Sustainable Cities

Specific examples
1
I. Purpose of using these specific examples in this module
1. These specific examples are chosen to give students a brief introduction on how urban
problems can be solved by adopting the concept of sustainable development in urban
planning and management.
2. They can strengthen students global perspective and enable them to have a better
understanding of what is happening in other parts of the world.
II. Catering for learner diversity
1. For students with average ability, it is advisable for teachers to give just a very brief
overview of what are happening in other cities and how they try to solve their urban
problems in a sustainable way.
2. For those with better ability and interest in urban geography, teachers can consider
comparing the case of ong !ong with those of "uang#hou$Tianjin, or even a multiple%
case comparison including &eoul and elsin'i.
III. How to make use of the information provided in this folder?
1. The information given in this folder provides a detailed description of each specific
example. Teachers can have an understanding of the bac'ground of the 'inds of urban
problems that these cities are facing and how sustainable urban planning and
management have helped to solve these problems.
2. Teachers need not teach all the information provided in this folder and should tailor%
ma'e them and choose which example(s) they should use according to the ability and
interest of the students.
*. Teachers can ma'e use of the materials for the following activities+
,ac'ground information for students discussion on the degree of sustainability on
individual city-
.nformation provided for comparing the cases of different cities-
/aterials for self%study.
2
&ustainable development, according to the 0orld 1ommission on 2nvironment and
3evelopment, is+
"development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs."
45ur 1ommon Future, 16789
&ustainable development for ong !ong means+
finding ways to increase prosperity and improve the :uality of life while
reducing overall pollution and waste-
meeting our own needs and aspirations without doing damage to the prospects
of future generations- and
reducing the environmental burden we put on our neighbours and helping to
preserve common resources.
41666 !&;< "overnor =olicy ;ddress9
<eference+
&ustainable 3evelopment > the "overnment of the !&;<
http+$$www.susdev.gov.h'$html$en$sd$index.htm
*
?<,;@21 1onference (,erlin, Auly 2BBB) define sustainable urban development as+
4.mproving the :uality of life in a city, including ecological, cultural, political, institutional,
social and economic components without leaving a burden on the future generations.9
Characteristics of a sustainable city
1. 1ambridge Cocal ;genda 21 sets five objectives for a sustainable city+
increasing social e:uity and creating a fairer society
encouraging participation, so that everyone can voice their opinion
improving living space
maintaining healthy environment
conserving natural resources
2. .n 166D, ?nited @ations report 4=residents 1ommission on &ustainable 3evelopment9
set up guiding direction of sustainable development in different countries. .t stated that
the planning should be far%sighted to 2B, EB or even 1BB years. 0hile planning and
designing, we must do the overall consideration and ta'e the traffic, land use, housing,
community development, economic development and environmental protection as a
whole. 2fforts are suggested to be made on the following aspects+
ave compact and efficient land use planning
ave good accessibility and reducing car use
?se resources efficiently and reduce the amount of pollution and waste
&trengthen ecological protection and restoration
=reserve local traditions and culture as well as the uni:ue social relations between
people and between people and land
References:
1. Cau & F &tephen, =latten ; !, Cau T 2rica, 0ang Aun (eds) (2BB6). International
Sustainable and Urban Regeneration Case Studies and Lessons Learned 2008: ICONUS
Conference 08. ong !ong+ ong !ong 1ollege of Technology
2. <egional 2nvironmental 1enter
http+$$archive.rec.org$<21$ =rograms$&ustainable1ities$0hat.html
G
*. 0itheric' /. H ;dams ! (2BBD). Cities & Urbanisation. "reat ,ritain+ =hilip ;llan
?pdates.
E
D
8
General Information
. !eographical location
.t is the provincial capital of "uangdong =rovince. .t is located on the
southeast part of "uangdong =rovince and the northern edge of Ihujiang
3elta.
Congitude+ 112
o
E8 > 11G
o
*2- Catitude+ 22
o
2D > 2*
o
ED@
". #otal area
8G*G.G 'm
2
C. Population
12.8 million (2B1B)
=opulation density+ 18B7 $ 'm
2
Transport problems in Guangzhou
"uang#hou is a rapidly developing city. .ts "3= has risen from </, *2B.G
billion in 2BB2 to </, 1BDB.G billion in 2B1B. .n terms of "3=, "uang#hou is next
only to that of &hanghai and ,eijing. 0ith such high rate of economic growth, the
city has attracted many immigrants. <apid urbani#ation creates many urban problems,
such as the lac' of careful landuse planning and unsatisfactory traffic management.
