1. GCSE HUMAN GEOGRAPHY CHANGING URBAN ENVIRONMENTS Unit 2A SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION

2. 2 GLOBAL URBANISATION CASE STUDY – MASDAR CITY CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUSTAINABLE CITY

3. 3 In 1987 the United Nations produced the following definition: ‘Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’

4. 4 Sustainable Urbanisation EconomicSocialCultural Environmental

5. 5 The process of global urbanisation which began in the twentieth century is expected to continue to accelerate during the early part of the twenty-first century. Many believe this to be an irreversible process. If this process is to be successful, it will need to be sustainable. As a result of globalisation all cities will become hubs of cultural and ethnic diversity and the populations will need to be integrated rather than segregated if they are to be sustainable.

6. 6 Sustainably in cities is one of the most important educational challenges of our time. This requires a focus on: Creating a quality learning and educational environment that promotes sustainability; Providing lifelong learning opportunities in cities; Teaching tolerance and mutual understanding in urban societies; Enabling children and youth to learn to live and participate in urban life; Enhancing learning to create inclusive societies in inclusive cities; Developing learning in all its diverse forms. “ ” UNESCO statement www.unesco.org...

7. 7 As more and more people decide to live in urban settlements it is even more important than ever that these are constructed, maintained and occupied in a sustainable way. The UNESCO statement outlines that this will not be achieved without a willingness and understanding between all people of all societies and countries. If the world is to become one big sustainable global village, then, as well as tolerance and mutual understanding, we will need… INTEGRATION rather than SEGREGATION

8. 8 Future population growth is expected to be in urban areas and a large percentage of this growth will be in the poorer parts of Africa and Asia. These particular parts of the world are currently the least urbanised. Urbanised Population 2006 Main Menu

9. 9 Sustainable Living This is unlikely in the poorer parts of the world because of: food security issues lack of adequate water supplies availability and quality of shelter low levels of sanitation an inadequate infrastructure As more and more people migrate to the cities in less economically developed countries the situation will only get worse. Governments will be hard pressed to keep pace with the expansion due to lack of finances and planning.

10. 10 Characteristics of a Sustainable City Economic Adequate finances to maintain the city More equitable division of money to all sectors Environmental Conserving the natural environment Control and use of greenfield and brownfield sites Reduction and safe disposal of waste Provision of adequate open space Supply of clean water Preserving the historic environment is important for economic development and for delivering social objectives

11. 11 How issues of sustainability are being implemented in the United States of America In the USA the Environmental Protection Agency aims to promote environmental sustainability with brownfield projects. By providing technical assistance to communities the plan is to help them achieve a greener outcome and to help with the initial clean-up and subsequent redevelopment of the sites. Assistance will support activities such as the reuse and recycling of construction and demolition materials, better and more energy-efficient design of buildings and infrastructure together with water conservation and landscaping.

12. 12 The Lower Swansea Valley was once the centre of the copper and lead industry in South Wales. Now the urban redevelopment of the area is cleaning up the toxic waste and the brownfield sites are being used for housing.

13. 13 De-industrialisation across the South Wales region has resulted in many derelict factories like these near the docks in Swansea. It is these large brownfield sites that are now being cleared and re-developed.

14. 14 How does the use of brownfield sites help sustainability? Materials resulting from clearance and demolition can be reused or recycled. Use of a derelict site can help clean up the environment and improve local air and groundwater quality. Reduces the need for new materials which help conserve raw materials and reduces energy use. Provides both economic and environmental benefits for the community.

15. 15 Urbanisation and Waste As settlements increase in size and populations expand the pressure on communities to deal with waste builds up. Settlements in MEDCs have had to come up with solutions to the resultant problems of how to cope with waste management. Landfill sites Land reclamation schemes Recycling initiatives Barcelona

16. 16 Household recycling is becoming far more common either with pavement collections or through recycling centres.

17. 17 A landfill site on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil, a large town at the head of the Taff Valley in South Wales. Here a disused quarry is being infilled and landscaped.

18. 18 Levels of sustainability do not necessarily relate to levels of economic development. Many urban centres in MEDCs (more economically developed countries) are unsustainable due to factors such as over population in Tokyo, shortages of water in Los Angeles and inadequate waste disposal and pollution in New York. Urban centres in some LEDCs (less economically developed countries) are, by contrast, far more sustainable. Examples include efficient waste disposal in Cairo, Egypt, water collection from fog netting in Bolivia and use of public transport in countries like India. MEDC LEDC Main Menu

19. 19 Case Study Sustainable Urban Living – Masdar City This urban development is a project in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. The aim is to construct an eco- friendly city. It is being built by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company and a British design firm. When complete the city will rely entirely on solar and other renewable energy sources, with a zero-carbon, zero-waste ecology. The city is being constructed 17 kilometres south-east of the city of Abu Dhabi, beside Abu Dhabi International Airport. The city is intended to be completed by 2025.

20. 20 Click here to watch An aerial fly-through of Masdar City, the world's first zero- carbon, zero-waste city, currently under development in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

21. 21 The projected cost of building the city was US$22 billion and initially it was thought it would take eight years to complete. Construction began in 2008 and the first six buildings of the city were completed and occupied in October 2010. However, due to the impact of the worldwide financial crisis final completion is now not expected until 2025.

22. 22 When complete the city will cover 6 km 2 and will be home to 50,000 people and 1,500 businesses. The lack of motor vehicles together with a high perimeter wall which is designed to keep out the hot desert winds will mean that the narrow shaded streets will help channel cool breezes throughout the city, reducing the need for excessive air conditioning.

23. 23 In addition, it is thought that up to 60,000 more workers will commute to the city from nearby Abu Dhabi and surrounding regions. Movement of people and goods within the city will be via a personal rapid transit (PRT) system, with existing road and railways connecting to other locations outside the city.

24. 24 Masdar City is one of the first urban areas to use a Personal Rapid Transit system. These are believed to be the most efficient systems available. The ground level and elevated tracks are electric powered and computer controlled. The 2–4-person ‘pod’ cars and the infrastructure required are relatively inexpensive to construct and run. See this promotional video for more information: Click here to watch (5:08) Click here to watch Personal Rapid Transit system

25. 25 Could this be the future? Main Menu