced, thereby freeing up about 300 hectares of land for other development. As part of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, a large tunnel leads from the northern part of Singapore to the Changi Water Reclamation Plant at the eastern tip of Singapore, reaching a depth of 60 metres below ground. Another deep tunnel is planned at the western part of Singapore. The deep tunnel sewerage system will reduce the land taken up by used water infrastructure by 50 per cent.

A GOOD QUALITY ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL

A variety of housing types is provided, ranging from public housing to private condominiums and landed housing. Public housing is planned within new towns with a full range of amenities, abundant green and recreation spaces, and good connectivity to public transport. Each new town is planned with neighbourhood centres, equipped with facilities such as shops, markets, clinics and eating establishments that are easily reached on foot or by public transport. To date, more than 80 per cent of the population lives in public housing within 25 new towns in Singapore.

"In the 1960s the government saw an urgent need to draw up a long-term land use plan."



Research is also carried out by agencies in collaboration with research institutes and private companies to explore new ideas in sustainability. For example, Punggol Town, Singapore’s first waterfront eco-town, takes into account social and environmental considerations. Compared with the earlier towns, it is designed to have smaller and more intimate estates surrounding common greens. The injection of verdant greenery on the common greens, rooftop gardens and community malls provides visual relief amid the high-density housing, while linking up individual estates to form a network of parks, green corridors and waterfront promenades.

Singapore has also embarked on an island-wide climatic study partnering private companies to explore how urban design and planning can leverage climatic conditions to help create a cooler and more comfortable environment within new towns and urban areas.

A COMPACT AND TRANSIT-ORIENTED CITY

Singapore is planned as a compact city with public transport forming the spine of the transport system.

To offer seamless connectivity, Singapore has developed an extensive, integrated and affordable public transport network comprising buses, light rail, and a Mass Rapid Transit system (MRT). High-density housing and commercial developments are clustered around MRT stations. By 2030, the current rail network in Singapore will be doubled to 360 km with 75 per cent of the trips during peak hours made using public transport.

These strategies are complemented with measures to manage car population and usage. In order to restrict car population growth, a quota is set for the number of vehicles registered in Singapore each year. The quota is achieved by a scheme that requires potential buyers to first bid for a Certificate of Entitlement (COE). Only after successfully obtaining a COE, valid for 10 years, can the buyer purchase the vehicle.

In 1975, Singapore became the first country to introduce road pricing. Then in 1998, the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) was implemented by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Motorists are charged each time they enter a congestion-prone area during peak hours. In addition, new initiatives are under

Marina Bay: an extension of Singapore’s city centre

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way to make cycling a safe and viable form of commuting. Cycling tracks have been built in two new towns (Tampines and Sembawang). By 2030, the national cycling network will reach 700 km in length, comprising both park connectors and cycling paths within public housing estates.

A VIBRANT ECONOMY

With increasing global competition, Singapore will need to sustain its economic growth to provide good jobs and remain attractive to both visitors and investors. Manufacturing remains one of the key engines of growth in Singapore, contributing to 20 per cent of its GDP and workforce. The Jurong Industrial Estate in the West, as planned in the 1971 Concept Plan, will continue to be set aside for more pollutive industries. Industries with a cleaner footprint are distributed across the island to reduce commuting. Plans are also under way for a North Coast Innovation Corridor, stretching from Woodlands to Punggol, introducing new technology and creative design industries closer to homes.

Singapore will continue to enhance its status as a financial centre with the development of Marina Bay.

Marina Bay was reclaimed more than 30 years ago to be developed as an extension of the existing Central Business District, and has been transformed with new offices, residential towers, a new botanical garden and an integrated resort. New developments at the Bay also need to offer lush ‘vertical’ greenery at higher floors to fully replace the amount of vegetation affected by the development at the ground level.

To reduce congestion in the city, regional and fringe centres are being introduced to decentralise commercial activity away from the city centre. Situated in the west, the 360 hectare Jurong Lake District will be the largest commercial node and regional centre outside the CBD. The district features new and unique leisure destinations and a network of inter-connected pedestrian walkways between buildings and public amenities. Under the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant, companies and researchers are invited to work with government agencies to test urban solutions within the district.

A CITY IN A GARDEN

Preserving a sense of nature within a city provides residents with respite from the hustle and bustle



of urban life. What began as the astute vision of Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, to develop Singapore as a ‘Garden City’ has enabled Singapore to evolve into the ‘City in a Garden’. Despite rapid development, nearly half of the small island-state still enjoys green cover today. Planners aim to provide 8 sq metres of park space for every resident. Parks will be distributed across housing areas, so that at least 85 per cent of the residents will be living within 400 metres of a park by 2030. The park connector network will be increased from 200 km today to 360 km in the future, enhancing the experience of living within a larger park.

Singapore is blessed with abundant rainfall. But the limited land area means that over two-thirds of the country, including the urbanised area, serves as a water catchment area. Over the years, the Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore’s national water agency, has developed an extensive network of about 8,000 km of waterways and 17 reservoirs, meeting one-third of its water needs. With such extensive water bodies, PUB has launched the Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme, by which waterways and reservoirs are landscaped and provided with new facilities and community spaces.

A RESOURCE-EFFICIENT NATION

Singapore has in place innovative policies and technologies to manage energy usage and solid waste. To date, about 90 per cent of Singapore’s electricity demand is fulfilled by generation from natural gas, which is among the cleanest and most efficient fossil fuels available. Singapore also promotes the development of clean and renewable energy, such as solar and wind power. To date, S$18 million (US$14.5 million) has been invested on 4 MWp of solar photovoltaic (PV) system for 80 public housing blocks in 13 towns.

In terms of waste management, an integrated system has been implemented incorporating recycling, collection and disposal of waste. Over the last decade, Singapore’s domestic waste per capita has been falling despite continued economic growth. This is attained through the 3Rs of ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’, aiming to increase the recycling rate from 59 per cent to 70 per cent by 2030.

Given the limited land area, the approach is to incinerate all suitable waste. There are currently four refuse incineration plants which reduce waste volume by 90 per cent. The ash is disposed of at

the offshore Semakau landfill site, located 8 km away from Singapore’s main shoreline. The entire site is surrounded by a rock bund lined with an impermeable membrane to prevent the waste from leaching into the seawater.

SUSTAINABILITY: THE WAY FORWARD

As a small city-state with a growing population and diverse needs, sustainable development is clearly an imperative for Singapore. It encompasses not just the commonly held notion of environmental stewardship, but also of social inclusion and economic progress.

In the past 50 years, Singapore has developed from a third world backwater into a thriving and distinctive global metropolis that offers world-class infrastructure, an island-wide transport network fully integrated with land use and other infrastructure, a dynamic business environment, and vibrant community living spaces.

The challenges faced by Singapore in the earlier years of development have taught planners and policy-makers in the city-state to constantly seek out viable ideas, technologies and smarter solutions. Singapore is a ‘living laboratory’ to test out new solutions and manage resources better. New sustainable initiatives will continue to be rolled out which can be replicated in other cities. �

Peter Ho Hak Ean is currently the Senior Advisor to the Centre for Strategic Futures and Senior Fellow at the Civil Service College, Singapore. He is also Chairman of the Urban Redevelopment Authority. He retired from the Public Service in 2010 after a career of 34 years, during which he was Head of the Civil Service as well as the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, National Security and Intelligence Coordination, and Special Duties in the Prime Minister's Office. Prior to this he was also Permanent Secretary of Defence.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is Singapore’s national land use planning and conservation agency. The Authority strives to create a vibrant and sustainable city of distinction by planning and facilitating Singapore’s physical development in partnership with the community. As the state’s main land sales agent, the URA manages the sale and development of state land to meet land use needs. The Authority is also the place manager for Marina Bay and promotes architecture and urban design excellence in the city. Please visit www.ura.gov.sg for more information.

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Building urban resilience is an imperative of this century – imperative because it sits at the nexus of two important mega-trends: rapid, global urbanisation, and the increasing shocks and stresses impacting cities. The Rockefeller Foundation has issued the 100 Resilient Cities Centennial Challenge, and is offering a wide range of support to stimulate cities to undertake this urgent task.

One hundred years ago – when The Rockefeller Foundation was established – only 10 per cent of the world’s population lived in cities. Now more than 50 per cent do, and it is estimated that by 2050, 75 per cent will. Often, urbanisation happens with little or no planning, and with infrastructure and necessary services unable to keep pace.

At the same time, a wide variety of acute shocks – including storms, earthquakes, and the sudden onset of communal violence – and chronic stresses such as food, water and energy shortages continue to impact these dense, vulnerable urban populations

and landscapes. It is likely that these trends will continue given projected and broad ranging impacts of climate change.

It therefore stands to reason that resource allocations should focus on enhancing cities’ resilience. At The Rockefeller Foundation, we view resilience as the ability of a system, entity, community, or person to withstand shocks while still maintaining its essential functions and to recover quickly and effectively. Simply put, resilience is what enables people to survive, adapt, and even thrive when disaster hits.

As evolutionary biologists have proven time and again, following a catastrophe there is a unique window to innovate, and adapt to the new normal. Cities must be prepared to do this – to bounce forward rather than bounce back after disaster strikes. But unlike evolution, resilience is a trait that can be learned – and a muscle that must be exercised. It is most importantly flexed during the periods between crises, so that cities are better

By Michael Berkowitz, Managing Director for 100 Resilient Cities, the Rockefeller Foundation

BUILDING RESILIENCE IN RAPIDLY GROWING CITIES

"It stands to reason that resource allocations should focus on enhancing cities’ resilience."




prepared for the next big shock. Indeed individuals, communities and institutions can learn the skill of resilience and increase their flexibility, strength, and resourcefulness, within and across a variety of domains, including economic, ecological, social and institutional, and built infrastructure systems.

CHALLENGES TO RELISIENCE

But building urban resilience is not easy. For one thing, cities are exceptionally complex ecosystems. Myriad formal (national, state and local governments, for example) and informal groups (informal populations, advocacy groups and NGOs), along with the private sector, all have important roles to play in shaping both risk and resilience. Even highly centralised municipal governments with powerful mayors, such as New York City, still have stakeholders and constituencies to engage when it comes to improving their resilience posture.

For example, a common challenge, particularly in the developing world, is the lack of transparency about the costs and opportunities associated with solid waste management, flood control and public health authorities. When trash is not collected properly, it gets into drains and storm water systems and causes flooding, which can lead to disease outbreaks. But a coordinated effort has the potential to solve all three problems.

Viewed through a single lens, this problem would be easy to fix, and a lot cheaper than letting it go unaddressed. But because these responsibilities often span silos, and at different levels of government

funding, finding and implementing a holistic solution – no matter how logical – can be difficult.

Building urban resilience is also challenging because it is still a developing discipline, without common understanding of the issues, a mature marketplace for solutions, or a community of practitioners supporting each other and sharing best practice.

100 RESILIENT CITIES

It is for these reasons that earlier in 2013, the Rockefeller Foundation made a US$100 million commitment to building urban resilience and announced its 100 Resilient Cities Centennial Challenge. Through the Challenge, in the coming years one hundred cities across the globe will be selected for the 100 Resilient Cities Network. Through membership in the 100 Resilient Cities Network, cities will receive four forms of support:

Support to hire or fund a Chief Resilience Officer (CRO). The creation of this new role is an innovation that will ensure that resilience-building and coordination is the specific responsibility of one person in a city government. The CROs can also oversee the development of a resilience strategy for the city and be part of a learning network of other CROs as representatives to the 100 Resilient Cities Network.

Technical assistance and support to create a resilience strategy. This process includes a broad stakeholder group and starts with hazard and

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risk assessments followed by analyses of (among others) the social sector, infrastructure and economic development plans; so that a city can form a shared vision of its priorities for resilience building.

An innovative platform to provide tools and resources for implementation of the plan focused on four areas: innovative finance, innovative technology, infrastructure and land use, and community and social resilience from Swiss Re, Palantir, American Institute of Architects, Architecture for Humanity, and the World Bank. We anticipate bringing other partners to 100 Resilient Cities to further expand the resources available to selected cities.

A platform for sharing knowledge and resilience best practice, and for facilitating coordination and partnerships.

These four areas of support will be a critical step towards addressing the above challenges – and many more. The CRO and resilience strategy staff will address the complexity issue by taking a holistic view across a city and its current silos, revealing smart intersections for collaboration and a plan for coordination. We know that cities are working on many important initiatives that could enhance their ability to withstand and recover from shocks and stresses.

The platform of services will begin to catalyse a market for new resilience-related solutions, because it will open access to 100 well-organised cities with strategies that lay out resilience priorities and needs. Solutions that are currently available – whether innovative finance, best practice building codes, planning advice, or new technologies – can work across multiple cities. Of course, local context and implementation will differ, but reinventing solutions for each situation from scratch is not the effective way to ensure that cities globally – beyond the 100 in the Network – can solve their most pressing problems. We must be able to scale.

100 Resilient Cities will also aggregate information learned during workshops, planning sessions and other interactions. This information will provide a good sense of what challenges resilience-building cities are facing and trigger a search for existing solutions ready to meet the needs of the cities and add them to the platform.

Where solutions do not exist, however, this data

will spur us to approach a community of potential providers – private sector, non-profits and charities, as well as academic and philanthropic organisations – to spur innovation and development.

If we are able to, on the one hand, successfully scale solutions to cities where they need it most, and on the other provide a broad marketplace of providers, funders and innovators with information on the most pressing needs of the world’s cities, we will create a virtuous cycle that significantly helps cities improve their capabilities in the face of chronic stresses and acute shocks.

A NEW PROFESSIONAL CADRE

Finally, creating urban resilience requires cities to empower a new cadre of professionals – including the Chief Resilience Officers – specifically charged with connecting resilience efforts, advocating for more careful planning, and continuing to think about how their city can improve its resilience profile. The overwhelming response to the announcement and challenge shows how timely this effort is. We had nearly 400 cities from six continents submit applications, and have had interest from a broad and impressive range of potential platform partners.

This is something so big, so broad and so important that we must collectively address it. 100 Resilient Cities aims to be a catalyst in what we hope will be a global movement of the 21st century. Join us at 100resilientcities.org. �

Michael Berkowitz joined the Rockefeller Foundation in August 2013 as the Managing Director for 100 Resilient Cities. Previously, he worked at Deutsche Bank, most recently as the deputy global head of Operational Risk Management. Until January 2005, he was Deputy Commissioner at the Office of Emergency Management in New York C ity.

The Rockefeller Foundation aims to achieve equitable growth by expanding opportunity for more people in more places worldwide, and to build resilience. Throughout its 100 year history, it has enhanced the impact of innovative thinkers and actors working to change the world by providing the resources, networks, convening power, and technologies to move them from idea to impact. The Rockefeller Foundation has a unique ability to address the emerging challenges facing humankind through innovation, intervention and influence in order to shape agendas and inform decision making.



We need to make our cities more liveable, prosperous and climate efficient. Many city mayors are taking initiatives to change the environmental behaviour of their residents and businesses. But the real potential of digital technologies is in empowering active citizens. This promises not only economic benefits, but also social returns and new ways of city governance.

There is no doubt that cities are the most sustainable form of human settlement. Compact, high density urban development makes the most efficient use of land and other n atural resources, and creates the critical mass to support high quality public services – from health to transport, education to culture. Above all the dense concentration of population in cities creates the dynamic interaction that generates innovation, trade, business, jobs and wealth. The history of urbanisation is the history of economic development, indeed the history of civilisation.

We know, though, that urban development is not always civilised. Cities have their downsides, particularly in times of rapid expansion. The poor living and working conditions that were once a common feature of European cities are now big challenges for the emerging mega-cities of Asia and Latin America.

Even as recently as the 1980s, cities were seen by many European policy-makers as part of the

By Paul Bevan, Secretary General, EUROCITIES

THE SMART GREEN CITY

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problem: blighted places losing both population and investment.

Now, however, cities are very much part of the solution. The last 20 years have seen an urban renaissance in Europe. Regeneration has attracted creative talent back into our urban centres. Cities are once more driving economic activity and employment growth, and families value the convenience of greener, more liveable and better connected cities and suburbs.

MORE TO DO

But there is more to do. Congestion and pollution still abound: cities generate some 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In many cities closed industries have left contaminated wasteland and abandoned neighbourhoods, and levels of unemployment and social exclusion remain high.

We need to make our cities function better, as places to live and work, as places to generate economic growth and social mobility and we need to make them even more ‘climate efficient’.

This then is the notion of the smart green city: a city that is improving its functionality so that it offers its citizens a better life, a stronger economy, a better environment, and a reduced impact on the planet. The smart green city is not an end state, but a process and while innovation and new ways of doing things are central to the smart green city ideal, this need not be just about digital technologies. For example, waste reduction, reuse and recycling is ‘smart green’; renewable energy is ‘smart green’; sustainable urban drainage is ‘smart green’. None of these are digitally driven.

ICT FOR GREEN

But the scale of opportunities offered by digital technologies feels like a sea change. Cities are developing information and communications technologies (ICT), energy and transport solutions that reduce emissions, clean up our air, improve energy efficiency and provide the foundation for ‘green growth’. Here are some city examples:

In 2011 EUROCITIES launched the Green Digital Charter (GDC), a commitment, made now by the mayors of 41 European cities, not just measurably to reduce carbon footprint by using ICT (ICT for green), but also to reduce the footprint of ICT itself (green ICT). Originated by the city of Manchester,

the GDC is supported by the European Commission.

One of the early signatories of the GDC was the city of Bristol whose Green AddICT website was one of the first platforms for businesses to share expertise and best practice on green ICT. It includes carbon calculators and a comprehensive solutions database for designing tailored action plans.

SMART INFRASTRUCTURE

Another EUROCITIES member, Nice Côte d’Azur, is developing a smart electricity grid to reduce CO

2 emissions and improve supply security.

Smart meters, the integration of solar power and increased capacity for electricity storage are all part of the project. The new Nice-Meridia district will be planned ‘smartgrid-ready’ from the start. Copenhagen is another one of our member cities planning a new city district that will have a negative carbon footprint.

Smart grids are not only about electricity. London, Rotterdam, Genoa, Cologne and Gothenburg are developing smart district heating and cooling in the CELSIUS project. These cities are finding new ways to capture more waste heat from multiple sources such as metro systems.

Amsterdam, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Milan, Oslo, Rotterdam and Stockholm are collaborating to pilot smart freight logistics. 127 electric freight vehicles will be trialled to show how they can offer a viable alternative to diesel trucks and vans when combined with state-of-the-art urban logistics software and complementary transport management policies.

CHANGING BEHAVIOUR

Many tools have been developed to help citizens make more informed, greener choices. The classic and now very common example of this is journey planning, which compares the options for a journey by different means of transport, not only by time

"The smart green city is not an end state, but a process."



and price, but also by CO2 emissions. Domestic

smart meters are another way of influencing the behaviour of citizens and businesses by providing real-time information about energy use and cost.

On similar lines, Antwerp’s ‘Zoom in on Your Roof ’ project uses a thermo-graphic satellite map of the city to highlight the importance of household energy efficiency and roof insulation. Residents can zoom in on their own roofs to see their insulation quality, signalled by colour coding. The city follows up with personalised advice on the steps homeowners can take and the finance available to improve household energy efficiency. Other Belgian, French and German cities have followed suit.

OPEN DATA

These are examples of how ‘smart city’ technology provides green tools for citizens, empowering

people by creating choice. Open data can expand the scope for such tools enormously. If data is the raw material of the information age, city administrations and governments are resource-rich. By opening access to public data (without of course compromising privacy) they have the potential to stimulate entrepreneurship for both commercial and social ends.

A number of cities have launched ‘hackathons’ to promote the exploitation of open data. The idea is to connect with local app developers and citizens to promote the exploitation of the data for new applications. One of the winners of Apps 4 Gent 2013 was Enerxia, an app that raises the awareness of citizens about their energy consumption by means of a gaming approach. The game simulates the use of energy in a certain city and stimulates the player to reflect upon the value of sustainable energy and energy saving efforts.

SMART CITIZENS

Harnessing the potential of smart citizens like this can enable cities to become even smarter and greener. After all, it is people that make cities. Buildings and infrastructure on their own are not enough. Without a dense concentration of people, we would not have the spark, the dynamism, the creativity that sustains prosperity. So we need to place people – not just as consumers but as citizens, innovators, collaborators, producers and entrepreneurs – at the centre of our digital future. A truly ‘smart city’ can only be achieved by building and releasing the smart capacity of our citizens.

To this end many cities have developed ‘living labs’, turning the traditional, top-down product development process on its head. They create an ecosystem in which the citizen is involved as much as possible in the different phases of development: identifying needs and problems, formulating solutions and feeding into the actual development and implementation of a product or service. Where traditionally the citizen is only a consumer who comes in at the very end of the process, perhaps as a purchaser or user of a finished product, in living labs they become ‘co-creators’, resulting in products and services that better respond to their needs and expectations.

By working in new ways smart citizens will drive sustainable economic growth for our cities, creating local businesses and jobs that strengthen multiplier effects and improve resilience. Free, fast and open

"If data is the raw material of the information age, city administrations and governments are resource-rich."

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communication also offers smart citizens new approaches to social connection and cohesion, changing both community relations and social geography.

A NEW CITY POLITICS

If we get it right, smart citizenship also promises a bridge to a new city politics. It can challenge the balance between government and governed, stimulating open debate and new solutions that empower people actively to ‘consult’, ‘think’, ‘express’ and ‘do’, rather than ‘be done to’. Sceptical of formal politics, citizens are less willing nowadays to hand power to politicians and more likely to initiate for themselves collaborative and unique solutions to the issues they face.

Increasingly, new technologies allow each of us to take part, allowing like-minded people to connect not only across the planet but also on the same street, with increasing speed and ease. These digital solutions enable citizens to build relations, share knowledge and scope alternatives. The results are community actions or business propositions that offer new ways of tackling everyday challenges, whether environmental, social or economic.

Our cities offer resource efficient, knowledge intensive and economically dynamic solutions to Europe’s global competitiveness. But, given intense

pressures both on the world’s climate and on public budgets, we need cities to function better as places to live, work and visit, so that they can reduce their carbon footprint while delivering a higher quality of life for all.

Digital technologies are unleashing vast opportunities for city governments to work together with empowered citizens and communities. Smarter and greener, Europe’s cities can fulfil their potential as the most sustainable form of human settlement. �

Paul Bevan is Secretary General of EUROCITIES. A city planner by profession, Paul joined EUROCITIES in November 2008, having been involved in European urban policy since the 1990s. Paul has 30 years’ experience of local and regional government in the UK and a wealth of expertise in economic development, urban regeneration and public service management. He holds a Masters in Politics.

EUROCITIES is the network of major European cities. Our members are the elected local and municipal governments of over 130 of Europe’s largest cities and 40 partner cities, that between them govern 130 million citizens across 35 countries. Through six thematic forums, a wide range of working groups, projects, activities and events, we offer members a platform for sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas.



Sustainable urban development finds its foundation in maintaining and restoring our natural environment. Taking care of nature means taking care of life, for us and for future generations. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global union for a sustainable future, believes that nature should be at the centre of the green urban economy.

Nature is essential in maintaining our quality of life and a healthy environment. The continuous decline of biodiversity has serious consequences for human life and its protection and enhancement are essential for a sustainable future. We depend on biodiversity for food, health, natural resources and a range of ecosystem services such as air and water purification, soil fertility and plant pollination.

In a rapidly expanding urban world, the ecological aspects of urban planning and decision-making deserve to be an integral part of our society. While architects and designers are beginning to incorporate nature into their work, planners and policy-makers have lagged behind. Instead of an infrastructure agenda in which nature is a problem, a cost and a political risk, we can make nature part of the solution.

Some argue that an increasing human population and the pursuit of economic growth are

incompatible with a sustainable urban future, but many good examples demonstrate that making nature part of daily life pays off. Homes with green views, for instance, sell at a premium compared with those in less green areas. The city of Basel in Switzerland invested 1 million Swiss francs in a green roof programme funded by a 5 per cent tax on energy bills. In just 10 years, one-quarter of the city’s flat roof areas were greened. The programme saves 4 Gigawatt-hours per year across Basel and significantly reduces the urban heat island effect. The life expectancy of the roofs has almost doubled and the roofs have become habitats for new species of insects and birds.

THE NATURE OF EUROPEAN CITIES

Many European cities host a surprisingly rich and diverse wildlife. As such, they have an important role to play in halting biodiversity loss. Brussels, for example, has more than 50 per cent of the

By Chantal van Ham, European Programme Officer in the European Union Representative Office, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

BIODIVERSITY, A RICH RESOURCE FOR CITIES AND PEOPLE

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floral species found in Belgium. Berlin is home to 22 habitats of global importance. The Île-de-France region, which surrounds Paris and is the most populated region in France, is home to 10,000 species of animals and 1,500 species of plants. Eighty per cent of the region is covered in forest, farmlands and unspoiled countryside. There are an estimated 270 species of birds in New York City’s Central Park, out of the 305 widely distributed bird species in North America. Even backyard gardens can harbour significant biodiversity: a study of 61 gardens in the city of Sheffield, UK, found 4,000 species of invertebrates and more than 1,000 species of plants.

The European Union Biodiversity strategy to 2020 provides key directions for Europe to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems services within the EU and beyond, as well as their restoration and awareness for the value of natural capital for human well-being and economic prosperity. José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, confirms the vital role that cities will play in economic recovery and green growth. He calls on ‘all levels of government, including the regional and local authorities’ to deliver on the

goals of the strategy. By 2020, it is estimated that 80 per cent of European population will live in urban areas. The quality of life in European cities is better than many others, and can therefore serve as a worldwide model.