7
The followings were some of the transport problems faced by the city in the
past decade+
1. The close economic connection between the urban area and the peripheral
areas resulted in a huge volume of passenger and goods transport was
tremendous.
2. The total length of roads in the urban area was 16B7 'm and the road area
was 2*B2 m
2
by the end of 1667 with an average road space of E.8E m
2
per
capita. owever, there was a shortage of road capacity and there was little
space for expansion. &o there were many blac' spots of traffic congestion.
*. There was a rapid growth in the ownership of motor vehicles. ,y the end
of 1667, the number in the urban areas was D21,BBB of which D1.6J was
motorcycles.
G. =rivate vehicles (mainly motorcycles) have ta'en a very high proportion
(up to EBJ) of all traffic modes. =ublic transport accounted for only
18.EJ of the total number of trips in 1667 and the service level of public
transport was far from satisfactory.
E. The layout of the bus route networ' was not :uite rational and some of the
routes were seriously overlapped. There were too few bus stations. The
metro line @o.1 was in operation but its effect in releasing the transport
pressure was still limited.
D. There was a serious shortage of par'ing areas in the city centre and
existing facilities could only meet half of the demand, which led to serious
illegal par'ing.
6
2011 Sustainable Transport Award Winner: Guan!"ou# C"ina
.n order to reduce the negative impact of the transport problems in "uang#hou,
city planners have developed the ,us <apid Transit (,<T) system. This bus system
has its own dedicated bus lanes on streets. .t uses bus stations instead of bus stops, a
design which re:uires passengers to pay before boarding the bus. This allows faster
and more orderly boarding. ,ecause of this system, "uang#hou has won the 2B11
&ustainable Transport ;ward. .t is an award given to the city that made most progress
to increase and improve mobility for all residents while reducing transportation
greenhouse and air pollution emissions, and at the same time improve safety and
access for cyclists and pedestrians.
The "uang#hou ,<T which opened in 21 February 2B1B transported more than
2*,BBB passengers per hour. ;t a cost of ?&KD million per 'm, the ,<T is 1B times
cheaper than a subway. 0al'ing still ma'es up GBJ of all trips, but in a city where a
third of trips are by bus, the ,<T will reduce travel times, saving more than GB
million passenger%hours annually. ,uses are operated in a direct service mode which
means that the buses come in and out of the ,<T corridor without passengers needing
to transfer, to stop at the end and to transfer to another line. The si#e of the stations
varies. For example, in the city centre where the demand for transport is great, the
stations are big, maybe more than 2GBm long. The stations in the suburban area are
small, only 1D m.
1B
The buses used are C=" vehicles (2uro ... or higher). ;ll stations are
full%weather protected and the environment is enhanced. .t is also connected to
the "uang#hou /etro at three stations. .n order to promote
cycling to connect this system, there are segregated bi'e lanes lined with trees
along the main corridors. There are also bi'e par'ing and bi'e sharing
facilities in the ,<T stations. The system is operated by seven operating
companies in three large corporate groups to ensure good services.
The following are some of the features of the "uang#hou ,<T+
Total+ 2D stations (1 more to be added in late 2B11).
G2 bus routes operated in the corridor.
,<T vehicle fuel+ C="
; smart card system.
