Transport and the Urban EnvironmentTransport and the Urban Environment

Topic 5 – Transportation and Urban Sustainability

A - The Concept of Urban SustainabilityA - The Concept of Urban Sustainability

B - Sustainable Urban TransportationB - Sustainable Urban Transportation

The Concept of Urban Sustainability

1. Sustainability1. Sustainability 2. Global Sustainability2. Global Sustainability 3. Urban Sustainability3. Urban Sustainability 4. Infrastructure, Land Use and Sustainability4. Infrastructure, Land Use and Sustainability

AA

Sustainability

The issueThe issue Brought forward in view of challenges in a scale never seen Brought forward in view of challenges in a scale never seen

before.before. Strong population growth, notably in the developing world.Strong population growth, notably in the developing world. An increasing usage of resources, renewable and non An increasing usage of resources, renewable and non

renewable alike.renewable alike. Raw materials.Raw materials. Energy.Energy. Food.Food.

Higher levels of emission of pollutants.Higher levels of emission of pollutants. The capacity of this world to sustain its population is The capacity of this world to sustain its population is

compromisedcompromised

A-1A-1

A-1A-1 Sustainability

Global environmentalismGlobal environmentalism Ideology grew out of the 1972 UN Conference on the Ideology grew out of the 1972 UN Conference on the

Human Environment, known as the Stockholm Conference.Human Environment, known as the Stockholm Conference. Key event in the emergence of a global environmental Key event in the emergence of a global environmental

movement. movement. Environmental issues are at the global scale.Environmental issues are at the global scale. Establish the linkage between poverty and environmental Establish the linkage between poverty and environmental

degradation.degradation. DefinitionDefinition

Underlined by the Brundtland Commission in 1987:Underlined by the Brundtland Commission in 1987: ““development which meets the needs of the present development which meets the needs of the present

without compromising the ability of future generations to without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.meet their own needs”.

Satisfy the needs of the population.Satisfy the needs of the population.

Sustainability

Limits imposed by the environment for those needs.Limits imposed by the environment for those needs. Newman and Kenworthy:Newman and Kenworthy:

““in a global context any economic or social development in a global context any economic or social development should improve, not harm, the environment.”should improve, not harm, the environment.”

Capacity of a system to accommodate changes.Capacity of a system to accommodate changes. Rates of use of renewable resources should not exceed Rates of use of renewable resources should not exceed

their rates or regeneration.their rates or regeneration. Rates of use of non-renewable resources should not Rates of use of non-renewable resources should not

exceed at which renewable substitutes are developed.exceed at which renewable substitutes are developed. Rates of pollution emissions do not exceed the Rates of pollution emissions do not exceed the

assimilative capacity of the environment.assimilative capacity of the environment.

A-1A-1

Sustainability

ImpactsImpacts Possible to measure the general impacts of human activities Possible to measure the general impacts of human activities

on the environment.on the environment. Impacts (I) = P*A*TImpacts (I) = P*A*T Where P is population, A is affluence (level of consumption) Where P is population, A is affluence (level of consumption)

and T is technology.and T is technology. The impacts must be lower than the carrying capacity of the The impacts must be lower than the carrying capacity of the

world.world.

A-1A-1

Global Sustainability

Achieved through the elimination of povertyAchieved through the elimination of poverty Poverty as a factor linked to environmental degradation.Poverty as a factor linked to environmental degradation. Wealth reduces the population growth rate.Wealth reduces the population growth rate.

Achieved through the reduction in resource Achieved through the reduction in resource consumption and production of wastesconsumption and production of wastes An American consumes 50 times more resources than an An American consumes 50 times more resources than an

Indian.Indian. The current level of resource consumption of development The current level of resource consumption of development

countries CANNOT be generalized.countries CANNOT be generalized. Achieved through global cooperationAchieved through global cooperation

Environmental issues are global.Environmental issues are global. A globalized economy involves interdependencies.A globalized economy involves interdependencies.

A-2A-2

Global Sustainability

Achieved at the local and regional levelAchieved at the local and regional level Most of the problems occur at that level.Most of the problems occur at that level. The urban area is at the root of the issue.The urban area is at the root of the issue.