Investing in nature offers an enormous potential for cost-effective solutions to make cities more resilient to change. Biodiversity and ecosystems can help cities enhance quality of life, save money, strengthen the local economy and reduce the impacts of climate change.

NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR URBAN AREAS

Quantifying the value of nature and ecosystems in both monetary and non-monetary terms and attaching quaitative values are important tools for mainstreaming ecological considerations into the management of a city. Unfortunately, the value of natural capital is not often appreciated by society, and until recently, few attempts have been made to quantify it. If we look a bit closer at some of these attempts the wealth of biodiversity immediately becomes clear.

Natural England estimates that if every household in England had good access to quality green space, around €2.5 billion could be saved every year in health costs.

Green spaces and green roofs can increase carbon storage and uptake. The economic value of the CO

2

stored in 400,000 trees in Amsterdam is estimated to be worth €72,000 annually. A mature hardwood tree can provide for example the equivalent air conditioning benefits of ten air conditioning units.

Scientists at the Universities of Birmingham and Lancaster (UK) argue that by ‘greening up’ our

DISTURBING PROJECTIONS

During the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP11), the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook – Action and Policy was presented. This is the first global assessment of the impact of urbanisation on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Drawing on contributions from more than 120 scientists worldwide, it states that over 60 per cent of the land projected to become urban by 2030 has yet to be built upon. This is an astonishing figure. Urban expansion will place high pressure on global natural resources and will often consume prime agricultural land, with knock-on effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services elsewhere.

"Investing in nature offers an enormous potential for cost-effective solutions."



streets a massive 30 per cent reduction in pollution could be achieved. Trees, bushes and other greenery growing in cities would deliver cleaner air at the roadside where most of us are exposed to the highest pollution levels, and could be implemented street-by-street without the need for large-scale and expensive initiatives. Plants in cities clean the air by removing nitrogen dioxide and microscopic particulate matter, both of which are harmful to human health. These pollutants are significant problems in cities in developed and developing countries: the UK Government Environmental Audit Committee estimates that outdoor air pollution causes 35,000-50,000 premature deaths per year in the UK, while the World Health Organization’s outdoor air quality database puts the figure at more than 1 million worldwide.

According to the World Bank and WWF, about one-third of the world’s largest cities obtain a significant proportion of their drinking water directly from forest protected areas. Well-managed natural forests almost always provide higher quality water, with less sediment and fewer pollutants, than water from other catchments. Sofia in Bulgaria, for example, relies for much of its water supply on sources originating from two mountain protected areas: the Rila and Vitosha National Park. These parks consist of coniferous and deciduous forests and are characterised by a rich botanical diversity.

NATURALLY SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

The international community is more and more aware that sub-national and local governments have

a crucial role in developing sustainable growth. They are considered guardians of natural resources because they set the local environment and development policies, are responsible for land use planning, and develop and manage infrastructure and construction standards.

Buildings should aim to be permeable to wildlife, and incorporate design that helps to sustain and increase particular species. Such measures will also play a significant role in helping to adapt to climate change. There are many approaches that can be included in the detailed design of development, to help achieve permeability – such as sustainable drainage schemes and green roofs and walls – and to provide habitats for various species, such as nesting spaces for bats and birds.

The UK Green Building Council Chief Executive Paul King has commented: “All too often our mindset is simply to reduce the negative impacts from construction and development. But it’s important to think about how we can actually increase positive impacts – for people, wildlife and the economy.”

URBAN PARTNERSHIPS FOR BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

IUCN is part of the Urbanization, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (URBES) project, which bridges the knowledge gap on the role of urban biodiversity and ecosystem services for human well-being. It further aims to inform city planners

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and decision-makers on how to best integrate the natural environment and human needs. The URBES partnership started in 2012 and brings together leading academic institutions and international organisations from European countries and beyond and translates science into policy action for cities. URBES also aims to build the capacity of cities to adapt to climate change and reduce their ecological footprint.

Increased knowledge on the functioning and role that ecosystems play in ensuring human well-being can help to find and promote approaches to development that are based on nature-oriented, innovative solutions to meet human needs. These solutions can support sustainable urban planning, decision-making and accountability. They can also strengthen the interactions between experts and practitioners.

While pioneering urban ecosystems research, URBES will further explore monetary and non-monetary valuation as well as multi-criteria assessment techniques of urban ecosystem services and biodiversity. It will develop guidelines to enhance ecosystem service benefits in urban landscapes. It is also building the capacity of local authorities in Europe on sustainable management of natural resources. To achieve this, it is essential to strengthen the knowledge on the interaction between urbanised areas and the surrounding rural areas for their biodiversity and ecosystem services values.

The URBES project has analysed the climate regulation function of green infrastructure in four case study cities. The results of this study confirm that green infrastructure can significantly reduce the urban heat island effect – the increased temperature of the urban atmosphere compared with its rural surroundings.

The Green Capital of Europe 2012, the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Spanish Basque country, presents an excellent model for greening the urban environment. The city’s ‘green belt’ around the city, which was partially reclaimed from degraded areas such as a former municipal airport, offers many values to citizens, who are all a short walk away from large natural areas. The green belt, developed over the years, is a network of green spaces and natural habitat that circles the city and it is an important local ecological network, supporting a wide range of wildlife. It also provides the city with multiple benefits, including recreational options, air

and water regulation, and educational opportunities. The current efforts to connect the biodiversity of this outer green belt with a new interior green belt within the city itself underline once again how the powerful message of Vitoria-Gasteiz, ‘Where green is capital’, is being turned into reality.

INVESTING IN NATURE

The way we design and plan urban development determines our future global sustainability. The examples above demonstrate that investments in nature are an effective way to improve the quality of life of urban citizens profoundly, while reducing the ecological footprint. The incentives range from cost-effective water provision to greater tourism revenues, lower healthcare costs, increased energy efficiency and reduced climate impacts.

IUCN is committed to mobilise the biodiversity conservation expertise of its large network and exchange best practices to help local and regional authorities develop natural solutions for a truly sustainable urban future. �

Chantal van Ham is European Programme Officer in the European Union Representative Office of IUCN. She is responsible for IUCNs activities on urban biodiversity in Europe. She develops and coordinates projects for biodiversity and ecosystems services conservation, restoration and valuation that help European urban policy-makers and cities find nature-based solutions for sustainable growth, by mobilising IUCN knowledge and best practices. Before joining IUCN, she worked as Finance Specialist with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Netherlands. She has a degree in International Business and an MSc in Forest and Nature Conservation Policy. Chantal is passionate about nature and perceives the exchange with people from different professional and cultural backgrounds as an enriching and inspiring starting point for sustainable change.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation, with more than 1,200 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. IUCN offers its knowledge and know-how in nature and natural resource management as a contribution to addressing some of the biggest challenges of our time.



The challenges of reducing global resource consumption while continuing to meet the demands of growing populations, rapid urbanisation and an increasing quality of life have placed a greater emphasis on the need to promote efficient use of resources and well-planned and managed cities. The situation is especially critical in regions such as the Asia Pacific, Latin America and Africa, and policies to manage growth must be adopted to avoid lock-in of inefficient consumption patterns for decades to come.

The urban centres of the 21st century are increasingly critical nexus points of social, economic, ecological, and technological change. More and more countries are recognising the important role of cities in establishing urban sustainability, including the role as major consumers. Globally, cities consume more than 75 per cent of the world’s natural resources, use 60-80 per cent of the world’s energy, and are responsible for 75 per cent of its emissions, while they are home to more than 50 per cent of the global population (UNEP Green Economy Report, 2011).

Over the past ten years, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been providing knowledge, expertise, and guidance on resource efficiency to help integrating sustainability in key sectors, including buildings and transport, and sustainable cities. UNEP defines resource efficiency as “reducing the total environmental

impact of the production and consumption of goods and services from raw material extraction to final use and disposal”.

A RESOURCE EFFICIENT CITY

The concept of resource efficient cities is built on the idea that cities are complex networks of interlocked infrastructures that bring resources in, use the resources to provide services, generate wealth, and dispose of the wastes that are generated by consumption. This flow can be seen as a city’s ‘metabolism’. Ideally, this metabolism should be a closed loop where outputs from one organism could be used as an input by another. (UNEP 2013, City-Level Decoupling: Summary for Policy Makers)

Experts believe that while the task of conceptualising cities in terms of resource flows is challenging, the potential benefits are well worth

By Soraya Smaoun, Acting Head, Built Environment Unit and Sharon Gil, consultant, UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE)

CREATING RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IN CITIES

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the effort. According to the Green Economy Report, it is possible to have 30 per cent water savings globally through minor investment and behavioural change. There is also 30-50 per cent potential in energy savings in existing buildings through behavioural change and application of readily available and low-cost technologies. Significant investment, however, will also be needed to establish resource efficient cities in the decades to come. The International Resource Panel’s report on city level decoupling estimated that US$41 trillion investment is required to refurbish the old and build new urban infrastructures in cities over the period 2005-2030, including $22.6 trillion for water systems, $9 trillion for energy, and $7.8 trillion for road and rail infrastructure. These investments can provide efficient infrastructure, helping to meet the long-term service needs of communities and reducing operating costs to cities, while also generating employment.

THE GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR RESOURCE EFFICIENT CITIES

While the challenges may appear considerable, cities have economic predominance and political clout since they produce most of the world’s economic outputs (According to the UNEP Green Economy Report (GER), 2011 - 55 per cent of GNP in least developed countries, and 85 per cent in developed countries). Cities are also known to be centres of excellence and innovation. Therefore, an opportunity exists to capitalise on the potential for cities to lead actions towards greater resource efficiency.

Responding to this challenge and the related opportunities, UNEP launched the Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities (GI-REC) in 2012 to connect the many different entities around the world working on resource efficiency, and to mobilise partners from national and local governments, civil society, business, industry and other major groups (www.unep.org/pdf/GI-REC_4pager.pdf). The ultimate goal of the Initiative is to mainstream resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production into policies and tools at the city level and to change citizens’ and businesses’ behaviours accordingly. The concept of resource efficiency thus complements rather than duplicates existing approaches by using available information to track resource flows and provide better information for decision-making. For example, while specific tools look at building efficiency or the disposal of a city’s waste, the

resource efficiency tool currently being developed by UNEP and the Sustainability Institute would ideally link these two together and make an analysis based jointly on a building’s life cycle and the city’s solid waste composition.

REVIEW ON RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

Acknowledging that cities are critical to more efficient resource use and consumption, UNEP recently conducted a global city survey (in collaboration with ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and with approximately 100 cities responding), and an institutional mapping exercise (in collaboration with Sustainable Cities International and Infrangilis covering 57 institutions working on resource efficiency at the city level). The latter included a desk-top review of 57 institutions and interviews with 15 institutions ranging from private sector entities (e.g. GDF Suez) to international development organisations (e.g. World Bank). The results of both validated the need for an overarching initiative like the GI-REC.

In particular, the global survey results revealed that cities are generally aware of their most urgent resource risks but that the link between knowledge and implementation is not that strong. For example, 75 per cent of the respondents indicated that biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as climate stability are at risk but the policies to address these risks are not in place. The survey also found that nearly half of the cities either do not have a sustainability plan or do not actively consider the implications of such a plan in their planning processes. This is particularly disturbing when one considers that many of the city respondents are already partners of city level networks and thus are assumed to have a higher level of environmental awareness than their peers. The global survey found that resource concerns were specific to each global

"The ultimate goal of the Initiative is to mainstream resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production into policies."



region and that there is a need to differentiate the strategy in each area.

The mapping exercise found that a systems approach to resource efficiency in cities is a minority among the initiatives documented, with food, water and the extraction of minerals and metals being less common areas of focus compared with the interest in energy and climate change. The mapping exercise also identified the need to develop effective tools and methods to better assess resource flows at the city level, and to enable cities to quantify their resource consumption and measure progress toward decoupling their prosperity from ever-increasing resource use.

Both the global survey and mapping exercise highlighted the need to link current work to UNEP’s green economy strategy, given the survey respondents’ emphasis on economic competitiveness. In the global survey, 72 per cent of the respondents related resource efficiency to economic concerns.

REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS

The GI-REC’s review on city level resource efficiency emphasised the need to help decision-makers develop appropriate and adaptable governance

systems, encourage lifestyle change among citizens, and build urban infrastructures that take into account the long term flows of strategic resources.

Both the global survey and mapping exercise highlight the importance of consistency, integration of ideas and collaboration. “There is an emerging body of evidence of a ‘network effect’, whereby a city’s participation in a community of practice can demonstrably lead to monetised benefits and improvements in sustainability performance. It is important to understand the value of ‘soft’ infrastructure (e.g. retained knowledge, effective decision-making, peer-to-peer and cross-sector learning, etc.) as much as ‘hard’ infrastructure (e.g. buildings, telecommunications, etc.) when it comes to stronger resource efficiency by cities.” Similarly, the city survey states, “Being part of a long-term and integrated urban development approach is the main success factor for the successful implementation of resource efficiency related programs.”

The review also stressed that enhanced governance in cities should be coupled with specific strategies such as improving the science-policy interface. There is also a need for practical interventions and demonstration projects in and across sectors to establish the business case for resource efficiency.

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WHAT NEXT?

UNEP, in collaboration with partners, is now in the process of operationalising the findings of the review by partnering with cities and in identifying pilot activities. As a first step, UNEP recently held two workshops in the Asia-Pacific. The first one was held in Bangkok, Thailand, and the second in Shenzhen, China.

GI-REC also benefits from UNEP’s Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative (UNEP-SBCI), a partnership of key public and private sector stakeholders working to promote sustainable building policies. UNEP-SBCI’s goal is to help achieve GHG reductions from the building operations, as well as to reduce the overall environmental impact of construction by promoting greater resource efficiency throughout the sector’s value chain. As the building sector is integral to the development of cities, efforts to reduce energy and carbon, as well as water, waste, and material consumption from buildings and construction are critical components of a resource efficient city.

Through collaboration and a broader look at incorporating resource efficiency in policies and practices of their operation, and in key sectors, cities will be better positioned and prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades and establish stronger, more sustainable communities.

BENEFITS FOR GI-REC PARTNERS

Partners of the UNEP-led Global Initiative on Resource Efficient Cities are now able to:

Gain first-hand access to technical expertise in areas such as policy development and proven practical tools, market incentives and public-private partnership options to support resource efficiency

Share experiences and best practices with cities for further improving access to resources and their efficient use

Develop partnerships with key stakeholders including local and national governments, international organisations, NGOs, private companies etc.

Partners of the Global Initiative have an important role to play in driving the international agenda on resource efficiency through their participation in the Initiative and outreach in their region and sector.

How to join the Initiative. Please contact the GI-REC Secretariat to find out more about the process of joining the Initiative: United Nations Environment Programme, Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics, 15 rue Milan, 75441 Paris Cedex 09, France. Email: [email protected]. �

Soraya Smaoun is Acting Head of the Built Environment Unit under the Sustainable Consumption and Production Branch of the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics of the United Nations Environment Programme. She manages UNEP’s work on cities and buildings. She spearheaded the conceptualisation of the Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities (GI-REC) and is currently leading its implementation and development.

Sharon Gil works in UNEP as a consultant on activities that support cities in becoming more resource-efficient. Since 2011, she has been involved in the conceptualisation, development, and implementation of the GI-REC.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. The Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) is the division within UNEP responsible for working with business and industry. It provides solutions for policy-makers and helps change the business environment by offering platforms for dialogue and cooperation, innovative policy options, pilot projects and creative market mechanisms.

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this article do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations Environment Programme concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Moreover, the views expressed do not necessarily represent the decision or the stated policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, nor does citing of trade names or commercial processes constitute endorsement.

"Partners of the Global Initiative have an important role to play in driving the international agenda."



Copenhagen was awarded the title of European Green Capital of 2014, and has earned an OECD nomination as world leader in green growth. The city’s focus on economic, environmental and social sustainability has given credibility to its claim to be the world’s greenest capital city, and has put it well on the way to becoming carbon neutral by 2025. That ambition has made Copenhagen the natural home of a strong and growing cleantech sector. Frank Jensen, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, shares his thoughts behind the city’s success.

The world needs an intelligent green transition. That is crucial to the welfare and well-being of our children and grandchildren. In 2030, the world will have three billion more middle-class consumers than today. This will mean a strong pressure on the earth’s resources, and will place serious strain on the climate and the environment.

We need a new smart growth strategy. This can be achieved if we all pull in the same direction – governments, cities, corporations and consumers. The role of cities is crucial, since they are responsible for the majority of the population and for 80 per cent of global carbon emissions.

As in most other cities, the population of Copenhagen is growing. Combined with our programme to become the world’s first carbon neutral capital, it gives us an opportunity to develop a smart city. There will be 20 per cent more

Copenhageners by 2025. Today, the Copenhagen Business Region offers access to 3.8 million people, 11 universities, 150,000 students and 10,000 Ph.D students. Plans call for 45,000 new housing units and 2.8 million square metres of retail, office, cultural and educational space to be built during the next decades.

Copenhagen has set itself the ambitious objective of becoming the world’s first carbon neutral capital by 2025. This very ambitious plan requires continuing long-term efforts. But it is possible, and we have made a head start: Copenhagen has been named world leader in green growth by the OECD, and even though the city’s economy and population are growing, greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 40 per cent over the period from 1995 to 2012, and in the budget for 2013 we have allocated nearly US$100 million to climate initiatives.

By Lord Mayor Frank Jensen, City of Copenhagen

GOING SMART PAYS OFF IN COPENHAGEN

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We propose solutions that will be initiated in a close collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders. Wind turbines will be installed, investments made in solar panels, and power stations will be converted from fossil fuels to biomass. In the future, even more Copenhageners will ride their bikes to work, and we will invest in hybrid buses for public transport. The existing buildings in Copenhagen will be energy-renovated, and new buildings will be energy efficient.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

The good news is that the investments will bring returns. Not just in terms of a better climate, environment and improvement in the health and quality of life for the citizens of Copenhagen, but also in terms of hard cash. Forecasts show that more than half of the investments put into improving the energy efficiency of schools, cultural centres, residential homes and offices will be repaid through operational savings by 2025. Copenhageners can look forward to monthly savings on their electricity and heating bills of the equivalent of US$50-75. And in times of economic crisis, the investments are creating jobs, and new solutions will create the foundation for a strong green sector. When you invest in

sustainability, the returns are measured in more than just environmental terms. There are also financial benefits, and often a good business case.

As an example, the idea of swimming in Copenhagen’s harbour would have been out of the question fifteen years ago. A hundred overflow channels fed waste water directly into the harbour, making the water heavily polluted. We addressed the problem by investing in a complete modernisation of the sewage system. The water quality improved, and the City of Copenhagen was able to build public harbour baths. Today the harbour at Islands Brygge, five minutes by bicycle from the City Hall, is one of the trendiest spots in the city. In the summer and spring, the area is bustling with BBQ parties, couples strolling along the pier and students, families and businessmen having a swim in the habour in the heart of the Danish capital. Cleaning the water in the harbour has benefited business, tourism and real estate prices.

NORDHAVN – A FUTURE SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBOURHOOD

One of our most interesting upcoming projects is the creation of a new neighbourhood in Nordhavn, the largest urban development area


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in northern Europe. When fully developed, Nordhavn will have up to 40,000 inhabitants and a corresponding number of workplaces. The total area covers 3-4 million square metres of potential development. With a sustainable energy supply, low-energy buildings, public transportation, and world class conditions for cyclists, Nordhavn is to be the first sustainable neighbourhood in Copenhagen. The vision is to have at least one-third of all traffic by bicycle, at least one-third by public transport, and no more than of one-

third by car. To reach the highest standards for green urban development we collaborate with companies and research institutions to develop and implement new sustainable solutions in Nordhavn. We want to attract international companies and entrepreneurs with ambitions to develop and test smart city solutions in a real life environment.

We offer companies help in finding the right partners, deploying and testing solutions; and we make them part of the Copenhagen green brand.

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A COMMERCIALLY INTELLIGENT TRANSITION

Some years ago, everybody talked about sharing knowledge, and it is true that cities all over the world can and should learn from each other, but we must be more ambitious than that; we should transfer actual solutions from one city to another. There is no need to re-invent the wheel in every city.

Copenhagen has gained knowledge and ideas from

a range of other major cities, including London, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Barcelona. The Copenhagen approach has been to go beyond products and describe the solutions. Rather than concentrating on technology – pipes, pumps, wires, software and so on – the focus has been on the combination of political vision, technology, organisation and knowledge.

Just as Copenhagen has benefited from initiatives in other cities, it is now our ambition that the


POLICY & GOVERNANCEPOLICY & GOVERNANCE

solutions we develop and test in Copenhagen will help many cities around the world to move forward in reducing energy consumption and CO

2

emissions, and improving the environment.

Accordingly, Copenhagen is eager to attract companies to collaborate in developing and testing new solutions in the city. In 2012, the World Bank ranked Denmark as the easiest place in Europe to do business. Foreign companies benefit from numerous free and discounted start-up services, and creative businesses in Copenhagen employ 70 per cent more people than the average European big city. It is crucial that we keep economic growth on top of the agenda.

GOING GREEN MUST PAY OFF

In the final analysis, the transition to a smarter and greener economy will only succeed if it is commercially sustainable. Going green must pay off. That is one of the basic ideas behind the Copenhagen project. The private sector must have

the very best conditions for success, and aim to have a high level of communication with investors and developers on a current basis to ensure that public investment augments private investment.

But also on a global scale we believe that the industrial transition to a green economy has the potential to create new growth engines and spur global economic growth.

In the transition to a greener world, as the varied interests of public and private sector partners intersect, new opportunities and ways of collaborating emerge. The potential benefits are substantial. If we push the right buttons in bringing business and government together, we can identify not only the barriers but also the solutions, and find new impulses towards a sustainable future.

We have a shared responsibility to ensure that this will happen, and Copenhagen is ready to help lead the way. Being home to one of the most efficient airports in Europe, offering direct flights to 140 destinations, we will be happy to welcome companies and cities to explore the possibilities of smart and fruitful collaborations. �

Frank Jensen, a member of the Danish Social Democrats, has been Lord Mayor of Copenhagen since 1 January 2010. He has been Danish Minister for Research (1994-96) and Justice Minister (1996-2001).

"The transition to a smarter and greener economy will only succeed if it is commercially sustainable."

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With strong vision and commitment, it is possible to transform a city. Embracing sustainability can bring both economic expansion and political rewards. The stories of New York, Qingdao, Curitiba and Bangalore carry important lessons for urban leaders looking to create jobs while improving conditions for people and the environment.

In the late 20th century, Times Square in the heart of New York City was best known for its neon lights, traffic jams and seedy bars. Today, it has been transformed into one of the most innovative and people-friendly areas of any urban landscape.

In fact, over the past decade, New York City itself has become not only a centre for business and entertainment, but an iconic symbol of sustainable urban planning. In 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, backed by a world-class team, launched PlaNYC to shift the model for the city’s growth. They sought to increase revenues while cutting pollution and increasing resilience to climate change.

The results have been impressive: New York has cut its carbon emissions by 16 per cent below 2005 levels, halfway to its 2030 target. They have increased the use of sustainable transport, including installing more than 300 miles of bicycle lanes and launching the largest cycle-share programme in the United States. Meanwhile, the city has lowered its air pollution and

reduced traffic injuries and deaths. Life expectancy for New Yorkers has reached a record high.

The message from New York’s success is clear. With a strong vision and commitment to sustainability, it is possible to transform a city. Embracing sustainability can bring both economic expansion and political rewards. Further, these rewards can be achieved within a mayor’s political lifetime.

SOLUTIONS, NOT MORE PROBLEMS

Already, half the world’s population lives in cities. An additional 75 million people will be added to

By Dr. Andrew Steer, President & CEO of the World Resources Institute (WRI)

SUSTAINABLE CITIES: FROM VISION TO REALITY

"By 2030, 221 Chinese cities will have at least one million residents."


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urban areas each year. The bulk of this growth will be witnessed across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which are home to many of the most rapidly emerging economies. The direction that cities take today will be a determining factor for sustainability for decades to come.

At their worst, cities can be a major drain on resources. Urban areas with large populations and voracious consumption patterns consume energy and water, and create waste. Cities produce nearly 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In developing countries, cities bear up to 80 per cent of the costs associated with climate change. But, if they are designed right, a far different outcome emerges.

Many of today’s most liveable cities – like Singapore, Vancouver, or San Francisco – bring together compact design, low emissions, and green space to create healthy environments for both people and planet. Well-designed and connected cities are more efficient and liveable. Tackling problems such as congestion, bad air quality, lack of physical activity, and waste management can help reduce health costs, lower carbon emissions, and capture methane. These, in turn, offer a critical co-benefit – climate change mitigation.

The evidence is overwhelming that this is possible. For more than a decade, the World Resources Institute (WRI) has been working on urban issues, especially around transport, to address the needs

of the world’s urban populations. Through its EMBARQ programme – which has seven centres around the world – it has helped improve urban design, cut carbon pollution, decrease road fatalities, and save commuters time and money. WRI is also working to develop low-carbon economic growth models for cities. It is currently road testing a Greenhouse Gas Protocol to help urban communities measure and manage their emissions, and already more than 60 cities are already using it. Other projects include identifying and mapping water risks to ensure that people have access to clean, reliable water supplies.

The following sections describe some examples that offer clear, practical urban solutions drawn from WRI’s on-the-ground projects, and highlight key lessons in sustainable mobility.

