Urban Strategies
Many cities are now trying to reduce their eco-footprints by reducing energy consumption and waste generation.
LONDON - A MEDC City
London consumes over 13 million tonnes of fuel each year, with just 1% coming from renewable sources.
81% of London's food comes from outside the UK, 20% of London's water comes from outside the area (a lot comes from Wales) and 100% of London's energy sources are imported from power stations all over the UK.
The Government has set targets to try and reduce the eco-footprint. But how is it going to be achieved?
Eco-Communities->BEDZED
Plans to create new eco-towns often involve locating them on greenfield sites but building in existing urban zones is often a better option.
Beddington Zero Energy Development near Croydon in Greater London is the largest carbon neutral eco-community in the UK. It is built on reclaimed land and focuses on social and environmental sustainability, while promoting energy conservation.
Key characteristics for reducing energy consumption
Making buildings from materials that store heat in warm weather and release it at cooler times.
Buildings made from natural, recycled or reclaimed materials.
Houses face south to maximise 'passive solar gain'.
Offices face north with low solar gain to reduce need for air-conditioning.
Insulation jackets on all buildings.
Producing at least as much renewable energy as that consumed.
Homes have roof gardens, rainwater harvesters and waste water recycling.
Green transport plans - the community layout promotes walking, cycling and public transport with bus, rail and tram links.
We've all grown up in a world of increasing car ownership - cities become bigger, people live further away from work, buses and trains maybe aren't convenient and therefore we use cars.
Out of town leisure, retail and business parks have developed on the rural-urban fringe which means traffic flows into, across and out of cities all the time. Multiple car ownership has also increased the congestion, accidents and pollution.
London is a congested city with high pollution - which makes asthma and lung diseases worse. London had to respond...
In 2003 a controversial scheme - the congestion charge - was put into action in Central London. This meant that all vehicles entering a clearly marked zone had to pay a fee and the zone has since been extended.
Since it has been introduced there has been a:
20% fall in traffic in the zone
45% rise in bus passengers
43% increase in the number of cyclists
In 2008 the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was implemented. The most polluting diesel lorries either had to meet emissions standards or pay a daily charge to enter the area. Over time, the scheme will apply to more vehicles in order to clean up London's air and meet EU standards.
Transport Stretegies
CURITIBA - A LEDC City
Curitiba's population grew rapidly during the 1960's causing urban sprawl, fewer green spaces and lost character. The sewerage system struggled to cope, pollution was on the rise and the transport links became jammed.
Something needed to be done.
The 1980s was a decade marked by widespread economic recession, rising urban poverty and increasing deforestation rates in Brazil.
Yet with more than 900,000 people, Curitiba rolled out a number of eco-friendly and social programs during the 1980s.
"Green areas" protected from future development were established in Curitiba, and a number of parks were dedicated to the city's different ethnic and immigrant groups.
Curitiba's transit system was expanded, and a color-coded system for the various bus lines was created (For example - grey buses take people from the suburbs to the CBD, large red buses travel along the main roads, yellow buses along the secondary roads, blue buses run between the medical facilities and white buses transport the growing number of tourists).
Regional administrations were established to decentralize government.
Curitiba also succeeded in attracting new industry to its Industrial City, with automobile companies Renault, Audi/VW and Chrysler moving in.
A citywide recycling program was initiated in which the residents of Curitiba separated organic waste and trash, plastic, glass, and metal. People could obtain fresh fruit and vegetables in exchange for the recyclable material.
The city also recently began building a technology park to attract new-economy businesses. And it is at the fore of Brazilian cities' investing in alternative fuel technologies.
Managing the social and environmental challenges in the developing world – a good example of urban planning is Curitiba in Brazil:
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3 lane roads, with central lane for express buses.
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Integrated transport network.
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Fast, efficient and cheap.
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Some buses run as often as every 90 seconds.
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Buses stop at cylindrical clear-walled stations with turnstiles, steps and wheelchair lifts.
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Buses have extra wide doors and ramps that extend out to the station platform.
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Only 15 to 19 seconds for average stop.
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70% of the 2.2 million population use it.
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One fare for everywhere.
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Alternative fuel used – natural gas.
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Curitiba uses 30% less fuel per person than in similar Brazilian cities.
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Is a model for other countries as less greenhouse gas emissions and fewer traffic jams.
Green Consumerism
Bigger shops = less choice?
For 30 years, supermarkets have grown and now dominate our shopping choices. They do make it easy and convenient - especially if we use a car - but it means we have less choice. The big 5 (look at the pig!) control 80% of the market. Where can we go if we want a change and to get away from mass consumerism?
Competition from supermarkets mean that food is often imported from overseas where it is cheaper and stores offer more and more 2 for 1 deals. This leads to local producers losing out on money, we buy more than we need and therefore waste food and the environmental impact is increased due to transporting goods over.
DID YOU KNOW?
When supermarkets give us a 'buy one get one free', they aren't losing money? They force that offer onto the farmer or supplier who, if they want the supermarket to keep supplying their products, have no choice but to accept it?
Fair Trade and Eco-Factories
Fair trade means paying the farmer (in LEDC's) a fair price for the work they do. Many supermarkets are now selling these products to show they support ethical trading.
M & S opened an eco-factory in 2007 in Sri Lanka. It manufactures women's underwear on a site designed to be carbon neutral. However, they still have to transport the goods which does cause pollution.
Farmer's Markets
These are held in many towns in the UK and offer an alternative to the weekly supermarket trip.
ADVANTAGES
Good quality produce, often organic and always seasonal
Low food miles (it hasn't travelled far therefore hasn't polluted as much)
Low packaging (less waste)
Supports the local economy
You can meet the producer and find out how things are produced
Certified as fresh and grown within 30 miles of the market
DISADVANTAGES
Often expensive
500 markets exist in the UK, but they're not close to everyone
Often only happen weekly or monthly
Unable to provide everything we need
For London, local is not all it seems - it can be 100 miles away!