A-2A-2

Global SustainabilityA-2A-2

Economic Development

•Sustain economic growth•Maximize profit•Expand markets•Externalize costs

Ecolog

ical D

evelop

men

t

•Respect carrying capacity•Conserve and recycleresources•Reduce waste

Social Development•Satisfy needs

•Increase self-reliance

Socialism Conservationism

Ecologism

Ecological Deficit, 1993 (in ha per capita)A-2A-2

CO2 Emissions for the Transport Sector (in millions tons), United States and China, 1996

457

1690

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

United States China

OtherTransportation

A-2A-2

Urban Sustainability

DefinitionDefinition Offer to its population a suitable urban environment, Offer to its population a suitable urban environment,

employment, food, housing and transportation.employment, food, housing and transportation. Without compromising the welfare of the future population of Without compromising the welfare of the future population of

that city.that city. Without compromising the welfare of its surrounding areas. Little environmental damage, a good conservation of

resources such as water, land and energy and the capability of handling change.

Intergenerational equityIntergenerational equity The success of cities of the future will largely depend upon The success of cities of the future will largely depend upon

the legacy on current cities on resources and the the legacy on current cities on resources and the environment.environment.

National capital assets passed on to the next generation National capital assets passed on to the next generation must be at least equal value.must be at least equal value.

A-3A-3

A-3A-3 Urban Sustainability

Social equitySocial equity Fair and equitable distribution of resources among the Fair and equitable distribution of resources among the

current generation.current generation. The city should provide a place of equal opportunity and not The city should provide a place of equal opportunity and not

be an agent of segregation.be an agent of segregation. Spatial responsibilitySpatial responsibility

Involves that the city has a “footprint” is which considerably Involves that the city has a “footprint” is which considerably larger than the area it occupies.larger than the area it occupies.

Includes supply of resource, but also wastes and their Includes supply of resource, but also wastes and their impacts must be considered in the total space a city impacts must be considered in the total space a city occupies.occupies.

A-3A-3 Urban Sustainability

Spatial differencesSpatial differences Do not contribute to environmental problems at the same Do not contribute to environmental problems at the same

level.level. Differences mainly the developed and the developing worldDifferences mainly the developed and the developing world Cities of developed world consume 70% of the world’s Cities of developed world consume 70% of the world’s

energy, 75% of minerals and 85% of the wood. energy, 75% of minerals and 85% of the wood. ScaleScale

Global: Long term stability of the earth’s environment.Global: Long term stability of the earth’s environment. Local: Degradation of urban life due to congestion and Local: Degradation of urban life due to congestion and

pollution with socio-economic consequences.pollution with socio-economic consequences.

Urban Metabolism

AnalogyAnalogy The city is a system.The city is a system. Inputs of energy and raw materials.Inputs of energy and raw materials. Process the energy and raw materials with labor and Process the energy and raw materials with labor and

infrastructure.infrastructure. Outputs of products, services and wastes.Outputs of products, services and wastes. Offers conditions (opportunities) to support its working Offers conditions (opportunities) to support its working

conditions and insure its growth.conditions and insure its growth. Fast growth can be seen as a disease (cancer).Fast growth can be seen as a disease (cancer). Sustainability achieved through the reduction of inputs and Sustainability achieved through the reduction of inputs and

outputs.outputs.

A-4A-4

Urban MetabolismA-4A-4

ResourceInput

•Land•Water•Food•Energy•Construction materials•Other resources

Process

•Transport system•Economic system•Social system

Livability

•Health•Employment•Income•Education•Housing•Leisure•Mobility•Community

WasteOutputs

•Solid waste•Liquid waste•Air pollutants•Heat•Noise

The Sears Tower, Chicago

FeaturesFeatures Enclosed entity.Enclosed entity. 1,700 feet high.1,700 feet high. 110 stories.110 stories. 10,000 workers.10,000 workers.

EnergyEnergy Consumes more energy Consumes more energy

than an American city of than an American city of 150,000.150,000.

Consumes more energy Consumes more energy than an Indian city of 1 than an Indian city of 1 million.million.

A-4A-4

A-4A-4 Urban Metabolism

Urban footprintUrban footprint Amount of land required to sustain the functions of a city.Amount of land required to sustain the functions of a city. Includes the provision of raw materials and the process of Includes the provision of raw materials and the process of

waste products.waste products. Calculating the footprint

Keep track of most of the resources consumed and the wastes generated.

Converted to a biologically productive area necessary to provide these functions.

The footprint is not a continuous piece of land. Due to international trade, the land and water areas used by

most global citizens are scattered all over the planet.

The Urban Footprint of London (yearly figures)A-4A-4

20 million tons of fuel

40 million tons of oxygen

1 billion tons of water

2.4 million tons of food

15 million tons of raw materials

3.9 million tons of household andcommercial wastes

11.4 million tons of industrial anddemolition wastes

60 million tons of CO2400,000 tons of SO2280,000 tons of NO2

The Urban Footprint of LondonA-4A-4

London, Population 7 millions, 158,000 hectares

Food production, 0.2 hectares per person, 8.4 million hectares

Carbon sequestration, 1.5 hectares per person, 10.5 million hectares

Wood products, 768,000 hectares

Total: 19.7 million hectares, 125 timesthe surface of the city

Infrastructure, Land Use and Sustainability

ContextContext Major cities are requiring a vast array of supporting Major cities are requiring a vast array of supporting

infrastructures including energy, water, sewers and infrastructures including energy, water, sewers and transport.transport.

