Cas d’etude de Villes Vertes: Chicago Tri-State metro-region Alexis Robert Analyste des Politiques Unité de Developpement Urbain Division des Politiques de Développement Régional Rencontre du CRIES de la region Ile de France 18 juin 2012

Defining green growth Not just about recovery… The OECD Green Growth Strategy Green growth means fostering economic growth and development while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the resources and ecosystem services on which our well-being relies. To do this it must catalyse investment, competition and innovation which will underpin sustained growth and give rise to new economic opportunities. OECD (2011), Towards Green Growth …a core economic strategy that leads to a different way of thinking about development.

What is urban green growth? Extending the scope of the OECD definition of green growth A need for new sources of urban growth The presence of policy complementarities at the local level The importance of social equity to urban development Fostering economic growth and development through urban activities that reduce negative environmental externalities, the impact on natural resources and the pressure on ecosystem services. The greening of the traditional urban economy and expanding the green urban sector can generate growth (through increased supply and demand), job creation and increased urban attractiveness. These effects are in part the result of stronger interactions at the urban level among economic efficiency, equity and environmental objectives. OECD (2011), Cities and Green Growth: A Conceptual Framework Defining urban green growth

How do we assess green growth in cities? How green initiatives can increase – Urban attractiveness – Jobs – Supply and demand of regional green goods and services Focus on opportunities to in greening urban sectors – Land-use – Transport – Buildings – Waste and Water – Opportunities for green firms

Key assets Strong specialisations – 4 of 5 strongest specialities in Chicago Tri-State metro-region related to buildings sector – 36% of all green sector jobs are in buildings sector – Strongest specialisation in water technologies in the US in the Milwaukee metro-region Largest green economy exporter in the US (USD 2 billion annually) Strong green sector employer – More jobs in air and water purification technologies than any other metro area in the US – Second-largest employer in the fields of green chemical products, green architecture and construction, and public mass transit. US wind power-related manufacturing facilities

Key challenges Emissions from buildings are high Congestion and transport emissions - sprawl is a factor Water and air quality has improved but is still substandard in places Waste generation is high GHG Emissions from Electricity UseGHG emissions from ground transportation

Key issues Insufficient investment in public transit Barriers to entry on building retrofits Pricing for water and waste do not reflect “true cost” of service delivery and environmental impacts. Industrial/Energy Venture Capital Deals Renewable and energy efficiency technologies not yet cost- competitive Venture capital investment in green tech is low The low price of fossil fuels may be stifling innovation

Key recommendations Connect property owners to Energy Service Companies for retrofits Green design standards to stimulate building-sector innovation Regional wind consortia Increase public transit funding (congestion charges and value-added taxes) Restructure water and waste pricing The Milwaukee Water Council: a model for other sectors Regional priority-setting and information sharing Federal price signals and legislative changes for property-tax loans