Urbanization & Sustainable Cities

Half of the World’s People Live in Urban Areas  Urbanization – creation and growth of urban areas  Urban growth- rate of increase of urban populations Natural increase- more birth’s than death’s 79% - Americans and 50%- world’s people live in urban areas Immigration from rural areas Pushed from rural areas to urban areas Pulled to urban areas from rural areas

 Centers of: Economic development Innovation Education Technological advances Jobs  Environmental advantages Recycling Reduce stress on wildlife habitats Save energy – mass transportation Cities Are…

What makes a city? o Rural Areas: o areas have a low population density and small settlements o Livelihood: o Agriculture o Natural Resources o Ex: Coal Country o Urban Areas/Cities: o area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to the areas surrounding it o Livelihoods: o Specialization into different careers possible.

World Urbanization Statistics o The proportion of the global population living in urban areas increased from 2% in1850 to 43% in o The number of large cities is increasing: o cities pop>1,000,000 o today (more than 400 by 2025) o Developing countries(LDC’s) are currently at 35% urbanization which is growing at 3.5% per year. o 90% of future urban growth is going to take place in developing areas(LDC’s) of the world!

U.S. Urbanization Statistics o In 1800 only 5% of people lived in cities. o 4 patterns of migration seen: 1.migration to large cities (75% live in cities) 2.migration to suburbs (41% in cities/59% in suburbs) 3.migration from: north & east; to south & west (80% of U.S. pop increase has been in south and west near coasts) - The Sun Belt! 4. Migration from suburbs to cities or rural areas- EXBURBS 

Push Factors? o Rural populations are high: o But jobs, food & housing are scarce. o Political, racial or religious conflicts caused 10 million to flee by 1992 – (these people ended up in cities). o Subsistence farmers can be forced off land due to more economical farming methods dictated by owners. Also huge farming conglomerates can buy out smaller holdings forcing them to leave.

Pull Factors o Attraction to excitement, freedom and opportunities. o Possibilities of jobs, social mobility and wealth not possible in the country. o Communication (TV) makes cities appear cool.

Housing o 20% of world’s population lives in unsanitary, crowded conditions in slums in developing countries. o 100,000,000 people are homeless. o Slums: o legal, but inadequate family housing o Shantytowns: o where people move onto undeveloped land and build their own houses. o Squatter towns: o where people move onto land without owner’s permission.

Water Supply & Pollution o Urban populations require a huge amount of water: o Which removes it from the rural population. o Cities: o Are built on flood plains and/or coastal areas  so they flood easily. o 1/3 of the population in developing countries has unsafe drinking water. o That’s 2 billion people!

Sewer Systems o In developing countries: o 90% of sewage is dumped into rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. o Only 35% of world’s urban residents in developing countries have adequate sanitation. o Ex: o In Cairo – the sewer system was built to serve 2 million, but is serving 16 million people. Every year at least 100 days per year raw sewage floods the streets. A new system is being built but the city is so overburdened they are having to start from scratch.

The Ecocity Concept in Curitiba, Brazil  Ecocity, green city: Curitiba, Brazil  Bus system: cars banned in certain areas  Housing and industrial parks  Recycling of materials  Helping the poor  New challenges

Half of the World’s People Live in Urban Areas  4 major trends: 1.Proportion of global population living in urban areas is increasing 2.Number and size of urban areas is mushrooming Megacities – more than 10 million - 18 Hypercities – more than 20 million -1 :Tokyo 3.Urban growth slower in developed countries 4.Poverty is becoming increasingly urbanized; mostly in developing countries

Satellite Image of Major Urban Areas Throughout the World

Urban Sprawl Gobbles Up the Countryside  Urban sprawl – growth of low-density development – MEGALOPOLIS!!!!  Contributing factors to urban sprawl in the U.S. Ample land Low-cost gasoline; highways Tax laws --> home ownership State and local zoning laws Multiple political jurisdictions: poor urban planning 500 mile long with 35 million people

Urban Sprawl  Effects of urban sprawl Las Vegas 1973 Las Vegas 2000

Fig. 22-6, p. 593 NATURAL CAPITAL DEGRADATION Urban Sprawl Land and Biodiversity WaterEnergy, Air, and Climate Economic Effects Loss of cropland Increased use of surface water and groundwater Increased energy use and waste Decline of downtown business districts Loss of forests and grasslands Increased runoff and flooding Increased air pollution Increased unemployment in central city Loss of wetlands Increased greenhouse gas emissions Increased surface water and groundwater pollution Loss and fragmentation of wildlife habitats Enhanced global warming Loss of tax base in central city Decreased natural sewage treatment

