Week 12.3 - China's ghost cities

A proliferation of what has been termed 'ghost cities' suggests that China's approach to urbanisation leaves a lot to be desired. This approach, characterised by the notion of 'build it and they will come,' has seen large scale cities erected on the rural urban fringes in order to accommodate the projected transition of residents from rural to urban areas. Capable of accommodating millions of people, they are left largely uninhabited, with occupancy rates floating around the 10% mark. This is due to the fact that policies and processes underpinning construction are not sustainable. Firstly, Chinese policy stipulates that residents are restricted to investing their money in China, resulting in a massive over supply of the market. This problem is exacerbated due to the fact that from an economic perspective, the development is largely out of reach of the unskilled rural population it is intended for. Unlinked from market demand, this rapid growth in infrastructure investment is unsustainable and needs to moderate in the future, preferably through more efficient and densely populated cities that require less infrastructure.

http://www.news.com.au/finance/china-building-mega-cities-but-they-remain-empty-sparking-fears-of-housing-bubble-burst/story-e6frfm1i-1226611169281 

Week 12.2 - Liveability

The liveability of a city is directly proportionate to the degree which it can be considered sustainable. As a consequence, with its wide footpaths, tree lined streets and readily accessible amenities, Barcelona is often considered one of the world's most sustainable cities, even with a population density of 50-70,000 people per square km. In accordance with an efficient public transport network, effective land use planning is able to reduce the reliance on private vehicle ownership, and in turn, negative externalities such as congestion and pollution. By facilitating a comfortable and convenient lifestyle, land use planning in Barcelona harks back to pre-industrial times, whereby people's daily activities were confined to a certain precinct. As such, residents are able to walk short distances to work or the shops, and are content in doing so.

http://www.newgeography.com/content/003123-the-evolving-urban-form-barcelona 

Week 12.1 - Earth Hour

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement which involves a multitude of cities turning off their lights for one hour on a specified night of the year. This concept was initiated in Sydney, 2007, and is designed to draw attention to the issue of sustainability and cities. For those who participate, Earth Hour acts as a medium in which they are able to acknowledge their commitment to this responsibility, whilst raising funds for environmental projects. 

In terms of acting upon the need to foster a greater interaction between sustainability and cities, Earth Hour can be said to be little more than a symbolic gesture. This concept is still largely in its infancy, so it is a start. The intentions are there, and this movement does raise awareness for ecological initiatives that need immediate attention. In Australia this year's event focused on implementing policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef, a national treasure under immediate threat from climate change. however, as it is essentially one hour of action per year, Earth Hour is vulnerable to ridicule. Commenting on the event, Danish political scientist Dr Bjorn Lomborg argues that it does little to address the primary concern of global warming. 

"While more than a billion people across the globe make a symbol of foregoing non-essential electrical power for one hour a year, another 1.3 billion people across the developing world will continue to live without electricity as they do every other night of the year." 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-29/australia-marks-earth-hour/5354338

Week 11.3 - Reed bed system

Consisting of plants, sand and gravel, a reed bed is an organic system which is able to reduce the amount of energy used to treat waste. When waste water is fed into the system, it is treated by microorganisms living in the roots of the plants, a process which takes approximately 7 days. As a result, the treated water is able to be recycled and used primarily for grey water purposes, and depending on the system, the quality occasionally high enough for drinking. Although a rarity amongst urban environments, reed beds offer an alternate to the process which often sees Sydney's treated waste water pumped out to sea. However, it is the implementation of such systems within an urban environment that is an issue which remains. With space at a premium, roof tops appear as the obvious option, however the viability of pumping waste water to them may be disproved through a cost benefit analysis.

http://www.lessthan2degrees.info/house/reedbed-sewerage-treatment-system/

Week 11.2 - Farmers

The degree to which a city can be considered sustainable is not restricted to the inner workings of a city itself. Rather, it is similarly dependent upon supply mechanisms, e.g. a viable farming economy, necessary to ensure that produce is able to be provided in a sustainable manner. Due to the fact that Australia is a nation of droughts and flooding rains, it is essential that our farmers are provided support during these periods, e.g. through stimulation packages, in order for them to remain viable and service our cities. Even though the Australian farming industry is not solely responsible for supplying our cities, the other alternate, importation, is far less sustainable considering Australia's geographical context.  As a consequence, after two flood years, followed by record low droughts, the importance of farmers loans cannot be stated highly enough.

