The City as a System and Sustainability IB Geography II

Part 1 Objectives Referring to at least two city case studies discuss the concepts of: –sustainable city management –the urban ecological footprint. Cities: London and Portland

Close Reading Activity Bell Ringer “Discussion Round-up: What Makes a Sustainable City?” from The Guardian Highlights from Live Discussion Discuss in partners: –Is a sustainable city an oxymoron? –What main points were made about how to make a city sustainable? –What are the challenges in reaching sustainability?

The Sustainable City With over half the world’s population living in cities and the vast majority of economic activity occurring in cities it is clear that if we are going to create a sustainable world, we need to focus on the cities.

The Sustainable City Sustainable City or “Eco-City” is a city designed to have minimal environmental impact. It meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.

Urban ecological footprint The land area required to sustain a population of any size. All of the resources which people use for their daily needs, such as food, water and electricity, must be produced using raw natural resources. –The urban ecological footprint measures the amount of farmland and water resources that must be used to sustain an urban population, based on its consumption levels at a given point in time.

Cities can be designed in a way that increases their urban ecological footprint …

Cities can be designed in a way that reduces their urban ecological footprint…

The design of a city’s built environment, its land use and land area will affect its urban ecological footprint.

London Case Study /aug/06/fatberg-clogs-london-sewer-cctv- videohttp:// 2013/aug/06/fatberg-clogs-london-sewer-cctv- video “Fatberg ahead: How London was Saved from a 15 ton ball of grease” from The Guardian boghttps:// bog Guiding Questions: What environmental and sustainability challenges are faced in London?How do these challenges present opportunities for moving towards sustainability?

Part 2: Objectives Describe the city as a system in terms of: –inputs—energy, water, people, materials, products, food (urban agriculture) – outputs—solid, atmospheric and liquid waste, noise, people. Distinguish between a sustainable circular system where inputs are reduced and outputs are recycled and an unsustainable (open/linear) city system with uncontrolled inputs and outputs.

Introduction to Systems A system is a simplified way of looking at how things work. Systems generally include factors (inputs), processes (throughputs), and results (outputs). This “systems” approach can be applied to many aspects of geography, including cities.

The City as a System InputsProcessesOutputs

Large Cities vs. Compact Cities Large Cities (or cities with sprawl) –Often considered to be unsustainable systems because they consume huge amounts of resources and produce vast amounts of waste. Compact Cities (or dense cities) –Minimize the amount of distance traveled –Require less infrastructure (pipes, cables, roads, etc.) –Easier to provide a public transport network for –Reduce urban sprawl –BUT- if the compact city becomes congested, overcrowded, overpriced and polluted…AND UNSUSTAINABLE

The Rogers Model of City System The Rogers Model was created in 1997 It compares a Sustainable City (Circular System) with an unsustainable one (Linear System) In the sustainable city, inputs and outputs are smaller and there is more recycling.

Portland Case Study Ted Talk: Jeff Speck “The Walkable City” alkable_city alkable_city “Portland’s Green Dividend” s.com/docs/9grp6cwnk01hnrn0.pdf?t= s.com/docs/9grp6cwnk01hnrn0.pdf?t=

How to Achieve Sustainability The following steps need to be taken to achieve sustainability: –Improve Economic Security –Meet Social, Cultural and Health Needs –Minimize the use of Non-Renewable Resources –Use finite renewable resources sustainably –Preserve Green Space

Improve Economic Security People should have access to employment and an adequate livelihood If they are ill, retired, disabled or unemployed they should be entitled to economic security.

Meet Social, Cultural and Health Needs Housing should be healthy, safe, secure, affordable and within a neighborhood that provides piped water, drainage, sanitation, transport, healthcare, education and child welfare. The home and workplace should be free from hazards and chemical pollution

Minimize the Use of Non- Renewable Resources Reducing consumption of fossil fuels in housing, commerce, industry and transport Substituting renewable resources where possible. Public transportation should be promoted.

Use finite renewable resources sustainably Use only enough water that is needed Waste minimization and recycling should be encouraged People should be aware of the ecological footprint.

Preserve Green Space “The Green Agenda” involves providing and maintaining green space such as parks. It also means reusing existing urban sites or brownfield sites

Part 3 Objectives Evaluate one case study of each of the following: –one environmentally sustainable pollution management strategy (Mexico City) –one strategy to control rapid city growth resulting from in-migration (China)

Pollution Management Strategy: Mexico City Case Study Building that Eats Smog beautiful-mexico-city-building-eats-the- citys-smog beautiful-mexico-city-building-eats-the- citys-smog Close Reading, “Mexico City’s Green Plan: Eco-mobility in Motion” Harvard and Mexico City: /02/the-makeover-of-mexico-city/ /02/the-makeover-of-mexico-city/

Controlling Rapid City Growth: China’s Hukou System Reading “China’s Hukou System” Disparity Between Urban and Rural Residents Under Chinese System” NAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/0,,content MDK: %7EpagePK: %7 EpiPK: %7EtheSitePK:469382,0 0.htmlhttp://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTER NAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/0,,content MDK: %7EpagePK: %7 EpiPK: %7EtheSitePK:469382,0 0.html na/ /12/c_ htmhttp://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/chi na/ /12/c_ htm