scholarly journals Transforming Built Environments: Towards Carbon Neutral and Blue-Green Cities

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter W. Newton ◽  
Briony C. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Built Environments ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Research Strategies ◽  
Cooperative Research ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
National Cooperative ◽  
Green Cities

In the 21st century, the creation of built environments that are carbon neutral and water sensitive is critical for addressing sustainable urban development challenges. Both require transformative change: Decarbonisation to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and incorporation of green-blue water sensitive solutions to adapt to climate change impacts. Transition pathways in both arenas involve combinations of new technology, innovative urban design, enabling policies and regulations, new processes for planning and managing urban development, and demand-side changes in consumer attitudes and practices for urban living related to energy and water use. In this paper, we present new knowledge, concepts and frameworks developed for application in Australia, as well as internationally, through research by the national Cooperative Research Centres for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) and Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC) between 2012 and 2020. These findings and outputs illustrate common features of the research strategies and initiatives that were central to the activities of the CRCs, and highlight promising directions for collaborative interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research that drives urban sustainability transformations towards carbon neutral and blue-green cities.

Building Sustainable Cities in China: Experience, Challenges, and Prospects

2019 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 1940002
Author(s):  
Wenmei KANG ◽  
Mou WANG ◽  
Junyan LIU ◽  
Xianhong LV ◽  
Ying ZHANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Administrative Support ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Great Effort ◽  
Sustainable Cities ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Environmental Friendliness ◽  
2030 Agenda

According to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the sustainable development goal 11 is to “make cities and human settlement inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. China has been making great effort in this respect. With the advancement in science and technology, the concepts of green development, environmental friendliness, and fair development are gradually moving from theories to practices, guiding the construction and development of sustainable cities in China. Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, the overall process of China’s construction of sustainable cities and development can be divided into three stages: the initial practice stage (1986–2000), the stage focusing on transformation (2001–2012), and the stage emphasizing coordinated development and social fairness (2012 to present). During the process, China has proposed and carried out a series of pilot demonstrations of sustainable cities, eco-cities, garden cities, low-carbon cities, livable cities, resilient cities, sanitary cities, sponge cities, and circular economy cities. It has achieved remarkable results with valuable experience; meanwhile, it still faces many challenges considering the current practices. With the integration of planning for the national economy and social development, rural and urban development, land use, and other aspects, as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sustainable urban practices in China will receive more policy support and effective administrative support. As the largest developing country in the world, China’s practice in sustainable urban development undoubtedly has a broad demonstration effect and can contribute to global sustainable development.

Study on Green City Construction and Sustainable Development – Low Carbon City from Theory to Create

2014 ◽  
Vol 548-549 ◽  
pp. 1773-1777
Author(s):  
Qun Liu ◽  
Jiang Hua Zhuo
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Saving Technology ◽  
City Construction ◽  
Future Direction ◽  
Low Carbon City ◽  
Economic Vitality

The trend of low-carbon in world and resource shortages, environmental carrying capacity of weak basic conditions, decided to go low-carbon path is an inevitable choice in China. The city’s ecological environment, cultural tastes, economic vitality, management systems, technological progress has become the focus of urban studies nowadays. Study on how to improve the energy-saving technology to create a low-carbon life is the fundamental way to achieve sustainable urban development. Therefore, the study of low-carbon urban development, is not only has theoretical values, but also owns practical significance. In this paper the reason for low-carbon city, the basic concept of sustainable development was discussed. The significance of the construction of green ecological city and the future direction of the green eco-city construction was presented.

Sustainable urban development in Brisbane City - the Holy Grail?

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Rahman ◽  
T. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Policy Formation ◽  
City Council ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Cooperative Research ◽  
Holy Grail ◽  
Integrated Water Management ◽  
Evaluation Programs

Impacts from urban stormwater runoff on receiving environments have been well documented, particularly through specific regional scientific studies. Using various local government planning and management elements, urban developments in Brisbane City are now able to address stormwater management in an increasingly holistic context. One key initiative includes facilitating Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) components within an Integrated Water Management Strategy that looks at policy formation, planning strategies, design option, community marketing and acceptance, maintenance programs and finally evaluation of various WSUD approaches. These can include the use of Natural Channel Designs, grassed swales, bio-filtration systems, porous pavements and roofwater tanks in several economic combinations. By linking with the Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, Brisbane City Council has influenced the design of WSUD planning tools and benefited the city with academic inputs into extensive evaluation programs. As well, it has also contributed to the Cooperative Research Centre's research outcomes. These evaluation programs are increasingly providing better understanding of various stormwater quality best management practices throughout Australia. As part of the overall implementation process, active involvement by a range of stakeholders has been crucial. These stakeholders have included internal planning, development assessment and design staff, external consultants, developers, and other local and state government agencies. The latter two groups are assisting in the important task of “regionalisation” of Brisbane City Council's policies and guidelines. Implementation of WSUD initiatives and stormwater re-use strategies under Council's new “Integrated Water Management” agenda are showing some excellent results, suggesting that sustainable urban development is no longer like the search for the Holy Grail.

scholarly journals Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2020

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2351
Author(s):  
Paola Clerici Maestosi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Contemporary Research ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

This Special Issue of Energies “Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2020” introduce contemporary research on Smart Cities and on Positive Energy Districts. The topic highlights the variety of research within this field: from the analysis of 61 Positive Energy Districts cases to papers illustrating the Positive Energy Districts dimension or Smart Energy Communities supporting low carbon energy transition as well as selected Smart Cities Experiences. The focus is thus given on how RD&I stakeholders and Municipalities are facing sustainable urban development challenges. An overview of Horizon Europe RD&I program on sustainable urban areas is provided.