Balogh, S, 2014. Drought loans fail to rain down on farmers. The Australian, 29 April. 7.

Neales, S, 2014. Race against time to make most of weather's fortune. The Australian, 29 April. 7.

Week 11.1 - Clean Coal

The utilisation of clean coal technology, and the degree to which it is effective, is an issue which is subject to debate. From an Australian perspective, the sustainable management of coal is of particular importance considering that it is the nation's secound largest export with its industry employing almost 200,000 people and worth $60 billion to the economy. With the notion of sustainability becoming increasingly relevant to corporate business practice, Australian companies need to do more to secure their future as large coal exporters. Neglect of bigger picture issues is driven by economics, with the preoccupation of their bottom line potentially detrimental to the long term viability of the industry at large. In comparison, solar and wind-powered generation have grown more rapidly in response to incentives and renewable energy targets. Consequently, it is up to the government to take a leadership role in this matter and implement policies concerning carbon capture and storage at coal-fired power stations. A look to the London based IEA Clean Coal Centre is able to reveal that such mechanisms are effective on a commercial scale.

http://www.australiansforcoal.com.au/

http://www.iea-coal.org.uk/site/2010/home

Potter, B, 2014. Clean coal works on a large scale: IEA expert. The Australian Financial Review, 23 April. 14.

Week 10 - Government Policy

On Monday 31st March, 2014, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change released a report detailing the likelihood of severe and irreversible damage if high greenhouse gas emissions continue and the planet warms. In Australia, opinion remains divided upon how to best tackle this issue, with the Liberal government's direct action policy superseding that of Labour's emission trading scheme. Increasing the cost of living, specifically gas and electricity prices, the 'carbon tax' was scrapped on the premise that it placed too great a strain on the Australian economy. On the converse, the 'direct action policy' aims to reduce emissions by providing financial incentives to the nation's leading polluters to do so, in accordance with the implementation of green projects, e.g. the exploration of soil carbon technologies and abatement.

Both schemes can be classified as polar opposites, and, as a result, the most appropriate solution to ensure a healthy integration between sustainability and cities probably lies somewhere in between. Advocates for the carbon tax argue that it will result in greater and more immediate reduction in emissions, and that this mechanism is the only viable solution to ensure that Australia matches the ambition of other countries, who plan a 19% cut by 2020 and a reduction of 40-60% by 2030. In saying this, the carbon taxes' ability to act as a panacea for reduced emissions is unquestioned, however would see that Australians would pay dearly in lost jobs, and higher prices for electricity, groceries and goods and services. As a consequence, the economic implications may prove to be too costly and potentially impact upon the future capacity to facilitate sustainable initiatives.

On the other hand, the direct action policy is centred on an 'emissions reduction fund' a pool of $2.55 billion of taxpayers' money, from which some of the nation's biggest polluters will be paid incentives to cut their greenhouse gases. This is proposed to be done by means of reverse auction, with firms who submit the lowest bids, the least expensive way to reduce emissions, to get government subsidies. In comparison to the carbon tax, the biggest point of difference is target reductions, with the direct action plan set to reduce emissions by 5% on 2000 levels. When measured against other advanced nations, this target is hardly ambitious, and criticised by environmentalists due to the fact that a stable economy is prioritised over reduced emissions.

As mentioned previously, the ideal solution probably incorporates aspects of both schemes. In the long term, rewarding the reduction of emissions, as opposed to simply taxing them, will provide greater incentive to be sustainable. With the direct action plan, reduced emissions from power plants are aided by making buildings more energy efficient, planting trees and storing carbon in soil. By contrast, the ability to implement such mechanisms under the carbon tax would be questioned due to the economic burden which taxing emissions itself carries. In addition, the argument that the direct action plan (in comparison to the carbon tax) is economically inefficient, doesn't necessarily wash. Even though it requires tax payers money, it does not cripple pensioners, small businesses, family and industry by taxing all electricity in the economy and forcing down demand. Of cause for greater concern is the fact that the direct action plan only targets the nation's 130 biggest polluters. It neglects to address the issue of the country's other emitters, and must be careful that proposed cuts aren't underdone by other businesses increasing emissions. Furthermore, companies which have spent time and money switching to more efficient methods of production do not benefit.