Total length of dedicated busway lane+ 22.E 'm
Cocation of busway lane+ 1entre of roadway
=ea' throughput (passengers$hr$direction)+ 28,GBB
&ystem passenger%trips per day+ 7BE,BBB
;verage bus occupancy (pea' hour H direction H point)+ 87
?rban area inhabitants (million) served+ 1*
=ublic transport mode share (J, including wal'ing)+ *B
EEBB bi'e par'ing spaces at stations (planned) (first in 1hina)
EBBB rental bicycles at stations (planned)
.nfrastructure cost per 'm (million yuan)+ *B
=lease refer to the following website for the photos of the ,<T "uang#hou+
http+$$www.chinabrt.org$en$cities$guang#hou.aspx
/ap of the ,<T
References:
1. 1hina F;Ls > The @etwor' for 1limate and 2nergy .nformation 41hina Coo's to ,us
<apid Transit &ystems to 1ope with <apid ?rbani#ation9
www. 1hinafa:s.org$blog%posts$china%loo'smbus%rapid%transit%systems%cope%rapid%
urbani#ation
2. Feng 0ang H ;n Ain (2BBB) Traffic demand management in "uang#hou city for the 21
st
1entury in 2BBB
www.chinautc.com$information$manage$?@11M2ditor$uploadfile$ $BD
$E2TrafficJ2B3emandJ2B/anagementJ2BinJ2B"uang#houJ2B 1ity
J2BforJ2BtheJ2B1BstJ2Bc.pdf
*. "uang#hou and a "limpse into the Future+ 1hanging 1hina
http+$$carbusters.org$2BB6$11$B*$guang#hou%and%a%glimpsee%into%the%future%changing%
china
11
G. "uang#hou ,<T
www.chinabrt.org$en$cities$guang#hou.aspx
E. "uang#hou 1hina
www.guang#hou.gov.cn
D. "uang#hou, 1hina+ 0inning the future with ,<T
www. streetfilms.org$"uang#hou%china%brt
8. "uang#hou, 1hina, 0ins &ustainable Transport =ri#e
http+$$news.nationalgeographic.com$energy$2B11$B1$11B12G%guang#hou%china%
sustainable%transport%pri#e
7. &elling in 1hina > "uang#hou
http+$$www.h'tdc.com$info$mi$a$bgdscn$en$1NBD6O!O$1$"uide%To%&elling%in%
1hina$&elling%in%1hina%>%"uang#hou%%.htm
6. &ustainable ?rban Transport =roject
www.sutp.org$index.phpPoptionQcomMcontentHtas'QviewHidQ2EG6H.temidQ1HlangQen
1B. "3= !"#$% &'()*
www.h'cd.com.h'$content$2B11%B2$22$contentM2D62*1D.htm
12
1*
$ Green Communit%& in Guan!"ou
. #he idea of $!reen Community%
0ith increasing rate of urbani#ation and the promotion of sustainable
development as one of the 'ey elements in the policy of the 1hinese government, the
/inistry of 2nvironmental =rotection has proposed the construction of model city on
environmental protection and green community at local level. The 4green
community9 is a community that targets on maintaining the good :uality of the socio%
ecological environment and the balance of the ecosystem which in turn promotes the
harmonious development between human and the natural environment. This can be
achieved by establishing a reasonable mode of consumption and lifestyle by the
residents living there.
&tarting from 2BB1, the local government of "uang#hou has set up clear
objectives and concrete actions in the building of 4green community9. Cocal
communities or districts are encouraged to develop or redevelop their area according
to the principles of the 4green community9. 3istrict interested can apply for
authentication as 4green community9. &elf assessment and assessment by local
government will be carried out according to the criteria listed below+
There is a well%organi#ed environmental management system to achieve the
targeted level of environmental :uality. This system should also provide training
for all personnel involved, not just government officials but the general public
too.
The :uality of the environment and the level of pollution should be monitored
closely.
There should be certain amount of greenery in the area. The tidiness, cleanliness
and hygiene of the district should be maintained.
@atural resources, including animals and plants should be protected and
preserved.
References:
1G
<esidents in the district are encouraged to have green
consumption. They should use clean energy and participate
in activities on environmental protection.
There should be the promotion of environmental protection
and awareness among the public through different means or activities.
". chievements in !uang&hou
1. ?p to 2B1B, there were 2E6 green communities in "uang#hou. 5ne example is in
Ciwan 3istrict +,- . There were 2G 4green communities9 which
contributed to 1$E of the total number of communities in the district. .n these
communities, 1BBJ of the solid waste has been treated. The area of greenery
covered 2EJ of the area in the communities. 5ver 6BJ of the public has
participated in environmental protection and over 6BJ of the residents satisfied
with the environment in the district.
2. There is a greater concern over the control of pollution level. &tarting from 2B1B,
stricter control is imposed over the level of noise. ;ll new construction next to
residential area, hospital or schools must lower the noise level by building noise
barrier. There is also strong monitoring on solid waste treatment.
*. /ore green areas were built in the city. .n 2B1B, the areal coverage of greenery in
the built%up area was *E.EJ. The greenery area per capita was 1E.B1m
2
. The
length of road with greenery was 1BDB 'm which was the longest, the largest
coverage and serving the largest population among all cities in the province.
