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FEM 3335 Sustainable Cities
Assoc Prof Dr Sharifah Norazizan Syed Abd Rashid, APPM Department of Social & Development Science Faculty of Human Ecology Universiti Putra Malaysia
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Content Sustainable Cities - Why the focus on cities?
- Definitions and Basic Principle - What makes a city sustainable? Urban 21 Conference –Quality of Life New Concepts Compact City; Eco City; Healthy City; Safe City Practice
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Why the Focus on Cities? The majority of the global population live in cities in 2008 and predictions suggest that the figure will have reached 70% by 2050. Furthermore, cities are currently responsible for up to 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions but only take up 2% of the world's land area. This shows that the scale of the sustainability challenge in the urban built environment is vast, tackling it is vital to creating long-term, systemic and sustainable change. Ref: Eugenie Birch and Susan Wachter Global Urbanization
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Basic sustainability principles
In the Sustainable Society, Nature is not subject to systematically increasing... 1 …concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust. 2 …concentrations of substances produced by society. 3 …degradation by physical means. 4 … people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs or the needs of future generations. 4
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Sustainable City Being a sustainable city means "improving the quality of life in a city, including ecological, cultural, political, institutional, social and economic components without leaving a burden on future generations...." Urban21 Conference, Berlin, July 2000
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Pillars of Sustainable City
" Economy, ecology and social cohesion are the pillars of a sustainable city. These must be in balance and therefore require an integrated approach. Dialogue is the basic principle for achieving this for Local Agenda 21."
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Sustainable City Cities have become the focal points as major consumers and distributors of goods and services. However, many cities tend to be large consumers of goods and services, while draining resources out of external regions that they depend on. As a result of increasing consumption of resources, and growing dependencies on trade, the ecological impact of cities extends beyond their geographic locations.
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Problems and Pressures of Cities
Cities are increasingly becoming the engines of national economic growth and the magnets for new residents flooding in from rural areas. Globalization is having a significant effect on cities, forcing them to compete for international business with other cities worldwide and within their own countries. As a result, the sustainability of cities is under pressure. Decision-makers at all levels are faced with the task of how to resolve urban problems from transportation to waste management, from drinking water supply to the preservation of urban green space
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A city is only considered to be sustainable when:
It follows a development path where the present progress does not take place at the expense of future generations (i.e. bad planning, debt, environmental degradation, etc. does not export present problems to the future). There is an equilibrium between different issues. In other words, the goal is an across-the-board development, instead of handling issues one by one.
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PEOPLE, PLANET, PROSPERITY AND PRESERVATION
SUSTAINABLE BALANCE Environmental Integrity Economic Vitality Community Well Being Cultural Enhancement PEOPLE, PLANET, PROSPERITY AND PRESERVATION
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The concept of Sustainable Cities
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What Are the Major Population Trends in Urban Areas?
Urbanization continues to increase steadily and the numbers and sizes of urban areas are growing rapidly, especially in developing countries.
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Economy URBANIZATION Population
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Half of the World’s Population Live in Urban Areas
Urbanization Urban growth Natural increase Immigration from rural areas Pushed from rural areas to urban areas Pulled to urban areas from rural areas
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Proportion of global population living in urban areas is increasing
cont Four major trends Proportion of global population living in urban areas is increasing Number and size of urban areas is mushrooming Megacities, hypercities Urban growth slower in developed countries Poverty is becoming increasingly urbanized; mostly in developing countries
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Urban Areas in Crisis Severe air pollution Water pollution
50% Unemployment Deafening noise Overcrowding Traffic congestion Inadequate public transportation slums (barrios), squatter settlements, ghettos, etc What progress is being made?
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Global Outlook: Satellite Image of Major Urban Areas Throughout the World
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What Are the Major Urban Resource and Environmental Problems?
Most cities are unsustainable because of high levels of resource use, waste, pollution, and poverty. But – what’s the alternative?