Comment, 2014. Inaction on climate change is no laughing matter. Sydney Morning Herald, 01 April. 14.

Cox, L, 2014. White paper leaves questions unanswered. Sydney Morning Herald, 25 April. 5.

Lloyd, G, 2014. Minimal attitude suits climate action mood. The Australian, 25 April. 6.

Lloyd, G, 2014. PM plans for $1bn climate top-up. The Australian, 25 April. 1.

Cox, L 2014. Key senators give direct action policy a chilly reception. Sydney Morning Herald, 26-27 April. 9.

Comment, 2014. Paying polluters, robbing taxpayers is poor policy. Sydney Morning Herald, 28 April. 16.

Week 9.3 - Waste Management

Waste management, or more specifically, reduction, is a key criterion of sustainable cities. As a consequence, the habit of 'throwing things away' is one which needs to be addressed, specifically through a greater understanding of 'where is away?' Although the term is widely used, it cannot be said that its implications are fully grasped. Due to the fact that there is no 'away,' a reversal of this physic in necessary to facilitate a move towards sustainable habits. More often than not, waste goes to landfill, a place where toxins leak into the soil, water & atmosphere. As these processes come back to haunt us, and impact on our lives in negative ways, waste is everyone's problem and therefore everyone's responsibility.

In order to draw attention to this issue, Natalie Coulter uses the art of window displays to promote activism in waste management. In effect, this medium is able to appeal to the masses, and is facilitated through 'repurposed' resources diverted from landfill. Furthermore, association's with large scale corporations are able to increase awareness, with messages such as 'one man's trash is another's treasure' being reinforced to customers and shareholders. In Australia, these initiatives are particularly relevant, with each person generating around half a tonne of household waste per year.

Fulwood, A, 2014. Urban explorer's sustainable style. The Australian Financial Review, 24-27 April. 34.

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/downtoearth/allaboutwaste.htm

Week 9.2 - Space Exploration

With the notion of sustainable cities still in its embryonic stages, and global population growth increasing by 1 billion people every 12 years, it begs the question as to how long our planet will be able to sustain the needs of humanity. The topic is cause for concern, and as a consequence, facilitates debate whether exploration and or habitation of other planets is necessary. Sceptics argue that resource allocation should be focused on implementing sustainable initiatives here on planet earth, whereas on the contrary, exponents of space exploration believe that we are fighting a losing battle, and that a manned mission to Mars is "feasible, affordable and necessary" if the human race is to survive. Charles Bolden, head of the US space program, takes the view that if humanity is to survive indefinitely we need to become a multi-planet species. The debate is extremely open ended, however Bolden's view is hard to ignore due to the fact that a mission to Mars would be able to act as a stepping stone to other planets.

Taylor, D, 2014. Mars trip 'key' to our survival. The Australian, 24 April. 8.

Week 9.1 - Agglomeration theory

The degree to which a city can be considered sustainable can measured through economic factors, e.g. the ability to attract educated workers. Such facets allow the productivity of a city to be maximised, and are dependent upon appropriate infrastructure, specifically, an efficient public transport network. This is due to the fact that notions of agglomeration theory dictate that industries are more productive/ profitable when clustered, and therefore see that they are inclined to follow trends of consolidation. In saying this, Sydney's lack of an efficient public transport network is cause for concern. By preventing processes of consolidation and, in turn, agglomeration theory, industry growth will be stunted, or alternatively, have no option but to spread outwards. Subsequently, negative externalities associated with this process, including, but not limited to the inability to attract educated workers, are factors which will prove detrimental to the long term viability of the city at large.

Wade, M, 2014. Smart cities need good transport to lure wise workers. The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 April. 19.

