1MW in the world by Bronte Hogarth – 1MW International Correspondent
The idea of cities that give something back is starting to gain momentum as the reality of human induced climate change is literally sinking in around the world.
Our cities are facing new and rapidly evolving challenges, from the effects of global warming to increasing urban populations. So what are the urban planning strategies or changes we need in order to transform our cities into liveable and sustainable habitats for now and the future?
By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas.
Until recently, major urban planning strategies covered all aspects from aesthetic to practical: streets, building facades, parks, sewers and water works, facilities and public monuments. Today, urban planners need to adapt and accommodate to include sustainable objectives.
We know our globalised world is only becoming more interconnected year by year. The future of our cities depends on the considerations of these global issues facing us such as climate change mitigation, social inclusion and preserving cultural heritage. Regenerative urban planning could be the key.
- Urban regeneration – is at the core of city planning. Urban regeneration can be defined as the integrated local redevelopment of deprived areas (neighbourhood, city, metropolitan area). It covers many aspects of city life: physical, social and environmental. Approaches depend on a city’s history, and therefore policies must be integrated and area-based.
- Regenerative urban planning – engages urban regeneration at a new level to ensure cities not only become resource-efficient and low carbon-emitting, but go beyond that to positively enhance the ecosystems which provide them with goods and services, and it’s place in the larger world system too. (Already the resources for future generations are compromised, combat plans need to go beyond just preserving them, but regenerating them).
Fiona Woo writes…
The solution lies in thinking beyond the vague and unambitious notion of sustainability and, instead, actively working towards regenerating soils, forests and watercourses. The aim is to improve rather than merely sustaining their currently degraded condition. (Fiona Woo, Guardian Professional)
What we need is a new agenda to create regenerative cities, especially for those countries developing at fast speeds There is a chance for them to skip the industrial stages that established countries passed through and arrive at a more sustainable and regenerative model from the start. Cities that are not so dependent on fossil fuels. which engage renewable energies and new sustainable technologies. Furthermore this type of planning and realisation needs to be made accessible so it doesn’t remain simply a picturesque vision.
It relies on all of us!
People need to take on these challenges too, we are part of the urban environment and can actively make a difference in our surroundings becoming more sustainable.
Did you know?
Just by switching off at the power point appliances and equipment such as mobile phone chargers, televisions, set-top boxes, microwave ovens, games consoles, DVD players etc you can save about 500kg of CO2 pollution and $125 per year.
It’s a simple action! but in the scheme of things can make a big difference. This is the point, there is no single solution to climate change, it needs to be approached holistically from all areas of life from the small to the big.
Take action
See our activity centre for lot’s of ways to start cutting pollution and live more sustainably today.
We are daughters, mothers, sisters and grandmothers getting on with practical climate action to live better for us and the planet. Join the movement at www.1millionwomen.com.au
1 Million Women 
Such an important topic! Thank you for the insight!