G. 1iti#ens in "uang#hou become more aware of environmental protection as a
result of the strong promotion and education from the local government. 1iti#ens
began to adopt a green lifestyle and develop a greater concern over their
environment.
1. 2BB2 ./0- 123456 (2BB* 12 7*1 ")
www.g#epb.gov.cn$rootG*$gov$2BB71B$t2BB71B1EM18E1.htm
2. 2B1B 89:;3456<2B11 34=> (2B11 6 7D ")
www.g#epb.gov.cn$wasGB$dertailPrecordQDHchannelidQE87EHsearchwordQJ12J11
J16J;,J16J28J18JF7
*. ./0-?@AB
www.g#epb.gov.cn$#wg'$gs$lss:$2BB6BD$t2BB6BD2DME6BBG.htm
G. +,-CD EF . /0- GH
www.epi77.com$master$@ewsMOiew.aspP@ews.3Q6EB
E. IJKL./0-2M
www.g##x.gov.cn$cf11G$dhwj$2B1BBG$1G8G.html
1E
1D
General Information
. !eographical location
.t is one of the four municipalities directly under the governance of the
1entral "overnment of 1hina. .t lies in west of the =acific 5cean, the
northeast of the @orth 1hina =lain( NOPQ), at the lower reaches of
aihe ( R), with ,ohai ( S) on its east and Fanshan ( TU) on its
north. .t is only 1*8 'ilometers southeast of ,eijing, the capital of 1hina.
Catitude+ *7R*GS@%GBR1ES@- Congitude+ 11DRG*S2%117RBGS2
". #otal area
118DB 'm
2
C. Population
12.6 million permanent residents (2B1B)
=opulation density+ 1B68 $ 'm
2
<eference+
1. Tianjin /unicipal =eoples "overnment
http+$$www.tj.gov.cn$english$;boutMtianjin$OisitingMTianjin
2. 1ity =opulation > 1hina > Tianjin
http+$$www.citypopulation.de$1hina%Tianjin.html
18
C"allenes faced b% t%pical C"inese cit%:
A 'ri(in )eed for sustainabilit%
;s a rapidly developing country, 1hina faces a lot of challenges towards
sustainability. The 2BBE 2nvironmental &ustainability .ndex (2&.), which ran's
countries based on such measures as health, governance, technology, and international
cooperation, placed 1hina 1**
rd
out of 1GD countries. The following shows the different
aspects of concern+
. 'ational (emographics
The urban population of 1hina is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. .t
is expected that every year, 2B million people will become city residents.
2very year, at least 1E million young laborers start loo'ing for jobs, out of which D
million ?niversity graduates loo'ing for white collar job.
". Resources
0ater+ 22BBm
*
$person in 1hina, less than 1$G of global average level.
;rable land+ 6**m
2
$person, less than GBJ of global average level.
2nergy+ 1hinas city used 1G6 gigawatt hours of electricity per billion </, of
production (2BB7) which was much higher than other cities li'e @ew For' (11
gigawatt hours) and /exico 1ity (1B gigawatt hours).
C. )nvironment
;ir+ 5nly 2BJ of 1hinas cities meet the 05s standards for sulphur dioxide
and nitrogen dioxide, and almost none meet the standard for particulate matter.
0ater+ The polluted fresh water per person is more than the average of developed
countries.
0etlands+ &easide wetland areas have been reduced by EBJ in the last GB years.
17
(. *ociety
.ncome gap+ ;verage income at the level of Aapan GB years ago and internal
difference is *1 times.
<educing social ine:uities is the major goal.
@early 1BB of the cities studied in 1hina had metropolitan densities of about GBBB
people$'m
2
which is higher those of some cities in developed countries, such as
@ew For' (17BB) and =aris (**BB).
16
Sino*Sinapore Tian+in ,co*cit%
;s 1hina has faced such challenges of sustainable development, the 1hinese
government would li'e to explore ways to cope with these problems. .n 2BB8, the
&enior /inister "oh 1ho' Tong of &ingapore and the =remier 0en Aiabao of =<1
agreed to jointly develop an 2co%city in 1hina. .n @ovember 2BB8, Tianjin was
chosen as the location for the 2co%city. .t is a bilateral project between 1hina and
&ingapore with private%sector investment and development (EB$EB joint venture). .ts
aim is to create a model demonstrating the determination of both countries in
reconciling global climate change, strengthening environmental protection, resource
and energy conservation, and building a harmonious society.