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Urbanization Has Advantages
Centers of: Economic development Innovation Education Technological advances Jobs Environmental advantages
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Urbanization Has Disadvantages
Huge ecological footprints Lack vegetation Water problems Concentrate pollution and health problems Excessive noise etc
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Inputs Outputs Energy Solid wastes Food Waste heat Air pollutants
Water Water pollutants Raw materials Greenhouse gases Manufactured goods Manufactured goods Noise Money Wealth Figure 22.8 Natural capital degradation: urban areas rarely are sustainable systems (Concept 22-2). The typical city depends on large nonurban areas for huge inputs of matter and energy resources and for large outputs of waste matter and heat and thus have large ecological footprints that extend far beyond their boundaries. According to an analysis by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees, an area 58 times as large as that of London, England, is needed to supply its residents with resources. They estimate that meeting the needs of all the world’s people at the same rate of resource use as that of London would take at least three more planet Earths. Question: How would you apply the four scientific principles of sustainability (see back cover) to lessen some of these impacts? Information Ideas
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Permanent damage begins after 8-hour exposure Earphones at loud level
Noise Levels (in dbA) 85 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 Normal breathing Quiet rural area Rainfall Vacuum cleaner Lawn mower Rock music Earphones at loud level Boom cars Quiet room Normal conversation Average factory Chain saw Thunderclap (nearby) Air raid siren Military rifle Whisper Figure 22.9 Noise levels (in decibel-A sound pressure units) of some common sounds. You are being exposed to a sound level high enough to cause permanent hearing damage if you need to raise your voice to be heard above the racket, if a noise causes your ears to ring, or if nearby speech seems muffled. Prolonged exposure to lower noise levels and occasional loud sounds may not damage your hearing, but it can greatly increase internal stress. Question: How many times per day are your ears subjected to noise levels of 85 or more dbA?
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Life Is a Desperate Struggle for the Urban Poor in Developing Countries
Slums Squatter settlements Shantytowns Terrible living conditions What can governments do to help?
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Global Outlook: Extreme Poverty Forces Hundreds of Millions to Live in Slums
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Mexico City Extreme example
Urban area in crisis Severe air pollution Water pollution 50% Unemployment Deafening noise Overcrowding Traffic congestion Inadequate public transportation 1/3 live in slums (barrios) or squatter settlements What progress is being made?
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Cities Can Grow Outward or Upward
Compact cities Hong Kong, China Tokyo, Japan Mass transit Dispersed cities U.S. and Canada Car-centered cities
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Motor Vehicles Have Advantages and Disadvantages (1)
Mobility and convenience Jobs in Production and repair of vehicles Supplying fuel Building roads Status symbol Disadvantages Largest source of outdoor air pollution Accidents: death and injury Helped create urban sprawl Traffic congestion
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Reducing Automobile Use Is Not Easy, but It Can Be Done
Full-cost pricing: high gasoline taxes Difficult to pass in the United States Strong public opposition Mass transit: not an option in most cities Dispersed nature of the U.S. A tax shift?
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Tolls on roads, tunnels, and bridges into major cities Car-sharing
cont Raise parking fees Tolls on roads, tunnels, and bridges into major cities Car-sharing Charge a fee to drive into a major city
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Some Cities Are Promoting Alternatives to Car Ownership
Bicycles Heavy-rail systems Light-rail systems Buses Rapid-rail system between urban areas
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TRADE-OFFS Bicycles Advantages Disadvantages Affordable
Little protection in an accident Produce no pollution Do not protect riders from bad weather Quiet Impractical for long trips Require little parking space Figure 22.11 Advantages and disadvantages of bicycles. The key to increased bicycle use is the creation of bicycle-friendly systems, including bike lanes. Question: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Can be tiring (except for electric bicycles) Easy to maneuver in traffic Take few resources to make Lack of secure bike parking
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TRADE-OFFS Mass Transit Rail Advantages Disadvantages
Expensive to build and maintain Uses less energy and produces less air pollution than cars Cost-effective only along a densely populated corridor Requires less land than roads and parking areas for cars Commits riders to transportation schedules Figure 22.12 Advantages and disadvantages of mass transit rail systems in urban areas. Question: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Causes fewer injuries and deaths than cars Can cause noise and vibration for nearby residents Reduces car congestion in cities
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TRADE-OFFS Buses Advantages Disadvantages Can be rerouted as needed
Can lose money because they need low fares to attract riders Can get caught in traffic and add to pollution Cost less to develop and maintain than heavy-rail system Figure 22.13 Advantages and disadvantages of bus rapid transit (BRT) and conventional bus systems in urban areas. Question: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Commits riders to transportation schedules Can greatly reduce car use and air pollution Noisy
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TRADE-OFFS Rapid Rail Advantages Disadvantages
Can reduce travel by car or plane Expensive to run and maintain Must operate along heavily used routes to be profitable Ideal for trips of 200–1,000 kilometers (120–620 miles) Figure 22.14 Advantages and disadvantages of rapid-rail systems between urban areas. Question: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Much more energy efficient per rider than a car or plane Causes noise and vibration for nearby residents
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Potential Routes for High-Speed Bullet Trains in the U. S
Potential Routes for High-Speed Bullet Trains in the U.S. and Parts of Canada
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How Important Is Urban Land Use Planning?