QINGDAO, CHINA

Leadership is essential to create a common vision and enhance coordination. Nowhere is the urban transition more high-profile than in China. By 2030, 221 Chinese cities will have at least one million residents. Meanwhile, the country’s 12th Five Year Plan emphasises sustainable urban development. The country’s urban centres are looking to reconcile their rapid growth with national sustainability priorities.

To that end, WRI has been working with several cities in China to develop ‘sustainability blueprints’

San Francisco is merging compact design, low emissions,

and green space to create a healthier environment

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– plans to create environmentally sustainable and liveable cities. This project, which was catalysed with the support of the Caterpillar Foundation, aims to test approaches in several key pilot cities and scale them up to national and international levels.

The coastal city of Qingdao, in eastern Shandong province, is one such city. WRI has helped to map a sustainability blueprint for the city of about 8.5 million people. The three-phase approach aims to: first, diagnose problem areas in land use and transport planning; second, develop feasibility studies and solutions that can be incorporated into the city’s transport policy agenda; and third, disseminate these lessons to other growing cities in China.

Although the national government highlights the importance of addressing both economic development and the environment, few cities have concrete strategies and a truly coordinated approach to achieve this goal. WRI is working with Qingdao to develop the first-ever strategic study for a comprehensive, integrated land use–transport plan. The recommendations of the study focus on retooling existing urban planning practices and incorporating the broader land use system where transport activities are embedded. The study underscores the benefits of transit-oriented development at different geographical scales

Through our experience in Qingdao, it has become clear that coordinating between multiple agencies can be a challenge. Getting buy-in from local leadership is essential. One helpful approach has been to seek greater intervention from the city mayor who is, more often than not, best positioned to coordinate the various synergies for a project’s overall success. The mayor, for example, has been able to initiate a top-down planning mechanism to break down the silos among different government departments.

CURITIBA, BRAZIL

Create success and others will follow. Curitiba, in the south of Brazil, is often cited as one of Latin America’s most liveable cities. Jaime Lerner, the former mayor of Curitiba and a WRI Board member, has argued that with the right leadership, vision, and communication with constituents, a city official can radically shift a city’s trajectory. He achieved such success in Curitiba.

Mayor Lerner set a truly innovative vision for a green city. In the early 1970s, the city embraced

a Master Plan that presented a strong vision and approach that would focus on people. The plan looked beyond transport, incorporating urban design, waste management, and other quality-of-life issues. The city has become well known for its integrated transport and land use development. For example, Curitiba implemented a low-cost, sophisticated system where buses travel on their own lanes, now known all round the world as bus rapid transit (BRT). Roughly 70 per cent of the city’s commuters now use the BRT to get to work.

The city’s success has encouraged a more positive approach to sustainable urban planning throughout Latin America. The BRT model initially implemented in Curitiba is now being used in 56 cities in Latin America – a third of the cities in the world with bus corridors.

Other cities have built on Curitiba’s success with advanced traffic management and the use of new information systems. New technologies are also improving the operational and environmental performance of bus systems.

The development of BRT has also helped attract additional investments in sustainable transport systems throughout Latin America. Countries such as Brazil, Mexico and Colombia have implemented national programmes to provide needed finance and technical capacity for transport. The EMBARQ centre in Mexico has been instrumental in the implementation of PROTRAM, a funding programme for mass transit, which is supporting 34 Mexican cities.

BANGALORE, INDIA

Collaboration at multiple levels leads to consensus. Bangalore is the third-largest city in India, home to about 8.75 million people. While often cited as a positive example of modern development, the city has been struggling recently under the weight of its growth. Rapid motorisation has created increased

"The BRT model initially implemented in Curitiba is now being used in 56 cities in Latin America."


POLICY & GOVERNANCE

congestion, longer commute times, and poor air quality in Bangalore and many other Indian cities.

WRI’s experts have been working closely with officials at the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) – the city’s sole provider of bus-based transport services – to improve transport systems and urban design. As one of the largest public transport operators in India, BMTC’s fleet of 6,500 buses carries around 5 million passenger trips daily, accounting for 42 per cent of all motorised trips in the city.

Our team in India has been helping develop a city-wide, high-frequency connective grid of bus services – the Bangalore Intra-City Grid (BIG) Bus Network – providing research and technical support throughout the process. The BIG Bus Network is expected to improve the quality of city bus services in Bangalore, and will be supplemented by additional infrastructure upgrades, including new transfer facilities, integrated fares, simplified route numbers, better passenger information systems and unified branding.

Challenges emerged, however, largely because the BMTC senior management has experienced frequent changes within its ranks. Several previous initiatives to improve city bus services had fallen into disarray, partly due to this inconsistent leadership. For our recommendations to take hold, the vision has to be supported and executed – regardless of changes at the top.

In response, EMBARQ India’s experts started working with BMTC staff at all levels. Our team conducted multiple workshops with BMTC staff, practiced collaborative data collection and planning exercises, and established mechanisms for continuous feedback across the organisation. EMBARQ experts helped train BMTC staff in data collection and performance monitoring, oversaw travel demand assessments and surveys, provided technical support for route and service planning, and collaborated on communications strategies.

On 16 September 2013, BMTC launched the BIG Bus Network with an initial 62 buses on Hosur road. The pilot corridor has already improved transport services for its 53,000 daily passengers, shaving commuters’ average wait times by 56 per cent.

A second major reform will be the creation of suburban ‘feeder’ routes, connecting peripheral

destinations to the BIG Bus Network. When fully rolled out across the city, the BIG Bus Network will positively impact an estimated 2.5 million passengers by 2016. The network’s early success is already making an impact on other cities, with Ahmedabad, Chennai and Mumbai planning to follow Bangalore’s example.

BRINGING SUSTAINABLE CITIES TO LIFE

Cities are living organisms, as Professor Geoffrey West has said. Leaders must respond accordingly. If done right, the rewards – for leaders and their constituents – are great. Looking beyond the big picture, implementing the nuts and bolts is critical for success.

Going back to New York, strong leadership and a clear vision are absolutely critical. From Qingdao, we find that consolidation among agencies is essential. From Curitiba, we learn how a powerful model can scale up sustainable strategies elsewhere. And from Bangalore, we find that collaboration at various levels can bring consensus for reform. Across all of these examples, it is clear that sustainability cannot be merely a short-term idea. It takes time and commitment to see real change.

At a time when progress at the international level is moving too slowly, there is considerable hope in cities. Strong and determined city leaders can respond to constituent needs quickly and take meaningful actions. Their success can help improve the lives of millions of people – and create momentum for sustainable growth around the world. �

Dr. Andrew Steer is the President and CEO of the World Resources Institute. Dr. Steer joined WRI from the World Bank, where he served as Special Envoy for Climate Change since 2010. He guided Bank Group efforts on climate change in more than 130 countries, oversaw the $7 billion Climate investment Funds, and led the World Bank's engagement on international climate negotiations. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the UN and World Bank’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative.

The World Resources Institute is a global research organisation that spans more than 50 countries, with offices in the United States, China, India, Brazil, and more. More than 300 experts and staff work closely with leaders to turn big ideas into action to sustain our natural resources.

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As the world becomes more urbanised, megacities like Chicago will play a greater role and will have a critical impact on our collective future. As Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel has challenged the City to take on an innovative and comprehensive sustainability agenda. The City of Chicago has embarked on an ambitious course to strengthen liveability and competitiveness by embedding sustainability throughout its operations, policies and vision.

When The Economist recently looked to the year 2025 and ranked the most globally competitive cities, Chicago rose into the top 10 with the city's number one ranking in the USA for environmental risk and governance contributing to this rise. Simply put, as we become more sustainable we become more competitive, and as we become more competitive, we must be more sustainable.

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR BUILDING A 21ST CENTURY CITY

As the call for action on climate grows louder, Chicago’s sustainable future will be defined

in three areas – our public sector efforts; the approaches being taken by our businesses and our residents; and the way we think about sustainability for the future.

First, the City has focused on integrating sustainability into public sector work. A 21st century city needs 21st century infrastructure. Through ‘Building a New Chicago’, Mayor Emanuel’s comprehensive three-year plan to renew our infrastructure, Chicago is making one of the nation’s largest coordinated investments, putting 30,000 residents to work improving roads, rails and runways, repairing the aged water and sewer systems, and rebuilding parks, playgrounds and schools. These improvements offer an opportunity to embed and strengthen sustainability across the city.

For example, Chicago is in the process of replacing hundreds of miles of water mains, preventing breaks and leaks, providing reliability, conserving water

By Karen Weigert, Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Chicago

LIVEABLE, COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE CHICAGO

"The City has focused on integrating sustainability into public sector work."


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and creating jobs. We are also addressing storm water better, creating a dedicated US$50 million green storm water infrastructure fund. The City will scale tested approaches, adding permeability and natural features across our neighbourhoods. In every infrastructure project being undertaken by the city government, Mayor Emanuel is focused on fostering and ensuring sustainability wherever possible. The result will be infrastructure that is longer-lasting, more affordable, and more consistent – all while protecting the environment.

NEIGHBOURHOOD EFFORTS

Government can only do so much by itself, and the city’s success is complemented by the strong efforts coming from neighbourhoods, residents and businesses. Mayor Emanuel has identified energy efficiency as a priority for strengthening Chicago. ‘Retrofit Chicago’, the City’s voluntary effort to support energy efficiency in buildings, has created energy efficiency zones and partnerships with non-profit organisations and utilities to offer

simple access to coordinated services. As a result we have seen residential retrofits increase by 65 per cent in targeted areas.

This applies to commercial buildings as well. Large private buildings have demonstrated a fierce commitment to this vision, with 28 million sq ft of buildings joining Retrofit Chicago and agreeing to at least a 20 per cent energy reduction in 5 years.

Copyright Patrick Pyszka

"Large private buildings have demonstrated a fierce commitment to this vision, with 28 million sq ft of buildings joining Retrofit Chicago."

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The 32 buildings include 20 office buildings, 10 hotels, one residential building and one cultural institution. There are over half a million buildings in Chicago and the City spends about US$3 billion annually to heat, cool and operate buildings, accounting for about 71 per cent of all the carbon emissions coming from Chicago.

A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Finally, it is time to look to the future of sustainability. Mayor Emanuel has drawn a broad definition of sustainability for the City of Chicago that will govern our actions in the coming decades. The City has looked at and implemented many new ways of embracing sustainability – from requiring all large buildings to disclose their annual energy use to espousing community choice aggregation to procure electricity while eliminating coal. The City is retrofitting municipal buildings while 100 miles of protected bicycle lanes are under construction. The City has closed

down its last two coal-fired power plants, while launching one of the largest cycle sharing schemes in the world and piloting urban agriculture programmes across the city. Chicago is creating connections and opportunities throughout all neighbourhoods as we rebuild our train lines and reconnect to the river.

The City of Chicago recently released its one-year progress report and the results are strong. Under Mayor Emanuel’s leadership and vision, we see a thriving and sustainable city, full of opportunity. This vision is laid out in Sustainable Chicago 2015, Mayor Emanuel’s three-year action agenda to make Chicago the most liveable, competitive and sustainable city. The City marked several key accomplishments on 24 set goals, with one-third of goals being attained ahead of schedule. Chicago continues to grow through sustainability research and innovation. On every corner, in every home and business, and during every decision, we are building a more sustainable city. �

Karen Weigert is the Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Chicago; the Chief Sustainability Officer role was created by Mayor Emanuel, 55th Mayor of Chicago.

The City of Chicago is the third largest city in the United States; it sits on the shores of Lake Michigan.

"The City has closed down its last two coal-fired power plants."


POLICY & GOVERNANCEPOLICY & GOVERNANCE

Following a successful career as a leading international business strategist and policy expert, Greg Clark has carved out a distinguished political life. The UK’s Financial Secretary to the Treasury describes the City Deals initiative, and measures to empower local communities and take the low carbon option.

Before entering the world of politics, Greg Clark was a prominent business strategist for one of the world’s top firms, working in the USA, Mexico, South America and Iceland, as well as in the UK. It was after his appointment as Special Advisor to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in 1996 that his political life began. Clark has since been the BBC’s Controller of Commercial Policy and Director of Policy for the Conservative Party, before becoming an MP when he was elected to Parliament for Tunbridge Wells in 2005. Clark has long been an advocate of sustainability and having been appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in 2008, he was responsible for two landmark papers in Energy and Climate Change policy: The Low Carbon

Economy and Rebuilding Security, which set out how a Conservative Government would make the UK a leading player in the low carbon economy. Now working as both the Minister for Cities and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Clark is helping to implement real change across the country with the City Deals initiative.

Launched in December 2011, City Deals aim to empower entire regions of the country, wresting power from distant officials in Whitehall and Westminster, and making local communities in 40 cities across the UK responsible for their own policy decisions.

Clark’s long-standing advocacy for issues and causes in the sustainability sector stems from his interest in making the

political process contribute to solutions for national problems. “When I was the Energy and Climate Change Secretary one of the things that became abundantly clear was that the improvements that could be made, in terms of carbon emissions and saving money on bills, had a lot to do with equipment and energy efficiency. This involved retrofitting existing buildings and also the sustainable life of future buildings and structures, and really, my long-term interest in low-cost solutions has always gone hand in hand with sustainability.”

In the past, being environmentally responsible and applying sustainable solutions has often been perceived as generating costs rather than benefits. Clark’s attitude is more positive, emphasising that cutting

THE UK’S GREEN STRATEGISTINTERVIEW WITHGREG CLARK

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emissions and being more sustainable can make good sense economically. “In a world of high energy prices, designing homes and workplaces to naturally consume energy efficiently makes sense economically as well as helping the environment. It’s important to make this connection – that you can save in your energy bill as well as being environmentally responsible.”

It is increasingly falling to the business world to make gains in developing a sustainable economy. Clark recognises that a lot of change is happening in the economic structure of the environment business sector. “Perceptions are changing about clean energy being very expensive. Businesses are looking for ways to use less, and to be less wasteful. And of course, in troubled economic times, people want to make sure their running costs are as low as possible, without causing undue damage to the environment.”

In order to turn procurement decisions into positive sustainability tools, Clark asserts the overall importance of planning ahead. “This is the key area of any policy that is to have any strong benefits for environmentalism and for the economy. So if you are planning newbuilds, whether residential or commercial, it’s vital to include energy efficient solutions from the outset. For example, the heating, optimal levels of insulation and the use of combined heat and power. Essentially, planning ahead is the best way to be able to embrace the environmental improvements that lead to economic gains. Retrofitting is necessary, but will always be second best to getting it right the first time.”

The final draft of the UK National Planning Policy Framework was published in March 2012. A new policy document was something that the UK coalition government committed to at the outset. “It was important to revise what we inherited. The problem with the previous planning policy was that it was so voluminous and so technical that it wasn’t achieving its purpose, which was to allow local people to choose what was best for their areas. If you need a solicitor to interpret it and it’s over a thousand pages long, then it’s very difficult for people in local communities to get to grips with it. So by transforming and simplifying it, and by reducing it to 50 pages and presenting it in a way that I think almost everyone applauds, we can get people in communities and businesses back into planning. We’ve already had three times as many local plans

being submitted. So planning is really being kick-started as a result of this.

“The planning reforms are part of the same thinking that focuses on putting local people in charge, to have their own plans for regeneration and for reflecting a local sense of place. Those thoughts are very much to be found in the City Deals as well. The need for City Deals comes from the fact that, for too many decades, power has been taken away from local people in cities and been addressed by people in Whitehall and Westminster, who were a long way from the places they were making policy for. As a result, I think there was an overall lack of local connection and input into the potential of the city. So what we’ve done with City Deals is to say, ‘We want you, the people of the city, to make the decisions. Let us


POLICY & GOVERNANCE

help you to address the challenges that are particular to Liverpool, to Leeds or to Bristol. It’s only really by knowing the city intimately that you can have a clear view and tell us what the problems are. And then we can give you the power to resolve them.’ ”

Clark has stated that City Deals represent “the biggest shift in central and local government relations for decades.” As he explains, “One problem with centralisation of power is that for a long time there has been a desire for absolutely consistent policies right across the country, so while some Whitehall traditionalists may see a drawback in things being done differently in Newcastle, or differently in Liverpool, I would regard that as essential – because Liverpool is different from Newcastle, and different again from Manchester. I don’t think it’s right to shoehorn real living places into a Whitehall t emplate. You do have different demographics and differences between cities, and if it helps a less uniform Britain then I think that’s a good thing, not a drawback.”

There has been some criticism of the City Deals project, in particular that it allows Local Enterprise Partnerships, dominated by private sector representatives, to direct the new powers it conveys. In response to the suggestion that private company policy might conflict with broader sustainable concerns that are in the public

interest, Clark points out that, on the contrary, the project has brought the participants together, with no tension between the objectives. “What we’ve seen with the City Deals, from all participants – the government, the private sector and the public sector – has been a huge amount of interest in environmentally sustainable policies. To take an area from the next wave of City Deals, Humberside, Hull and surrounding areas, actually what unites the vision of the local communities and businesses is to make use of the unique potential that the Humber river estuary offers. A lot of that is in clean energy – servicing the offshore renewables industry and providing manufacturing facilities. Local enterprise partnerships are a combination of business and local authorities; and I can’t think of a single case where decisions have come to a halt because there’s been a conflict between business on one side and the local authority on the other. One of the encouraging features is how much common ground there is between the business interests in the city and the civic leadership.”

Now that the UK is about to enter the second phase of City Deals – inviting a further 20 cities to apply for the opportunity to shape their own priorities around transport, skills and development – it is clearly necessary to ensure that each city achieves the same benchmarks of sustainability in each of these

sectors. Clark suggests that this aspect will be covered by local democratic involvement. “Part of the objectives of the City Deals is to have cities look to themselves – the participants are all elected, so they can look to their own electorate rather than central government for approval.”

Clark has recently affirmed that “Cities are the building blocks of the global economy” and that the drive for growth – for Britain’s economic future – needs to be most energetic in our cities. But with cities accounting for 70 per cent of the world’s energy consumption and carbon emissions, despite occupying only 2 per cent of the Earth’s surface, maintaining sustainability has to rely on meticulous planning. “Cities have the potential to be the most sustainable places on Earth because you have large numbers of people living and working in very close proximity to each other in a concentrated geographical area. You need to have networks in public transport, for example, that can cleanly and efficiently get people from one place to another.

“As cities are changing, there is a lot of new development there that can be designed from the outset to the highest environmental standards. All the conditions are there for cities to be great contributors to environmental progress, but this involves planning. We know there are cities around the world that are not as sustainable as they could or should be, where people have to travel very long distances in very wasteful ways environmentally; but done properly, cities can not only be engines of economic growth, but also instrumental in environmental progress.” �

"All the conditions are there for cities to be great contributors to environmental progress, but this involves planning."

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Join Environment and Energy Ministers from over 190 countries at the United Nations Environment Assembly in June 2014.

Climate Action, in partnership with UNEP, is running the Sustainable Innovation Expo

alongside the United Nations Environment Assembly in June 2014. The Expo, which takes

place at the United Nations Office of Nairobi in Kenya, gives organisations the opportunity

to showcase innovative technologies that can assist governments in developing more

sustainable communities and economies. Environment and Energy Ministers from over 190

countries will meet to discuss environmental policy, sustainable development and climate

change. For more information contact Climate Action.

Tel. +44 (0)20 7871 0173email. [email protected]

www.sustainableinnovationexpo.org

Sustainable Innovation Expo 201425-27 June 2014 - UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya

A key element in the quest for sustainable, low carbon cities is cooperation at the municipal level, demonstrated by the Finnish HINKU project, which began with five local authorities and has now grown to 14. Already the first participating authorities have met their 2016 target of 16 per cent emission reduction from the 2007 level; and new and old members of the project are constantly adding vital experience to the sum of best practice.

In 2007 seven Finnish corporate executives came together to brainstorm ideas on corporate responsibility. This led to the process now known as ‘Let’s Surprise Society’. The first theme chosen was energy saving, but there was no plan of how to make the surprise happen. Therefore the facilitator of the process, the Finnish corporate executives’ networking community Devoi Oy, contacted the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) to find ways to realise the idea. This led to the HINKU project. HINKU is a Finnish word that means ‘a great desire’, and is also short for hiilineutraalit kunnat – Carbon Neutral Municipalities, known in English as CANEMU. The first phase of the project started in October 2008 in five municipalities with the funding from the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (TEKES).

In the HINKU municipalities all stakeholders – the municipality, the citizens and local businesses – are involved in the work for reducing their greenhouse

gas emissions. The aim is to create ‘win-win-win’ situations where efforts to mitigate climate change give full consideration to economic, environmental and social factors. The project aims to treat the participating localities as miniature versions of Finland, where the activities of local authorities, businesses and residents can be studied in detail with a view to identifying new ways to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The project is ongoing and does not

By Lea Kauppi and Jyri Seppälä, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)

FINNISH MUNICIPALITIES COLLABORATE FOR CARBON NEUTRALITY

"The municipalities have committed themselves to reducing GHG emissions in their territory by 80 per cent by 2030."

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have an end date. The municipalities have committed themselves to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in their territory by 80 per cent by 2030 compared with the GHG emissions in 2007, with an intermediate target of –16 per cent by 2016.

The five original municipalities involved – Mynämäki, Uusikaupunki, Kuhmoinen, Padasjoki and Parikkala – were chosen on the basis of their links to the project’s corporate participants. Although these localities have quite different opportunities to act as testing grounds for new climate-related measures, the experiences have been encouraging. Later nine new municipalities – Hanko, Raasepori, Lohja, Siuntio, Ii, Laitila, Masku, Asikkala, Rauma – have joined the project, and the number of inhabitants involved in the project has increased from 36,000 to 200,000.

PROGRESS AND PARTICIPANTS

The HINKU project is coordinated by SYKE, a national environmental research institute under the Ministry of the Environment. For each participating municipality, SYKE calculates the GHG emissions for the baseline year 2007. The calculation procedure includes all GHG emissions in detail within the

territory of the municipality. Consequently, annual GHG emission monitoring is now possible for each municipality involved in the project.

SYKE supports the municipalities with communication on the project to the public, manages the national web pages of the project, and produces brochures and hand-outs for different target groups.

In each municipality the project is launched in a public seminar to discuss the aims of the project, the initial emission levels in the municipality, and the actions to be taken. The feedback from local people is collected for planning the next steps of the project and the local media (newspapers, radio and TV) are engaged to make all stakeholders aware of the project.

In the municipalities, every target group – municipal authorities, residents and business – are encouraged to reduce their GHG emissions. Actions include measures to save energy and improve energy efficiency, particularly in homes, public offices, companies and in transportation, as well as measures to promote the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

SYKE calculates the GHG emissions annually for each municipality and the emission reduction measures are publicly available in the HINKU database (www.ymparisto.fi/hinkumappi.fi). As of autumn 2013, over 250 measures have been documented in the database, which also includes cost information and general experiences of the measures.

INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCE

During the project a lot of information material has been produced and workshops (e.g. on food chains, energy efficiency in buildings, transportation) arranged in order to create new procedures, ideas and action plans for reducing the GHG emissions in the municipalities. Data and experiences about good practices are collected and shared with the municipalities. The best emission reduction measure of the month in the HINKU municipalities awarded by SYKE usually gets good local media coverage.

Figure 1. Municipalities belonging to the HINKU project,

autumn 2013.

"Data and experiences about good practices are collected and shared with the municipalities."


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The project promotes municipal activities through various voluntary schemes and research and development (R&D) projects. About 40 Finnish companies providing climate friendly technology and services have found new customers through participation in this project. In addition, R&D projects and pilot scale trials have been initiated with support from different funding institutions. The HINKU municipalities provide a good test platform for several national and European projects. For instance, the EU project ‘Changing Behaviours’ has the municipality of Mynämäki as a case study area.

RENEWABLES AND ENERGY SAVING

Most of the participating municipalities have hired experts to implement renewable energy production initiatives and savings. The results indicate that by using their own bioenergy and wind power resources all the municipalities have the potential to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. All participating municipalities have analysed the energy consumption of the municipally owned buildings and made plans to improve their energy efficiency.

Currently, SYKE is studying actions that households have taken to reduce their energy consumption and to what extent renewable energy has been adopted in the households. However, collecting reliable data on the actions of households requires considerable effort. So far, results indicate that the installation of heat pumps and geothermal energy are the most common

measures taken. In addition, the first low energy houses have been built.

Initiatives related to mobility are another subject currently being studied. Car pooling has been tested in some communities. In addition, in the municipalities there are several voluntary groups (e.g. the summer residents) working on GHG emission reduction.

PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT

In the early stage of the project, Uusikaupunki succeeded in getting commitment from a group of over 40 companies to calculate the carbon footprint of their products, and to reduce their energy consumption. A highly experienced project manager and strong support from the Mayor of the town were the key factors for success. The same model is now being adopted in the other HINKU municipalities.

The project has assisted environment technology companies to find new customers. For example, new innovative waste collection systems have been adopted. In addition, new solutions for heating are being developed, including geothermal systems in livestock farming, and the use of commercial waste heat in district heating systems. Wind power companies have found new customers with the coastal municipalities (Uusikaupunki, Hanko and Ii), and wind power plants producing tens of megawatts are being planned in the near future. An innovative bioenergy-based closed circulation system for fish

Figure 2. GHG emission reductions in the first five HINKU municipalities between 2007 and 2011.

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farming is close to completion, where waste, waste energy, nutrients and CO

2 are used and recycled

back to energy and food production.

In the project, all the municipalities have committed themselves to fulfilling the so-called HINKU criteria. The criteria include targets and processes for climate change mitigation (see www.hinku-foorumi.fi).