&ite of Tianjin 2co%city
2B
. +ocation of *ino,*ingapore #ian-in )co,city
The total area of the 2co%city is *G.2 'm
2
. .t is located at the coastal area GB 'm
from Tianjin city centre and 1EB 'm from ,eijing. The site is 1B 'm from the core
district of the Tianjin ,inhai @ew ;rea (T,@;) '(VW-, and a E%1B
minute drive from the southern tip of the site to Tianjin 2conomic%Technological
3evelopment ;rea (T23;) '(XYZ-.
21
22
". Concepts underlying the planning and development of the #ian-in )co,city
The 'ey concept is the Tthree harmonies9 > man living in harmony with man,
now and for future generations- man living in harmony with economic activities-
and man living in harmony with the environment.
.t adopts a holistic approach which starts at the macro%level > comprehensive
master planning integrating land use and transport planning, to ensure those
living and wor'ing in the 2co%city have a good living and wor'ing environment.
<esidents also have good access to facilities. Cand use planning has been
integrated with public transport networ' to encourage more green transport and
less use of private vehicles. There is also land use that facilitates economic
development so as to create ade:uate well%paying jobs for residents. There is
also good water and waste management, use of renewable energy and the
construction of green buildings.
&trong and cohesive communities within the 2co%city are fostered. <esidents
living there also need to play a role in reali#ing the vision of the 2co%city. For
example, they need to be prepared to wal', cycle or use public transport and not
to use private cars in the 2co%city.
Human
Environment Economy
Balanced harmony
2*
C. .ey Performance Indicators guiding the planning and development of the
)co,city
1. "ood @atural 2nvironment
;mbient air :uality
Luality of water bodies within the 2co%city
Luality of water from taps
@oise pollution levels
1arbon emission per unit "3=
@et loss of natural wetlands
2. ealthy balance in the man%made environment
=roportion of green buildings
@ative vegetation index
=er capita public green space
*. "ood lifestyle abits
=er capita daily water consumption
=er capita daily domestic waste generation
=roportion of green trips
5verall recycling rate
;ccess to free recreational and sports amenities
0aste treatment
,arrier%free accessibility
&ervices networ' coverage
=roportion of affordable public housing
2G
G. 3eveloping a dynamic and efficient economy
?sage of renewable energy
?sage of water from non%traditional sources
=roportion of <H3 scientist and engineers in the 2co%city wor'force
2mployment%ousing e:uilibrium .ndex
(. /eatures of the )co,city
.n order to address to the challenges of sustainable development, the 2co%city has
adopted a holistic and balanced approach in the planning and development of the city.
The following are some of its features+
1. 2nergy 2fficiency and ?se of 1lean and <enewable 2nergy
<enewable energy, such as solar and geothermal energy, is used and shall
account for at least 2BJ of energy utili#ed by 2B2B.
2. "reen ,uildings
;ll buildings in the 2co%city will conform to green building standards to ensure
efficient energy usage.
*. "reen Transportation
There will be an efficient and easily accessible public transport system.
The target is for at least 6BJ of all trips within the eco%city to be ta'en by
wal'ing, cycling or public transport (green trips).
2E
G. 2cologically Friendly
2stuary wetlands and biodiversity will be preserved.
;t least 8BJ of the plant varieties are indigenous.
"reen spaces and recreational facilities are within wal'ing distance of EBB m.
=ublic green space per capita will be more than 12 m
2
by 2B1*.
;ir :uality shall meet 1hinas @ational ;mbient ;ir Luality "rade .. standard
for at least *1B days$year.
@oise pollution shall 1BBJ meet the standard of respective functional area.
E. 0ater /anagement
The city has low rainfall and water supply from rivers draining the area is not
enough to meet its needs. ;t least EBJ of the fresh water supply for the 2co%city
will come from desalination and recycled water by 2B2B. 5thers come from
water plants from Tianjin 2conomic%Technological 3evelopment ;rea (T23;)
and angu [\.
3aily water consumption per person per day shall not exceed 12B litres by 2B1*.
To ensure a high :uality of living environment, tap water will be potable and
shall meet the =<1 and international standards.
The :uality of surface water bodies will be treated so that it can meet "rade .O
of 1hinas latest national standard.