Key in urban sustainability issues is linked with the provision Key in urban sustainability issues is linked with the provision and maintenance of a wide range of urban infrastructure.and maintenance of a wide range of urban infrastructure.

Every city has specific infrastructure and environmental Every city has specific infrastructure and environmental problems.problems.

Third World cities have chronic deficiencies in the provision Third World cities have chronic deficiencies in the provision of the most basic infrastructure while their environmental of the most basic infrastructure while their environmental conditions are deteriorating.conditions are deteriorating.

Huge costs linked to this.Huge costs linked to this.

A-5A-5

Infrastructure, Land Use and Sustainability

InfrastructureInfrastructure Public utilities.Public utilities.

Including power, telecommunications, piped water Including power, telecommunications, piped water supply, sewage, waste collection and disposal and piped supply, sewage, waste collection and disposal and piped gas.gas.

Public work.Public work. Including public transit, roads and transport terminals Including public transit, roads and transport terminals

(ports, rail stations, airports).(ports, rail stations, airports). Infrastructures can be public or privately owned.Infrastructures can be public or privately owned. Public infrastructures are available to a larger share of the Public infrastructures are available to a larger share of the

population at a low cost.population at a low cost. Are expensive for the government to maintain.Are expensive for the government to maintain. Private infrastructures are only servicing a limited share of Private infrastructures are only servicing a limited share of

the population.the population.

A-5A-5

Infrastructure, Land Use and Sustainability

Choice of the infrastructure company, but are financially Choice of the infrastructure company, but are financially profitable.profitable.

As income increase, some infrastructure problems are As income increase, some infrastructure problems are solved while some environmental problems are created.solved while some environmental problems are created.

An increase in income is linked to better sanitation and An increase in income is linked to better sanitation and water provision.water provision.

At the expense of waste and carbon dioxide emissions.At the expense of waste and carbon dioxide emissions. Land useLand use

Another important part of urban sustainability is land use, Another important part of urban sustainability is land use, which is how a city uses the territory.which is how a city uses the territory.

Huge differences are observed the urban land use over the Huge differences are observed the urban land use over the world, and this has impact on energy consumption.world, and this has impact on energy consumption.

A-5A-5

Density and Energy Consumption

Ener

gy c

onsu

mpt

ion

per c

apita

(1,0

00 m

illio

ns o

f jou

les)

Population density (people per hectare)

80

40

20

60

20 60 30040 80 100

Los Angeles

Sydney

LondonSingapore

United States

Australia and Canada

EuropeAsia

Hong Kong

Chicago

HoustonPhoenix

DetroitDenver

AdelaideMelbourne

Toronto

New York

Vienna

ParisBerlin

Tokyo

A-5A-5

Transportation Energy Use per Capita, 1990 (in MJ)A-5A-5

Sustainable Transportation

1- Unsustainable Transportation1- Unsustainable Transportation 2- General Indicators2- General Indicators 3- Unsustainable Impacts of Cars3- Unsustainable Impacts of Cars 4- Sustainable Transportation / Land Use Systems4- Sustainable Transportation / Land Use Systems

BB

Unsustainable Transportation

Resource useResource use Requires a large array of inputs.Requires a large array of inputs.

Concrete and steel : infrastructures.Concrete and steel : infrastructures. Plastics and metals : vehicles.Plastics and metals : vehicles. Fossil fuels.Fossil fuels.

Depends on gasoline.Depends on gasoline. About 35-50 years left of resources at the current About 35-50 years left of resources at the current

consumption rate.consumption rate. PollutionPollution

High level of concentration.High level of concentration. De-stabilization of ecosystems.De-stabilization of ecosystems. Different scales of effects: from local to global.Different scales of effects: from local to global.

B-1B-1

Unsustainable Transportation

Other unsustainable effectsOther unsustainable effects CFCs (air cooling systems).CFCs (air cooling systems). Noise.Noise. Land consumption (sprawl).Land consumption (sprawl). Congestion.Congestion. Accidents.Accidents.