Week 8.3 - Recycled water: Green Square

With over 20 billion litres of Sydney's stormwater flowing out to sea every year, development within the Green Square precinct is undertaking a conscious effort to implement water saving initiatives. Apartment dwellers are notoriously high consumers of drinking water, with one third of what they use either flushed down the toilet or used in the laundry. In response, stormwater harvesting will see that recycled storm water, purified through processes such as ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, is used for bathroom and laundry purposes. In facilitating a recycled water network, savings are real, with a parallel plumbing system able to provide up to 900 kilolitres (half an Olympic-sized swimming pool) of recycled water every day. As a consequence, economic costs associated with the implementation of such systems are able to be justified through reduced water bills and the knowledge that a conscious effort is being made to live sustainably.

http://greensquarewater.com.au/

Week 8.2 - Carbon storage

Up until a paradigm shift signals the widespread introduction of renewable energy resources, carbon emissions will continue to act as a hindrance towards the facilitation of sustainable cities. Due to the fact that development of renewable energy resources are still in their embryonic stages, and resource consumption continues to grow (quintupling over the last 5 decades), carbon storage initiatives will be necessary to minimise the inevitable effects of global warming.

Such initiatives themselves are still very much experimental, with early research pointing towards the fact that they can largely be considered as site dependent. In the Huon Valley, Tasmania, a 80m steel tower has been erected amongst a eucalypt forest with the intention of monitoring fluctuations in the amount of carbon, water and energy between the land and atmosphere. In accordance with monitoring soil samples, trees and bugs, scientists hope the data will reveal how and when forests store and release carbon. In turn, such knowledge will be able to inform decision making regarding whether it is better, from a carbon storage standpoint, to leave mature forests untouched or instead harvest and regrow them. Over the past 12 months, the key finding has been that the hotter days, the forests take in much less carbon then on the cooler days. As a consequence, this in turn dictates the need to take swift action before global average temperatures rise further.

Denholm, M, 2014. Forest tower finds the answers to carbon puzzle. The Weekend Australian, 5-6 April. 10.

Week 8.1 - One child policy

Sustainable population levels are a key criterion of sustainable cities. In response to this facet, for the past three decades, China has implemented controls in order to mitigate population growth in the form of their one child per family policy. Substantial fines associated with exceeding this limit effectively act as a birth control mechanism, and over this period, it is assumed that the policy has resulted in 400 million fewer births. However, in regards to sustainability and cities, the degree to which this measure can be considered effective is questionable.

Over the short term, this is specifically true, with the ability to have only one child, or two under certain circumstances, leaving China with a rapidly aging population. As a consequence, the first children born under this policy have been left with the added burden of caring for the elderly. Furthermore, substantial fines associated with exceeding the one child limit often leave families to lie on census data. In urban areas, children are often listed to other family members, and in rural areas, left out all together, with the real population expected to be higher than listed. In addition, the desire to have a boy has also seen that millions of female foetuses have been aborted, and resulted in an unprecedented man made gender imbalance.

Minter, A, 2014. A fine mess: China's two-child penalties don't add up. The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 April. 14.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11404623 

Week 7.3 - Adaption

With greenhouse emissions showing no signs of slowing down, this facet espouses the increasing need for adaption to climate change. In Australia we have the means to quantify and respond to forecasted impacts through the implementation of additional infrastructure e.g. by increasing the height of levees to reduce flooding. By contrast, the same cannot be said for places such as the Maldives. Due to the fact that its highest point is 2m above sea level, in a century, it will be completely underwater at high tide, illustrating how the impacts of climate change are not evenly distributed around the world. Furthermore, over the past decade, flooding has contributed to 6000 deaths per year, with four of the top ten countries in terms of deaths relative to total population from the Pacific (Samoa, the Philippines, Fiji and Papua New Guinea). As a consequence, reducing the vulnerability of such societies to climate impacts is essential if they are to remain sustainable.

Comment, 2014. Inaction on climate change is no laughing matter. Sydney Morning Herald, 01 April. 14-17.