Urban land-use planning can help to reduce uncontrolled sprawl and slow the resulting degradation of air, water, land, biodiversity, and other natural resources.
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Conventional Land-Use Planning
Encourages future population growth Economic development Revenues: property taxes Environmental and social consequences Zoning Mixed-use zoning
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Smart Growth Works Smart growth Reduces dependence on cars
Controls and directs sprawl Cuts wasteful resource Europe : Compact Cities
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SOLUTIONS Smart Growth Tools Limits and Regulations Protection Taxes
Limit building permits Urban growth boundaries Greenbelts around cities Public review of new development Protection Preserve existing open space Buy new open space Buy development rights that prohibit certain types of development on land parcels Tax land, not buildings Taxes Tax land on value of actual use (such as forest and agriculture) instead of on highest value as developed land Zoning Encourage mixed use of housing and small businesses Concentrate development along mass transportation routes Promote high-density cluster housing developments Tax Breaks For owners agreeing not to allow certain types of development (conservation easements) For cleaning up and developing abandoned urban sites (brownfields) Figure 22.16 Smart growth or new urbanism tools that are used to control urban growth and sprawl. Questions: Which five of these tools do you think are the most important ways to prevent or control urban sprawl? Which, if any, of these tools are used in your community? Planning Ecological land-use planning Environmental impact analysis Integrated regional planning State and national planning Revitalization and New Growth Revitalize existing towns and cities Build well-planned new towns and villages within cities
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Preserving and Using Open Space
Urban growth boundary U.S. states: Washington, Oregon, and Tennessee Municipal parks U.S. cities: New York City and San Francisco Greenbelts Canadian cities: Vancouver and Toronto Western European cities
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Central Park, New York City, USA
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How Can Cities Become More Sustainable and Livable?
An ecocity allows people to: choose walking, biking, or mass transit for most transportation needs; recycle or reuse most of their wastes; grow much of their food; and protect biodiversity by preserving surrounding land.
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New Urbanism Is Growing
Conventional housing development Cluster development New urbanism, old villageism Walkability Mixed-use and diversity Quality urban design Environmental sustainability Smart transportation
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Example of planning housing development that gives priority and safeguard the natural landscape – the creek, rivers and pond are maintained.
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Creek Undeveloped land Marsh Figure 22.18
Conventional and cluster housing developments as they might appear if constructed on the same land area. With cluster development, houses, town houses, condominiums, and two- to six-story apartments are built on part of the tract. The rest, typically 30–50% of the area, is left as open space, parks, and paths for biking and walking.