2D
D. 0aste /anagement
The 4*<s9 of waste management > <educe, <euse and <ecycle > will be
adopted.
3omestic waste generated per person shall not exceed B.7 'g and DBJ of total
waste should be recycled by 2B1*.
@on%organic waste will be recycled and reused and organic waste will be used as
biofuel.
8. 2conomic 3evelopment
The 2co%city will speciali#e in tertiary and service industries and will be an
educational and <H3 centre for environment%related technologies.
There shall be at least EB <H3 scientists and engineers per 1B,BBB wor'force by
2B2B.
"ood employment opportunities will be provided for its residents. ;t least EBJ
of the employable residents in the 2co%city shall be employed in the 2co%city by
2B2B.
1entre for eco%education, training H research institutes will be set up to provide
s'illed labour.
1arbon emission per unit "3= shall not exceed 1EB tonne%1 per ?&K1 million.
28
7. &ocial armony
2BJ of the houses in the 2co%city will be subsidi#ed so that residents of different
income levels and professions can live there.
1ommunal amenities and facilities will be highly accessible.
The 2co%city will be barrier%free to cater for the needs of the elderly and
mobility%impaired.
;n energy%conservation and environment%friendly mindset will also be
cultivated among the residents. For example, residents will be prepared to wal',
cycle or use public transport instead of using private cars.
6. eritage 1onservation
Cocal heritage will be preserved, for example, the Ai 1anal with 1BBB years of
history, will be retained.
Progress of the Pro-ect
?p till &eptember 2B11, about *BB'm
2
land development has been completed. They
included+
] EBB residential housing bloc's (conform to green building standard)
] &ocial facilities including schools, hospitals and community services
] ;bout *BB m
2
green area and GB'm green roads
The whole project is expected to be completed by 2B2B. ;t that time, the
population is projected to be *EB,BBB.
References:
1. 3eveloping a city of the future+ &ino%&ingapore Tianjin 2co%city
www.siww.com.sg$pdf$B7M3evelopingMaMcityMofMtheMfutureM&inoM&ingaporeMTianjinM
2coMcity.pdf
2. &ino%&ingapore Tianjin 2co%city
www.tianjinecocity.gov.sg
*. &ino%&ingapore Tianjin 2co%city to pilot first of its 'ind eco manufacturing base in 1hina
www.tianjineco%city.com$en$newsMcenter$pressMrelease$627.aspx
G. The ?rban &ustainability .ndex+ ; @ew Tool for /easuring 1hinas 1ities
www.urbanchinainitiative.org$wp%content$uploads$2B1B$11$usi.pdf
E.
D. Tianjin+ ; model 2co%city in the 2astern 0orld
http+$$sustainablecities.d'$en$city%projects$cases$tianjin%a %model%eco%city%in%the%
eastern%world
8. ^W'(_`
www.eco%city.gov.cn$eco$shouye$main.html
7. ^W_`abcdefg hij*2.kl
http+$$tjeco%city.com$cn$newsM2.aspP
UQHactionQ<ecord3etailH'indQ2BB7B*171E*11BBBBB1B;7B1,B*BGBHidQ2B11B62717
11B6BBBB*11211G67DG8
27
26
General Information
. !eographical location
&eoul is the capital of &outh !orea. The city is some *B.* 'm from north
to south and *D.87 'm east to west.
.t sits in a natural basin surrounded by a number of pea's of EBB meters or
more above sea level.
Catitude+ *8R*GS@- Congitude+ 12DRE6S2
". #otal area
DBE.G1 'm
2
C. Population
1B.G million (2B1B), about a :uarter of the population of the <epublic of
!orea.
=opulation density+ 18,2GB$ 'm
2
References:
i &eoul, &oul of ;sia
http+$$english.seoul.go.'r$gt'$main.php
*B
C"eon%ec"eon -estoration .ro+ect# Seoul
. "ackground
1heonggyecheon mnois a stream flowing through the centre of &eoul from east
to west, then meeting Aungnangcheon, which in turn connects to the an <iver and enters
into the Fellow &ea. .n the past, the stream was an integral part of the lives of the &eoul
residents who used it for laundry, recreation and waste disposal. owever, the stream
fre:uently flooded after heavy rain, causing lots of damages.
3uring the Aapanese occupation, many farmers moved to &eoul because they lost their
farmland. They began to build illegal houses along the ban's of 1heonggyecheon.