Week 7.2 - Out of sight, out of mind

An issue which threatens to continually hinder the quest for cities to become more sustainable is the notion of 'out of sight, out of mind.' Even though cities are the primary contributors to green house gas emissions, the effects of their actions are felt elsewhere first and often hardest. The recent IPPC report illustrates the need for a united approach to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Without immediate action, consequences will be later exacerbated, and in regards to Australia, these include, but are not limited to, loss of mountain ecosystems and native species, the decline of fresh water resources and reduction in agricultural production.

Seemingly disconnected from urban life, aforementioned facets come back to haunt urban dwellers through the health and economic impacts of heatwaves, floods and bushfires. Coffee for instance, is a product expected to suffer by the increase of global temperatures. With forecasts of between 2-2.5 degrees of warming, changes in rainfall patterns and the spread of plant diseases and pests, suitable growing land will contract significantly. This disruption to production will effect processes of supply and demand, and ultimately increase the price of a latte in inner city cafes.

Arup, R, Wood, A, 2014. Temperature rise could hit coffee drinkers in the hip pocket. Sydney Morning Herald, 31 March. 6.

Comment, 2014. Inaction on climate change is no laughing matter. Sydney Morning Herald, 01 April. 14-17.

Week 7.1 - Moral imperative

The Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) signalled a number of unsustainable processes whose adverse effects are to be felt most strongly three centuries on. In terms of climate change, global temperatures are projected to warm by an average of 4 degrees by 2100, and in turn, negatively impact on population health and social stability. Aforementioned facets dictate the need to curb emissions, explore renewable energy resources/ carbon store initiatives, and implement design mechanisms capable of sustainably mitigating such increases. Economic considerations see that we are inclined to neglect such initiatives, yet in doing so, we create problems for future generations that will continue to impede the facilitation of sustainable cities. With awareness on the issue as strong as ever, our generation have a moral imperative to reverse the unsustainable practices of our predecessors for the sake of our offspring. Failure to do so will have dire implications, with forecasts that people will be unable to work during the hottest parts of the year, and in turn, potentially cut global productivity by 40% in the warmest months from 2100 onwards.

Snow, D, 2014. Climate could make humans extinct, warns health expert. The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 March. 6.

Week 6 - Urban Consolidation: Sydney

Metropolitan planning strategies that pursue a consolidation agenda do so in order to facilitate a sustainable future. This is due to the fact that consolidation, as opposed to sprawl, is seen as a panacea for reducing carbon emissions, protecting biodiversity, increasing the utilisation of public infrastructure, and enhancing social cohesion. However, through an analysis of the Sydney Metropolitan Strategy (NSWDOP, 2005) and its review, Sydney Towards 2036 (NSWDOP, 2010), it is evident that urban consolidation is hard to implement in retrospect. At sites identified for increased densities, the state government has encountered local resistance, which can be seen through NIMBY (not in my backyard) protests in established suburban areas such as Ku-ring-gai.

This resistance is born out of the desire to still live out the ‘great Australian dream,’ the notion of owning a home of one’s own on a suburban quarter acre block. Coupled with failed attempts at consolidation in the past, traditional notions of consolidation e.g. taller buildings overlooking/ overshadowing smaller ones, have been seen as the antithesis of this dream, and help to explain why Australian’s, in comparison to the rest of the world, have been slow to adopt such planning policies. Relatively speaking, this problem is unique to Australia, as being such a large continent; everyone feels they are entitled to their own block. A look to Western Sydney is able to reveal the spatial articulation of this dream, and illustrate the powerful grip it still holds over Australians.

As a consequence, it is the notion of sustainability, now seen as a common ground for humanity, which will be integral in facilitating the necessary shift towards consolidation. However, as this paradigm shift is still evolving, this stipulates the need for consolidation to first and foremost take place in areas where it can be justified under the guise of gentrification. As seen through development at Green Square and Wentworth Point, low density areas traditionally used for industrial purposes meet this criteria. Furthermore, due to the fact that they are often run down and/ or underutilise, they provide the perfect circumstance for strategic master planning to facilitate sustainable, utopian communities.

