Urban Sustainability Models (HL) (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Urban Sustainability Models

Importance of urban sustainability

• Urban sustainability is essential for addressing the challenges created by:

  • Rapid urbanisation

  • Resource depletion

  • Climate change

• Sustainable cities aim to balance environmental health, economic resilience, and social well-being

• Frameworks such as the circular economy model and doughnut economics model can provide practical solutions for creating sustainable urban systems

• These models focus on:

  • Reducing waste and conserving resources

  • Promoting equity and accessibility for all residents

  • Ensuring that cities operate within planetary boundaries (environmental limits)

Circular economy model

Key principles of the circular economy

• Minimising waste:

  • Products and materials are reused, recycled, or repurposed, reducing landfill waste and pollution

• Efficient resource use:

  • Encourages design innovations that allow products to last longer, be repaired easily, or repurposed

• Closing the loop:

  • Urban systems are designed to reduce dependency on new (imported) raw materials

Examples of the circular economy in urban development

• Amsterdam, Netherlands:

  • Developed a "circular neighbourhood" called Buiksloterham

  • It is a pilot project for circular living

    • Buildings are constructed with recycled materials

    • Residents and businesses share resources, such as transport and tools, to reduce waste

• San Francisco, USA:

  • Implements a comprehensive zero-waste strategy, diverting around 80% of waste from landfills and incinerators through:

    • Mandatory composting and recycling

    • Circular programmes where construction waste is repurposed for new buildings

Doughnut economics model

Key principles of doughnut economics

• Social foundation:

  • Focuses on meeting basic human needs, such as:

    • Housing

    • Healthcare

    • Education

    • Employment

• Planetary boundaries:

  • Limits urban development to stay within safe ecological thresholds, such as:

    • Reducing carbon emissions

    • Conserving water

    • Protecting biodiversity

• Integrated sustainability:

  • Balances social and environmental goals, creating cities that are both liveable and sustainable

Examples of doughnut economics in urban development

• Amsterdam, Netherlands:

  • Adopted the doughnut model as a blueprint for urban sustainability in 2020

    • Focuses on reducing emissions and energy use while ensuring affordable housing and transport

    • Expanded green roof programmes to insulate buildings, absorb rainfall, and promote biodiversity

    • Supported urban farming projects to reduce dependency on imported food

• Brussels, Belgium:

  • Uses the doughnut model to guide city planning, particularly in green infrastructure and social equity

    • Reduces emissions through electric public transport and bicycle-friendly infrastructure

    • Targets social inequality by increasing access to affordable housing and public services