RP2003: Review of Policy for LC Precincts

RP2003: Journal Article: Geoengineering in the Anthropocene through regenerative urbanism

Human consumption patterns exceed planetary boundaries and stress on the biosphere can be expected to worsen. The recent “Paris Agreement” (COP21) represents a major international attempt to address risk associated with climate change through rapid decarbonisation. The mechanisms for implementation are yet to be determined and, while various large-scale geoengineering projects have been proposed, we argue a better solution may lie in cities. Large-scale green urbanism in cities and their bioregions would offer benefits commensurate to alternative geoengineering proposals, but this integrated approach carries less risk and has additional, multiple, social and economic benefits in addition to a reduction of urban ecological footprint. However, the key to success will require policy writers and city makers to deliver at scale and to high urban sustainability performance benchmarks.

To better define urban sustainability performance, we describe three horizons of green urbanism: green design, that seeks to improve upon conventional development; sustainable development, that is the first step toward a net zero impact; and the emerging concept of regenerative urbanism, that enables biosphere repair. Examples of green urbanism exist that utilize technology and design to optimize urban metabolism and deliver net positive sustainability performance. If mainstreamed, regenerative approaches can make urban development a major urban geoengineering force, while simultaneously introducing life-affirming co-benefits to burgeoning cities

Read the full article here: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/geosciences6040046

RP2003: Journal Article: Urban fabrics and urban metabolism – from sustainable to regenerative cities

This paper uses urban metabolism as a way to understand the sustainability of cities. It suggests that the city organism can reduce its metabolic footprint (resource inputs and waste outputs) whilst improving its livability. Like organisms, different cities have different metabolisms.

This paper demonstrates that different parts of a city (walking, transit and automobile urban fabrics) also have different urban metabolisms. A detailed case study from the city of Perth, Australia, is used to demonstrate metabolic variations in different parts of the city. Understanding urban metabolism and the processes that drive it is the key to transitioning from ecologically extractive to sustainable cities. Through targeted improvements it is even possible for some elements of the city to become regenerative so that they restore parts of the degraded urban environment thus reversing damage to the biosphere.

Read the full article here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.01.010

RP2003: Conference Paper: GRID: a new governance mechanism for financing eco-infrastructure at the district scale

The combined challenges of climate change, finite resources, population growth and aging infrastructure demand a shift toward more resource-efficient, low-carbon sustainable cities. This may be achieved through new forms of eco-infrastructure delivered at the district scale. Despite considerable success in numerous demonstration projects globally, such development has not yet become mainstream. Finance remains a key obstacle preventing wide-spread implementation.

This paper suggests that new funding models are needed that can help spread the costs of the infrastructure over a longer time period and across different land titles. It highlights a range of possible funding options and introduces the concept of Green Regenerative Improvement Districts, or ‘GRID’, as a possible new governance mechanism that could assist with financing and managing precinct scale ecoinfrastructure.

Read the paper in this document pp. 140-146: http://bit.ly/2mW4040

RP2003: A Review of Low Carbon Precincts to Identify Pathways for Mainstreaming Sustainable Urbanism in Australia

As part of the CRC for Low Carbon Living this scoping paper focuses on the Low Carbon Precincts (Program 2) however, it also examines aspects of how the Engaged Communities (Program 3) can help with the implementation of low carbon precincts e.g. through leadership, governance, construction and real estate, and community / consumer attitudes and action., The research also touches on the importance of Integrated Building Systems (Program 1) as essential infrastructure for achieving a low carbon precinct.

rp2003 crclcl precincts (1122078 PDF)