In light of this, a look to both developments are able to reveal a common shortcoming in that they are not readily accessible by public transport. This is particularly worrying, as the degree to which consolidation can be considered sustainable is directly proportionate to the degree to which an efficient public transport network can reduce the reliance on private vehicle ownership, and in turn reduce congestion and carbon emissions. The notion of transient orientated development (TOD) is often promoted as a panacea to implement these criteria, and refers to the process of increasing urban densities around a centralised transport hub. As a consequence, mechanisms implemented in retrospect are in contradiction to the very nature of TOD, with both precincts electing to deal with the issue of accessibility in lieu of population growth. Such propositions are short-sighted, driven by economics and serve to counteract positive externalities associated with efficient land use planning within the precincts themselves.

Johnson, L, 1997. Western Sydney and the desire for home. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 32, 2, 115-128.

Ruming, K, 2012. Multiple Suburban Publics: Rethinking Community Opposition to Consolidation in Sydney. Geographical research: Institute of Australian Geographers, 50, 4, 421-435.

Bucolo, S, 2003. Transient orientated Sustainable Urban Developments - Enhancing Community Consultation through Web Based Virtual Environments. Proceedings of the 1^st international conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques in Australasia and South East Asia, 1, 1, 271-272.

Week 5.3 - Development firms

Driven by the goal to be net positive by 2030, property development firm Mirvac are beginning to question traditional motifs of building design. Why does a building have to consume energy, why can't it produce energy? Why does a building have to consume water, why can't it collect water? Why can't a building re-use and recycle all of its outflows? A major competitor, Lend Lease, is taking a similar approach. Their large mixed-use development building in London's Elephant and Castle area, due for completion in 2025, aims to do so with net-zero carbon growth. As touched on in the previous post, such thinking has far reaching benefits that transcend initial environmental and economic objectives associated with 'being green.'

In the case of the Elephant and Castle Development, dwellings will be constructed from cross-laminated timber, a sustainably sourced and highly insulating material. Subsequently, heaters are rendered surplus to requirements, and the money saved will be used to install plumbing which will utilize grey water for toilet flushing. Aforementioned facets of design help to attract tenants by appealing to their moral obligation to be sustainable. Of even greater benefit, however, is the developments intention to influence the behaviour of people living in it and using it. It will improve public transport links, encourage bicycle use, and a rainwater catchment will be used to maintain a park in the middle of the development, the largest created in central London for 70 years.

http://www.mirvac.com/About/News/This-Changes-Everything/

Bleby, M, 2014. Lend Lease in 'green' project. Australian Financial Review, 20 March. 54. 

Entry 5.2 - Roles of Organisations

Utilising the same strand of thought as implemented by Copenhagen, organisations are  starting to realise the tangible benefits associated with sustainability. This is relevant to the relationship between sustainability and cities, as the inflows and outflows of large scale organisations largely contribute to the overall urban metabolism of a city. Due to associated implications, sustainably innovative organisations are typically more productive, and similarly, more profitable due to the fact that 'being green' is marketable. In recognition of this facet, leading organisations are starting to adjust traditional approaches to appeal to consumer conscious. 

As sustainability is widely accepted as a new common ground for humanity, innovative organisations will seek to be associated with buildings that impute their core business objectives, linked to sustainability in some way. In terms of building design, flexibility is an associated facet as it allows the function of the building to change without requiring additional embodied energy. So to natural lighting, which, in accordance with flexibility, produces spaces rich in amenity and ultimately conducive to creating a harmonious working environment. In sum, as organisations play an integral role in forming the underlying fabric of a city, by adjusting their corporate business practice to account for sustainable objectives, this allows the overall fabric of the city to follow suit.

Week 5.1 - Copenhagen

Worldwide, the political and environmental climate dictates the moral obligation for humanity to be sustainable. As a consequence, cities who recognise this facet are the ultimate beneficiaries, and are able to enjoy rewards which transcend initial ecological concerns. Copenhagen is a case in point. Due to a transport network which places a heavy emphasis on public transport and cycling, Copenhagen is on track to become the first carbon neutral capital city in the world by 2025. This would be an extraordinary feat, considering they only began to take sustainable action in 2005.

