Sustainable Urban Strategies (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Social Sustainability

• Social sustainability is the need for economic and environmental factors to be managed so that people can have a better quality of life

• In the past, city planners did not take into account the impact of future growth on the health and stability of their towns and cities

• Any inner city regeneration/rebranding or urban fringe development need to consider sustainable urban living 

• The challenge is for towns and cities to reduce their ecological footprint whilst also tackling social inequalities

• There are several activities that any urban region can attempt:

  • Reduce the reliance on fossil fuels through the use of renewable

  • Energy efficient goods in public buildings, homes, offices and shops 

  • Use public rather than private transport to reduce pollution 

  • Provide green spaces (greening the city) for families to use

  • Recycle water to conserve supplies

  • Conserve cultural/historical buildings and environmental sites for future generations

  • Minimise the use of greenfield sites and use brownfield sites instead 

  • Involve local communities and provide a range of employment

• This last method of social inclusion can be seen through the practice of urban agriculture

  • It is of particular benefit to women, and the urban poor, and adds to the 'greening' of the city along with reusing urban waste

  • Migrant women can feel isolated, either through cultural or religious reasons or language barriers

  • Urban agriculture allows for a safe space for families to meet and exchange knowledge and stories

  • It also contributes to the local economy and helps reduce poverty whilst improving the health of the community

  • It is relatively cheap, easy to set up and maintain

• In Sierra Leone, Freetown has zoned all wetlands and low-lying valleys for urban agriculture to increase water infiltration, reduce flooding, keep the flood zones free from informal settlements and promote urban agriculture production for food supply and job creation

• Brisbane, Australia includes both urban agriculture and green roofs in their action plan to meet predicted global climate change challenges

• For places such as Kibera, and Nairobi, urban agriculture can be a lifesaver and a way for mothers to introduce nutritional foods to their families, all of which improves social sustainability in a sprawling city

Economic Sustainability

• Economic sustainability is where economic growth is supported without negatively impacting the environment, society or culture

• Many companies are starting to adopt corporate sustainability and attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by focusing on how their business affects the environment

• Some methods include:

  • Reduce the amount of packaging

  • Recyclable packaging

  • Trading locally 

  • Using renewable energy and other low-energy devices (lights, monitors etc.)

• Cities also need to be economically sustainable or they can become bankrupt

  • Detroit, Michigan became the largest city in US history (2013) to file for bankruptcy after its revenue fell due to a declining population, rising unemployment and a lack of property and income taxes

• Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, has taken economic sustainability to another level

  • It is an economic free-zone commercial city with a high quality of life; and the lowest global environmental footprint which is all powered through renewable energy

  • The city is a mixed-use, sustainable community, including employment-generating land uses, residential areas, parks, plazas and neighbourhood amenities

  • There is total pedestrianisation within the city, with the transport network below ground

  • Streets and buildings are designed to help reduce the need for air conditioning, heating, and artificial light

  • Waste is as near to zero as possible, achieved through encouraging changes in behaviour and regulating materials which can be present in the city

  • All residents have to undertake 5 hours of sustainability education each year

Environmental Sustainability

• Urban environmental sustainability is looking at the whole of the city, from food to energy to waste management to green spaces and transport and infrastructure

• Cities can invest in public transport, not only does it improve the efficiency and safety of buses and trains, but also reduces pollution and congestion

• Encourage the use of bicycles

  • Bristol was the UK's first city to promote cycling, investing in cycle lanes and supporting bike projects

• Promote car sharing to reduce congestion and improve air quality

  • Many cities have dedicated carpool lanes which makes getting around the city easier and quicker

• Investment in Park and Ride to reduce car usage within the city centre and therefore, improve the overall environment

• Many cities have congestion charges for people who decide to drive into the city centre

  • London has a strict congestion charge and has reduced its levels of pollution by approximately 25% and stopped 13,500 cars a day entering the city centre

• Ecotown developments are another sustainable measure

  • Designed to reduce its overall footprint and encourage strong community ties

  • All homes have energy-saving measures, such as a community biomass boiler, free wi-fi to encourage home working and less commuting

  • All homes have triple-glazed homes, extra insulation, solar panels and low energy lightbulbs and kitchen appliances

  • Green spaces to protect and enhance wildlife

• Curitiba has introduced a number of initiatives to make it a sustainable city

  • It was the first city in Brazil to have a dedicated bus lane

  • 80 of travellers use the Bus Rapid Transport system and no one lives more than 400 metres from the bus stop

  • The bus fare is the same wherever you go and you can travel all day on one fare

  • Passengers can recycle plastic and glass bottles to pay for a bus fare

  • The city has also increased its use of green spaces and these spaces stop favelas from encroaching into the city centre

  • Flooding is reduced due to the parks and lakes. This saves money, lives and rebuilding costs

  • Curitiba recycles over 70% of its waste and the poorer residents of the favelas are paid for the waste they collect - not in money but in food

  • 99% of Curitiba's residents were found to be very happy with their city 

Example Case Study - Singapore's Success

Singapore's Success

• Planning for a city's future growth is important, or the urban shape that develops first will continue for decades and can lead to a city becoming unsustainable

• Singapore, an island state of 704 km² in Southeast Asia, was carefully planned to cope with future developments after its independence in 1965

• During Lee Kuan Yew’s time as prime minister, the city grew from a small emerging settlement on a marshy island, with no agricultural output, to a developed global hub for trade and a popular stopover destination for international travellers

• Infrastructure was considered from the outset, along with long-term plans for its future growth

• It has managed its resources carefully and has enabled its people to enjoy strong economic growth and social stability

• The economy depends heavily on exports and refining imported goods, especially in manufacturing

• At the same time, the land is carefully safeguarded to support continued sustainable economic progress and future development