Energy Investment in Smart Cities Unlocking Financial Instruments in Europe

2015 ◽  
pp. 408-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Romana Medda ◽  
Candace Partridge ◽  
Gianni Carbonaro
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Financial Instruments ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Investment ◽  
Development Fund ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Development Outcomes

The intense pressures being brought to bear by the increasing diversity in European urban development patterns call for innovative funding mechanisms to promote smart sustainable urban development, most notably in the energy sector. Currently in Europe, various policy initiatives support sustainable urban development through financial engineering mechanisms operating at municipal and regional scales. The objective of this chapter is to review the main financial mechanisms focusing on energy, and in particular on urban investments committed to a highly energy-efficient, and low carbon, economy. Within this framework we assert that, in order to achieve the EU sustainable urban development outcomes, specific European financial instruments will need to be considered as viable key investment options. The structure and operational features of European Financial Instruments are explored here in the case of the Urban Development Fund implemented in London. We also discuss the importance of ESCOs and crowdfunding as essential funding sources for community energy projects, and suggest that European policy should recognise their importance.

Energy Investment in Smart Cities Unlocking Financial Instruments in Europe

2018 ◽  
pp. 818-842
Author(s):  
Francesca Romana Medda ◽  
Candace Partridge ◽  
Gianni Carbonaro
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Financial Instruments ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Investment ◽  
Development Fund ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Development Outcomes

The intense pressures being brought to bear by the increasing diversity in European urban development patterns call for innovative funding mechanisms to promote smart sustainable urban development, most notably in the energy sector. Currently in Europe, various policy initiatives support sustainable urban development through financial engineering mechanisms operating at municipal and regional scales. The objective of this chapter is to review the main financial mechanisms focusing on energy, and in particular on urban investments committed to a highly energy-efficient, and low carbon, economy. Within this framework we assert that, in order to achieve the EU sustainable urban development outcomes, specific European financial instruments will need to be considered as viable key investment options. The structure and operational features of European Financial Instruments are explored here in the case of the Urban Development Fund implemented in London. We also discuss the importance of ESCOs and crowdfunding as essential funding sources for community energy projects, and suggest that European policy should recognise their importance.

scholarly journals Attributable indicators for measuring the level of greenness of cities in developing countries: lessons from Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Graft Owusu-Manu ◽  
Caleb Debrah ◽  
Eric Oduro-Ofori ◽  
David John Edwards ◽  
Prince Antwi-Afari
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
City Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Cities ◽  
Green City

Purpose The advances in green city growth are widely discussed in extant literature. The benefits of green cities to urban development in recent discussions of sustainability and sustainable development are well documented and cannot be overemphasised. Although a growing study on green building development in developing countries has been advanced in literature, there is a paucity of studies that explore green cities in developing countries. Moreover, evidence of studies that have focussed on green cities development in Ghana is lacking. Because of this identified knowledge gap, the purpose of this study is to establish the indicators/attributes for measuring the level of greenness of cities in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the indicators/attributes for measuring the level of greenness of cities in developing countries. This study has adopted the pragmatism as its undergirding research philosophy and the deductive research approach. In terms of methodological choice, quantitative research strategy was used to collect data from experts in sustainable urban development. The primary data retrieved from this study was analysed using descriptive statistics, relative importance index and one-sample t-test. The reliability and validity of this study were measured with the Cronbach’s alpha test. Findings This study established eight indicators for measuring green city development: air quality, water, sanitation, land use, health and safety, transportation, energy and building and construction. It was discovered that the development of green cities should enhance air quality, improve water production and supply, improve management in sanitation, promote mixed and integrative land use, maintain the health and safety of city dwellers, reduce the demand for transportation and formalise public transport, adopt renewable and efficient energy technologies and promote sustainable construction and green buildings. These indicators are key to policymaking and implementation of green cities development. Research limitations/implications This study focusses primarily on Ghana; however, the findings of this study do not limit the generalisability, as it can be used as an example for other developing countries. Practical implications Theoretically, this study adopted quantitative indicators that are reproducible in another geographical context. This study contributively adds to the discourse on sustainability, especially in Ghana, and can be a source of reference to motivate others to conduct further research in related areas. The outcomes of this study will help the local government, policymakers, city stakeholders and industry expertise to gain insights of the overall indicators that underpin green city development. Originality/value This paper attempts to posit in literature the foremost appraisal of green city indicators adaptive in Ghana, which could motivate other developing countries to develop their own green cities.

Study on the Secondary City, Spatial Expansion Model of Unifying Adjacent Cities

2011 ◽  
Vol 99-100 ◽  
pp. 591-595
Author(s):  
Chao Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Urban Spatial Structure ◽  
Spatial Expansion ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
City Space ◽  
Force Mechanism ◽  
Expansion Model ◽  
The City ◽  
Secondary City

Urban spatial structure that is a comprehensive reflection of the interaction between human activities and natural factors, is the internal driving force mechanism for sustainable urban development. For the secondary city of unifying adjacent cities, the main city can effectively undertake some of the features of the spillover, but also with the development of low-carbon urban development concept, select a reasonable space to expand the model of vital importance. Therefore, in the study of in the secondary expansion y on the basis of the dynamic mechanism, focusing on the Secondary City space to expand the city and its chosen range of four models for different city of the context of the city spatial expansion in the unifying adjacent cities.

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