9.8 Sustainable Urban Development

• ecological footprint - the total area f productive land and water required to produce the resources a population consumes and absorb the waste produced.
• Liveability - the characteristics of a city which improve the quality of life for the people living there
• Sustainable city - a city which provides employment, a high standard a living, a clean, healthy environment and fair governance for all its residence.
• sustainable development - meeting the needs of the present with compromising the ability of futures generations to meet their own needs.
• urban resilience - the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses and systems within a city to survive, adapt and grow, no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.
• features of sustainable cities:

  social

  • adequate prevision of schools and health services
  • green houses and buildings
  • clean water and sanitation
  • green public transport

  economic

  • decent employment opportunties
  • production of renewable energy
  • investment in green technology
• features of sustainable cities:

  environmental

  • waste and recycling management
  • energy efficient
  • air quality conservation

  urban governance

  • adoption of green urban planning
  • strategies to reduce inequalities
  • support of local, national, regional and global links
• sustainable city - Freiiburg Germany

  transport

  • strong orientation to walking, biking and public transport
  • restriction of use of cars in certain parts
  • 400km of bike paths

  Energy

  • social dimensions include the provision of affordable energy saving homes and locals are encourages to invest in renewable energy resources
  • creation of 10,000 jobs in environmental businesses and over 1000 employed in solar technologies
• sustainable city - Freiiburg Germany

  water supply

  • harness both rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling
  • groundwater is the cities most important source of drinking water and has to be protected from pollution
  • Sustainable drainage systems include green roofs, permeable road and pavement surfaces

  Land conservation

  • green spaces are both protected. 40% of the city is forested.
  • excepting floods it is unmanaged and provides natural haitats for flora
• sustainable city - Freiiburg Germany

  waste management

  • MSW is reused and recycled. there are 350 community collection points for recycling. energy for 28000 homes is produced by incineration
• opportunities of cities:

  • people more densely populated, so provision of public transport and water is easier
  • understand the importance of urban sustainability
  • governments invest more in urban sustainability than rural
• challenges of cities

  • requires significant investment which some cities cant afford
  • cities are growing, so public transport services need to expand
  • unwilling to change habits e.g drive less
  • don't have appropriate infrastructure
• strategies:

  • reduce number of cars
  • increase amount of green space
  • improve urban waste disposal
  • increase renewable energy use
  • decrease water use
  • make buildings energy efficient
• benefits - freiiburg

  • high quality of life
  • accessible green space
  • clean air
  • decreased carbon footprint
• challenges - freiiburg germany

  • initial high costs
  • Increased population making it harder to maintain sustainability
  • still prone to congestion