STEPS TOWARDS URBAN SUSTAINABILITY

Urban issues have risen high on many agendas with global questions. Most of the world’s resources are consumed in cities, where the majority of people live. It has become obvious that the sustainability of a single “green” building is marginal if it is not supported by sustainable urban infrastructure.


Cities compete with each other globally trying to please investors. There is hardly any municipality that does not in its official strategy claim that sustainability is one of its key targets. However, it is a totally different story if you ask, into what actions this declaration translates.


In all fairness, cities are at different stages in their development, and many of them in the global South have to struggle with enormous growth rates, immigration and segregation. Some urban areas in the North have opposite challenges of negative growth after old industries have died out or left to the South.


Hence, urban inequity and segregation are also an indication of global inequity. While more and more cities want to focus on services and hi-tech, the dirty work of the world remains to be done in the poorest cities with the most meager resources to develop.


For most cities, the first step when steering towards urban sustainability is visible “greening”: planting trees, promoting subsistence gardening or saving wetlands for birds. Green ‘beautification’ of the cityscape means projects that are also easy to sell to the people. However, at the same time more roads are being built for more cars.


Environmental measures with social and economic benefits come next. Health concerns put emphasis on quality of water, provision of sanitation and cleaner energy. Even poor cities may have the courage to say no to mining, if they understand that in the long run, tourism is going to bring them more employment. Waste management can turn into business, when sorting produces material for handicrafts and biowaste becomes a source for bioenergy. Clogged sewers lead to a ban on plastic bags. First lessons about ecosystem services are learned, when rivers are cleaned and watersheds are managed keeping the prevention of floods in mind.


Almost every city in the world is dealing with an influx of people from different ethnic backgrounds. Cultural festivals are promoted as measures to support minorities. Cultural heritage is increasingly understood as a resource to be kept alive, not only for tourists but also to support people's pride of place.


In the cities that try to fake it, the grassroots heritage aspects disappear as events grow bigger and more commercial. Formula One races, mega sporting events and even Eurovision song contests require major investments, but do not add to the real quality of life after the television cameras have left. Historic preservation of a couple of landmark buildings and ‘eco-labelling’ a few office buildings is mere window-dressing. Race for the cheapest ‘green building certificate’ continues in commercial development. If most public services have been outsourced or privatized, the city may not have much to say regarding the way the services are delivered.

More advanced cities become aware of the inescapable links between global targets and local actions. CO2 emission reduction measures are taken at the local level, share of renewable energy is increased in municipal utilities, and energy efficiency requirements are brought to local building codes and guidelines. The cities broaden the focus to cover the social dimension and governance of sustainable development, too. City Halls realize that civil servants and council members cannot do it alone but the process has to be democratized. Open access to information, e-governance, public hearings, popular votes, polls, co-development of services and participatory budgeting become daily routine. Refurbishment of existing buildings becomes a big project, public transport systems are improved and sustainable public procurement practices are slowly introduced. The Mayor receives awards and thinks that urban sustainability has been taken care of. Sorry, but no.


After all of the good steps the quantum leap is missing. The progress is far too slow. Incremental changes of business-as-usual don’t take us anywhere. The tough steps ahead will have to include holistic visions, integrated planning and brave strategies to implement them. Even a huge amount of excellent and certified but separate pieces does not make a well functioning whole. Because money is not going to stop talking, its language will have to become sustainability. Yes, there is a Dow Sustainability Index – but what use is it if not all companies, investments and financing support sustainability? Yes, sustainability criteria may be used somewhere when coffee or paper is purchased – but what is the point if every other product and service is the outcome of an unsustainable process? Yes, there may be a solar panel here and there, but zero emissions means 100% renewable energy. Yes, there may be tree-lined roads but as long as the pedestrian is not the king of the street, don’t try to convince me that your city is sustainable!

The text is based on a column written for the webpages of The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/built-environment