Building low-carbon urban futures
We are facing an environmental crisis on a global scale; having failed to stop carbon emissions rising in a way that is consistent with a sustainable future for humanity. Cities play an ever-increasing role in addressing climate change, and some of the world’s leading cities are taking action to respond to the climate crisis and to shape more sustainable futures. By transitioning to net zero carbon across economies, the world can reduce carbon emissions and hopefully avoid dangerous levels of climate change.
Urban environments, once built, are slow to change, therefore the neighbourhoods we build today, ideally, need to meet the social, environmental and economic needs of the future. This obvious feature of cities is important; it makes for more efficient cities and ensures that cities continue to thrive (or decline) based on their competitive advantages. The next big competition opportunity for cities is to enable the green economy. Hence, innovations in low-carbon urban development are important for all cities and Australian cities should be leading the way.
Buildings help to define our cities; they are where our citizens live, learn, work and play. But buildings also have a huge impact on the environment; they are one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and a significant source of air pollution. Globally, the United Nations (UN) Environment Program estimates that buildings are responsible for 30 to 40 per cent of all primary energy used. In Australia, buildings are responsible for 25 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions. This presents both significant challenges and valuable opportunities for the built environment sector.
Building help to define our cities but they also have a huge impact on the environment
Decarbonising the built environment requires retrofitting existing building stock to reduce energy demand, as well as, new sustainable buildings and infrastructure. But transforming the buildings in our cities cannot be done in isolation. We need a system-wide approach that includes regulation and planning policies for net zero carbon buildings where possible, and working with state and regional governments in setting standards for buildings. The private sector also plays a key role in creating green and healthy buildings.
Net zero carbon buildings are green and healthy buildings. They use energy ultra-efficiently and are supplied by renewables. They are comfortable homes free of expensive energy bills; productive workplaces insulated from extreme temperatures; and healthy schools free from dirty air. Zero carbon buildings can be achieved through the integration of energy efficiency, fuel switching and zero emissions electricity into design, construction and operation.
Precinct (neighbourhood or community) scale development can prove more useful as Australia transitions towards low carbon urbanism, and provides many benefits over individual building developments, including comprehensive planning that creates a distinct sense of place within precincts; feasible, localised eco-infrastructure; and integration of social infrastructure within a precinct which allows for greater liveability and a more community-based way of life. Net zero precincts are also cheaper, more liveable and create larger economic growth than normal precincts – something that is not widely known.
Net zero precincts are cheaper, more liveable and create larger economic growth than normal precincts
We need to better understand how new build, mixed-use and primarily residential projects (greenfield, brownfield and greyfield) might be built to standards that help meet agreed emissions targets and can benefit from the associated economic and environmental benefits. Direct emissions, related to the construction of buildings, and indirect emissions associated with the operational energy demand of buildings, transport, waste and other urban services must also be addressed.
Additionally, in many of our cities, our municipal or government buildings represent a significant proportion of building emissions, and consequently, offer a large opportunity for rapid action. They can be used to pilot innovations, build capacity in local markets, and to inspire others to follow the lead. The private sector also plays a key role in creating green and healthy buildings. Cities have long been used as ‘laboratories for new approaches’, therefore, state and local jurisdictions play a critical role in driving innovation within urban planning practice. The integration of climate change planning into a city’s operations, which builds capacity and efficiency in response to climate challenges, provides a good indicator of highly-engaged and committed cities.
Urban planners have been pushing for the establishment of zero carbon precincts and to ensure buildings, roads and other infrastructure are geared towards tackling climate change. Earlier this year, the Planning Institute of Australia released a list of 10 actions necessary to achieve a climate-conscious pinning system in Queensland. This included a call to deliver a low or zero carbon precinct, like the Barangaroo development in Sydney, to demonstrate how cities can achieve big cuts in emissions while still producing productive infrastructure. Other agencies in Australia and overseas like the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, Green Building Council, and C40 Cities are set to support the sector to transition. THI has been working with the Government Land Organisations (GLO) Sustainability and Innovation Network, which includes Landcom, Development Victoria, Economic Development Queensland and Development WA, exploring opportunities to enable zero carbon precincts in Australia. I look forward to seeing what comes out from these important discussions!
Sources cited:
Thomson, G (2013) ‘PR-2003, Scoping Study, A Review of International Low Carbon Precincts to Identify Pathways for Mainstreaming Sustainable Urbanism in Australia, Phase 1; Interim Report, CRC Low Carbon Living, Australia, http:// www.lowcarbonlivingcrc.com.au/sites/all/files/ publications_file_attachments/rp2003_crclcl_ precincts.pdf
United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) (2014) ‘The Emissions Gap Report 2014,’ Final Report, United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), Nairobi, accessed 30/11/2016, http://www.unep.org/publications/ebooks/ emissionsgapreport2014/portals/50268/pdf/ EGR2014_LOWRES.pdf
Kemp, L., Sackett, P. and Jotzo, F. (2015) SubNational Climate Policies: How does the ACT compare?, ACT Climate Change Council, Canberra.
C40 Cities and ARUP (2011) ‘Climate Action in Mega Cities: C40 Cities Baseline and Opportunities,’ Version 1.0, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Groups, New York, United States of America, [online] http://www.c40.org/