B-1B-1

B-2B-2 General Indicators

NatureNature Reflecting the sustainability of cities.Reflecting the sustainability of cities. A plethora of indicators can be used – 150 indicators were A plethora of indicators can be used – 150 indicators were

suggested by the World Bank.suggested by the World Bank. Not necessarily linked to the process leading to Not necessarily linked to the process leading to

improvement.improvement. Strategic indicators involve VMT (vehicle-mile traveled), Strategic indicators involve VMT (vehicle-mile traveled),

transit ridership and average commuting distance to the transit ridership and average commuting distance to the workplace.workplace.

All studies agree that the automobile dependence is the key All studies agree that the automobile dependence is the key to an unsustainable urban environment.to an unsustainable urban environment.

General Indicators

Urban Sustainability

B-2B-2

Water, materials and waste Energy and air quality

Livability

TransportationLand, green spaces

and biodiversity

General Indicators

Energy and air qualityEnergy and air quality Reduce total energy use per capita.Reduce total energy use per capita. Reduce total quantity of air pollutants per capita.Reduce total quantity of air pollutants per capita. Reduce total greenhouse gases.Reduce total greenhouse gases.

Water, materials and wasteWater, materials and waste Reduce total water use per capita.Reduce total water use per capita. Increase proportion of sewage treated.Increase proportion of sewage treated. Decrease amount of sewage discharged in streams or Decrease amount of sewage discharged in streams or

ocean.ocean. Reduce consumption of building materials per capita.Reduce consumption of building materials per capita. Reduce consumption of paper and packaging per capita.Reduce consumption of paper and packaging per capita. Decrease amounts of solid waste.Decrease amounts of solid waste. Increase amounts of organic waste returned to soil and food Increase amounts of organic waste returned to soil and food

production.production.

B-2B-2

General Indicators

Land, green spaces and biodiversityLand, green spaces and biodiversity Preserve agricultural land and natural landscape at the Preserve agricultural land and natural landscape at the

urban fringe.urban fringe. Increase amount of green space per capita.Increase amount of green space per capita. Increase density of population and employment in transit Increase density of population and employment in transit

serviced areas.serviced areas. Decrease impact on regional ecosystems.Decrease impact on regional ecosystems.

LivabilityLivability Improve overall health figures.Improve overall health figures. Increase level of education.Increase level of education. Increase leisure opportunities.Increase leisure opportunities. Increase safety.Increase safety. Increase pedestrian streets.Increase pedestrian streets.

B-2B-2

General Indicators

TransportationTransportation Reduce the amount of Vehicle-Kilometer-Traveled.Reduce the amount of Vehicle-Kilometer-Traveled. Increase transit and decrease car use.Increase transit and decrease car use. Reduce the average commute distance.Reduce the average commute distance. Increase average speed of transit, especially relative to cars.Increase average speed of transit, especially relative to cars. Increase transit service relative to road service.Increase transit service relative to road service. Decrease parking space per capita.Decrease parking space per capita. Increase kilometers of separated cycleways.Increase kilometers of separated cycleways.

B-2B-2

Unsustainable Impacts of Cars

Economic efficiencyEconomic efficiency Infrastructure costs.Infrastructure costs.

Expensive infrastructures in suburban areas.Expensive infrastructures in suburban areas. Underutilized infrastructures in central areas.Underutilized infrastructures in central areas.

Transportation costs.Transportation costs. Society assumes several costs.Society assumes several costs. Fighting car congestion does not solve the problem.Fighting car congestion does not solve the problem. Average commuting is always around 30 minutes.Average commuting is always around 30 minutes.

Land waste.Land waste. Loss of land to parking and roads.Loss of land to parking and roads.

Environmental responsibilityEnvironmental responsibility Oil vulnerability.Oil vulnerability. Greenhouse gases.Greenhouse gases.

B-3B-3

Unsustainable Impacts of Cars

Smog.Smog. Sprawl impacts.Sprawl impacts.

Land waste.Land waste. Traffic impacts.Traffic impacts.

Noise.Noise. Accidents.Accidents.

Social equitySocial equity Ownership inequalities.Ownership inequalities. Location inequalities.Location inequalities.

Human livabilityHuman livability Loss of community.Loss of community. Loss of public safety.Loss of public safety.

B-3B-3

Sustainable Transportation

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Sustainable Transportation

Modes Infrastructures Logistics

Environment

Climate Change

Air quality

Noise

Land Use

Waste

Environment

Climate Change

Air quality

Noise

Land Use

Waste

Economy

Growth

Jobs and Prosperity

Fair Pricing

Competitiveness

Choice

Economy

Growth

Jobs and Prosperity

Fair Pricing

Competitiveness

Choice

Society

Safety

Health

Disturbance

Access

Equity

Society

Safety

Health

Disturbance

Access

Equity

B-4B-4