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Typical housing development
Figure 22.18 Conventional and cluster housing developments as they might appear if constructed on the same land area. With cluster development, houses, town houses, condominiums, and two- to six-story apartments are built on part of the tract. The rest, typically 30–50% of the area, is left as open space, parks, and paths for biking and walking. Fig b, p. 605
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Cluster housing development
Creek Cluster housing development Figure 22.18 Conventional and cluster housing developments as they might appear if constructed on the same land area. With cluster development, houses, town houses, condominiums, and two- to six-story apartments are built on part of the tract. The rest, typically 30–50% of the area, is left as open space, parks, and paths for biking and walking. Cluster Pond
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The Ecocity Concept: Cities for People Not Cars
Ecocities or green cities Build and redesign for people Use renewable energy resources Recycle and purify water Use energy and matter resources efficiently Prevent pollution and reduce waste Recycle, reuse and compost municipal waste Protect and support biodiversity Urban gardens; farmers markets Zoning and other tools for sustainability
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Science Focus: Urban Indoor Farming
Rooftop greenhouses Sun Works: designs energy-efficient greenhouses Growing Power and Will Allen Hydroponic gardens Skyscraper farms Ecological advantages and disadvantages Growing localvore and organic food movement
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Greenroofs – EPA Building in Denver
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China’s Vision for an Ecocity
2008: Dongtan, China, ecocity Carbon neutral city: use renewable resources for energy Reduce the need for cars, or use electric- or hydrogen-powered cars Public transportation
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The Ecovillage Movement Is Growing
Eco-hoods 1993: ecovillage in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. What is making it work? Other ecovillages Success stories
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Towards Healthy City Concept
Today environments have designed out physical activity Excessive high energy food intake Insufficient physical activity in daily life Diminished social interaction
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Background to Healthy Cities
The international Healthy Cities movement was first conceived in Canada in 1984 as a result of the Healthy Toronto 2000: Beyond Health Care symposium, and was launched in Europe in by the World Health Organization (WHO). The movement has since spread across the globe and now involves more than 3,000 municipalities.
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Health Determinants in an urban setting
Social Environment Genetic Predisposition Life-style Physical Environment
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Physical Environment Physical, chemical and biological systems
Housing, streets, and physical layouts Geography, landscape and climate Architecture Ecological footprint
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Social Environment Culture, social and religious norms
Social structure, cohesion and participation Traditional and formal social support networks Economic opportunities, system and structure Participation in economy and decision making
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Social mindedness and consciousness Aspiration, ambition, dynamism
Behaviour Healthy lifestyle Social mindedness and consciousness Self esteem happiness Aspiration, ambition, dynamism
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Living in a city: health and quality of life
People live longer and healthier lives if: They breath clean air and drink safe water They live in safe and comfortable housing They have health supporting behaviour and easy access to health care services They have meaningful jobs and income. They have security They have friends and feel they belong to their community They can make choices for their lives. They have a peaceful home They have trees, plants and feel they relate to the architecture.
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WATER SUPPLY HEALTHY CITY CONCEPT SANITATION HEALTH SERVICES INCOME
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCOME GENERATION SOCIAL SERVICES
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The Aims of Healthy City Initiatives
Improve health and environmental services Make people partners Strengthen social support network Stimulate economic development Put health at center of city social and political agenda
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CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY COMMUNITY
Healthy Unhealthy Optimism, hope and 'we are in this together’ Cynicism "We can do it 'Nothing works' Value intangibles like vision and values Emphasis only on tangibles Consensus building Polarisation Collaboration Confrontation Focus on the future Debate the past Interdependence Parochialism Broad community participation Few do everything Leadership renewal Same old faces Think and act in long term Short term thinking Listening Attacking Reconciliation Hold grudges Win-win solutions Win-lose solutions Politics of substance Politics of personality Diversity and involvement Exclusion Challenge ideas Challenge people Problem solvers Blockers and blamers View challenges as opportunities See themselves as victims
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THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS AFFECTING SAFETY
PEOPLE KNOWING EACH OTHER PEOPLE ACTING TOGETHER (According to Jody Kretzmann)
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A Safe Environment A safe environment is the foundation of a healthy city Environment sustainability = health for people • Characterised by walkable neighbourhoods, local food production, quality open space and mixed local landuses Sustainability policy is well entrenched in planning policy and practice
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Conclusion Advantages of Sustainable Cities
By promoting sustainable urban form and function, cities become healthy, viable communities for citizens. Efficient urban form also helps protect the hinterland ecosystems that cities depend on. In many ways, the advantages to sustainable communities are underlined in the characteristics and definitions of urban sustainability. A good quality of life, natural open spaces, reduced waste, equality, access, lower crime, sense of community, clean air and water quality, and environmental diversity are just a few beneficial characteristics previously mentioned.
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cont The most important advantage of a sustainable city is that it follows such a development path that allows for an integral and long-term development without compromising future generations.
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Thank You
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