Developing Sustainable Societies Through the Biophilic City Concept
1. The Biophilic City Concept Developing Sustainable Societies: Challenges and Perspectives Flinders University 23 rd March 2011 Darren Bilsborough, Director of Sustainability A-P Adjunct Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University
2.
3. 1981 – 2005: global GDP more than doubled, but 60% of world’s ecosystems degraded/exploited unsustainably
5. PB-CUSP Alliance Research Costs to government $86 million (or approximately $80,000 per block) – or the cost to provide power, water, sewerage, schools, hospitals and local government services for fringe developments. Road infrastructure is the most significant cost. Cost to people $250 million in transport costs over 50 years – people in fringe developments drive more frequently and own more cars $ 4.23 million in health costs – people in fringe developments have higher risk of obesity related to lower levels of physical activity for people. Cost to the planet 4,400 tons of greenhouse gas is saved for 1,000 urban dwellings, which is roughly equal to the amount emitted from 200 homes – an estimated dollar value of approximately $19.32 million. Productivity Opportunity A 6% improvement in productivity due to active travel Lifestyle. PB-CUSP Alliance Research
8. How Much Time Have We Got? Some future scenarios have petrol prices at up to $8/litre in Australia. Even modest scenarios foresee $2 a litre within a few years Surveys by Budget Direct suggest 30% of motorists in Australian cities will stop using their car to commute if petrol reaches $1.75 a litre Watch the arctic this September – the canary in the mine. We may only be three-four years from an ice free arctic in summer
12. The Elephant in the Room Climate Change Adaptation The Biggest Problem?
13.
14.
15.
16.
17. Infrastructure (social and physical): health, education, justice, transport, waste, power and water The ‘body’ and ‘organs’ of a city, town or region relies on its essential physical and social infrastructure services; its ongoing operations need ‘sustenance’ in the form of energy, good metabolism, and the social infrastructure that enables a healthy, innovative, fair and secure place to live. In support of Place
18. Planning and PlaceMaking: the creation of place — affordable, liveable, amenable, home. People live in cities, towns and regions for lots of reasons; these might be historical, for employment or to maintain or pursue their relationships. But people stay for their sense of place — that is, the way the area makes them feel and the ability it gives them to connect with their surroundings, whether physical or metaphysical. Planning systems are set up to enable this to happen beyond individual project plans. The key is good planning •
21. What is Biophilia? Biophilia Edward O. Wilson, a Harvard University entomologist, coined the term "biophilia", referring to humans' "love of living things" - our innate affinity with nature