ACHIEVEMENTS AND LEARNING POINTS

The five municipalities participating in the project since the beginning have reduced their emissions by 12-18 per cent over the period 2007-2011 (Figure 2). It is important to note that all five municipalities have already fulfilled the short-term target (16 per cent emission reduction by 2016). The most effective measure has been the replacement of the municipalities’ oil-based district heating systems by wood-burning power plants. The data on reductions in 2007-2012 for all fourteen HINKU municipalities will be available by the end of 2013.

The methodology of GHG emission calculation is documented in the website of the HINKU project (www.hinku-foorumi.fi).

The media coverage has been very extensive, and has raised awareness among local citizens about the project and its targets and measures. At present clear differences can be seen between municipalities in their ability to meet the targets set in the short

term. The main reasons for this are:

Economic activity and situation (effects of the recession vary among the municipalities)

The status of technical infrastructure

Commitment and leadership of the municipality in practice.

The key success factors identified for positive results are:

Commitment of decision-makers and top management of the municipality – climate change mitigation seen as an opportunity – understanding the benefits of the process

Networking of different actors and supporting each other – researchers as facilitators

Practical tools and ‘face to face’ guidance available for different target groups

Project staff in municipalities – short pay-back time due to significant energy savings in municipal operations

Active involvement of non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

Online monitoring of GHG emission reductions

Effective media communication.


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NEXT STEPS

Expansion of the HINKU project to new municipalities is a challenge for project management. As a response to this, in 2013 the project was reorganised as the HINKU Forum, a network for forerunners in climate change mitigation. The core members are municipalities that have committed themselves to the HINKU criteria. The other members are the key ministries of government (the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Employment and Trade), business, as well as R&D and funding organisations.

The aim of the HINKU Forum is to support climate change mitigation work in the municipalities, to promote new innovative solutions and to provide a platform for exchange of information on experiences and best practices in the municipalities. SYKE continues as a facilitator of the Forum. In the near future, the Forum will decide on updated HINKU criteria and emission calculation guidelines. The costs of GHG reductions as well their impacts on employment should be also monitored in a systematic way. In addition, the Forum acts as advocate of the HINKU carbon neutral model to all municipalities that can accept the criteria. The goal is to join forces with larger Finnish cities to accelerate the transition towards a low carbon society in Finland.

Cooperation will be improved on both national and international levels. SYKE will work actively to improve exchange of information on experiences and best practices between HINKU and corresponding international initiatives and projects, and to develop joint projects with international partners. The management role of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities will be strengthened. In addition, cooperation with the Finnish innovation fund Sitra and Motiva Ltd, an expert organisation for energy and material efficiency in Finland, will be further strengthened.

The new municipalities can raise the HINKU project up to a new level. For example, the HINKU municipalities in the province of western Uusimaa (Hanko, Raasepori, Lohja and Siuntio) and in western Finland (Masku, Mynämäki, Uusikaupunki, Laitila and Rauma), with their 93,000 and 84,000 inhabitants, have diverse business interests that allow them to develop and implement new cleantech solutions. In addition, a new small HINKU municipality, Ii in Northern Finland,

offers an interesting case for studying renewable energy production, especially in terms of large-scale wind power. New climate friendly, sustainable bio-economy solutions will play a role in all the municipalities. Finnish cleantech initiatives are discussed in an accompanying article.

The biggest challenge in the near future is related to the investments needed for measures that will significantly reduce GHG emissions in the municipalities. We need people to develop radical innovative projects, and we need investors to take the risk to finance them. �

Professor Lea Kauppi has been the Director General of the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) since 1995. She has a long experience on working at the science/policy interface, in relation to a variety of environmental issues. She has been a member of the International Resource Panel of UNEP since 2008.

Professor Jyri Seppälä is the Director of the Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production at SYKE. He has been in charge of several extensive R&D projects to improve the eco-efficiency of different products, services and economic sectors. He is the manager with overall responsibility for the HINKU project.

The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) is the research and development centre of the Finnish environmental administration, with a highly qualified staff of 700 employees. It is both a research institute and a centre for environmental expertise. Its main task is to produce environmental information, action plans and specific services for the administration, general public and enterprises. Main activities include research and development related to changes in the environment, cause and effect relationships, means of resolving environmental problems and effects of policy measures. SYKE’s research programmes assess environmental problems from a multi-disciplinary perspective, by integrating socio-economic considerations into natural and technical sciences.

"In the near future, the Forum will decide on updated HINKU criteria and emission calculation guidelines."

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As Lord Mayor of Adelaide and a town planner with nearly 20 years’ experience in state and local government, Stephen Yarwood has dedicated his professional life to developing cities. Yarwood’s vision for Adelaide is a modern, vibrant and sustainable place to do business, live and enjoy life. He believes an economy based on innovation, education, arts and culture will make Adelaide prosperous.

Stephen Yarwood was elected an Adelaide City Councillor in October 2007 and was Deputy Lord Mayor in 2009, before winning the 2010 mayoral election. A native South Australian, he has lectured in planning and management in several countries, as well as studying future cities in Tsukuba, Japan’s technology city. He drives an electric car, enjoys bike riding, food, music and world travel, and lives with his family in the heart of Adelaide’s Central Business District.

Having worked in sustainable urban planning all around the world, Yarwood’s zeal for the future of city life is founded on his experience. “The world is changing. Dealing with nine billion people – especially six or seven billion living in cities alone – is going to be a huge

challenge. Cities are the drivers of change, and where many exciting innovations occur. Since I want to make the world a more sustainable, liveable and productive place, cities generally offer the best trial sites to effectively view the results of forward-thinking initiatives.

“Action starts locally and I am passionate about growing Adelaide into a modern, vibrant and sustainable place to do business and enjoy life.”

Adelaide recently ranked fifth in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Liveability Survey. South Australia’s inaugural Surveyor General, Colonel William Light, designed the city as a modern social experiment to balance land, capital and labour. Nestled neatly between the Adelaide

Hills and the Gulf St Vincent, Adelaide is blessed with an incredibly functional, hospitable and compact geographical layout. The flat terrain of the city makes it ideal for walking and cycling, with Adelaide also renowned for its large belt of parklands (measuring more than 7 sq km) that encircle the city. Coupled with the lush squares of the civic centre, these open spaces provide the community with excellent opportunities to relax and retreat from daily routine. These native areas are also ideal central locations for sports, recreation and special events, as Yarwood relates. “Different corners of Adelaide reflect the city’s multiple personalities; the streetscape amenities of many of the major thoroughfares give a clear sense of the varied functions of the city’s precincts. From

A POST-CARBON ECONOMY INTERVIEW WITHTHE LORD MAYOR STEPHEN YARWOOD


POLICY & GOVERNANCE

ornate historic cottage residences through to innovative high-rise apartments, residential options in the city remain impressively diverse; there are opportunities here for all financial and aesthetic requirements.

“The city has a very high level of quality services and facilities that are improving all the time. Ongoing activation projects continue to enhance safety – and the perception of safety – in the city, which remains a huge factor for liveability.

“It’s all about balance. Not only do we enjoy a great natural environment and strong planning systems resulting in sound infrastructure and good housing choice; Adelaide also benefits from great weather and quality local food and wine, plus a focus on arts, culture and innovation. Colonel Light’s social experiment seems to have worked very well!”

A 10-YEAR VISION

After his recent announcement of a 10-year vision for the city, Yarwood tells how he sees Adelaide developing, and outlines the main challenges for realising this vision and for urban sustainability in general. “My ambition for Adelaide builds on this city’s heritage as an arts and cultural destination. By coupling our artistic side with the prevailing information economy, we can nurture more local entrepreneurs and extend the city’s commercial viability later into the evening.

“Urban sustainability requires a supportive planning system, excellent transport networks and a broad mix of residents and city users. Our sustainability challenges include astutely identifying the under-utilised areas and assets of our city to ensure we aren’t overlooking rich opportunities or extraordinary potentials available to us. The positive frameworks we already have in place have been stimulated by state government projections of tram extensions throughout the city, which would greatly enhance connectivity and movement, but we need to focus our attention on where Adelaide City Council’s intervention can really make a difference.”

The City Council is the oldest municipal authority in Australia, employing about 850 staff and governed by 12 Elected Members – the Lord Mayor and 11 Councillors. One of Yarwood’s primary goals is to encourage strong working relationships between all levels of government, as well as business and the general community. “Our biggest opportunity is also our challenge; Adelaide will not be successful if people

don’t invest and believe in our future. Getting everyone to share a vision and work in the same direction is the most important part. The city is enriched when community residents add their voices and play an active role in these positive changes.”

URBAN DENSITY

Part of the vision for Adelaide is to increase population density in the city centre and reduce urban sprawl. Yarwood rates this concentration as very important for sustainable development. “Central to my vision for the future of Adelaide is a much higher residential population. Residents add vibrancy and are inclined to use the city beyond general work hours – for many that’s a core attraction of city living in the first place. In terms of building a sustainable city, an increase in residency provides a broader base of intellectual, artistic and technological creativity to support viable new enterprise, employment and economic growth. A higher populace in turn leads to the need for a broader range of facilities, which provides the opportunity to create new, exemplary services that align with the city’s forward-thinking outlook.

“It’s significant that 51 per cent of all City of Adelaide residents walk to work. Research suggests many also ride a bicycle more regularly than suburban residents. Data also proves the closer you live to a city centre, the lower the carbon lifestyle you maintain. Living in the city offers great opportunities to connect with your community by walking around the areas in close proximity to your home. As a keen advocate of both riding and walking, I find it also saves me a huge amount of time not sitting in traffic jams!”

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Moderating urban sprawl has been addressed via the city’s placemaking strategy, which is working to develop Adelaide’s spaces effectively. By engaging with the communities who live, work and utilise these areas, a number of valuable and inspiring projects have already been implemented that revitalise, invigorate or inspire. “The placemaking strategy has the ability to turn tired and underdeveloped zones within the city into vibrant communal hubs. By delivering beneficial outcomes in the environmental, economic and social realms, it could be suggested the best placemaking strategies not only provide for today’s consumers, but also keep an eye on the needs of future generations. Placemaking is bringing life to the streets.

“Given my interest in population growth within the city, we have been actively working to inspire more people to consider making it their home. Recent amendments made to the Adelaide City Council’s Development Plan allow a greater density of housing and places and emphasis on mixed-use development in more areas of the city. Not only do compact urban forms offer the opportunity for sustainable, forward-thinking designs, they encourage active modes of transport such as walking and cycling.

“The website alreadyhome.com.au is our primary mechanism for promoting the city’s residential opportunities. We recognise that

the lifestyle on offer is what makes living in the city so special, with the council working on ensuring that housing of different types and price ranges remains available. Ergo Apartments, a Council-backed inner-city development, is part of this picture. This successful project, which recently sold out its first stage, has welcomed first-home buyers who historically might not have been able to afford city property. We are working to ensure as many people as possible are able to call the city home.”

A BALANCED TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Walking and cycling in the city is an issue close to Yarwood’s heart, and he is proud of the initiatives in place. “Adelaide City Council has worked closely with the South Australian state government and invested significantly in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. Our November 2012 Smart Move Strategy outlined council’s plans to steadily improve bicycle infrastructure over the next decade, implementing a connected bike network and more amenities for cyclists across the city. Many of these developments are aimed at making cycling in Adelaide an easier and safer option, thus encouraging more riders.

“A number of the Smart Move proposals have already been implemented. New shared pedestrian and cycling paths have been established in the

parklands, while the major Anzac Highway arterial now includes bike lanes both in and out of the city. After a rigorous consultation process, a Frome Street Bikeway offering cyclists additional safety parameters will be constructed by May 2014. Bike lanes have been improved and widened across the city, with 3.5 km of lanes now painted a vivid green to improve their visibility to road users. Bike boxes – painted roadway zones allowing cyclists to wait in front of motor vehicles stopped at traffic lights – have also been established at nine intersections across the city.

“As well as installing 40 new bike rails within the past 12 months (taking the total to more than 550 within the council area), there are now secure bike cage and bike locker facilities at a number of council locations within the city. The council’s City Bike programme, which has offered free bike hire at a number of central locations since 2005, continues to be a success in making the community active and mobile. While these are all important steps, there are more to come: future proposals include installing spaces where cyclists can shower and store their belongings.”

Adelaide City Council sponsors a number of community-based projects designed to encourage more people to ride, either as a transport option, for recreation or for fitness. The annual Tour de Work programme in February and Ride2Work Day in October have steadily grown in popularity and these events attract both first-time cyclists as well as seasoned riders. In May 2014, Adelaide will host the Velo City Global conference. This is the first time the conference has been held in Australia and will welcome a range of delegates from across the world. Yarwood comments that “a

"Many of these developments are aimed at making cycling in Adelaide an easier and safer option."


POLICY & GOVERNANCE

better cycling culture means fewer cars, cleaner air and a healthier, fitter community – all positive outcomes for Adelaide!”

Showing the other side of the coin, Adelaide is a very car dependent society; and to improve walking and cycling in the city, Yarwood sees the necessity to reduce this dependency. “We are doing as much as possible in Adelaide to address this. Adelaide City Council’s Strategic Plan 2012-16 outlines the council’s desire to develop a transport system for the city that balances competing demands, encourages low-emission vehicles and advocates car-sharing formats. Spaces have been allocated within the Council’s Rundle Street UPark car park specifically for car-poolers, while organisations and individuals are encouraged to use the adelaidecarpool.com.au site and take part in the car-pooling scheme. We are also advocating the expansion of GoGet, Australia’s first professional car-sharing service, within the city.

“The Smart Move Strategy mentioned earlier is at the forefront of educating people on transport alternatives and instigating travel behaviour change. We are implementing changes to pedestrian crossings to increase foot traffic in the city, introducing both countdown timers and pedestrian priority at certain traffic signals. Our placemaking projects also serve to create more safe and agreeable routes through Adelaide for those on foot. With public art installations and Splash Adelaide projects constantly altering even the familiar areas of the city, those who opt to walk our streets rather than drive them often find themselves privy to inspiring new creations and exciting developments on even the most inauspicious back streets.”

A POST-CARBON GLOBAL ECONOMY

The importance of Adelaide being globally competitive in a post-carbon economy is high on Yarwood’s agenda. “Guaranteeing Adelaide a robust global status in a post-carbon economy requires all levels of government to make astute forecasts and develop long-term plans rather than become mired in contemporary wrangles. Our 2013-2014 Business Plan & Budget makes specific reference to crafting a city that uses fewer resources and supports local ecological systems, but also works to attract new businesses and innovative placemaking schemes by reducing small business red tape. We believe in creating a well presented, clean and safe city that minimises its carbon footprint and offers residents all the amenities they require within the one space.

“Staying globally competitive not only requires Adelaide to build on its recognisable strengths, but also fosters new, existing or external businesses that can supplement the city’s economic growth and align with our vision. In an increasingly knowledge-based economy, we must also support the businesses providing rewarding and stimulating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities within our city. By tapping into the labour resources of the local, interstate and international students who choose Adelaide for their tertiary education, we can harness a workforce where new graduates can remain in South Australia rather than pursue opportunities interstate and overseas. If more excellent business opportunities can be locally nurtured, Adelaide’s greatest post-carbon resource could be a future generation of creative minds working together

in a vibrant, productive city. It is a long journey and we must do everything we can today to equip ourselves for tomorrow.”

Yarwood has recently joined the Global Executive Committee at ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. As Lord Mayor of Adelaide, he has a range of key experiences that he can bring to the position. “As well as spending a great deal of time studying the topic, I have enjoyed significant professional experience in the business of cities over many years. While I acknowledge there is always a lot more to learn, I feel it is also important to impart my knowledge and support other cities that have significant overhauls ahead of them. Understanding the issues is one thing, but communicating them clearly to a broad range of stakeholders – and subsequently getting people to work together for constructive change – can be a key challenge. It is a challenge that I enjoy.

“Adelaide City Council has achieved much in the period I have been a Councillor and Lord Mayor – we have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent and our potable water use by more than 70 per cent. We are now aggressively reducing our energy use through energy efficiency projects such as replacing our public lighting with LED lights. We know what it takes to achieve real sustainability outcomes and I feel that we practise what we preach when working with our community and business partners in the city. These experiences in delivering real results will be of great benefit to me in my role on ICLEI’s Global Executive Committee, and I look forward to bringing my knowledge to the organisation.” �

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POLICY & GOVERNANCE

The Olympic and Paralympic Games can function as a catalyst for change, pushing sustainability objectives forward in the host cities. Examples from Rio 2016 show that the immovable deadline imposed by the Games is a driving force, giving impetus to the realisation of the long-term aspirations of the host cities.

In 2016, the biggest sporting event in the world will take place in South America for the first time when the city of Rio de Janeiro will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The infrastructure required for the Games is impressive in every way. There will be over 100,000 people directly involved in delivering the Games, including 70,000 volunteers, and millions will be directly or indirectly involved in the city, around the country and across the continent. More than 15,000 athletes from some 205 nations are expected to participate, plus thousands of support personnel, 25,000 media professionals, sports fans and tourists from the four corners of the globe.

Inspired by the global planning strategy of the city and country in the long term, the motivation behind Rio’s bid to host the Games was “the desire to combine the power of Olympic and Paralympic sports with the enthusiasm and festive spirit of the residents of Rio – the Cariocas – to bring sustainable advantages to Brazil and the city of Rio de Janeiro.”

DRIVING CHANGE

The project of the Rio 2016 Games was conceived from the start as a driving force to give impetus to the realisation of the long-term aspirations of Rio de Janeiro – of improving the social, physical and environmental tissue of the city. Therefore, the plans for the Games mirrored the city’s strategic master plan, as the event became a tool to accelerate projects already lined up by Rio for the near future.

Implicit in the organisation of an event of the size and complexity of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is a concentrated mobilisation of time (a few weeks), space (the host city) and resources (human, material and financial).

There is no city in the world ready to receive the Games without undergoing large-scale transformation, as unprecedented pressure is exerted on the inventory of accommodation, public cleaning systems, energy supply, public safety and the transport

THE RIO 2016 OLYMPICS – THE POWER OF AN IMMOVABLE DEADLINEBy Tania Braga, Sustainability, Accessibility and Legacy Head, Rio 2016 and Luiz Eduardo Pizzotti, Sustainability and Accessibility Manager, Municipal Olympic Company (EOM)



network. Therefore, the Games represent a unique opportunity to realise much needed infrastructure investments in the city, which without this stimulus would only be achieved over a much longer period.

A considerable feature of the power of the Games is the immovable starting date. Once agreed upon, projects and infrastructure improvements have to be delivered, focusing efforts on execution and leaving no space for procrastination.

EMBEDDING STANDARDS

The power of the Games deadline is being used to drive sustainability at three different levels by host cities and organisers. The first and most visible aspect is to improve the sustainability standards adopted in the preparation and staging of the Games itself – what can be called ‘doing the homework’. This is achieved by embedding sustainability criteria along the management cycle of the Games, from design and planning through to implementation, review and post-event activities, aiming at reducing the environmental footprint and directly creating social and economic benefit.

The second level is to lead by example, promoting the adoption of new standards of management, construction, operation and purchasing. The high visibility and inspiration provided by the Games allows for the demonstration that new standards of sustainability can be successfully adopted, on time and on budget. The mobilisation of the Games’ large supply chain allows innovative standards and requirements for products and services to cascade down.

The third level is to use the momentum provided by the Games as a catalyst to shift the infrastructure and the daily management of the city towards long-term sustainability goals, and to bring high impact innovation and change alive.

However, recognising the role of the Games in pushing sustainability forward does not mean to claim that they would alone, within a few years period, eliminate the historical environmental and social baggage of a city.

CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS

As with any other mega-scale project, the Olympic and Paralympic Games operates under four main constraints to the deployment of a sustainability strategy, namely:

The installed capacity of the market and the infrastructure. Although the Games represents an opportunity to develop and improve local, regional and national market and infrastructure, this development should necessarily take into consideration post-Games demand, and avoid the risk of leaving costly ‘white elephants’ by over-dimensioning.

The stage of maturity of new technologies, products and services. The Games can act as a catalyst for the adoption of innovations, but they must be robust enough to cope with the scale and inflexibility of deadlines, as well as to adapt to the requirements of security and athletic performance of the event.

Respect for budgets. Respecting budgets does not mean cutting down sustainability requirements in the name of lower costs; it simply means that economic viability, based on a careful total cost of ownership approach, is considered an integral part of the sustainability equation.

Ability to control versus influence. The organis ers’ targets should be broad and ambitious enough to ensure the success of the sustainability strategy. However, delivering many of the targets will depend, in any host city, on decisions of other organisations, changes in behaviour of different people, among other factors beyond the control of those directly involved in the organisation of the Games. In these cases, the potential for inspiration and the power of attraction of the Games can be mobilised to influence, encourage change and reduce shortfalls.

"The plans for the Games mirrored the city’s strategic master plan."

"honest and straightforward communication on the limitations, restrictions and constraints is a key component."

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Therefore, honest and straightforward communication on the limitations, restrictions and constraints is a key component for a successful Olympic and Paralympic sustainability strategy. After all, who said sustainability was an easy journey?

NO SIZE FITS ALL

In the case of Rio 2016, the first Games staged in South America treads in the footsteps of Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 by integrating environmental and social requirements along the full planning cycle of the event, and benefits from processes, best practices and knowledge transferred from earlier experiences. However, objectives, priorities and targets do differ from previous Games, so as to ensure alignment with local needs and priorities.

The Rio 2016 Sustainability Management Plan lays the foundation for the integration of principles, actions and projects related to sustainability in the planning and operation of the Rio 2016 Games towards three strategic objectives, which correspond to the principles of sustainable development ratified by the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development, Rio 1992. These are:

Planet: reducing the environmental impact of the projects relating to the 2016 Games, leaving a smaller environmental footprint.

People: planning and delivery of the 2016 Games in an inclusive manner and creating social benefits.

Prosperity: contributing to the economic development of the state and city of Rio de Janeiro and planning, generating and reporting on projects related to the 2016 Games responsibly and transparently.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The transport strategy of the 2016 Games aims to ensure safe, fast and reliable public transport for

everyone – spectators as well as workforce. Fully relying on public transport for mobility during the Games would be a considerable challenge for any city in the globe. For Rio, a city with a large deficit of quality public transport, it is real Olympic wrestling.

Rio’s games transport master plan, to create a ‘high-performance transport ring’ in the city, is a catalyst for the acceleration of projects that already existed at the time of the Olympic bid. Integrated at several stations, the transport ring will link the four Games zones with key areas of the city, leaving a legacy of significant social benefit.

The new transport network includes a renovated train system, an expanded metro system and four new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines, contributing to provide Rio de Janeiro with a mass transit system compatible with the city’s needs.

Comparison between 2009 public transport network (top)

and 2016 public transport network (bottom)

"The transport ring will link the four Games zones with key areas of the city."

"Objectives, priorities and targets do differ from previous Games."



By 2016, the use of public high-capacity (train and metro/subway) transport systems is projected to increase from today’s estimated 12 per cent of total trips to an estimated 60 per cent.

AVOIDING WHITE ELEPHANTS

Some of the biggest challenges and opportunities for sustainability at Olympic and Paralympic Games are directly related to the competition venues – their location, architectural design features, construction methods, operating procedures during the Games, and post-Games use and maintenance.

Maximising the use of existing venues was the starting point to ensure that the 2016 Games infrastructure has a reduced environmental and financial impact. All decisions regarding whether or not to build new venues were guided by proven post-event demand criteria, as well as by environmental and financial impact comparison between permanent and temporary building options.

Thus, among the 36 venues to be used during the 2016 Games, 44 per cent already exist (including the main Olympic and Paralympic Stadiums), 23 per cent will be temporary, and 33 per cent will be newly built permanent venues. A large proportion of the new permanent venues will be constructed with private funding through public-private partnerships.

NOMADIC ARCHITECTURE

Temporary venues for Rio 2016 feature the innovation of modular construction that can be

disassembled and reused for a different purpose, so as not to go to waste after the Games.

Using ‘nomadic architecture’ for the first time in Olympic history, the 12,000-seat handball and goalball arena has been developed with a view to sustainability and legacy. During the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it will host the stars of handball and goalball. When the Games are over, it will be disassembled and re-formed into the shape of four schools, each with a 500-student capacity.

The venue was originally planned, when Rio was preparing its Olympic bid, as a permanent structure. After the Games, it was to form part of the Olympic

The 12,000–seat handball and goalball arena, will be built using nomadic architecture an initiative of Rio de Janeiro City Hall,

through the EOM (Municipal Olympic Company)

Proposed handball and goalball arena

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Training Centre (OTC) – Rio 2016’s main sporting legacy – along with Olympic Halls 1, 2 and 3. However, further analysis revealed that the three halls met the OTC demand, so a creative solution was found in order to avoid constructing a venue that would not be fully utilised after the Games.

AWARENESS BUILDING

The Olympic and Paralympic Games have the power to inspire, enthral and mobilise the public. They form a unique platform for the dissemination of sustainability values and messages, helping to inform and influence a vast audience. To help inspire change in the way sustainability is perceived, Rio 2016 is increasingly including more components of sustainability in its communications, training, education and cultural programmes.

Responsible behaviour and consumption campaigns are being developed in partnership with commercial partners, international organisations and other stakeholders. The aim is to encourage changes in the behaviour of spectators, athletes, delegations, suppliers and the workforce.

The Paralympic Games is an important milestone for the celebration of harmonious diversity in Brazil and South America. It will highlight skills and aptitudes of people with disabilities, contributing to changes in the perception and attitude towards them.

RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT

The sheer scale of the Games and the growing importance and visibility of sustainability require a transparent approach on sustainability management, which includes adopting certification schemes and the regular issuing of reports, containing impartial measurements of the performance targets related to each one of the declared objectives.

The Games also have a role in disseminating and supporting new sustainability standards. Rio 2016 is encouraging the adoption of the ISO 20121

sustainability standard for events. Besides providing an example by seeking its own certification, it is sharing knowledge about the standard with suppliers and partners in the events sector (hotels, production and catering companies). Rio 2016 is working to establish, in consultation with stakeholders, criteria and guidelines that will underpin the provision of sustainably grown food during the Games, strengthening the development of this industry in Brazil.

Last but not least, Rio 2016 aims to demonstrate the economic feasibility of sustainability initiatives and events, contributing to debunking the myth that sustainability is expensive, through the clear evidence of case studies based on quantifiable data. �

Dr Tania Braga is the Sustainability, Accessibility and Legacy head of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee. Her background combines a Ph.D in applied economics with a successful hands-on experience in managing sustainability projects for research institutions, global companies, NGOs and governmental organisations. She has lectured at a number of postgraduate, continuing and executive education programmes.

The Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games is a private not-for-profit sports organisation. Its mission is to promote, organise and deliver the Rio 2016 Games, in accordance with the guidelines laid out by the Host City Contract, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and – under Brazilian Law – the Olympic Charter and the IPC Handbook.

Arch. Luiz Eduardo Pizzotti is the Sustainability and Accessibility Manager of EOM – Municipal Olympic Company. His past experience as the Environmental Manager for the 2007 Pan American Games combines a long term practice in local environmental policy development and the proposal of protection instruments for natural areas within Rio de Janeiro.

EOM - the Municipal Olympic Company is a body of Rio’s City Hall, which coordinates, in a dedicated and transparent way, the execution of municipal projects and activities related to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is also responsible, along with departments of the Civil House and Works, for coordinating the works of the Olympic Park in Barra da Tijuca and the Deodoro Sports Equipments. The staff is dedicated to ensure the projects are delivered according to the budget, goals, deadlines, sustainability standards and quality established, ensuring a positive legacy for society.

"The Games have a role in disseminating and supporting new sustainability standards."



After attending the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games as a spectator while still a high school student, Tsunekazu Takeda knew that he wanted to become an Olympian. His progression from competitor, then coach, to member of the International Olympic Committee and President of Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee gives him a clear vision for the future of the Olympic movement.

Tsunekazu Takeda counts himself very lucky to have been a member of the Olympic family for almost his entire life. From his student experience, he decided to dedicate his life to the Olympic movement. He trained hard, and competed at the Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 Olympic Games in the equestrian jumping event. Then, following his retirement, he became the coach of the Japanese equestrian teams at the Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.

In preparation for the 1998 Olympic Winter Games held in Nagano, Japan, he was appointed as sports director for the Nagano Olympic Organising Committee. Subsequently, he served as Chef de Mission for the Japanese delegation at the

2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, the Athens 2004 Games, and the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

In 2001, he was elected as President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), and consequently became more widely involved in the activities of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Takeda has served on three IOC Coordination Commissions – for the Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 Games. However, his proudest moment came when he was elected as a member of the IOC in 2012.

In the same year as he was appointed as President of the JOC, the Sports Environment Committee was established; and in November that year, Japan

hosted the 4th IOC World Conference on Sports and the Environment at Nagano, where the 1998 Winter Games were held. There, the JOC applied the Principles of Sustainable Development, which were adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), to sports, and announced the Nagano Declaration.

Beginning in 2004 and every year since, the JOC has hosted the Sports and Environment Representatives Conference with its partner cities. The most recent seminar was hosted in Kumamoto Prefecture on 31 October 2013. The seminar was attended by some 280 participants, including Olympians who also serve as JOC Sport Environment Ambassadors, and

TOKYO'S GREEN GAMES INTERVIEW WITH TSUNEKAZU TAKEDA

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served as the platform for a series of lively discussions on a wide range of sport and environment-related issues.

INTEGRATED SUSTAINABILITY

On behalf of Tokyo, Takeda promises an environmentally-friendly Games in 2020. “Environmental sustainability is a key factor in both planning and operations, and will be incorporated in all aspects from construction, transport and energy sources right through to ensuring minimal waste. There will be a comprehensive range of Games-specific measures and programmes.

Takeda gives a number of impressive examples of how the JOC is integrating sustainability into the Games. “The new National Stadium will be solar powered and have a rainwater retention system; and all competition venues or facilities being constructed or renovated for the 2020 Games will be required to meet strict energy-efficiency building certification standards under the CASBEE system (the Japanese system of certification standards) and accord with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Green Building Program. Recycled construction material will be used wherever possible.”

In addition, Takeda wants the Olympic Village to become a new model for sustainable inner-city hous ing. “Energy consumption will be minimised through the use of renewable energy sources including solar power, a seawater heat pump, use of surplus heat generated by waste treatment plants, and biogas power generation using food waste. The Olympic Village will become an urban residential

smart city pioneer model, using a wide range of Japanese sustainability technologies.”

THE LEGACY

“Tokyo 2020 will deliver a sustainability legacy with long-term benefits for the city and Japan.” Takeda quotes the three pillars of Tokyo’s Games Sustainability Strategy; first, a minimal environmental burden; second, urban environment plans harmonising with nature; and third, a sustainable city through sport. Tokyo 2020 is currently looking into the implementation of the ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management system during the Games.

Takeda believes that the legacy is one of the most important aspects of hosting the Games. He sees it as vital that the vision for the Games’ legacy be incorporated into the very earliest stage of planning, and still be in use for years after the Games have taken place. “The

Japanese Olympic Committee will support this effort and ensure that all kinds of promised legacy benefits – tangible and intangible – are delivered.

“The competition venues will be tangible legacies for sport and the community of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition, intangible legacies will be left behind, such as the memory of a superb Games that will serve to inspire the younger generation to achieve their own hopes, dreams and aspirations. Additionally, the occasion will be useful to showcase the remarkable recovery Japan has made from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and as an opportunity to thank the international community for all the wonderful support and encouragement extended to Japan during the recovery and reconstruction process. The JOC is committed to working together with the people of Japan over the next seven years to host a uniquely Japanese Olympic and Paralympic Games, and also contributing to



the sustainable development of society through the Olympics.”

WORKING WITH THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT

The 2020 Games plan meshes with the city of Tokyo’s seven-year plan for the year 2020, Takeda explains. The city of Tokyo’s 2020 strategy includes a long-term development plan aimed at a vast increase of green areas. The overarching objective of the strategy is to make Tokyo ‘the world’s most environmentally friendly low-carbon city’, and revitalise Japan’s capital as ‘a beautiful city surrounded by water and greenery’.

Specific examples include the creation of some 537 hectares of new green space in Tokyo by 2020 and plans to further extend the green road network through the planting of more roadside trees. “Tokyo aims to become a city in harmony with nature, with more open spaces and greenery integrated into its long-term development plans. One example is the Sea Forest zone in Tokyo Bay, which will build the connection between the city and the sea, and increase cooling breezes in urban areas.

“Hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will provide a strong incentive to Tokyo’s plans to reinvigorate the city through sustainable urban development.”

TRANSPORT AND WASTE

“It is our ambition to make the Games carbon-neutral,” continues Takeda. “This will be achieved by reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, using renewable energy sources, public transport and low-energy vehicles.

“The Tokyo 2020 Games will also aim to achieve a zero-waste outcome. An integrated waste management strategy will maximise the reduction of waste, through re-use, promoting the recycling of waste, and making the fullest possible use of remaining waste for energy generation. We have developed a 5R model – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover energy, and Restore urban nature – and this model will be strictly implemented throughout the Games and beyond.”

With regard to transport, Tokyo already boasts one of the most efficient, reliable and extensive public transport systems in the world, and one of the JOC’s key transport objectives is to further minimise its environmental impact. “The official fleet of vehicles used for the Games will consist solely of environmentally-friendly vehicles. All cars and buses provided for accredited Games personnel will be low-emission or fuel efficient vehicles.

“The fact that the Tokyo Games will be concentrated in a compact urban area will further reduce the need for travel, and thus lessen the environmental load.”

COOPERATION WITH THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Takeda tells how the recent cooperation with the Republic of Korea began. “During a meeting with Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) President Park Yong Sung in Buenos Aires in September 2013, our two national committees reached a verbal agreement to work closely together during the PyeongChang 2018 and Tokyo 2020 Games. We have agreed to share information and operational expertise.

“The JOC has long had a very fruitful relationship with the KOC. Indeed, in 2004, the two national committees co-signed a National Olympic Committee partnership contract, that includes facilitating many exchanges. These include visits and joint training between the national and junior national teams of the two countries; visits between officials and staff; cooperation in the training of coaches, and in medical science and anti-doping activities; and pooling of marketing knowledge and information.” Takeda points out that these exchanges extend also to provincial and club teams.

A GREENER GAMES

“Tokyo has been a worldwide leader in environmental technology for a long time. We aspire to become a fully sustainable city, a model to others in the 21st century. Tokyo aims to become the city with the lowest environmental impact in the world,” asserts Takeda.

“The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report, released in September 2012, ranked Japan as the world’s most advanced city in terms of ‘capacity for innovation’. We will leverage this innovation to ensure that the Tokyo Games will be the most environmentally-friendly Games ever. We will also take lessons from previous Olympic Games and learn from their experiences and the sustainable legacies they have delivered.

“Keeping all our objectives firmly at the forefront of our planning and Games operations will, I believe, be a key factor in enabling us to deliver a green and environmentally-friendly Games.” �

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The world is facing serious environmental challenges that need to be addressed. The pace of urbanisation is fast, and growing urban dwellings constantly consume more energy, produce more waste and create more traffic. At the moment buildings alone consume 40 per cent of the world’s energy. Despite the grand scale of the problems, though, many of the solutions are quite mundane. In fact, many of them can be found right on our own streets and back yards.

When it comes to practical environmental solutions, the world’s great sprawling urban areas can look to their smaller cousins. Finland, for example, has fewer inhabitants (5 million) than a large European city; and yet the country has captured more than one per cent of the fast-growing global cleantech market.

A CULTURE OF FIXING PROBLEMS

The Finnish attitude to cleantech is characterised by practical solutions to practical problems. For instance, Finland has a harsh climate with great temperature

variations (cold in the winter, hot in the summer), so Finns have developed an extensive range of solutions, products and materials for energy-efficient insulation, heating, and air conditioning. Finland also has no domestic fossil fuel resources, so Finnish industrial companies have developed energy efficient tools and processes, as well as alternative energy sources.

While solving practical problems over the decades, Finns have become world-class experts at key cleantech areas including energy efficiency, clean industrial processes, use of solid biomass for energy, co-production of heat and power (CHP), wind energy and water solutions. This has had a double-positive effect: a cleaner environment combined with economic growth.

Today cleantech is present in the everyday lives of average Finnish city dwellers in a multitude of ways. Many of these are promoted by the Cleantech Finland network (www.cleantechfinland.com).

By Kaisa Hernberg, Executive Director, Cleantech Finland

EVERYDAY CLEANTECH, WORKING TOWARDS SAVING THE WORLD

"The Finnish attitude to cleantech is characterised by practical solutions to practical problems."


CLEAN ENERGY


TOWARDS CARBON-NEUTRAL MUNICIPALITIES

One example of Finnish municipal-level dedication to cleantech is the HINKU Carbon Neutral Municipalities initiative, described in more detail in an accompanying article. In the HINKU programme 14 municipalities across the country have pledged to strive towards carbon neutrality. Their aim is to reduce 80 per cent of their carbon emissions based on the 2007 level by the year 2030.

Town managers of the municipalities participating in HINKU view the initiative as a way to stave off global warming, and also to create business opportunities in the fast-growing global cleantech market. “Our view is that restraining climate emissions is well worth it also from the point of view of local well-being. Improving energy efficiency and energy savings enable substantial cost savings. Replacing fossil fuels with domestic renewable energy sources often makes good economic sense, increases self-sufficiency in energy production and improves our national trade balance,” the town managers write in a public declaration.

HINKU is not only a good example of a municipal initiative, but also of collaboration between public and private sectors. The 14 participating municipalities are assisted by 42 companies specialising in clean technologies and information and communication technology (ICT).

SMALL IMPROVEMENTS FOR A BIG IMPACT

The beauty of the HINKU programme is that improvements are not achieved through great, costly upheavals, but by a large number of small improvements.

Examples abound. An eight-storey student hall of residence in the South-Eastern town of Lappeenranta uses solar panels to power lighting and air conditioning, and the air conditioning system is equipped with heat recovery. Common areas are illuminated by LED lighting, and residents are encouraged to save water by apartment-specific water metering.

Many public buildings such as swimming pools and ice stadiums in several of the municipalities have converted to energy-efficient LED lighting, and many buildings previously heated by oil have switched to geothermal or woodchip heating. There are also examples of co-production of heat and power using biofuels and eco-efficient holiday destinations.

WHAT A WASTE

One urban centre that is not participating in the HINKU initiative but has seriously adopted the cleantech ideology is Lahti in Southern Finland. The Lahti region is well known for its advanced waste management system spanning a total of 11 municipalities and 200,000 inhabitants.

Over the course of 20 years the Lahti region has created an extensive system for collecting, sorting and making use of municipal waste. Based on public-private partnership, the system has achieved a staggering 88 per cent waste utilisation rate. One cornerstone of the system is an extensive network of collecting bins that makes it as easy and convenient as possible for people to sort and dispose of their household waste. The different types of waste are then used for a number of purposes.

Since 1998 the local energy company Lahti Energy has gasified over a million tonnes of solid waste

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CLEAN ENERGY

and wood, and reduced the use of coal by 700,000 tonnes. Lahti Energy’s new Kymijarvi II power plant runs on solid recovered fuel (SRF), and it produces 50MW of electricity and 90MW of district heat.

The Lahti region also has an efficient system for producing compost and biogas from sludge and bio waste, and landfill gas is collected and used to power a local brewery.

LIGHT TO THE CAPITAL

For several months during autumn and winter, Finland has only a few hours of sunlight per day. As a consequence, extensive street lighting is required in all urban areas. The capital city Helsinki alone has around 86,000 lighting points.

The local energy company Helsingin Energia has recently begun an initiative to modernise the city’s lighting system in order to save energy and provide optimal lighting to different areas in the city. Traditional street lamps are replaced by energy-efficient LED lighting, and the entire system will be operated using mobile technology.

Once finished, the new LED system enables localised control of lighting, so that different conditions such as changes in cloud cover can be taken into account when adjusting the brightness of lighting. During low traffic times at night street lighting can be dimmed without creating safety risks.

A SEA-CHANGE

Although Finland has a reputation for being a cold country, temperatures tend to climb high in the summer. Hence there is not only a need for heating houses in the winter, but also controlling the heat during the warm months. Using the know-how from a long tradition of district heating, Helsinki has created the most extensive district cooling network in Europe, with the aid of the city’s abundant supply of cool sea water. Helsingin Energia estimates that the combined connected cooling load of district cooled buildings will exceed 150MW in 2015 and 250MW in 2020.

District heating and cooling are also central to the operations of one of the world’s most energy-efficient data centres, located in the heart of Helsinki. Excess heat from the servers is captured and distributed into the district heating network, and district cooling is used for controlling the facility’s temperature. It has been estimated that the heat from the data centre is enough to heat around 1,000 apartments.

With numerous initiatives like the ones described in this article going on around the country, it is no wonder that Finland has so much expertise in cleantech.

Although Finland is a sparsely-populated country with relatively small cities, the know-how, technology and solutions developed there are applicable in a multitude of larger cities across the globe. Finns have successfully solved a number of their own practical problems – now this experience is available for the rest of the world. �

Kaisa Hernberg is Executive Director of Cleantech Finland. Together with her team, she is responsible for supporting the international growth of the Finnish cleantech sector in close collaboration with the Finnish Government and an extensive network of municipal, public, private and non-governmental agencies.

Cleantech Finland is a network of top cleantech companies and experts. We bring the world’s best cleantech solutions and expertise to companies and public-sector organizations that have environmental or energy-efficiency problems that need solving. We also connect potential investors and partners with the best cleantech experts in the market. Problem solving is in our nature.


CLEAN ENERGY

Rapid urban growth is putting an enormous strain on city planners and governments to ensure that energy supplies are affordable in order to support continued economic growth and development. At the same time measures must be taken to save energy and finding clean, sustainable sources of energy.

It is the story of our time – energy and the economy. Since the industrial evolution, economy development has been fundamentally dependent on fossil-based energy sources. Yet the finite nature of these fuels, combined with the environmental threat they pose, means continued growth depends on reforming our energy system – quickly.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS

The International Energy Agency (IEA) concludes that energy efficiency is the only energy source that accommodates both finance, supply, security, the environment and climate; and that energy-efficient solutions are meaningful to all. We need well-proven solutions that can help make better use of our existing energy sources, reuse “waste” energy and bring new renewable sources into play. To this end district energy (also known as district heating and cooling) is increasingly gaining momentum with urban leaders and local authorities seeking practical solutions to reform energy systems and find clean, sustainable sources of energy to reduce the dependency of fossil fuels.

A district energy network serves as an open source energy infrastructure and makes use of a wide variety of energy sources including surplus heat from the industry and even has the potential of storing energy for later use.

CASE STUDY: ANSHAN, CHINA

The Anshan district heating project is a great example of how cities play an extremely important role when it comes to cut energy use and save energy dollars while reducing emissions. Anshan

By Lars Tveen, President, Danfoss District Energy

RETHINKING ENERGY AND THE ECONOMY

"We need well-proven solutions that can help make better use of our existing energy sources."

District energy network in Aarhus, Denmark

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SPECIAL FEATURE: DANFOSS


is located in the Liaoning province north east of Beijing and has a population of 3.65 million.

The city attracts between 20,000 – 25,000 new residents every year and consequently the heating area in Anshan is growing by 3 million m2 annually. The Anshan government is embracing a new vision for supplying energy to the city by simply recovering energy that’s already available but wasted. The concept is to capture surplus heat from the industry and use it to heat water which is then distributed to underground pipes to homes and buildings for heating purposes.

The first 200 MW of surplus heat from the local Angang Steel plant is now directed into the district heating network instead of being wasted. The solution will significantly reduce CO

2

emissions and improve the air quality for the residents in the area, and at the same time, it will save energy and money.

Recycling heat, through district heating networks, opens the way to massively reducing carbon emissions, particular in urban centres, where heat demand is most intense. Moreover, a district energy system has a short payback period and delivers significant returns for the economy as a whole and allows city leaders to integrate the environment into economic thinking. At the current energy import prices, the socioeconomic payback period is often as little as two to three years. The plan is for Anshan, over the next four years, to use surplus heat as main heating source for the entire city which is expected to reduce coal usage and CO

2 emissions

by 60-90 per cent. �

"The Anshan government is embracing a new vision for supplying energy to the city."

The government in Anshan, China is capturing surplus energy from industry to heat water


SPECIAL FEATURE: DANFOSS

Cities are not only small or big, historical or modern. Nowadays, cities are seeking to become ‘sustainable’, ‘in transition’, ‘post carbon’, ‘resilient’ or ‘smart’ – not simply because this is a fashionable claim. Cities, particularly in Europe, are becoming more and more involved in sustainable energy issues because they are aware of the great untapped potential and the multitude of benefits it represents.

For more than 20 years now, local authorities from all over Europe have been involved in ‘energy transition’, a transformation that will allow them to become “low energy cities with a high quality of life for all”, in the phrase coined in Energy Cities’ Cities of Tomorrow document (www.energy-cities.eu/IMG/pdf/future_of_cities_energy-cities.pdf). Cities where local needs and local resources are inseparable, where transport systems are non-polluting and highly efficient, where local economic development is vivid and citizens consume less and live better. This is not an unattainable utopia. This vision of the cities of the future was developed over the years by drawing inspiration from creative, daring, forward-thinking actions led by cities ‘on the ground’. It is about bridging the gap between energy and territories. Most of the time, energy stakeholders ignore territorial issues and territorial policy-makers do not consider energy.

Energy and climate constraints require us to rethink thoroughly our mode of development as

well as our urban organisation. Sweeping changes with a far-reaching impact on our lifestyle will be necessary. On the one hand, there is a territory, a city – including its peri-urban area – and, on the other hand, a flow, energy, that runs across the territory, feeding it and allowing it to live, produce, be on the move and provide entertainment – while generating pollutant emissions by its generation, transmission and transformation in the area and elsewhere. Energy is one of the rare utilities – with water and air – that are absolutely necessary to the life and survival of mankind. All three elements, however, have a different relationship with the territory and, more importantly, are considered differently by ‘territorial managers’, that is, local authorities. (www.energy-cities.eu/IMG/pdf/Low_Energy_Cities_Magnin_2010_en.pdf)

The necessary evolution goes hand in hand with an increasing social (and mostly urban) demand for better health and softer modes of transport; more natural areas in cities; shorter circuits for food supply

By Eckart Würzner, Mayor of Heidelberg, Germany, and President, Energy Cities

LOW ENERGY CITIES WITH A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL

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CLEAN ENERGY

and other resources indispensable to human life; and shorter distances between working, living and leisure areas. These aims bring with them requirements for reduced vulnerability to the ups and downs of the global economy, especially for the poorest populations and those experiencing impoverishment; as well as local, sustainable jobs in activities centred on the territory and, therefore, jobs that cannot be relocated. All this implies an ecology of life, urban activities and global concerns, and worldwide communication via the internet; and more attractive areas where quality of life is ‘sustainable’. In short, this adds up to a demand for improved territorial cohesion in a globalised economy.

Injecting ‘smart grids’ into an old 20th-century system will not be enough to modify its design. New forms of governance, democracy and behavioural change are also needed. Energy is not an ordinary parameter, nor a commodity like any other. It is a common good that cannot be reduced to a marketable product supposedly designed to bring long-term economic, social and ecological balance. Energy is indispensable to any human activity and no human community can survive without it. Any adverse event affecting energy in the future at global level will have local territorial

repercussions. Consequently, reducing as much as possible the energy vulnerability of territories, their activities and inhabitants, must be a priority and integrated in all territorial policies. Any territorial decision has an impact – either positive or negative – on energy end-use, the type of primary energy, the local economy as well as emissions and discharge. Territories must therefore be considered as they relate to the rest of the planet, which is not a simple task. The supporters of the ‘energy-climate message’ have to prove that the challenges will be met by improving energy efficiency by 20 per cent, raising the share of renewable energy to 20 per cent and reducing CO

2 emissions by 20 per cent

by 2020 (those are the so-called 3x20 or 20-20-20 objectives of the European Union), and then continuing on this path on a larger timescale.

In this regard, the Covenant of Mayors, launched in 2008 by the European Commission and now endorsed by all European institutions and a multitude of stakeholders, has so far known an unprecedented success as a movement of local authorities engaged in favour of sustainable energy (www.covenantofmayors.eu). By signing the Covenant, over 5,000 cities have voluntarily committed to reaching – and sometimes even going beyond – the EU objective of reducing CO

2

by 20 per cent by 2020). Energy Cities leads the Covenant of Mayors Offices and acts as an official Covenant Supporter by assisting signatories in achieving their targets to improve quality of life and boost local economic development.

Heidelberg in Germany was one of the very first cities to sign the Covenant of Mayors, back in 2008. The city has been aware of the necessity to tackle climate change and sustainable energy issues for many years, because we are convinced that this will allow the city to become a highly rewarding place to live, work and spend leisure time. One of the city’s major achievements has been to reduce the energy consumption in city-owned buildings by about 50 per cent. These good results in saving energy in public buildings show that the city has chosen the right path – the ambitious goal of

"Energy is indispensable to any human activity and no human community can survive without it."

ENERGY CITIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

It is Energy Cities’ strong belief that the local level, and especially cities, can and should drive the energy transition. Over the past few years, international negotiations have repeatedly become deadlocked. But rather than complaining about it, we prefer to invest our hopes and efforts in local solutions. Today, the Energy Cities network aims to accelerate the energy transition by reinforcing its members’ capacity. We notably provide our members with guidance for building their energy transition strategy, offer them information on financial and technical assistance opportunities, give them access to a myriad of good practices and innovative working methods, allow them to access funding through European projects (Intelligent Energy Europe, Urbact, INTERREG, etc.) and lobby their interests at EU level as a credible and trusted voice in Brussels.


CLEAN ENERGY

achieving ‘100 per cent climate protection’ and a reduction in CO

2 emissions of 95 per cent by 2050.

Energy Cities has recently published 30 Proposals for the energy transition of cities and towns (www.energy-cities.eu/30proposals). This document takes a European tour of sustainable energy best practice, upon which proposals to implement the energy transition were built. Five strategic axes have emerged: empowering all local players; knowing our territories’ resources and flows; rethinking financing in general; inventing a new kind of local governance; and making urban planning a tool for reducing energy use.

EMPOWERING ALL LOCAL PLAYERS

Empowering players encompasses local authorities’ official duties, available skills, the setting up of clusters between public, private and associative players, and the capacity to integrate actions in the local economic and social context.

Heidelberg has a long history of round tables and public consultation regarding sustainable development issues. The first forum dealing with energy took place in 1997. A few years later, in the framework of Energy Cities’ former BELIEF project, Heidelberg’s Circle for Energy and Climate Protection was born. This is a forum involving all players of the energy and climate field. Organisations from the economic, social and research sectors work together under the moderation of the Lord Mayor and the office for environmental protection, trade supervision and energy, ensuring that all interests and constraints are considered.