Changes to infrastructure have revolutionised the way residents commute, as citizens are able to cycle short distances to public transport networks, hop on and off with their bikes, before continuing on to their next destination. Due to its efficiency, this method is more popular than driving a car. By reducing CO2 emissions, this action gives rise to a multitude of reactions that can be tied back to economic benefits. Cleaner air and extensive cycle networks leads to improved health, reducing government funding for public health care. Furthermore, improved health and reduced congestion leads to increased production which, in turn, provides the funds necessary to facilitate further sustainable initiatives. In Copenhagen, an example of this was their initiative to improve their marine environment by cleaning the water in their harbour. Due to the fact that 'being green' is marketable, such actions contribute to the process which has seen an increase in tourism and real estate prices.

http://www.slideshare.net/halloliver/copenhagen-solutions-for-sustainable-cities-2012-export-catalogue

Week 4 - Ecological Footprint... Being realistic

For the first time ever, my participation in SUSD0001 has led me to calculate my ecological footprint. Entering relatively detailed information on the EPA website, in about 15 minutes it became apparent that if everyone lived like me, we would need 4.1 planet earths to sustain such a lifestyle. The degree to which I am conscious of my ecological footprint probably extends to being wary of water and electricity usage around the house. Sure, any action is better than nothing, however from calculating my ecological footprint, and then trying to reduce it, becomes apparent that even the staunchest of eco soldiers would struggle to live a sustainable existence in an urbanised world.

In short, my unsustainable lifestyle is characterised by commuting approximately 20km by car per day, eating meat daily and travelling 20 air hours per year. This lifestyle is a direct outcome of the westernised/ globalised culture I am immersed in, whereby such patterns of living are considered the norm. As a consequence it is likely that I, along with the majority of others, will continue living in an unsustainable manner until a significant paradigm shift dictates otherwise. This is due to the fact that once people become accustomed to certain luxury's they are unlikely to give them up. In experimenting with the ecological footprint calculator, the most startling realisation is that by giving up meat, I could reduce my footprint by 42%. However, due to the aforementioned facet, I am unlikely to do so.

In addition, it is hard to realistically implement change when associated benefit seems disproportionate to sacrifice. It is not always the case that by making a major lifestyle change, e.g. by becoming a vegetarian, that a proportionate reaction will ensure. By switching my primary mode of transport from car to public transport, I would only be reducing my ecological footprint by .1 planets. As a result, the exponential increase in travel time sees that I am not prepared to make this sacrifice. Similarly, by forgoing the luxury of air travel, I am only reducing my ecological footprint by .3 planets.

Even if I was to make a series of major sacrifices to substantially reduce my ecological footprint, I cannot realistically reduce my way of living to sustainable levels. Furthermore, It would be hard to commit to making such a sacrifice considering that individual action is not going to effect the situation at large. People who endeavour to live a sustainable existence do so with noble intentions, and many are content with their way of life, but as rates of consumption continue to increase, it is akin to swimming against the tide. As mentioned previously, any action is better than none, and on a large scale, small actions can have a big effect. However, established institution see that large scale sustainable living is unrealistic in the current urban climate. Paradoxically, people are almost better off to continue living in their current manner in order to speed up the introduction of the inevitable paradigm shift that will signal the widespread use of renewable energy resources. It is only then that sustainable living can be implemented on a large scale.

http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/Ecologicalfootprint/calculators/personal/introduction.asp

Week 3.3 - Land Use Planning

Land use planning is an overarching management strategy integral to the facilitation of sustainable cities. Regardless of a cities size or density, the effectiveness of its productivity is directly proportional to the effectiveness of its planning. Subsequently, in order to effect the physical, environmental and economic benefits associated with well-planned urban density, high-quality development needs to take precedence over high quantity.

In the past, building to maximise returns without accounting for liveability has proven to be detrimental to density. Contributing to urban sprawl, this process has proved to be counterproductive to allowing people to move around easily between home and work - one of the most important factors of good land-use planning. In Sydney, increasing density around railway stations would go a long way to rectifying this deficiency, reducing car dependency and more appropriately utilising our fleet of double-decker trains.