1.Huge Ecological Footprints Urban populations occupy 2% of the world’s area but consume 75% of the resources and resulting high waste output 2.Lack Vegetation Vegetation destroyed –buildings, parking lots, roads no absorption of pollutants, shade, aesthetic 3.Water Problems flooding, destroy wetlands, Severe water shortages 1.Noise Pollution 2.Pollution & Health Problems 4.Light pollution 5.City planning transforms a city center from natural to artificial features. heat generated by industry, heat -absorbing surfaces create URBAN HEAT ISLAND Urbanization Disadvantages

City Planning and the Environment

Transportation & Urban Development o Individual transit: o 89% of world’s cars are in MDC’s. o Only 8% of world owns cars. o Mass transit: 8% in U.S., 15% in Germany, 47% in Japan. o Why not more popular? o most cities had good mass transit o 1950’s National City Lines were owned by gas, tire and car companies. They bought rail lines in 100 cities and dismantled them! o same companies converted electrical train engines to gas which was more expensive (caused decline in railroad system)! o most of the gas tax goes to highways which encourages cities to spend $ on more roads NOT on mass transit!

TRADE-OFFS Bicycles AdvantagesDisadvantages AffordableLittle protection in an accident Produce no pollution Do not protect riders from bad weather Quiet Impractical for long trips Require little parking space Easy to maneuver in traffic Take few resources to make Lack of secure bike parking Can be tiring (except for electric bicycles)

TRADE-OFFS Mass Transit Rail AdvantagesDisadvantages Uses less energy and produces less air pollution than cars Expensive to build and maintain Requires less land than roads and parking areas for cars Cost-effective only along a densely populated corridor Causes fewer injuries and deaths than cars Commits riders to transportation schedules Reduces car congestion in cities Can cause noise and vibration for nearby residents

TRADE-OFFS Buses AdvantagesDisadvantages Can lose money because they need low fares to attract riders Can be rerouted as needed Cost less to develop and maintain than heavy-rail system Can get caught in traffic and add to pollution Commits riders to transportation schedules Can greatly reduce car use and air pollution Noisy

TRADE-OFFS Rapid Rail AdvantagesDisadvantages Can reduce travel by car or plane Expensive to run and maintain Ideal for trips of 200– 1,000 kilometers (120–620 miles) Must operate along heavily used routes to be profitable Much more energy efficient per rider than a car or plane Causes noise and vibration for nearby residents

Potential Routes for High-Speed Bullet Trains in the U.S./Canada

Conventional Land-Use Planning  Land-use planning Encourages future population growth Economic development Revenues: property taxes Environmental and social consequences  Zoning – various parcels of land are designated for various uses Mixed-use zoning – promoting neighborhood grocery stores

SOLUTIONS Smart Growth Tools Limits and Regulations Protection Limit building permits Preserve existing open space Urban growth boundaries Buy new open space Greenbelts around cities Buy development rights that prohibit certain types of development on land parcels Public review of new development Zoning Tax land, not buildings Taxes Encourage mixed use of housing and small businesses Tax land on value of actual use (such as forest and agriculture) instead of on highest value as developed land Concentrate development along mass transportation routes Promote high-density cluster housing developments Tax Breaks For owners agreeing not to allow certain types of development (conservation easements) Planning For cleaning up and developing abandoned urban sites (brownfields) Ecological land-use planning Environmental impact analysis Integrated regional planning Revitalization and New Growth Revitalize existing towns and cities State and national planning Build well-planned new towns and villages within cities

Preserving and Using Open Space  Urban growth boundary U.S. states: WA, OR, & TN  Municipal parks U.S. cities: NYC & SF  Greenbelts Canadian cities: Vancouver & Toronto Western European cities Central Park, New York

Urban “Wilds” Cities can provide all the needs, physical structures and necessary resources, for many plants and animals. We can also identify ecological food chains in cities For some species, cities’ artificial structures are sufficiently like their original habitat to be home. E.g., Chimney swifts Cities can be home to rare or endangered species E.g. Peregrine falcons

Making Cities More Sustainable & Livable?  An ecocity allows people to: 1.choose walking, 2.biking, or 3.mass transit for most transportation needs; 4.recycle or reuse most of their wastes; 5.grow food; and 6.protect biodiversity by preserving surrounding land.

New Urbanism  Conventional housing developments NO!!!  Cluster development high density housing clustered, rest of the land is common shared space  New urbanism, old villageism

The Ecocity Concept  Ecocities or green cities 1.Use renewable energy resources 2.Recycle & purify water 3.Use energy efficiently 4.Prevent pollution & reduce waste 5.Recycle, reuse & compost municipal waste 6.Protect biodiversity 7.Urban gardens; farmers markets 8.Zoning for sustainability

 Rooftop greenhouses Sun Works: designs energy-efficient greenhouses  Hydroponic gardens  Skyscraper farms  Ecological advantages and disadvantages Urban Indoor Farming