The Crystal
What is Urban Sustainability?
Page 1/5
Generally, developmental experts agree that a sustainable city should meet the needs of the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In a city there is a large population of people, often living quite close to each other. These people need many things, such as food, energy and clean water, and they need to dispose of their waste. This may have a large negative impact on the environment. Large amounts of countryside may be turned over to growing food for people in the city, valleys may be flooded to store and supply water, and landfill sites used to dispose of waste. Urban sustainability is the idea that a city can be organised without excessive reliance on the surrounding countryside and be able to power itself with renewable sources of energy. The aim of this is to create the smallest possible ecological footprint and to produce the lowest quantity of pollution possible, to efficiently use land, compost used materials, recycle it or convert waste-to-energy, and to make the city’s overall contribution to climate change minimal. It is estimated that over 50% of the world’s population now lives in urban areas and that this will rise to 70% by 2050. This is a tremendous change which will have an impact both on the millions of people that move and on the cities that they move into. Such a change provides planners and developers with a challenge. However cities also offer opportunities; humans are social creatures. We thrive in urban spaces that encourage social connections.
It is estimated that over 50% of the world’s population now lives in urban areas and that this will rise to 70% by 2050.
Despite what some people think, urban systems can be more environmentally sustainable than rural or suburban living, where people may be further from each other, from essential services and from the workplace. With people and resources located so close to one another it is possible to save energy and resources by the effective planning of services such as food transportation and mass transit systems. Cities also benefit the economy by bringing people together in one relatively small area where ideas can easily be generated and developed.
The Crystal
What is Urban Sustainability? (cont’d)
Page 2/5
Some experts think that cities will be the growth drivers of the future, stimulating both supply and demand in the economy. Cities need lots of the things but they can provide lots of things as well. This provides opportunities for employment and economic success. However, things can go wrong in cities. If their systems are not well organised or maintained they can have a large negative impact on the environment; they may use large amounts of energy which have been generated in unsustainable ways, they may scar and poison the land and pollute the atmosphere. Technology has a large part to play in enabling positive outcomes for cities. The solutions being developed today will be critical in ensuring that the cities of tomorrow represent a positive and sustainable development.
1
What is meant by: a. Landfill site
c. Mass transit system
b. Negative impact
d. Ecological footprint
e. Growth driver
2
Why might a mass transit system with, for example, busy underground trains be more efficient than a quiet rural bus service?
3
Do you agree that urban spaces encourage social connections?
4
What might planners and developers do to make a city more sustainable?
5
Imagine you were moving from the countryside to a city. What: a. Advantages would to experience? b. Disadvantages might you find?
6
In what ways do: a. Cities rely on rural areas?
b. Rural areas rely on cities?
The Crystal
What is Urban Sustainability? (cont’d)
How urban sustainability affects you If we say that a city is becoming more sustainable what does that mean?
How might a city become more sustainable?
What might you do to help your neighbourhood become more sustainable in terms of:
Water? Energy? Transportation? Health? Materials? Food production? Which of these are you doing already?
Which would be good to have a go at next?
Page 3/5
The Crystal
What is Urban Sustainability? - after your visit
Page 4/5
Revisiting Urban Sustainability After visiting the Crystal and finding out about some important ideas:
• Why do you think that saving water is important? • How could you go about it?
• What happens if people in a city waste electricity? • How good are you at using electricity wisely?
• How can a city be more sustainable with regard to its transportation system? • What part might you play in this?
• If your health is poor it affects you, but how does it affect the neighbourhood where you live?
• Why is recycling important in a city? • Could you recycle more? How?
• What opportunities might there be in your neighbourhood for people to grow their own food?
The Crystal
What is Urban Sustainability? - after your visit (cont’d)
Page 5/5
All these ideas will help to make a neighbourhood more sustainable. How would you know if your ideas were working and your area was becoming more sustainable?
You should have developed some good ideas – ones that are worth telling other people about. What’s a good way of getting your message across to: • Families? • College students? • Older people? • Other people at school?
?
?