Thistleton, R, 2014. Freeways don't solve city traffic woes. Australian Financial Review, 20 March. 57.

Week 3.2 - Renewable Energy

In the near future, the world is due for a quantum shift in relation to its primary energy resource. The rate of global oil consumption is unsustainable, and as it is a non-renewable resource, this action, or lack of, neglects bigger picture issues. A more strategic approach is needed in relation to investing into renewable resources, even if it is currently less economically feasible. In Australia, the long term viability of our cities is dependent upon government initiatives to overhaul traditional systems and infrastructure in order to utilise the indefinite amounts of sun, wind and wave energy unique to our massive content. Such decisions require significant amounts of funding, however delaying action only serves to delay the inevitable. We shouldn't have to wait until we are forced into action when the writing is already on the wall. The government will have to 'bite the bullet,' so to speak, at one point or another, and the early it does so, the greater the long term benefits.

Week 3.1 - In Retrospect

Amongst my group, talk has centred around a focus point for our assignment, specifically whether or not it is possible to implement sustainable mass urban transport retrospectively. The general consensus was that implementing this proposal in theory would undoubtedly differ to reality whereby economics and politics would come into play. The previous post is a prime example of how Sydney will attempt to implement sustainable mass urban transport retrospectively. At a cost of $1.6 billion, The Light Rail Network deals with a problematic issue in the heart of the city, however it is well documented that Sydney's overall transport issues run much deeper, with various urban demographics subject to slow and unreliable service. Furthermore, it emphasises the importance of a master plan for the city at large, as the success of this addition (the degree to which it is sustainable) is dependent upon how seamlessly it can integrate with existing and proposed infrastructure.

http://www.sydney2030.com.au/vision-in-2030/strategic-directions

Week 2.3 - Light Rail Network

News closer to home centres around the introduction of the CBD and South East Light Rail Network. Any addition to Sydney's abysmal public transport service is welcome, however is this infrastructure a stop-gap solution or of long term benefit? The light rail service will replace a large number of busses who frequent the CBD, freeing up pedestrian networks and resulting in reduced congestion and carbon emissions. For the first time, the infrastructure will provide viable public transport for large crowds attending sporting fixtures at the SCG & SFS. The service can accommodate 5 times more commuters than a bus, ensuring more efficient transport within a high-traffic precinct. As a result the project should prove to be both an environmental and economic success. Time will tell. 

http://www.sydney2030.com.au/vision-in-2030/strategic-directions

Week 2.2 - Increasing Urban Demographic

Currently around half the worlds population live in urban cities, with that figure expected to rise by 20% by 2050. Yes this is a worrying figure, but does it need to be? Can humanity make the necessary adaption's within 35 years so that Co2 emissions from cities do not disproportionately outweigh those from rural settings? In established cities, it is optimistic to say they could, however it is realistic in cases where effective action is already underway, e.g. Copenhagen who have expectations to be carbon neutral by 2025.

It is apparent that the key resource in this process is time, as drastic changes cannot be expected to happen overnight. However, as innovative cities lay the blueprint for change, this process can only improve as others follow. There is a great deal of optimism for master-planned cities, e.g. Masdar City, and great scope for developing cities (under the condition that strict planning conditions are adhered to). If they are, there is potential for the increasing urban population to be offset by a decline in per-capita carbon emissions. 

http://www.slideshare.net/halloliver/copenhagen-solutions-for-sustainable-cities-2012-export-catalogue

http://masdarcity.ae/en/

Week 2.1 - An Integrated Approach

First entry! Where to start? This week my research into the intersection of sustainability and cities has begun through the transport paradigm. Initial research begun through this paradigm as the driving requirement for the group assignment was to establish an individual focus point within the intangibly large subject area of sustainable cities. Through this investigation it soon became apparent that the intersection of sustainability and cities consists of a variety of overlapping paradigms that are impossible to analyse independently of one another. As a consequence, in order to improve cities both sustainably and equitably, an integrated approach is required whereby the various paradigms of transport, housing and population growth are considered as a whole and not individually.