Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Eco2 Cities


Read Online: http://issuu.com/world.bank.publications/docs/9780821380468

Eco2 Cities: Ecological Cities as Economic Cities
by Hiroaki Suzuki, Arish Dastur, Sebastian Moffatt, Nanae Yabuki, Hinako MaruyamaThis is a point of departure for cities that would like to reap the many benefits of ecological and economic sustainability. It provides an analytical and operational framework that offers strategic guidance to cities on sustainable and integrated urban development. At the same time case studies are used throughout the book to provide a matter-of-fact and ground-level perspective. This framework is flexible and easily customized to the context of each country or city. Based on the particular circumstances and the development priorities of a city-– the application of the framework can contribute to the development of a unique action plan or roadmap in each case. The book also begins to introduce some powerful and practical methods and tools that can further enable sustainable and integrated city planning and decision making.


EXAMPLE CITIES

Case studies from best practice cities around the world. Each city offers the program a different example of how various elements of the Eco2 approach can be applied.

Note: Complete case studies from the Eco2 Cities book are now available to view>> (begining from page 199)

Curitiba, Brazil – Brazil, has implemented innovative, imaginative and practical solutions that demonstrate resource constraints are no barrier to sustainable ecological and economic urban planning and development – and that sustainable planning is in fact an investment in the future of a city’s economy and welfare. Through its innovative approaches in urban planning, city management and transport planning, Curitiba has been able to sustainably absorb a population increase from 361,000 (in 1960) to 1,797,000 (in 2007).


Stockholm, Sweden – Stockholm has demonstrated how integrated and collaborative planning and management can transform an old inner city industrial area into an attractive and ecologically sustainable district - based on a cyclical urban metabolism. The district is seamlessly integrated into the larger urban fabric, and has provided inspiration for more initiatives in the city and catalyzed change. Some of the initial results have been a 30% reduction in non-renewable energy use, a 41% reduction in water use, and a 29% reduction in global warming potential.

Singapore – Singapore is an island city-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. With a limited land area of 700 square kilometers and a population of 4.8 million, Singapore has developed by innovatively implementing urban planning integrated with efficient use of land and natural resources.
Yokohama, Japan – Japan’s second largest city has demonstrated how an integrated approach to waste management, combined with stakeholder engagement, could reduce solid waste by 38.7% and during a period when population actually grew by 170,000. This significant waste reduction allowed Yokohama to save US$1.1 billion which was otherwise required for the renewal of two incinerators, as well as US$ 6 million annual operation and maintenance costs.

Brisbane, Australia – Since 2000, Brisbane has experienced increased electricity consumption and annual growth in peak electricity loads. As the city is in a subtropical climate, increased domestic air-conditioning has been a major factor prompting higher demand for electricity, along with poor housing design, an energy-intensive economy, and growth in population and disposable income. Demand for electricity is expected to rise consistently through 2030. Brisbane is also experiencing a shortage of potable water during a period when growth and climate change risks straining water resources, thus emphasizing the need to shift to a new form of water management.

Auckland, New Zealand – Auckland is New Zealand’s largest medium-sized city. The region is home to over 1.3 million people, about one-third of the national population, and the region’s population grew by 12.4 percent between the 2001 and 2006 censuses. The Auckland region’s lifestyle and employment opportunities continue to attract new inhabitants, but there have been drawbacks in such significant growth, namely a lack of cohesive and e& ective approaches to ongoing transport problems and concerns about the pattern and nature of urban growth.