KNOWING OUR TERRITORIES’ RESOURCES AND FLOWS

Territories need to take a closer look at themselves and understand what is going on regarding the incoming flows of energy, water and raw materials, as well as the outgoing flows of emissions, discharge and waste produced. Identifying ‘hidden’ resources and untapped potential will allow authorities to maximise the coherence between locally-available resources and local needs. Heidelberg is exploring the local potential for geothermal and biomass energy production. The City’s public utilities have secured their rights to the Heidelberg geothermal field and had the existing geological data evaluated. A biomass thermal power plant feeding heat into the district heating network could ensure an all-year-round supply of heat. Because of the wooded

surroundings and the relatively high number of forests within the city boundaries of Heidelberg itself (4,400 hectares, of which 3,000 are owned by the City) as well as within the Rhine Neckar District (37,000 hectares), there is a significant source of residual and waste forest wood. So far this has only been partly used to produce energy, so an extension of biomass use is possible.

RETHINKING FINANCING IN GENERAL

The financing issue has gained crucial importance in the current context of persistent cuts in public budgets. Money spent on energy in a given area can turn into regular revenue for the city if this is reinjected in the local economy. Circular economic mechanisms can be put in place. Local savings can be collected to finance local sustainable energy projects. Investing in financial engineering is necessary. Ambition and imagination are key success factors. Being part of a European network such as Energy Cities allows members to access EU funding by taking part in projects, and to exchange and be informed of financing best practices implemented by our European counterparts.

A NEW KIND OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE

Energy is – and has to be considered as – a cultural and societal issue which is pivotal for the governance process. This means involving local citizens and stakeholders in the city’s policy, raising

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awareness and getting rid of the ‘silo mentality’ that dissociates energy from the other urban-planning issues. On the one hand, a city should lead by example, and on the other hand, it should put effort into giving visibility to motivated local players who have taken action, so as to create a ‘snowball’ effect. Heidelberg notably uses Energy Cities’ participatory campaign called ENGAGE to promote any local player’s actions (www.citiesengage.eu). Thanks to a user-friendly online tool, we create attractive posters showing our citizens and their pledge for reducing CO

2 emissions. Such posters are then

displayed in public places for everyone to see. And it works! After a year, the citizens monitored at European level reduced their annual CO

2 emissions

on average by 12 per cent.

REDUCING ENERGY USE BY URBAN PLANNING

Urban planning decisions are too often made without considering the resulting impacts on energy use – but cities can change that. They can make urban planning a true asset for reducing energy use on their territory, for instance by developing sustainable modes of transport, encouraging the energy retrofitting of buildings, and implementing goods delivery schemes. In Heidelberg we are currently building what will be the world’s largest passive district. Due to be completed in 2022, the Bahnstadt district is being constructed on the 116-hectare site of a

former railway goods yard. Office space, housing, a university campus, a school, a kindergarten, shops and leisure centres will be built according to passive house standards (heating requirements below 15 kWh per sq metre per year). Municipal grants promote and encourage the construction of such buildings.

Bahnstadt will be connected to a district heating system which uses thermal solar energy and biomass. The project also includes an efficient public transport system, a system for recovering rainwater and the installation of green roofs on two-thirds of the buildings. These elements, articulated together, allow us to start building today the city of the future. �

Dr Eck art Würzner is Mayor of Heidelberg (Germany) and President of Energy Cities. He is deeply involved in sustainable development issues, and is a member of numerous organisations such as the local Climate Protection and Energy Advisory Agency and the Association of German Cities and Towns.

Energy Cities, the European association of local authorities in energy transition, was created in 1990. Energy Cities has developed into a network of over 1,000 members from 30 countries. Strongly believing in local solutions, Energy Cities aims at accelerating the energy transition by reinforcing its members’ capacity for action. See www.energy-cities.eu.


CLEAN ENERGY

With the 2015 climate agreement only two years away, the time has clearly come to rethink urban mobility and to favour a sustainable transport model that supports green growth and provides pleasant and healthy places to live and work. It is apparent that cities need to develop more environmentally positive mobility to remain drivers of growth.

The 21st century has been called the century of the cities. They are home to half of the world’s population and concentrate 80 per cent of the world economic output, although they take up just 2 per cent of the world’s surface. At the same time as being the key engines of job creation and innovation, they are also the largest consumers of natural resources and the most prolific sources of carbon dioxide (CO

2) emissions and pollution on the planet.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented its latest report on climate science earlier in 2013. This confirms that climate change is occurring, and that there is at least 95 per cent certainty that human activities are the principal cause. Decision-makers are recognising that current patterns of city consumption are no longer viable for economic and societal growth. Emissions particularly from urban buildings and transport are at the top of the priority list of things to improve. As an example, the European Union – through the European Smart Cities and Communities Initiative

– has targeted significant emissions reductions in these areas to increase Europe’s competitiveness and achieve a significant decarbonisation of the economy through innovation.

With cities around the world growing at a rate of two people a second it will require a massive expansion of urban capacity to accommodate more and more people. As a consequence, mobility needs in the urban area will increase by 50 per cent (compared with 2005). It will therefore be necessary to transform urban mobility systems and deliver flexible services that enhance personal mobility and reduce the use of motorised transport. It is also necessary to promote public transport as an essential element for attracting investments and social inclusion, and to increase its popularity among citizens and suppliers.

RETHINKING MOBILITY

According to some predictions by Global Insight, three billion vehicles will be on the world’s roads by

By Alain Flausch, Secretary General, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP)

URBAN MOBILITY WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT

88


2035, compared with 800 million today. If current trends towards private motorisation prevail, in 2025 worldwide urban transport greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be 30 per cent higher than 2005 levels. This will have a disastrous impact on the planet, making it impossible to limit the increase in average global temperature to 2 ˚C and setting us on a path towards ‘potentially dangerous’ climate change. At the same time, more trips by more private vehicles will result in traffic congestion that will bring cities worldwide to a standstill. A modal shift offers a solution to this global gridlock as simply building more roads is not the answer to the urban mobility challenge.

CITIES GROW GREENER WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Cities around the world are aware of public transport’s role in addressing climate change. Bogotá’s existing Bus Rapid Transit system is already widely credited with significantly reducing CO

2 emissions – by some 350,000 tonnes annually

– and has been the first major transport scheme in the world to earn Kyoto carbon credits.

City scale actions can have a significant role in reducing global emissions. By doubling the market share of public transport by 2025, urban transport GHG emissions would stay close to 2005 levels,

despite the massive rise in trips, and the carbon footprint of urban mobility would be 25 per cent lower than in 2005. What this also shows is that emissions can be decoupled from the demand, ensuring that countries can grow and prosper while still meeting their mobility needs.

Many cities around the world are already well on the way to achieving this balance between transport modes. For example, Munich is heavily investing in the existing and future public transport networks to attract even more people to go green. New lines are steadily being planned and built and all new developed areas in Munich will be connected to rail. The number of departures across the city is steadily rising, and frequencies are extending during peak hours,evenings and at night. The Munich network is very dense, and 95 per cent of all residents live no more than 400 metres from a station; and 80 per cent of all customers are travelling on modern electric metros and trams.

THE SMART CITY SOLUTION

It is clear that cities need to develop more sustainable forms of smart mobility to continue to be drivers of growth. At the same time, urban citizens are becoming more demanding for high quality city services, while city budgets are shrinking. Cities will need to become smarter to meet these challenges – and the current emergence of new technologies is one part of moving toward a low carbon economy and society.

The enthusiasm for smart city solutions has rarely, so far, been translated into game-changing success: except in the area of public transport, applications using open data have made the jump from


GROW WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT

In 2012 the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) launched the ‘Grow with Public Transport’ campaign to support the sector ambition of doubling the market share of public transport worldwide by 2025. In September 2013 80 cities and regions in 30 countries used the campaign to issue a united call for more and better public transport as a motor for sustainable growth. The campaign was visible in almost 60,000 buses, trams, metros, stations and stops across the participating networks, which together transport 85 million passengers each day, and was seen by up to 200 million people. The campaign highlights the enormous economic, social and environmental benefits of ensuring that all ‘extra’ mobility between now and 2025 is provided by public or non-motorised transport.

smart cards have made excellent penetration in major

Asian cities



interesting novelty to reliable consumer service. People in London now have instant information on best routes and modes, congestion, their next bus, how to walk or bike around the city and many other sorts of information. Modern smart card systems such as the one in Hannover, Germany, offer complete mobility services, from local and regional public transport to car sharing and taxis. Transport smart cards have made excellent penetration in major Asian cities, for example around 46 million smart cards have been issued in Seoul, and when integrated with further city services this initiative creates another reason to commute with public transport.

Smart cards also help bring integration to the transport system. An early and very successful example is the Hong Kong Octopus system, which links multiple transit services, ferries, parking, service stations, access control, and retail outlets and rewards via an affordable, contactless, stored-value smart card. The entire system is designed and engineered to support seamless, sustainable door-to-door trips which provide a real alternative to the car.

Cities also need to recognise that people’s behaviour is changing. Instead of the traditional focus on cars and driving, people are mixing and matching their transport choices – using what they need when they need it – and radical advances in technology are making such smart mobility possible. By building partnerships and alliances with shared mobility actors, such as car and bike sharing schemes as well as taxi services, public transport operators are able to provide an ever broader mix of mobility services and thereby more convenience, flexibility and alternative solutions for customers.

Technology is also helping to run cities as a real time system, helping them plan and manage transport systems all together: centralised control helps traffic managers better respond to congestion and provide precise information to users. Bus drivers and train operators are able to comply more accurately with scheduled frequencies, and even to connect vehicles for traffic light priority – especially when running late. By managing demand

and bringing integration to the transport system, cities can offer a complete and flexible mobility package with public transport as the backbone. These are the realistic answers to the ever increasing congestion in our cities.

HOLISTIC AND INTEGRATED APPROACHES

IT solutions are maybe the most important tools we have today to efficiently help increase capacity, quality, safety and security: we now have all the competence in place to improve and create better city climates. UITP has already recognised this situation and sees this as part of moving towards a smart sustainable mobility culture and promoting cleaner urban transport, with public transport as the backbone. These technological systems will continue evolving at a fast pace into the near future, making it much easier for people to make informed choices, avoid delay and integrate payment.

The key, again, is holistic and integrated approaches. If every component of the transport system evolves its technology in isolation, there will be wasted opportunities for improved access. Integrated, smarter mobility solutions with public transport at their core will mean less congested roads, fewer emissions, better infrastructures, more pleasant commuting and better cities. This will be the hallmark of the smart cities of the future and will make it possible to achieve our ambitious strategy to double the world market share of public transport by 2025. �

Alain Flausch is Secretary General of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP). He has a long-standing commitment to the public transport sector and to UITP. He was President of the Association from 2009-2011 and CEO of STIB, the Brussels public transport operator, from 2000 to 2011.

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is the international network of public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It has the aim of doubling the market share of public transport worldwide by 2025. Over 150 signatories to the UITP’s Charter on Sustainable Development have made a voluntary but measurable commitment to monitoring, measuring and reporting on their own performance. UITP is a platform for worldwide cooperation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,400 members from 92 countries.

"Technological systems will continue evolving at a fast pace into the near future."

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Instead of investing in conventional solutions such as building more highways or expanding car lanes, cities need to look into creative and innovative ways of solving their traffic nightmares in a cost-effective, eco-friendly and sustainable manner. ICLEI’s EcoMobility initiative is helping to implement environmentally friendly solutions and revolutionise transport.

TRANSPORT IN THE CITY

Transport accounts for 13 per cent of the overall greenhouse gas emissions. Transport-related emissions rose by 24 per cent between 1990 and 2008. As such, finding ways of reducing automobile dependency represents a major opportunity for communities to contribute to national emission reduction pledges and sustainable development. Reducing the negative impacts of motorized transport requires the introduction of new policies, physical, spatial and technological solutions and a change in everyday habits. Such a shift in behavior requires a complete rewiring of commitments from policy-makers, businesses, city leaders and citizens, but in many cases, our commitments to transport are trailing our challenges.

It is clear that the cities of the future need to be resilient, environmentally friendly, socially equitable, and most importantly built for the people and not for automobiles. Considering this principle of

future cities, ICLEI has introduced the EcoMobility initiative. EcoMobility is travel through integrated, socially equitable, environmentally friendly transport options. The options do not favor a specific mode of travel, but gives priority to the modes that are economically and environmentally efficient. Through EcoMobility, ICLEI empowers local leaders and raises the awareness of city officials on the various options that are available in addition to road widening projects. Thus, creating a livable city for all.

The way forward is to muster the existing oppor-tu ni ties in our cities. Many international cities

By Gino van Begin, Secretary General, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

REINVENTING MOBILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN CITIES FOR ENVIRONMENT AND PEOPLE

"Such a shift in behavior requires a complete rewiring of commitments from policy-makers."



have already combined the critical factors of sustainability into a working model for success and our focus must be to prioritize these already present fac tors, adapt and duplicate their impacts across the globe. ICLEI’s EcoMobility initiative harnesses the power of the leading global city network to foster clean transport solutions and connect those cities focused on greening their urban mobility systems.

MEASURING PERFORMANCE

The initial stage for any solution starts with knowing where the problem lies. To address this ICLEI, together with several partners and the European Commission, has developed an urban transport performance measurement tool called the EcoMobility SHIFT Scheme. The tool can be utilized directly by cities without a need for external support. Cities measure their urban transport performance against a set of 20 indicators.

Upon completing the SHIFT assessment a city will clearly know the areas that require improvement. With this knowledge of gaps the city, together with ICLEI, can draft an action plan to fill the gaps and improve the transport performance. Cities that have scored highly also have a chance to receive an EcoMobility label, which is either Bronze, or Silver, or Gold depending on the score. This allows the city to be benchmarked at a national, regional, and a global scale.

FORGING TIES

A key to an increased awareness is obtaining information through various means. There are several cities around the world that have successfully addressed the problem of increasing motorization and have controlled the growth of automobiles in the cities. Several of them are in the ICLEI network, and as a service to the ICLEI member cities the EcoMobility Alliance was created. The idea of the EcoMobility Alliance is to bring together leading cities in urban mobility and cities that aim to improve their urban mobility, and facilitate knowledge sharing. Direct information sharing among cities has proven to be a great awareness raising strategy. Information not just limiting to mobility infrastructure is shared but also on the viability of application of specific transport strategies is actively explored in the Alliance. The

"Direct information sharing among cities has proven to be a great awareness raising strategy."

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Alliance cities also receive expert advice from reputable transport experts to achieve their urban mobility goals.

SHOWING THE FUTURE, TODAY

Translating the policies and ideas of the local government leaders into practice plays a key role in raising awareness in the citizens and also winning consensus for solutions. ICLEI introduced the idea of having a temporary change for a period of 4 weeks in a neighborhood in a city. The project is titled “EcoMobility Festival” echoing the festivity that people will experience when automobiles are absent in the neighborhood. The idea is to have a neighborhood in a city free of conventional automobiles that are powered by fossil fuels, and introduce ecomobile modes of transport. Citizens in the neighborhood can experience their vicinity by walking, cycling or using light electric vehicles (powered by renewable sources of energy). The first EcoMobility Festival was held in September 2013 in the city of Suwon, Rep. of Korea. The Haenggungdong neighborhood in Suwon, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, became car-free on the 1 September. More than a million visitors visited the neighborhood over the 4 weeks and 600 attendees participated in the EcoMobility Congress.

Several of the 4,300 residents in the neighborhood opposed the idea of the neighborhood being car-free. Through constant persuasion the city government succeeded in removing 98 per cent of the cars out of the neighborhood.

Thanks to the support of strong leadership and engaged community participation, the month-long experiment proved that any neighborhood can transform into an area where pedestrian and cyclist activity flourishes, in a bold departure from car-centric urban design.

Building on the changing mentalities of Suwon citizens towards EcoMobility, Suwon hopes the Festival will act as a catalyst for sweeping changes in the transportation system in the city.

REINVENTING MOBILITY

Cities have what it takes to turn the tide around and build livable cities, focused on people and not automobiles. We’ve seen this in Copenhagen, Denmark, in Bogota, Colombia, in Suwon, South Korea, just to name a few. A common denominator among these cities is the fact that none of them built more infrastructure for automobiles. Instead they devised car-sharing schemes, developed public transport, and encouraged citizens to walk, cycle or commute. To achieve this, great local leadership is the key. Additionally, by measuring transport performance, forging ties with like-minded cities and showing the future of sustainable transport today, many local leaders from around the world can change the way people move around and revolutionise transport, one livable city at a time. �

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability is an association of over 1,000 local government Members who are committed to sustainable development. Our Members come from 86 countries and represent more than 569,885,000 people. ICLEI is an international association of local governments, as well as national and regional local government organizations, who have made a commitment to sustainable development. ICLEI provides technical consulting, training, and information services to build capacity, share knowledge, and support local government in the implementation of sustainable development at the local level. Our basic premise is that locally designed initiatives can provide the most effective way to achieve local, national, and global sustainability objectives.

A lawyer by profession, Gino van Begin’s career spans 25 years, including stints in Russia, the European Commission and the Government of Flanders cabinet. From 2003 to 2006, he was a member of the EU Expert Group to the European Commission on the Urban Environment. He co-drafted the Aalborg Commitments on urban sustainability to which over 500 European cities and towns have adhered since 2004. He undertakes official observer duties on behalf of ICLEI at the COP negotiations on Climate Change, expert roles at the European Commission, Council of Europe, and Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe.

The first EcoMobility Festival was held in September 2013

in Suwon, Rep. of Korea



Europe’s vehicle manufacturers are world-wide technology leaders in fuel-effi ciency and safety. Effi cient, cleaner and alternatively-propelled automobiles, including those powered by hydrogen, electricity, natural gas or LPG, have the potential to further EU leadership in engineering. However, the potential of these innovative and environmentally-friendly vehicles is only as good as the number circulating on the roads, and the extent to which they displace older types.

How can European industry be involved with helping promote and roll out modern, effi cient vehicle models, and what are the limits of its role? The last half-decade has seen a profusion of new vehicle types, with electric, hybrid and alternative propulsion systems reaching the production line. As yet, however, sales are still only small and consumer uptake has been slower than expected. In 2012, 27,000 units of electrically chargeable vehicles (ECVs) – the collective term for all types of electrifi ed vehicle, including battery powered and plug-in hybrid – were sold in the EU. This is nearly double the sales of ECVs in 2011, but still only a tiny fraction of the 12 million passenger cars sold in the same year.

Reducing the impact of transport on the environment is a top priority for the industry. A large portion of the €32 billion that the industry spends on research and development (R&D) every year goes into emission-reduction technologies.

It is important for governments to encourage the uptake of newer vehicles, which besides being more effi cient can also be safer. However, it is vital that the vehicles remain affordable, because fl exible personal mobility boosts economic growth.

One of the reasons that these vehicles have sold in relatively small numbers is that they are usually more expensive than conventional types, sometimes considerably so. Moreover, their limitations in terms of range, the time required to recharge or reload them, or the diffi culty of fi nding a means to conduct charging have so far reduced the appeal of ECVs to mainstream consumers. Manufacturers have delivered effi cient new vehicles and aim to continue their development. However, the costs of investment are diffi cult to recoup in the current economic situation. If alternative vehicles do not take off, the R&D investment into their development will have been in vain, and at the expense of other research opportunities.

By Erik Jonnaert, Secretary General, European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

URBAN MOBILITY WITH INNOVATIVE FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES

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PLUGGING THE GAP

The present targets for the uptake of ECVs is between 2 and 8 per cent by 2025, but reaching this target will require greater involvement from infrastructure providers to make ownership of novel vehicle types a realistic proposition for most users. The recent European Union CARS 21 discussions and CARS 2020 Communication put the focus on developing long-term policies and facilitating investments for the future. The EU should explore ways to translate the industry’s sustainable mobility efforts from the drawing board to the road. Supporting the industry by promoting the uptake of new vehicles makes sense both economically and ecologically.

Smarter, more coordinated and streamlined regulation is needed to reinforce the automotive industry’s competitiveness and benefit the European economy as a whole. For the industry – and the some 12 million people who work in it – an industrial policy that delivers a sustainable commercial environment while making the latest, cleanest vehicles available affordably to consumers is a win-win policy.

HARD MATHS

In practice, the discussion on how to achieve the best sustainable mobility outcomes boils down to how much the various stakeholders estimate emission reduction will cost, who the burden will fall on, and the anticipated benefits. In this particular policy battleground it is easy to forget three things: first, that manufacturers have delivered efficient new vehicles and aim to make further advances; second, that consumers make up their own minds based on their own preferences – if

YOU BOUGHT IT, TRUCKS BROUGHT IT

Many of the innovations designed for passenger cars can also be used in the commercial vehicle industry. Commercial vehicles – vans, trucks and buses – are hugely diverse in their scope. Europe’s commercial vehicle manufacturers have committed to reducing their CO

2

emissions per vehicle by 20 per cent by 2020 compared to 2005 levels, and this requires ingenuity and investment, as well as regulatory stability and economic growth.

In particular, if regulatory stability and economic growth can be established, this could provide the impetus to develop alternative propulsion commercial vehicle opportunities. Certain segments could benefit from the use of alternative propulsion. For instance, urban delivery vehicles that perform regular routes at regular intervals, such as postal services, are ideal candidates for electrification.

However, commercial vehicle production often measures models in thousands of units at the most, whereas in the passenger car industry single models can sell in millions. This means recouping investment costs is harder in the commercial vehicle industry because it pushes the price-per-unit too high for most vehicle operators. EU policy-makers need to further integrate the Union’s policies for transport, industrial competitiveness and future innovation to help spur sustainable growth and make the purchase of these alternative vehicles realistic propositions.



expensive alternative vehicles fail to take their fancy, those vehicles will remain unsold; third, that a lack of infrastructure investment and standardisation – particularly in the rollout of the advanced energy infrastructure required for alternative vehicles to become practical – has severely hampered the uptake of these vehicles. Disappointingly, these are some of the main reasons why electric vehicle sales have failed to take off as predicted.

The European automobile market is highly competitive: a tiny price increase can have a significant influence on a consumer’s purchasing decision. Even the conservative cost increase of €1,000 per unit to meet the 2020 95g/km target estimated in one recent study is a substantial price increase. Consumers look at the up-front price first and discount future efficiency savings. To remain competitive, manufacturers are having to absorb the costs of investment in fuel-saving technologies. This is not commercially sustainable.

Moreover, investment in roads is fractional compared with the vast revenues that motor vehicles bring in for governments – at less than 1 per cent of GDP in Western Europe, it is considerably less than the €385 billion that they deliver in taxation annually. At an EU level, the Seventh Framework Programme provides about €1.7 billion for road transport investment, which is a start. Putting cleaner alternative vehicles on the roads requires that the investment in infrastructure be raised, but without diverting resources away from vehicle research. More needs to be done to invest in infrastructure for new vehicle types to be competitive with traditional cars, vans, trucks and buses, both in cities, but also in non-urban environments.

THINGS AS THEY ARE, NOT AS THEY OUGHT TO BE

Transport policy has to take into account that consumers’ preferences may not necessarily concur with overarching political objectives. Urban transport policy must therefore be founded on clear-headed analyses of the current circumstances, with realistic appraisals of anticipated trends. Considering general trends and consumers’ anticipated preferences excludes such examples from the 2011 EU Transport White Paper as the notion that cars ought to be banned from city centres by 2050, or that freight travelling more than 300 km should be moved by rail: these assertions lack relation to reality or to the facts on the ground.

ARRIVING AT THE BEST OUTCOME

In an ideal world, the rollout of new mobility technologies would face a virtuous circle of investment, research and rollout. If the industry has confidence that its technology investments will find a market, this will encourage focus on further improvements. However, with the economy in its continuingly parlous condition, any anticipated gains to be had from the availability of high-efficiency vehicles are speculative at best. To be realised, the automobile industry will require a supportive industrial policy that both aids the uptake of new sustainable mobility technologies, but also tempers the burden placed on the industry according to its circumstances.

Everyone agrees on the need for sustainability – it is a condition of doing business in the 21st century. The European automotive industry is poised to continue its work into clean and efficient mobility, and it is key that the dialogue between

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business and policy-makers continues. Support and mutual understanding is also a prerequisite for meeting society’s clean transport requirements. In implementing an industrial policy that encourages the best use of the tools already available, policy-makers and industry will be able to build a sustainably mobile future where everyone wins. �

Erik Jonnaert is Secretary General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). Mr Jonnaert began his career with Linklaters law firm. He subsequently joined Procter & Gamble, where he worked for 25 years in public and regulatory affairs, communications and stakeholder relations. Before joining ACEA, He was Procter & Gamble’s Vice President for External Relations in Europe, later moving to establish a network in Asia. Mr Jonnaert is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 15 European motor vehicle manufacturers at EU level, providing technical and industrial expertise for the policy-making process. ACEA’s members are BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler, FIAT SpA, Ford of Europe, General Motors Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, IVECO SpA, Jaguar Land Rover, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, Volvo Cars, and Volvo Group.

"If the industry has confidence that its technology investments will find a market, this will encourage focus on further improvements."



A passionate advocate for the financial, social and environmental benefits that ‘green’ building can confer, Jane Henley, as CEO of the World Green Building Council, is committed to driving a market transformation in the construction sector. She is looking forward to the time when governments and businesses, as well as the Green Building Councils, understand and embrace the practical measures that bring sustainability.

