Sustainable Urban Development Flashcards
(23 cards)
sustainability definition
meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of the future
example of a sustainable city
curitiba
example of a sustainable area in London
BedZED
what does bedzed have that makes it sustainable
facilities and resources all in one area- eg: 82 homes, 18 workplaces, retail and leisure areas, sustainable energy (eg rainwater recycling system)
what does a sustainable city have to provide
employment, a high standard of living, a clean, healthy environment and fair governance for its residents.
examples of environmental dimensions of sustainability (important)
environmental management, waste and recycling management, energy efficiency, water management, air quality conservation, adaption to and mitigation of climate change
examples of social dimensions of sustainability
adequate provision of schools and health services, public transport provision and energy access, recreational areas and community support, availability of food supplies, ‘green’ housing and buildings. Active involvement of local communities in the processes of improving their local neighbourhoods
in order for a city to be politically sustainable what does it have to be
a democracy
economic dimensions of sustainability examples
local employment opportunities, production and distribution of renewable energy supplies and investment in green technology and innovation.
how can political will impact sustainable development
there needs to be long term planning involving all relevant stakeholders– doesn’t really work in democracies such as the UK as governements think in the short term
sustainability can affect liveability. what is liveability?
the characteristics of a city, which improve the quality of life for people living there
liveability can depend on … (4 factors)
jobs
crime rates
open space
access to education
are urban areas easier to make sustainable than rural areas?
yes
3 reasons why urban areas easier to make sustainable than rural areas
people are more densely concentrated so provision of services (eg clean water) is easier and cheaper
importance of urban sustainability is being recognised more= more research and investment into solutions
gov invest more in urban areas than rural as it benefits more people
problems with making urban areas sustainable (why its difficult)- 4 reasons
requires a lot of investment which cities can’t afford
cities are rapidly expanding and services are failing to meet the needs of the larger population
people unwilling to change their habits
some cities don’t have the appropriate infrastructure (eg roads are not wide enough to build cycle lanes)
strategies to improve sustainability: how to have less cars on the road
put in cycle lanes, park and ride schemes and public transport schemes provision
strategies to improve sustainability: how to have less urban waste
expand recycling facilities
convert to incineration with energy recovery
strategies to improve sustainability: how to reduce water usage
fit buildings with water meters and water efficient fittings
strategies to improve sustainability: green space - what to put in
river clean ups, wetland restoration and tree planting (reduce pollution and increase biodiversity)
what is a sustainable city
a city, which provides employment, a high standard of living, a clean and healthy environment and fair governance for all its residents
what is the ecological footprint
the total area of productive land and water required to produce the resources a population consumes and adsorb the waste produced
in 2007 what was the average ecological footprint for each person
2.7 global hectares
in 2007 what was the ecological footprint for Londoners
5.48 hectares per person