.ncreasing population polluted the stream and turned it into the breeding bed for infectious
diseases. Fre:uent flooding also threatened the people living along the ban's of the stream.
Therefore, there were voices calling for the dec'ing of the stream.
.n 16E7, the full%scale wor' to dec' the stream began. .n 1681, the 1heonggye <oad,
which was EB%7B m wide was built to cover up D.28 'm of the stream. ?nder the road, there
were sewage drains, water pipes, sewage pipes, electric power ducts, telecommunications
ducts and gas lines. The area next to the road housed over 1BB,BBB small businesses. .n
168D, the 1heonggye 2levated ighway, 1D m wide and E.7 'm long, was built. The heavy
traffic brought by the ighway replaced the dirty water with exhausted fume. ,y the end of
the 2B
th
century, the buildings beside the road were
old and shabby. The area was polluted with little
green space.
*1
". 0hy was there a need for the restoration of the river?
1. The safety of citi#ens was threatened
.n 1661, a safety evaluation of the 1heonggye 2levated ighway found that the
structures were corroded and damaged which might threaten the safety of the citi#ens. This
was the result of the accumulation of heavy metals such as lead, chromium and manganese
at the bed of 1heonggyecheon originated from the heavily polluted stream water. The
corrosion of the structures was further accelerated by carbon monoxide, methane gas and
other gases trapped underground. &ince the long%term stability of the structures could not
be ensured, the government started to formulate a solution to the problem.
2. 1oncern to ease the transport problem in the city centre
.n the 6Bs, there was a decrease in the use of public transport by the people living in
&eoul owing to unsatisfactory service and poor planning and management. /ore than 1D7
thousand cars use 1heonggye <oad and 1heonggye 2levated ighway every day. .llegal
par'ing was common. =edestrian volume in the downtown was more than 2BBB persons per
day but there was lac' of pedestrian crossings. The situation was further worsened by the
heavy traffic of motor cycle on the sidewal's. There was an urgent need to alleviate this
problem.
*. ; need to transform &eoul into a human%oriented and environment%friendly city
The project mar'ed a major paradigm shift of the !orean government in urban
planning, moving from Tdevelopment orientation to Thuman orientation. 5ne of the major
aims is to improve the :uality of life of the &eoul citi#ens and transform &eoul into an
environmentally friendly city, offering a liveable environment that is people%centred.
*2
G. <evitali#ing the neglected city centers
The neighborhood around the 1heonggyecheon &tream was mainly old buildings GB%EB
years old. The area was a slum in a deteriorating condition. 8EJ of total buildings in the
urban centre have less than four stories and E*J of the structures were made of wood or
bric'. The restoration of 1heonggyecheon will stimulate urban redevelopment. .mportant
industries, such as international financing, the cultural industry, and the fashion and tourism
industry will be attracted. This can raise the competitiveness of &eoul as an international
city.
E. <ecovering &eouls history and creating cultural spaces
&eoul is a city with DBB years of history. .t helps to rediscover its historical roots and
original loo' which have long been forgotten.
C. #he Restoration Pro-ect
The project started in 2BB* by the &eoul /etropolitan "overnment and was completed
in &eptember 2BBE. .t is a project which helps to revitali#e the downtown area in the
southern part of &eoul. The area will be developed into a historical and cultural centre, a
business and commercial centre and a centre of tourism and shopping. The project includes
the following+
1. <estoration of the stream
The 1heonggye 2levated ighway and the structures covering the 1heonggyecheon
&tream were removed. The stream was restored as an Turban stream in nature, a human%
oriented, environment%friendly urban space with a waterfront and sidewal's along the
ban's. 2mban'ments which can withstand flood that is expected to occur every 2BB years
were built. Terraces and lower%level sidewal's were built along the
**
upper and lower reaches of the stream. .ntercepting sewage lines were installed to collect
rainwater and wastewater separately. 1overing structures were used in some part of the
stream in order to prevent wastewater from flowing into 1heonggyecheon during periods
of heavy rainfall.
2. 0ater supply
1heonggyecheon is an intermittent stream. 0ater is drawn daily from the an <iver,
underground water and the purified water from the Ttu'do 0ater =urification =lant. The
average water depth is GB cm and 12B,BBB tons of water flows through 1heonggyecheon
each year.