Jane Henley became the Chief Executive Officer of the World Green Building Council (WGBC) in February 2010. She had previously been Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Green Building Council, which she helped establish in 2005. Creating sustainable cities, she believes, is the biggest societal opportunity in the world today – and the only barrier is believing that lowest-cost development makes good economics. “We spend, on average, 95 per cent of our time in buildings. They shape how we feel – both physically and emotionally. My dream is that property developers and city planners work together to become the heroes of our urban future. Many of us want to live in vibrant, well-connected cities and we have a long way to go in many countries to deliver that

in a sustainable way. Our sector has a very large environmental footprint and creates social and cultural legacies that last decades. Shifting the development model to one focused on system-wide thinking requires a combination of good policy, public demand and industry capacity. We have some examples – at the country, city or building level – where this magic happens with amazing results. Our challenge is to make this business-as-usual within this decade.”

The World Green Building Council is a network of more than 100 national organisations, and 25,000 visionary companies with a single mission: to transform the building industry and ensure the world’s buildings and cities are healthy, efficient, productive and sustainable. Henley points

out that we face unprecedented difficulties. “By 2050, the global population will grow to 9.7 billion people. Around 70 per cent of those people will live in cities. India will overtake China as the world’s most populous country. Life expectancy will improve in the world’s least developed countries from 58 years in 2010 to 70 by 2050. Forty-nine of those countries, including those in Africa with higher fertility rates, will see their populations double. Nigeria’s population is set to exceed that of the United States.

“In this context, the world’s most pressing task will be to build cities and communities that are sustainable, resilient and liveable, while we also reduce our impact on the environment. The WorldGBC is working locally with our GBC network to define

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPSINTERVIEW WITH JANE HENLEY

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and deploy best practice green buildings, help governments shape policy and build a culture of cross-sector collaboration. We’re looking at how to scale the local to the global to protect the natural environment, enhance the health and well-being of individuals and whole communities, improve energy security and resource efficiency, and create green growth and jobs. It’s a big task!”

POSITIVE INVESTMENT ATTITUDES

In Henley’s experience, legacy attitudes can stand in the way of implementing green building solutions. “The biggest challenge is the lowest or least cost development model. This has very short-term horizons of ownership and therefore little care

for the long-term impact on the environment. An owner/occupier will be in for the next twenty years – and could get all the benefits if a building is sustainable.

“The reality of our work is that these projects are not the norm. We have an amazing foundation of knowledge of how to build green all over the world – the challenge today is now helping the public understand the benefits of green building, and create demand so that investors and developers begin to see that it’s risky not to build green.

“There is now an inextricable link between ‘green’ and value. A number of peer-reviewed studies from around the world show evidence of a connection between the green characteristics of buildings and the ability of these

buildings to attract higher sale prices and rents in some markets. The evidence reveals a consistent pattern of premiums – although there is some significant variation in different markets. Certainly, in markets where green is more mainstream, there are indications of emerging ‘brown discounts’, where buildings that are not green may rent or sell for less. In use, green buildings have been shown to save money through reduced energy and water consumption and lower long-term operations and maintenance costs. Energy savings in green buildings typically exceed any cost premiums associated with their design and construction within a reasonable payback period.”

BENEFITS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

Sustainable building activities in developing countries in Africa, South America and Asia are sometimes seen as in conflict with the genuine needs and aspirations of the large proportions of the population that do not have access to basic amenities and services such as clean water, adequate healthcare and electricity. Henley rejects the inference that it is an either/or equation. “We can have both. Many developing nations are learning lessons from the failed business model in developed countries and want to avoid expensive retrofitting by ‘building it right’ from the start. We are also seeing governments in developing regions recognise that green building programmes, when managed correctly, can help lift millions of people out of poverty through resource conservation, job creation and skills development.

“The Cato Manor Green Street project in Durban, South Africa, in which 30 low-cost houses


GREEN BUILDINGS

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gained a green upgrade, is a great example of how green building programs can deliver a range of socio-economic, health and environmental benefits

“Green interventions – such as solar water heaters, insulated ceilings, heat insulation cookers and efficient indoor lighting – were found to deliver a far higher return on investment to the public purse than similar investments in new electricity generation capacity would deliver. In fact, if green retrofits were undertaken for South Africa’s three million existing low-cost houses, the reduced consumption of electricity and water would save R3 billion each year and 3.45 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The retrofit programme would create 36.5 million person-days of work and put money back into the pockets of those who need it most. This case study is a beautiful illustration of why simple retrofits should be considered a national investment priority.”

INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION

The Sustainable Cities Initiative (SCI) is a new effort that sprang from WGBC’s partnership with C40 Cities. SCI is a platform to build and strengthen relationships between GBCs and C40 member cities, so that more joined-up thinking can be fostered in how the world builds and retrofits its cities. “Cities are more resource-constrained than ever, so our goals are two-fold. Firstly, we aim to share experiences of successful partnerships between the private sector and city governments. For example, we recently released A New Era in Building Partnerships, which presents 11 case studies of innovative collaboration around the world. (See: www.worldgbc.

org/activities/building-policy-partnerships/)

“Secondly, are building our industry’s capacity – as certifying one building at a time is no longer enough. Within our network, some GBCs have experienced teams working at the community or neighbourhood level. We are now committed to working with other GBCs to develop capacity and speed up sustainable development at this level.

“We are also in the process of creating a series of ‘market briefs’ for each of the C40 member cities and several other cities. These one-page market snapshots cover each city’s current green building policies, as well as gaps, and local green building market statistics. These will be an important reference for city staff and policy-makers, along with developers from any location, to instantly know what the green building state of play is in that city – and to be able to make comparisons with other cities. These will be complete in early 2014.

“The biggest opportunities are always where the most change is needed, which is usually where the most growth is happening at the quickest pace. At the same time, we want to see cities that already have excellent green building policies and programmes – places like Vancouver, Singapore, San Francisco and Melbourne – to be involved. This will enable peer-to-peer learning and continue to push best-practice benchmarks.”

Pilots of SCI partnerships are under way in Melbourne, Singapore, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Henley gives a glimpse of how these are

going. “We all met in Singapore in September and it was a rich sharing experience. Although the challenges vary for each city, many of the underlying issues remain the same. Examples include the conflict between the long-term planning process and election cycles; and how to work with industry using PPPs and other financial models for the city to share both risk and reward with the private sector. Opportunities to understand different perspectives and build trust are ‘gold’, as we work together to create a better future.”

FORWARD TO 2050

After the WorldGBC Congress 2013 in Cape Town, Henley tells of the impact of the conclusions that were reached there, and how they will inform future WorldGBC initiatives. “Our mission is to transform the building sector towards sustainability. We are now incorporating a timeframe to our mission – within this generation or by 2050.

“We are looking at where we want to be in 2050 and how we will actually get there. What needs to change? How do we measure our impact on the pressing challenges of our time, such as carbon, energy, water and health? These are the questions we are asking, as we develop a long-term strategy with our new Corporate Advisory Board (see www.worldgbc.org/worldgbc/partners/). It’s vital that the actions we take are real, practical and measurable – and that they can be embraced by governments, businesses and our GBCs. We are now demonstrating that partnership is really the new leadership, with new frameworks to work with business and government.” �


GREEN BUILDINGS

As sustainability and caring for the environment become priorities for those charged with the interior design of domestic dwellings and commercial properties alike, so they are looking to manufacturers to arm them with materials that don’t just look the part, but also have a part to play in our future too.

HEART OF STONE

OKITE is a specially engineered surfacing material, created from the perfect combination of three elements: quartz, polyester resin and natural pigments, by SEIEFFE Industrie, an Italian manufacturer which has its headquarters in Montesarchio and is a worldwide leader in the production of engineered stone slabs.

Made from around 93 per cent quartz and 7 per cent polyester resin, OKITE is available in slabs measuring 306cm x 140cm, with thicknesses ranging from 1.3cm, 2cm and 3cm and can be used

for horizontal and vertical applications. It can also be customised to fit any project.

STRONG AND DURABLE

OKITE has an absorption rate of 0.022 per cent, with granite being the next closest at 0.2-1.0 pe rcent. Independent testing on its physical, mechanical and environmental properties has found that OKITE’s strength and durability are unparalleled. OKITE does not require sealing or polishing, whilst being stronger and more durable that marble or granite, as well as much more resistant to cracking, staining or breaking than any other quarried stones. In fact only three minerals - diamond, sapphire and topaz - are stronger than OKITE.

Unlike marble or granite, OKITE does not require any special care or maintenance. It is resistant to staining, scratching and heat, will not absorb liquids and withstands limited exposure to normal cooking temperatures.

SUSTAINABLE INTERIORS

With routine care, the remarkably low-maintenance OKITE will preserve its looks and beauty for years to come. In addition to the product's proven performance qualities, OKITE® fulfils both decorative and specific design needs for commercial, institutional and residential applications.

OKITE's versatility, beauty and outstanding performance qualities make it an extremely desirable and sought after surfacing material for all spectrums of the design industry. Originally conceived as a kitchen worktop, OKITE soon evolved into other interiors applications, such as bathrooms, floorings, and walls. Today, OKITE sets new standards in the world of quartz surfacing, and can meet the needs of

SUSTAINABILITY BELOW THE SURFACE

OKITE’s Pietre Preziose is a quartz and polyester resin

surfacing that enables the light to flow through, recreating

the warm and sophisticated atmosphere of natural onyx

without the staining, fragility and inconsistency often

associated with this stone.

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SPECIAL FEATURE: OKITE

the most demanding consumers. A perfect solution for home interiors, but also for contract.

CREATIVE EFFECTS

Available in a wide array of designs, patterns and colours, OKITE enables designers to push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of creativity. The latest design trends can be easily incorporated with this material, from curves for a more rounded

look, slimline profiles for a minimalist finish, to built-up edges to create the illusion of a much thicker profile.

OKITE also offers designers the opportunity to make a visual impact in the commercial setting. OKITE’s Pietre Preziose, which translates from the Italian as Precious Stones, is a quartz and polyester resin surfacing that allows light to flow through, recreating the warm and sophisticated atmosphere of natural onyx without the staining, fragility and inconsistency often associated with this stone. The result is a translucent surfacing material that creates a stunning, luminous ambience when backlit, perfect for use as a backdrop in public spaces such as hotel reception areas, or for creating a sense of drama in nightclub washrooms.

At the heart of OKITE there is a strong commitment to the planet. Sustainability is at the centre of everything the company does: from quartz derived from sustainable and high-quality resourcing, to the use of recycled glass, to the most efficient use of natural materials, to the manufacturer’s sustainable production chain. At every stage of the production and delivery process, the company does all it can to minimise it impact on the planet. �

For more details call 01992 470801 or visit www.okite.com

OKITE’s Bianco Assuluto is a pure white quartz stone solid surface which offers a versatile kitchen worktop solution.

Assoluto Bianco is more durable and scratch and stain resistant than natural materials such as granite and marble and

doesn’t require any special maintenance.

Combining all the beauty of the natural grain of wood with

the durability of a composite worktop, OKITE’s Effetto

Legno Oak work surface Oak is a highly durable, smooth

anti-bacterial surface.


SPECIAL FEATURE: OKITE

Paul F Downton is a man of many talents and unwavering dedication to environmental causes. He is an award-winning architect, writer, international activist, evolutionary urbanist, sustainable city theorist and environmental expert. Throughout his career, Downton has continued to draw attention to and promote the need for sustainable cities.

In the last century, the number of people living in cities ballooned. For the rest of time, significantly more people will reside in cities rather than in rural places. By 2050, calculated predictions report that 75 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban locations. The cities of today and the megacities of tomorrow will be responsible for more than 80 per cent of the world’s energy consumption and carbon emissions. Their inherent sustainability is paramount in the mitigation of the further effects of climate change.

None of this is news to Paul F Downton. In the early 1980s, Downton studied various reports on climate science and worked out from the evidence that global warming was inevitable. Back then the

CO2 levels in the atmosphere

were 311 parts per million. It’s now over 390, and given the prognosis for the aggressive global expansion of cities, it will only get higher unless new energy solutions are implemented. Downton was inspired to act, and in 1989 he co-founded one of the first citizens’ organisations devoted to combating climate change – The Greenhouse Association of South Australia. In his 2008

book, Ecopolis: Architecture and Cities for a Changing Climate, Downton redefines the purpose of cities, underlining how vital it is that cities generate health and enhance sustainability – a major historical shift, but entirely achievable.

Ecological architecture and the promotion and construction of sustainable cities have become a life mission to Downton. His passionate beliefs in sustainable

ECOLOGICAL ARCHITECTUREINTERVIEW WITHPAUL F DOWNTON

"Mainstream ignorance and disregard for sustainable values are things people have been trained to project – it’s nothing to do with their core values."

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development began in his early years. “Like many kids of my age, I was exposed to nature as a routine part of my upbringing and education, which was in Somerset in the UK, and for whatever reason, I was fascinated by the relationship between buildings and the environment at an early age. I discovered Frank Lloyd Wright in the Wells Blue School library when I was 15 or 16 and was excited by his ideas that ‘organic architecture’ could be a response to its place and its occupants. I was designing houses that turned to follow the sun when I was still in school. By the time I was a student at the Welsh School of Architecture I had joined Friends of the Earth and was a founder member of a local environment group in Wells, Somerset, which called itself Abacus. I wanted to call it ‘Googol’ from the name for the insanely large number of ten raised to the power of one hundred – but was outvoted.”

Downton manages to maintain his focus on sustainable principles, and is inspired to remain positive, even in the face of mainstream ignorance or disregard for these values. “However you choose to interpret ‘sustainable principles’, they have to be about culture and living systems, so keeping aligned to these beliefs just seems to me to be the normal thing to do.

“I guess I’m inspired to remain positive because the alternative is unthinkable! I realised many years ago that it’s easy to be negative; any fool can bring down the mood of a good party by going around being a grouch. Conversely, positive people can create a good mood and make things happen. I decided that I had to be positive, so even when I’m making a presentation about how utterly dire things

are –think climate change and ecosystem collapse – I’m always looking for a bright side, to point out opportunities for change or, at the very least, some glimmers of ironic humour. In my experience, mainstream ignorance and disregard for sustainable values are things people have been trained to project – it’s nothing to do with their core values. The bottom line is, we’re intelligent creatures trying to keep our species going, and most people respond well if you address that, rather than start with the presumption that ignorance and unsustainability is some sort of given condition.”

As the former Director and Principal Architect for Ecopolis Architects, and as an independent consultant, Downton has worked on multiple sustainable projects. He has found that an ecological approach to planning is necessary for improving an urban centre. “I’ve always tried to address each part of any given urban project in as holistic a way as possible. Like most architects and designers, I have generated many proposals that have not been realised, but the most effective built and occupied example to date remains the Christie Walk project here in Adelaide. It’s not a huge project in terms of scale, but the aim was to create a scheme that addressed most, if not all, the key issues of biophysical sustainability, while fitting with the existing city and developing its own sense of place.

“One of my preoccupations is the notion of facilitating community. You can’t enforce community, but you can encourage and facilitate it – or, conversely, make it damned hard to achieve. It’s like the difference between being the positive person in the room or the naysayer – and you can make the difference with the physical, constructed environment. Christie Walk demonstrates an idea in action that says that if you can make a place with sufficient integrity to provide the essential characteristics of ecological sustainability and community structure, then it can act like a small strand of DNA in the urban system. So, for instance, Christie Walk has provided a platform and case study for these ideas; its users, creators and occupants have both purposely and incidentally affected the larger city of which it is a part, and influenced urban planning and construction programmes. This ranges from the City of Adelaide putting sustainability goals high on its agenda and recognising that density can be dealt with in a positive way, to initiating the introduction of car-sharing schemes.”

In his book, Ecopolis: Architecture and Cities for a Changing Climate, Downton traces a philosophical and theoretical lineage that advocates a shift towards more an ecological and sustainable architecture. “I would like to see cities defined and understood as the essential means by which our

"You can’t enforce community, but you can encourage and facilitate it – or, conversely, make it damned hard to achieve."


GREEN BUILDINGS

species manages its relationship with the entire planet. On that basis, the purpose of cities is to do with their operation as constructed ecosystems that extend our physiology. It is through our cities that we act on the world and, increasingly, it is where most people live. Through the vehicles of our cities we have, historically, done untold damage; now the role of the city has to be to regenerate living landscapes and restore ecosystems, while accommodating the physical needs and extraordinary aspirations of us humans.”

Architectural ideas are often explained as particularly complex, intellectual concepts. But from a more practical standpoint, these concepts need to be expressed and acted upon in real terms with clear, quantifiable benefits. “Architectural ideas are, I fear, few and far between. There is a lot of opinionated hogwash about stylistic prejudices masquerading as architectural theory, but real architectural ideas are about making places that work for people, and if people can’t understand the ideas because they’re obscured by unnecessary complexity and undue intellectualism, then the ideas are next to useless. If building well encourages energy conservation, community interaction and resource efficiency, then that can be

measured. Aesthetics can’t be divorced from the equation but if people don’t relate to the aesthetics then the aesthetics need to be rethought.”

Clearly there is a necessity to make beneficial procurement decisions to support sustainability, and here Downton perceives a challenge. “Most, if not all, sustainable solutions save energy, water, resource use, etc., if not immediately, then over a time period of, say five to ten years. Those are not long timescales in the real world, but in the world of finance and investment the returns are supposed to happen more or less instantly. So there’s a major disconnect there. Energy, water and other resources are costing more in financial terms all the time, and I think it should be easy to demonstrate that progressive decisions in those areas have real pay-offs in economic terms. We’re less skilful at demonstrating the economic benefits of looking after human beings and their need for functional communities, but truly sustainable solutions deliver in that area too. They have to. These days the trick, or challenge, for procurement agencies is to be able to describe the benefits of community in terms that show economic benefit. We can only hope that the reduction of all things to money economics will soon enter history as a weird phase of Western culture that was

bound to pass, as the inherently unsustainable nature of consumerist growth economics showed itself in terms of climate costs, ecological damage and social dysfunction.”

The widespread adoption of sustainable buildings and cities can have hugely positive social and environmental impact. Downton is very positive that this be accomplished even when economic objectives are the driving factor behind decisions at the highest levels. “Economic objectives are malleable and negotiable; environmental constraints are not. Ultimately, there is no contest, although it could be very messy if we don’t soon see economic considerations align with environmental reality. There is a perverse satisfaction in seeing organisations like the World Bank recognise that measures to deal with climate change are essential and economically justifiable now, even in conventional terms. The problem is that the knowledge is out there, but the application of that knowledge is limited and slow.”

It has been predicted that in the next 40 years, more than 75 per cent of the world’s population will reside in urban locations. Various actions can be undertaken to mitigate the environmentally damaging emissions and resource depletion caused by urban growth. “Cities process the resources of their hinterlands – which now, typically, stretch across the planet. Shifting energy sourcing from distant fossil extraction to local solar capture, and moving towards local resource extraction and re-use will make a major difference. Cities have to take the lead in moving our

"if people can’t understand the ideas because they’re obscured by unnecessary complexity and undue intellectualism, then the ideas are next to useless."

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economies from throughput systems (material and energy in – waste out) to circular systems (renewable/reuse/repair). Every time materials are re-used rather than taken from virgin sources, we move in the right direction. Every time we eschew fossil fuels in favour of renewables we move in the right direction.

“Cities are full of material and as we look at shifting them towards more sustainable frameworks of operation, we need to see them as resources in themselves and seek to conserve and cleverly re-use what is already there. New York’s Highline Park is a nice recent example of the creative re-use of existing city material and infrastructure to restore a little biodiversity, support community and encourage pedestrian traffic. In China and in the developing world, where the growth of cities is most pronounced, it is crucial to make non-motorised transport the preferred option and to make buildings that use minimal amounts of energy – from renewable sources. The most common mistake is a universal one – to make comfortable thermal environments by plugging in and using fossil energy to heat and cool buildings, when the bulk of heating and cooling of built structures can be achieved with appropriate design of the building form and envelope. I think that’s an urgent matter and it could be simply addressed in almost any political environment by introducing appropriate building rules. In China, for instance, the difference in building energy use that could be achieved by cladding apartments with aerated concrete panels instead of dense, conventional concrete panels would be massive.

“There are two levels to operate on: the strategic – at which level resource and energy efficiency is determined, e.g. by planning to make cities walkable rather than car-dependent, and the nitty-gritty level of detailed design and specification where a good thermal envelope can be mandated, regardless of the built form.”

As our world becomes ever more urbanised, the role of architecture in ensuring safe, clean and sustainable urban environments becomes ever more important. “Architects who understand

that they are manipulating resources and setting the stage for human interaction will always have a role in ensuring safe, clean and sustainable urban environments; architects who obsess over form and image are fundamentally irrelevant unless they also deal with the reality of people, politics, energy and materials. I think architectural skills are very much about integration, balancing competing demands, and accommodating the beautiful complexity of our human universe. Everything we build is first imagined, and architects are especially skilled in that imagining.

"Every time materials are re-used rather than taken from virgin sources, we move in the right direction."


GREEN BUILDINGS

“There is no comprehensive theoretical system in architecture, which can effectively structure our social communicative interaction, while also elevating the importance of sustainability for future generations. I wish there was. It’s what I work towards. No one person is going to create such a theory – it will inevitably be a social construct, a cultural device.”

Asked what essential criteria must be in place for a truly sustainable city, Downton sees this as a huge question. “The short answer is that a truly sustainable city must support and enhance the lives of its citizens and assist their society to realise the potential of whatever it means to be human, and the operation of the city must not only be in some kind of notional ‘balance’ with nature, but must be configured to actively restore and regenerate natural systems in the very long term.

“We need to reach a point where the limits of the planet’s environmental resources will be respected and societies at large will protect present resources and biodiversity for future generations. If we achieve this, civilisation will continue to develop. If we don’t reach that point, we will be kissing

goodbye to a habitable planet. I think the choice will soon be that stark. I am hopeful that there will be a significant uptake of sustainable buildings and cities across different countries and continents in the near future – I have to be. But sometimes I have to search hard for evidence that it will really happen.”

Downton finds the likelihood of sustainability advances being made by the private sector to be relatively peripheral. “The key solutions are in the realm of governance and management, and there is no evidence that the private sector could manage that to society’s mutual benefit. The private sector is, of course, concerned with profit. It is not about the public good. Sustainability is all about the commons and the public good. There’s a real mismatch of drivers in that equation. The private sector can produce brilliant solutions as a result of competition, but only government and social agencies can set the rules and goals of that competition. Self-regulation serves the interests of the self-regulator – it is essential that we have governments to regulate on behalf of the social good, and on the basis of environmental responsibility.

“Human history has demonstrated a quite astonishing array of possibilities for all aspects of human endeavour, making it possible to see, in our lifetimes, the creation of stable and sustainable economies, where social cohesion, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all is promoted; and where any environmental and social damage or expense is borne by those generating it; and where efficient resource use is incentivised. I think this is possible, but I don’t think the consumerist model of capitalism can deliver it.”

As far as naming his favourite urban location was concerned, Downton replied: “Interesting. I can’t think of any one place that I would rate as my favourite, although there are many places that I really enjoy and appreciate. If I try and identify a common theme in the places I really like, then, apart from Christie Walk, it would be that the urban environment has an active engagement and relationship with some kind of waterfront, whether it be Vancouver, Sydney Harbour, or Semaphore in South Australia, where I live.”

When he considers which of his own achievements make him most proud, Downton becomes uneasy. “I’m quite pleased with a few things I’ve done, including Christie Walk and my ongoing work on defining ‘urban fractals’, but I don’t get a great welling up of pride about anything in particular. I’ve always been suspicious of pride in any case – something to do with it coming before a fall.” �

"The private sector can produce brilliant solutions as a result of competition, but only government and social agencies can set the rules."

108

GREEN BUILDINGS

In order to build truly sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings, it is crucial that building materials not only save energy, but also have low embodied energies from "Cradle to Gate."

For this Environmental Product Declaration according to ISO 14025 and EN 15804 describes the environmental performance of construction products and aims at fostering sustainable construction with respect to health and environment.

FOAMGLAS® cellular glass provides an EPD which is a third-party verified declaration where all relevant environmental data is made transparent. FOAMGLAS® insulation is an environmentally responsible building material offering energy savings and long-term sustainability.

SERVICE LIFEFOAMGLAS® insulation has been proven to have a much longer than average service life. This is due to its glass structure with unique composition of hermetically sealed cells, which provide dimensional stability, remarkable compressive strength, and no thermal loss or thermal aging over time. Maintenance and repair costs can be significantly reduced by the use of such a durable material.

EMISSIONS DURING INSTALLATION AND USEWhen recommended installation instructions are followed, cellular glass insulation does not produce emissions that degrade the environment or health, at any point in production, installation or use.

FOAMGLAS® insulation contains no VOC or other volatile substances.

GREEN BUILDING MATERIALFOAMGLAS® building insulation can contribute toward earning LEED® points on a project because it is made from recyclable and sustainable resources. FOAMGLAS® is also eligible for Living Building Challenge™ Projects because it does not contain any red-listed materials.

A RENEWABLE RESOURCESand is considered one of the planet’s most abundant natural resources, with large deposits constantly being generated by numerous geologic conditions. Sand, recycled glass and other natural and abundant materials are all that is required to produce FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation.

FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation does not contain organic compounds, oil or oil by -products, or toxic or flammable materials. Because of the widespread availability of raw materials, as much as 75 per cent (by weight) of the raw materials used to make FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation come from within 500 miles of our manufacturing facilities.

LEED® AND FOAMGLAS® CELLULAR GLASS INSULATIONLEED® is an internationally recognised green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO

2 emissions reduction, improved indoor

environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

FOAMGLAS® insulation can contribute toward earning LEED® points on a project. While no one product or material alone can earn LEED® credit points, FOAMGLAS® insulation can be used as part of a strategy to earn points in several credit categories.

