The Scottish Government's independent advisory body on sustainable development
Sustainability in our new urban world
Thoughts from Commissioner Anne Power speaking at a seminar on Sustainable Places, Edinburgh May 2008
 | In 2008, for the first time in history, more than half the world’s population are living in cities. |
Across the world, in both developing and developed countries, cities face enormous social, economic and environmental challenges. In Asia, Africa and Latin America the most fundamental challenge is to deliver basic services of clean water, sanitation and habitable housing to the huge influx of rural migrants.
In Scotland the challenges are different.
We have had an urbanised population for a hundred and fifty years. Most of the basic problems of sanitation have been addressed. However, many communities are economically and politically affected by poor housing, unemployment and crime. There are high rates of family breakdown and weak communities. Cities often have poor public transport, congestion and pollution. Dirt often dominates inner city streets and decays outer estates. There is a lot to do to make urban areas sustainable.
So can we transform urban living in Scotland to create balanced, integrated and sustainable settlements with a far smaller 'carbon footprint'? Strong evidence from home and abroad shows that we can.
The Fairfield area of Perth is a good example of this transformation. Twenty years ago Fairfield was an area of multiple deprivation. The area had an incredible unemployment rate of 88%, the houses were cold and expensive to heat.
Today the area is almost unrecognisable. Unemployment is now at 12% and the houses and flats look beautiful but cost very little to run, thanks to energy saving. The perception of the area by residents and others has changed radically. Housing has been refurbished to high energy performance standards and there is now a waiting list to move in to the area.
Across Europe there have been bigger scale successes.
In the 1960s the beautiful old centre of Copenhagen was plagued with traffic and car parking. All the city’s main squares had become parking lots and roundabouts – it had become a city for cars not people.
Based on the vision of local architect Jan Gehl, the streets and squares have been given back to pedestrians and cyclists. A third of all journeys in the city are now by bike and in stark contrast to most cities, there has been no growth in car use in the last 40 years. The city's carbon footprint has been cut – reducing CO2 emissions by 23% between 1990 and 2000. Today 25% of the municipality’s energy is generated from wind power. Empowering people and giving them a say in how their community is run has also been key - all social housing is run on a co-operative basis, with tenants in the majority on boards, to encourage this.
Barcelona has also made huge strides, particularly the regeneration of its waterfront. Across the city a commitment was made that every neighbourhood would have a shared public space, no matter how small, which helped foster a sense of community and belonging. Key streets were handed back to pedestrians. Landmark buildings such as those of the city's most famous architect, Gaudi, have become symbolic of the care and constant investment cities need. Solar energy is required in all new buildings.
Studies of diverse cities around the world identify common traits which help us to understand, and replicate, thriving sustainable urban areas. Thriving cities foster community investment and enterprise that help create a virtuous circle of local development in line with what people want. Important ingredients include: enhancing existing infrastructure, improving its energy efficiency and re-using vacant land rather than creating new settlements outside existing areas. Quality local services that reduce the need to travel go together with efficient public transport, safe and attractive cycling and walking routes. High quality, shared community spaces provide support for community interaction.
Urban development needs a coherent approach that fosters communities whilst encouraging low-carbon, resource efficient living. Both in Scotland and the rest of the world, we must learn from the best cities, so all cities have happier, healthier populations.
Link to more information about the SDC's work on the Built Environment
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