Sustainable City Management and the Urban Ecological Footprint

With over half the worlds population living in cities and the vast majority of economic activity occurring in cities, it is clear that if we are to successfully create a sustainable future we have to focus on cities. The global effort for sustainability will be won, or lost, in the world’s cities, where urban design may influence over 70 percent of people’s Ecological Footprint. (Wackernagel et al. 2006)

Cities and the Environment Cities are environments in their own right, that provide habitat and amenity for their residents. We can think in terms of the LAND AREA and LAND USE and the BUILT ENVIRONMENT of a city. Its physical size and appearance. Also cities use resources from a much wider area, for building materials, energy, food, disposal of waste, pollution. This larger area can be considered the URBAN ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT. The amount of land needed to sustain the city’s population and absorb its waste.

Cities can be designed in a way which increases their urban ecological footprint.

Or Cities can be designed in a way which reduces their urban ecological footprint.

Urban densities and private transport The design of a city’s built environment, its land area and land use will affect its urban ecological footprint.

We need cities to satisfy human needs (utility, amenity, livability, security, comfort, urban services, health, opportunity, community, quality of life) and minimize the human impact on the environment. (ecological footprint) Cities need to be sustainable. A sustainable city will use less resources and produce less waste than a unsustainable city. This concept can be built into the design of cities and buildings.

To help understand how cities can be designed in a more sustainable way we can use a systems approach. InputsProcessesOutputs The City as a System

Unsustainable City High level of inputs. Not satisfying our needs (e.g. congestion,poor air quality). Producing large amounts of waste and pollution. Sustainable City Reduced level of inputs. Satisfying our needs (good quality of life). Reduced levels of waste and pollution.

Achieving a Sustainable City Need to change the city’s metabolism. (KEY CONCEPT!!) (The flow of energy and resources in the urban system)

Unsustainable Linear Urban Metabolism

Sustainable Circular Urban Metabolism

Resilience Urban systems and communities need to be resilient (able to withstand shock) It is no use having a system which breaks down too easily. Napoli

Some ideas to develop a Sustainable City

Sustainable City Management Case Studies You need case study notes on two cities, describing and evaluating examples of Sustainable City Management. Curitiba – South West Brazil (IB Study Guide – Page 142), TED Talks, Weblinks and attachments on Sustainable Cities page. Use the Solutions section from the Frontline report to make your initial notes Your LEDC City Case - What have you already found out about your chosen city? Any examples of sustainable city management? Bratislava – There are examples in Bratislava, particularly in terms of public transport, recycling, green space. Another city? -

Pollution Waste Energy Transport Housing Public spaces Green infrastructure Think in terms of the following…

The syllabus asks specifically for examples of… Socially sustainable housing management strategy Environmentally sustainable pollution management strategy (this could include a transport policy which reduces car use and therefore air pollution)