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION BY SUITABLE PRODUCT CHOICE

Emporia, Malmö Sweden, FOAMGLAS® Compact Green Roof


SPECIAL FEATURE: FOAMGLAS®

LEED CREDIT CATEGORY OPTIONS FOR FOAMGLAS® INSULATION

Sustainable Sites – Vegetated Roof;LEED-NC Credit 6 – stormwater managementLEED-NC Credit 7.1 – roof heat island effect FOAMGLAS® insulation can be part of a vegetated roof design, which is one sustainable strategy that can be used to earn both of these Sustainable Sites credits.

Energy & Atmosphere – Energy Performance and Refrigerant Management;

LEED-NC Prerequisite 2 – minimum energy performanceLEED-NC Credit 1 – optimise energy performance: - In the LEED® rating system, up to 19

points can be awarded for improved energy efficiency. FOAMGLAS® insulation can be used as one strategy to help achieve the required energy performance and to further reduce the amount of energy consumed.

LEED-NC Credits 4.1 and 4.2 – recycled content - FOAMGLAS® insulation that incorporates

recycled materials can be included in this calculation of the total recycled content in all building materials.

Materials & Resources – Recyclable, Recycled Content and Regional Material;

LEED-NC Credits 2.1 and 2.2 – construction waste management:FOAMGLAS® insulation scrap waste can be recycled.LEED-NC Credit 4 – enhanced refrigerant managementLEED-NC Credits 5.1 and 5.2 – regional materials: - Nearly 75 per cent (by weight) of raw

materials used to make FOAMGLAS®

cellular glass insulation comes from within 500 miles of the manufacturing facility.

Indoor Environmental Quality – Low-Emitting Materials;

LEED-NC Credit 4 – low-emitting materials: - Though insulation is not considered in this

section, using FOAMGLAS® insulation eliminates another potential source of VOCs in a building. Low-VOC sealants and adhesives sold by Pittsburgh Corning Europe could be used as part of this strategy.

- Pittsburgh Corning Europe is committed to conducting its business in an environmentally responsible manner that protects the public, its employees, and our country’s natural resources. Therefore, Pittsburgh Corning Europe’s environmental practices must be in compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

KEY TO GREEN BUILDINGFOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation is an environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically beneficial choice for your industrial, commercial or real estate projects. FOAMGLAS® insulation products are the key to Green Building: - Environmental Stewardship - Sustainability - Energy Efficiency - Healthy Air Quality - Fire Safety

FOR THE ENTIRE BUILDING ENVELOPEFOAMGLAS® can be used as below grade insulation to protect bearing walls and foundation rafts on the outside, as façade and roof insulation. Terraces, parking decks and interior insulation for walls, floor and soffits – even under harsh humidity conditions – add to the many areas of application for this sustainable insulation material. FOAMGLAS® solutions are universally suited for renovation and new build, and meet the high demands of passive house standard. �

Headquarters Pittsburgh Corning Europe NV, Albertkade 1, B-3980 Tessenderlo, BelgiumTel: + 32 (0)13 661 721,Fax: + 32 (0)13 667 854Email: [email protected]: www.foamglas.comAuthor: Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Schreier

Passive House in a woodland setting, Asturias, Spain,

FOAMGLAS® Load Bearing and Perimeter Insulation

110

SPECIAL FEATURE: FOAMGLAS®


The 21st century is indeed the century of cities and urbanisation. Increasingly, urban communities need to be designed to allow for the sustainable management of water resources and the protection of water environments. Water sensitive urban design aims to ensure that water is given prominence by integrating the disciplines of engineering and environmental sciences associated with water services, including protecting urban-based aquatic environments.

In the beginning of the 21st century, the proportion of the world’s population living in urban environments surpassed that living in the rural environment. The long-term productivity, prosperity and liveability of cities (and towns) are fundamentally underpinned by sustainability and resilience. The quality of living in these environments defines its liveability. Each of these city attributes are interrelated and self-reinforcing, but can also be at risk of being mutually competing when individual objectives are pursued without due consideration to the broader dynamics of city development.

Urban development profoundly affects the land and water environments. The term ‘water sensitive urban design’ (WSUD) is used widely in Australia to reflect a new paradigm in the planning and design of urban environments that is ‘sensitive’ to the issues of water sustainability and environment protection. The concept is an Australian construct and has

evolved from its early association with storm water management to provide a broader framework for sustainable urban water management. It is similar in concept, but a more encompassing variant to ‘low impact development’ (LID), used widely in the United States, and ‘sustainable urban drainage’ (SUDs) in the UK.

WSUD brings sensitivity to water into urban design. Community values and aspirations govern urban design decisions and therefore urban water management practices. Collectively (nationally and internationally) WSUD integrates the social and physical sciences: and the outcome from these practices is a Water Sensitive City.

WATER SENSITIVE CITIES: PRINCIPLES FOR PRACTICE

Water sensitive cities are envisioned to be resilient, liveable, productive and sustainable. They efficiently

By Tony Wong, CEO, the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, Australia

WATER SENSITIVE URBAN DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT



use the diversity of water resources available within the city boundaries; enhance and protect the health of urban waterways and wetlands; and mitigate flood risk and damage. They also create public spaces that harvest, clean and recycle water, increase biodiversity and reduce urban heat island effects. A water sensitive city is typically characterised by the following three key attributes, discussed more fully in ‘The Water Sensitive City: Principles for Practice’ by T Wong and R Brown (Water Science and Technology, Vol 60(3), 2009):

Access to a diversity of water sources underpinned by centralised and decentralised infrastructure

Provision of ecosystem services for the built and natural environment, and

Sociopolitical capital for sustainability – i.e. a smart and sophisticated community living an ecologically sustainable lifestyle sensitive to the symbiotic co-existence of the built and natural environments.

CITIES AS WATER SUPPLY CATCHMENTS

Our cities have access to a range of water sources in addition to those to do with dams and groundwater systems. These include urban storm water, rainwater and recycled waste water. Cities are in fact water supply catchments. A strategy built around flexibility to access a portfolio of sources at least cost, with costs to include environmental impacts and other externalities, will promote resilience in water supply security.

Each water source will have its own reliability, environmental risk and cost profile. Each source can be optimised (even on a short-term basis) through the availability of diverse infrastructures consisting of centralised and decentralised water supply schemes, from a simple rainwater tank for non-potable use to city-scale direct potable reuse schemes.

The traditional role of the urban water sector is now challenged to move beyond the traditional provision of ‘taps and toilets’ services of water supply and waste water disposal. Future urban water infrastructure will harvest and recycle an integrated mix of water sources (such as catchment water, storm water, waste water, grey water and sea water) bounded by principles such as minimising ecological footprints, through a more flexible combination of centralised and decentralised systems. A more complex systems approach such as this will enable a more sophisticated suite of social and ecosystem services such as water security, flood management, water quality protection of waterways, urban heat mitigation, enhanced biodiversity, amenity, social cohesion, catchment repair and overall improved system resilience to future uncertainties.

The concept that ‘cities are water supply catchments’ necessarily reframes what city water governance arrangements could look like. Given the system level inter-dependencies with other utilities and land use management functions, it is clear the water sector will need to deliver this in partnership with local government and other sectoral agencies such as energy, transport, waste and health services. It takes time to build a diverse infrastructure throughout a built-up area in its transformation into water sensitive precincts. Often such initiatives cannot be successfully delivered in times of acute water or environmental crisis.

"Water sensitive cities are envisioned to be resilient, liveable, productive and sustainable."

Royal Park Wetland (Melbourne): harvesting and treating

urban stormwater for non-potable uses

112


CITIES PROVIDING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

There is increasing evidence that green infrastructure can deliver a net positive economic benefit to urban communities. Cities can provide ecosystem services through protecting and improving ecological values of urban and adjoining natural environments, by improving the quality of stormwater runoff and, through this improved quality, enable storm water to be a significant additional source of water supply, particularly for non-potable uses. A city design framed by a network of blue-green corridors provides the supplementary drainage system for safe flood conveyance while fostering highly connected spaces for improving and/or returning biodiversity to our cityscapes.

Landscapes are the product of varying natural and human-induced forces, interacting within a regional and global ecosystem. Ecological landscape may be described by using a continuum framework that encompasses the perspectives of nature conservation right through to the creation of urban ecologies. Ecological landscapes can be established to build and conserve biodiversity in flora and fauna in terrestrial and aquatic environments. They provide an important natural/urban interface in managing the threat posed by urban development to the ecological integrity of the adjoining natural

environment. The focus in this regard is the transitioning of natural environments into a more complex and balanced landscape of natural and human-induced features that integrate physical, biological and social considerations.

Finally, ecological landscapes are integral in defining the urban ecology, with the role of bio-mimicry in urban design such that natural ecological processes are incorporated into urban systems to provide ecosystem services. Art and science ultimately influences the role of urban landscapes in promoting sustainability, resilience and liveability in future water sensitive cities.

The incorporation of constructed ecological landscapes or modified natural landscapes in an urban environment is a complex and challenging urban design practice and collapses the design principles relevant to peri-urban/developing catchment environments and that of promoting a healthy urban ecology. Bio-mimicry is a fundamental approach where the key ecological processes are promoted but delivered in a form that accommodates the range of functions inherent in a city or town.

In addition to being an integral part of a city’s drainage system, the blue and green corridors of a city may also serve as transport corridors for all modes of transport including pedestrian walkways,

Kallang River at Bishan Park (Singapore), a conversion of

an urban concrete drain into a vibrant public space and an

ecologically enhanced blue corridor.



cycle paths, roads, light rail and water craft. They link community and larger public parks which can also serve as flood detention systems. The network would serve as terrestrial and aquatic wildlife corridors to promote flora and fauna diversity as well as productive landscapes. Storm water treatment technologies such as constructed wetlands and bioretention systems (commonly referred to as rain gardens) are implemented at a range of spatial scales, from buildings and allotments to regional public open space and multiple use corridors.

The improvement of degraded urban waterways is fundamental in enhancing the blue corridors of future cities. There are many factors that influence waterway health. Waterway health management initiatives would typically consist of a mixture of catchment-wide initiatives (e.g. WSUD) and on-site works (e.g. channel stabilisation and the creation of in-stream and riparian habitats). Catchment management initiatives underpin the protection or improvement of waterway health – and enhancing water quality underpins all waterway health improvement or protection initiatives.

SMART, SOPHISTICATED COMMUNITIES

WSUD as a framework for sustainable urban water management is well founded. Ongoing research can be expected to improve WSUD technologies for improving storm water quality. However – and this is essential – technology based on physical science research alone will not deliver the desired outcome. The capacity of institutions themselves to advance sustainable urban water management is only now being recognised as an important part of many technological solutions. Unless new technologies are embedded into the local institutional and social context, their development in isolation will not be enough to ensure their successful implementation in practice.

Institutional reform for integrated urban water cycle management remains elusive. Like most reform agendas, it requires the consideration of options that are not immediately clear, technically or otherwise. The socio-institutional dimension of WSUD, while instrumental in effective policy development and technology diffusion, is still a largely underdeveloped endeavour.

The report Transition to Water Sensitive Urban Design: The story of Melbourne, by R R Brown and J M Clarke (Facility for Advancing Water Biofiltration, Monash University 2007), revealed that the development of WSUD in Melbourne has been the result of a complex and sophisticated interplay between key champions (or change agents) and important local variables. In particular, the champions represent a small and informally connected group of individuals across government, academia and the development industry that have pursued change from a best practice management ideology consistently underpinned by local science and technology development.

Community acceptance and broad political support is fundamental if a water sensitive approach is

Green corridors cutting through urban canyons bring

with them multiple benefits related to urban sustainability,

resilience and liveability.

"Community acceptance and broad political support is fundamental if a water sensitive approach is to be implemented urgently."

114


to be implemented urgently, and if industry’s technical capacity and ingenuity in complex urban environments is to be improved. There has been a growing focus on the role of communities in participating in developing WSUD strategies that response adequately to local socio- and biophysical characteristics. Public art highlights communities’ relationship with water and the general intrinsic values of water, and furthers community awareness and participation in decision-making on urban water management. Some projects have profiled community attitudes and openness to water reuse and pollution prevention to inform local WSUD policy development. Others have focused on implementing action models for community participation including scenario workshops for envisioning sustainable water futures, and different types of community-based forums designed to deliver jointly developed strategies and local WSUD plans.

A PARADIGM SHIFT

Successful urban communities are complex socio-physical systems that are fully integrated and constantly evolving. Harmony of the built, social and natural environments within a city is the result of complex interactions between the quality of the natural and built environment, the social and institutional capital and the natural resources that support a city.

The pursuit of sustainability through ecologically sustainable development is aimed at initiatives to protect and conserve natural resources and to

promote lifestyles, and supporting infrastructure, that can endure indefinitely because they neither deplete resources nor degrade environmental quality. Urban planning and water sensitive urban design practices would focus on development of strategies for integration of green infrastructure and climate responsive design principles to water security, flood protection and the ecological health of terrestrial and aquatic landscapes from whole-of-catchment to street and building allotment scales.

While such ambitions may seem unattainable, they nevertheless set a strategic direction that leads to environmental, social and economic benefits as we edge towards the ultimate goal of sustainability. They represent a paradigm shift in urban design, and in relation to urban water management, the shift is toward integrated urban water cycle planning and management based on the espoused principles of practice for sustainable urban water management and for building water sensitive cities. �

Tony Wong is CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, an Australian Government initiative with research hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Singapore. A civil engineer with a Ph.D in Water Resources Engineering, he is internationally recognised for his research and practice in sustainable urban water management. He is the editor of blueprint2013 – Stormwater Management in a Water Sensitive City, published in March 2013 by the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities was established in July 2012 under the Australian Government Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) programme. Its mission is to revolutionise and deliver the socio-technical urban water management solutions, education and training, and industry engagement to transform Australian towns and cities into water sensitive cities. For more information see www.watersensitivecities.org.au.

A water sensitive precinct consisting of embedded green

infrastructure for water harvesting, cleansing and reuse;

enhanced urban micro-climate and biodiversity; effective

flood management; and engaging urban landscapes.

"Harmony of the built, social and natural environments within a city is the result of complex interactions."


AIDF WATER SECURITY SUMMITAsia 2014

www.AIDForumonline.org

23-24 April 2014, Bangkok, Thailand

For more information on partnering, speaking and attending please contact:

Sonja Ruetzel, Event Director, [email protected]: +44 (0) 20 7871 0188

@FollowAIDF

The Aid & International Development Forum brings together leading experts in water security, including policy makers, researchers, development agencies, NGOs and the private sector, to share ideas on how to develop more effective policies to improve sustainable water management, economic opportunities and water related disaster relief in the Asia Pacifi c region.

��Build long-lasting partnerships and more effective public-private collaborations

�� Infl uence the debate on water security and policy- Incentives and innovations for sustainable and effi cient water allocation and management- Interactions between water management, food production and employment opportunities- Policies for enhancing water security and disaster risk reduction

��Discover business and investment opportunities in sustainable water management systems

�� Exchange ideas on improving water quality and overcoming water-born diseases www.AIDForumonline.org

NETWORK � INTERACT � PARTICIPATE � DISCOVER � LEARN

Rising demand around the globe means increases pressure on the environment, and creates greater competition for our resources. Key natural resources such as raw materials and water have been used to fuel economic growth as though supplies were inexhaustible. This is not sustainable in the long term. Specially designed plastics products can offer suitable solutions for the building sector.

The importance of managing the natural resources that underpin our economy more efficiently is very clear. Pressures on resources are constantly increasing, and a failure to tackle the issue could turn into a disaster in the longer term.

ACTIVE PLAYERS IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT

Aliaxis Group acknowledges the increasing importance of environmental issues and adheres to sustainable development principles: to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

In that context, sustainable development also means industrial progress along with scientific ecology based on scientific criteria. Irrational assumptions must be avoided and reliable and transparent communication must be promoted.

Aliaxis Group is a major player in one specific sector: plastics fluids handling systems for building. The organisation is well aware of the global threats to natural resources: if the actual trend continues, by 2050 we will need the equivalent of more than two planets to sustain us, according to Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe (European Commission, 2011).

In the building sector in Europe, for example, the aggregated impacts of housing and infrastructure account for around 15-30 per cent of all environmental pressure on consumption. Housing

and infrastructure contribute approximately 2.5 tonnes of CO

2 equivalent of greenhouse gases

(GHG) per European per year. Close to 56 per cent of these GHG emissions are associated with heating and hot water for private households. The construction of buildings and infrastructure contributes another 30 per cent to total emissions.

On the other hand, buildings are one of the most long-lived products. This confers a tremendous advantage: every decision made now to improve the environmental footprint of our buildings will bring benefits for decades to come.

A building was considered for years as a passive infrastructure, consuming natural resources and a producer of CO

2, grey water etc. If economist

Jeremy Rifkin’s predictions come true, sustainable and intelligent buildings will become one of the main pillars of the third industrial revolution. To make this dream project possible, we need

By Yves Mertens, CEO, Aliaxis and Colin Leach, COO, Aliaxis

PLASTICS DRIVING URBAN RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

"Every decision made now to improve the environmental footprint of our buildings will bring benefits for decades to come."


SPECIAL FEATURE: ALIAXIS

innovation at all levels (products, systems, buildings, grids, neighbourhoods and cities) and we need reliable and shared assessment systems for evaluating this innovation.

IMPROVING BUILDINGS’ FOOTPRINT

This transformation will need a playing field where innovation and resource efficiency are rewarded. It will create economic opportunities and improved security of supply through product redesign, sustainable management of environmental resources, greater reuse, recycling and substitution of materials and resource savings.

Life-cycle assessment dissemination at the construction level should increasingly be considered rather than just the initial costs, including construction and demolition waste.

PERPETUAL INNOVATION

Aliaxis considers research and development (R&D) to be a key pillar of its strategy and a critical resource both in maintaining the Group’s activities and in supporting its organic growth. The Group’s R&D organisation consists of a total of 200 employees working in eight major centres of excellence and nine product development teams. In 2012, Aliaxis invested more than €18 million in R&D.

The corporate research centre specialises in various applied research programmes covering topics of strategic importance. These include the development and modification of materials, long-term performance and durability studies on materials and products, material and process modelling as well as the evaluation of new processing and jointing technologies. In 2012 the team’s expertise was extended to cover water treatment technologies to support the development of small water treatment units.

An example: Durapipe UK – The Shard. The Shard in London is a 72-storey multi-use building which is 310m tall. The project required a dual contained pipework system to cater for the softened water system and specified Durapipe’s innovative Guardian system.

As the purpose of the pipework is to transport chemically dosed water, corrosion resistance is a key parameter. And in this area, due to high level research and development activities, the Durapipe products can offer a better alternative than more traditional pipe work systems.

LIFE-CYCLE THINKING

Accurate information, based on the life-cycle impacts and costs of resource use, is needed to help guide

The Shard in London required a dual contained pipework system to cater for the softened water system

118


consumption decisions. Consumers can save costs by avoiding waste themselves, and buying products that last, or that can be easily repaired or recycled.

The Group decided to continue its proactive life-cycle approach for all products in order to address environmental issues from the initial design stage, through production and finally to end of life optimisation.

The Group is committed to provide environmental information about its products during their entire life cycle, and has adopted the use of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). The objective is to support the actual trends observed around the globe as EPDs are drawn up in accordance with international standards and are based on a life-cycle assessment. In many developed countries the market demand for sustainable construction is increasing. In Europe, this situation is already in place: INIES (France), IBU (Germany), MRPI (Netherlands), BRE (UK). Along with use phase and end of life phase scenarios, these EPDs provide the core environmental data required to assess the environmental performance of buildings regardless of the methodology (French system HQE, DGNB in Germany, BREEAM in the UK...).

Another example is the new version of the US system LEED. The new version will give priority to water savings in water consumption, and to life-cycle analysis which was not taken into account in the previous requirements.

This call for transparency and scientific assessment, in order to help customers and policy-makers in their decision making processes, require a strong involvement from manufacturers. Our objective is to communicate the environmental performance (and sanitary performances in some cases) in accordance with well-known and well-accepted standards and technical frameworks, in order to have the same relevance, honesty and reliability as there are in technical or financial performances reports.

WATER EFFICIENCY

Across the planet, water efficiency is at the top of the agenda. It is a priority as many countries face challenging situations with their water networks (fresh and waste). For example, 20-40 per cent of Europe’s water is wasted, and water efficiency could be improved by 40 per cent through technological improvements alone (reuse of waste water, and reduction of leakage in fresh water infrastructure).

It is part of the Aliaxis Group’s core business to provide quick, easy to install and reliable solutions to renew old and inefficient networks. As shown in USA with IPEX, new materials (PE) and technologies (trenchless) allow the repair of large networks without disturbing urban areas with huge public works.

The same idea explains the booming activity of the small waste water treatment units (PureStation®), both in Europe (Glynwed for example) and South America (Durman). These small units are designed to treat household waste water and black water from residences not linked to the network (in non-collective sanitation areas). The ecological differences with traditional treatment systems are substantial: comfortable environment for the users (no noise or unpleasant odours); high quality organic treatment of effluents; compact solutions suited to small areas of land, that do not encroach on gardens; low maintenance, and the possibility to reuse water with drip irrigation.

WASTE AS A RESOURCE

Sustainable city authorities need easy-to-implement solutions, at best prices with reliable environmental performances, from production, through installation to the end of life phase of the product. Optimising material use, reuse and recycling construction and demolition waste are two effective ways to improve the overall environmental performance of a building product.

In North-America, IPEX’s PVC Enviro-Tite (also known as Ecolotub®) is another well-known success in the sewage segment. This pipe is manufactured using co-extrusion technology, the inner layer of which consists of up to 100 per cent recycled resin, without downgrading the technical performances.

"Optimising material use, reuse and recycling construction and demolition waste are two effective ways to improve the overall environmental performance."



119

In fact, Enviro-Tite has a very high corrosion-proof performance as it is immune to corrosion from aggressive soils and galvanic action. In addition, H

2S

(hydrogen sulphide) and other aggressive chemicals, common in urban sanitary sewage, have no effect. In addition, equipped with the Enviro-Tite joints, the system eliminates all kinds of water losses.

In Europe, a practical alternative to concrete or clay products, the large diameter Quantum range is manufactured in high density polyethylene (HDPE), which delivers a number of technical and environmental advantages. Extremely strong and durable, the lightweight HDPE product is easier to transport, handle and install than traditional materials – resulting in quicker and more profitable contracts.

The Quantum range also delivers strong environmental performance as it contains 70 per cent recycled material derived from post-consumer waste, such as plastic drinks bottles, and post-industrial waste.

This latest addition to the Quantum range is particularly suitable for road and rail applications, but it also offers an ideal solution for a wide range of large-volume installations such as airports, landfill, agricultural and sports fields.

EXCHANGE OF BEST PRACTICES

Aliaxis’ environmental efforts are to be found in the production of an increasing number of products whose functions contribute to environment protection, such as pumps for solar plants (Friatec), which will help to benefit from the upcoming increase in investments in renewable energies for urban grids.

To be able to achieve our goals, efficient exchange of best practices or ideas is one key parameter of success within a worldwide industrial group. As an example, Aliaxis Group stimulated the technical and market knowledge transfer between one of its European manufactories and its South-American companies (Durman). Based on the high technical and marketing successes of its siphonic roof

drainage, Akasison, an exchange was organised. Now, Durman is the first company in Latin America to offer this solution, which is mainly used in warehouses, commercial centres and industrial facilities with roof areas of over 10,000 sq metres.

Akasison in Latin America offers additional points for LEED construction (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) as the product is partially manufactured out of recycled compound: T-PAR. This allows the alliance of innovations in design with a sustainable solution. Durman now has a number of designers dedicated to the Akasison design in order to support other projects in the Latin American region.

In South America (Chile), Vinilit was proud to sponsor and to promote efficient water solutions to shareholders during the ‘Water Week Latinamerica’ (www.waterweekla.com). During the third week of March 2013, this important conference allowed us to discuss the water challenges that face Chile and Latin-America. The exhibition gathered water specialists and authorities to analyse the trend of water management and water care.

In Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, the Aliaxis Group spoke at SPE-ANTEC® – the Society of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical Conference – in April 2013. The conference organisers asked the Group to speak about Europe’s successful communication of environmental performance through EPDs. This presentation, as with many other activities during the week, was an excellent occasion to exchange best practices between specialists.

Globally, the involvement of industries in key organisations, as sectoral technical associations, green building councils and national building environmental schemes, is one compulsory step to ensure that all the innovation forces commit to effectively realising the needed transformation for sustainable development.

Taking into account the challenging situation with regard to natural resources, it is now time for action. Along with a number of other industries, Aliaxis Group will keep this high on the agenda – and is eager to put its convictions into practice in each country where the company is located and involved. �

For additional information, please contact Eric Gravier, Environmental Manager Aliaxis Group, at [email protected]

"Efficient exchange of best practices or ideas is one key parameter of success."

120


Champions of the Earth 2013

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Corporate PartnerGuangdong Wealth

Environmental Protection Co., Ltd

Brian McClendonEntrepreneurial Vision

Dr. Ramanathan Veerabhadran

Science and InnovationCarlo Petrini

Inspiration and Action

Martha Isabel Ruiz CorzoInspiration and Action

Jack DangermondEntrepreneurial Vision

�� Policy Leadership

Izabella TeixeiraPolicy Leadership

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www.climateactionprogramme.org

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Sustainable Cities - December 2013