3rd int urban design conf

3rd International Urban Design ConferenceAugust 2010 - National Convention Centre, CanberraDarren Bilsborough, Director of Sustainability A-PAdjunct Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University

Strategic Planning Responses to City Vulnerability

More potential problems than you can poke a stick at relating to:-

City Vulnerability

Identifying the issues Climate Change Global Population and Consumption

Leading to Resource Depletion and;- Peak Oil Peak Water Peak Food Pollution (air, water and soil)

Health and Well Being (future liabilities)

Future Health Liability

Future Health Liability – Unfunded Health Budgets

PB-CUSP Alliance Research

Costs to government$86 million (or approximately $80,000 per block) – or the cost to provide power, water, sewerage, schools, hospitals and local government services for fringe developments. Road infrastructure is the most significant cost.

Cost to people$250 million in transport costs over 50 years – people in fringe developments drive more frequently and own more cars $ 4.23 million in health costs – people in fringe developments have higher risk of obesity related to lower levels of physical activity for people.

Cost to the planet4,400 tons of greenhouse gas is saved for 1,000 urban dwellings, which is roughly equal to the amount emitted from 200 homes – an estimated dollar value of approximately $19.32 million.

Productivity OpportunityA 6% improvement in productivity due to active travelLifestyle.


Status Quo Melbourne @ 5 million

Will cost $110,080,000,000 extra over 50 years assuming that half of all future housing is built on the periphery of

Melbourne


New Ways Needed – A Change in Direction

Sustainable EnergyFuture Urban Form

Sustainable Land Use (how to grow?)

Green Buildings (next steps)

Sustainable Transport

Biophillic city concept

Planning Responses

The Elephant in the Room

Climate Change Adaptation

Why isn’t there more public discussion....?

Planning ResponsesNew Ways Needed – A Change in Direction

Sustainable Built Form and Land Use

• Fewer cars (less roads), more public transport…..pedestrian and cycling priorities

240 persons travel to work in:

177 cars 3 buses 1 tram

Land Use and Transport Modes

Green Transport infrastructure?

•A number of cities in US and elsewhere now pulling down inner city expressways•New concept in the US of “Road Diet” – removing some traffic lanes to limit traffic flows and speeds to environmental capacity•Singapore, London, Stockholm congestion charging and other cities looking at following•Roadspace is increasingly being allocated to public transport, bicycles and other small vehicles•Big investments are being made in public transport

Green Transport infrastructure?

Cheonggyecheon area before restoration (Seoul)

Source: http://www.metro.seoul.kr/kor2000/chungaehome/en/seoul/2sub.htm/

Cheonggyecheon area before restoration (Seoul)

Cheonggyecheon area after restoration

Source: http://www.metro.seoul.kr/kor2000/chungaehome/en/seoul/2sub.htm/

Cheonggyecheon area after restoration

“If you’re looking for a big opportunity look for a big problem” ANON

Where do Australian emissions come from?

48%

14%

Stationary energy(power plants, etc)

Transport(vehicles)

6%

3%

2%

Garbage tips

Industrial processes

Gases escaping (during mining, from pipes)

17%

10%Land use change and forestry (clearing, etc)

Agriculture (mostly ex-animals)

AGO, figures for 1999

Where do Australian emissions come from?

Stationary energy(power plants, etc)

Transport(vehicles)

AGO, figures for 1999

62% of all emissions from Transport and Energy

Smart Grids: An Alternative Renewables Enabler

EVs, Distributed Energy and Smart Grids

Courtesy of EPRI

A Tipping Point?

What do we require to institute change?

A transport system tipping point

In and out of ice ages – last couple of millions of years oscillating every 70,000 years or so!

Cold

Warm

Hot

Tipping elements and thresholds!

Cold

Warm

Hot

Loss of each “tipping element” increases the risk of passing thresholds


Cold

Warm

Hot

At some point we trigger runaway global warming

Overshoot and collapse to a new stable state?


Peak Oil – Is this our Tipping Point (if it isn’t Climate Change)

Some future scenarios have petrol prices at up to $8/litre in Australia. Even modest scenarios foresee $2 a litre within a few years

Surveys by Budget Direct suggest 30% of motorists in Australian cities will stop using their car to commute if petrol reaches $1.75 a litre

Destiny of all life lies within technology

What is Biophilia?

Biophilia

Edward O. Wilson, a Harvard University entomologist, coined the term "biophilia", referring to humans' "love of living things" - our innate affinity with nature

The Biophilic City Concept

• Increase Biodiversity and Stabilise Ecological Systems

Deforestation

Biodiverse Cities



• Introduction of Urban Farming (including Vertical Farms) Catering for Local Food Requirements and Reduction in Food Miles

Mole Hill Vancouver

Edible Cities

Cuba

Vertical Farms



• Introduction of Urban Farming (including Vertical Farms) Catering for Local Food Requirements and Reduction in Food Miles

• Improvement in Water Management, Efficiency and Recycling

• Decreased Energy Intensity through Reduced Heat Island Effect – Consideration of Climate Change Adaptation due to ▲ ºC into the Future

• Improved Health and Well Being (Biophilia and Reduced Pollution) and Associated Productivity Improvements

• Bio-sequestration of Legacy CO²

Conclusions New Ways Needed – A Change in Direction

Sustainable Built Form and Land Use

• Fewer cars (less roads), more public transport…..pedestrian and cycling priorities

• Urban growth containment• Transit Oriented Development (TODS, PODS,

CODS and GODS)• Urban farming, local food supply• Biophilic cities

3rd int urban design conf

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