2. 0aterfront roads and access road
,oth sides of the stream are wide as much as at least 1*.Em to accommodate one%way
two lane roads, sidewal's and loading$unloading space for smooth traffic flow. The
restored stream is accessible at 18 locations. There are E pedestrian bridges and 18 bridges
for motorists to cross the 1heonggyecheon.
*. <estoration of ecological environment
The waterfront is planted with plants that grow well along bodies of water to create
natural scenery. &ome parts of the waterside are restricted from access by citi#ens, and are
created as green areas for insects and birds. ;t the downstream section, a swamp and
habitats for fish and birds is created.
G. <estoration of history and culture of the place
The restoration project recovers the artefacts of historic heritage and restores the pride
of the !orean people in their DBB%year old city. 41ultural belts9 which are special routes for
wal'ing, sightseeing and shopping are designed. These ma'e &eoul become a cultural city
for all citi#ens to share and enjoy.
*G
(. Is the Pro-ect sustaina1le?
.n 2BBE, &eoul 1ity has won the 0orld Technology ;ward organi#ed by the 0orld
Technology @etwor' (0T@) in &an Francisco for its restoration technology. 0T@ gave the
pri#e to &eoul because the city committed its effort to restore the asphalt%covered
downtown stream and to carry out effective public transportation reform.
The following are the achievements of the project+
1. To avoid serious traffic congestion that might cause by the demolition of the
1heonggye 2levated ighway and the narrowing of the 1heonggye <oad, the city
office built a new temporary par'ing lot in 3ongdaemum stadium and provided free
shuttle bus service from the &tadium to the inner city. ,us%only lanes were introduced
to allow public transportation to have priority in using the roads. ;s a result, more
people began to use buses and subway trains. 1ar owners were restricted to use their
cars once every 1B days. ;s a result, congestions seldom occurred during the
construction period and the traffic condition of the city improved with the completion
of the project as more people chose to use public transport.
2. The project can fulfil the objective of public participation. ;s the project involved
many merchants and residents in the area, there were many public hearings and
presentation sessions so as to involve the participation of the parties involved. /easures
were devised to address the complaints relating to inconveniences to businesses and to
find ways to stimulate business activities which was composed of different business
:uarter. ; large comprehensive distribution complex which housed wholesales and
retail shops, support facilities such as a distribution centre, a large%scale discount store
and a multiple movie theatre was built in the southeastern part of &eoul. /ost of the
street vendors along
1heonggyecheon have moved to
3ongdaemum &tadium and a new uni:ue
mar'et has been built there.
/ap of 1heonggyecheon
*E
*. The ecosystem along 1heonggyecheon has been greatly enriched. The number of fish
species increased from G to 2E, bird species have multiplied from D to *D and insect
species from 1E to 162.
G. The removal of the highway reduced air pollution. The concentration of particulate
matter $ suspended particulates along the corridor dropped from 8G micrograms per
cubic meter to G7.
E. The stream tends to cool down the area and the greenery has the effect of lowering the
summer temperature by 2%E
o
1 than those of the nearby area.
D. The ecological par' built along the stream ban's attracted some 6B,BBB pedestrians visit
on an average day and an estimated 17.1 million visitors by the end of 2BB7.
8. The neighbourhood of 1heonggyecheon is developed into a center of international
finance and business which increased the nations global competitiveness. The prices of
land near the stream have increased by almost EBJ after the restoration project.
2ore photos:
http+$$english.sisul.or.'r$grobal$cheonggye$eng$0eb1ontent$index.html
http+$$english.sisul.or.'r$grobal$cheonggye$tchinese$0eb1ontent$index.html
References:
1. 1heonggyecheon <estoration =roject
www.wfeo.org$documents$download$cheonggyecheonJ2B<estorationJ2B=rojectM
J2B!orea.pdf
2. 1heonggyecheon <estoration =roject
http+$$webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.u'$2B11B117B6E*ED$http+$$www.cabe.org.u'$case%
studies$cheonggyecheon%restoration%project
*D
*. 1heonggyecheon <estoration =roject to create huge economic, environmental values
http+$$english.seoul.go.'r$gt'$news$reportsMview.phpPidxQ112B
G. <estoring 1heonggyecheon &tream in the 3owntown &eoul
http+$$www.globalrestorationnetwor'.org$uploads$files$Citerature;ttachments$28BMrestorin
g%cheonggyecheon%stream%in%the%downtown%seoul.pdf
E. &eoul+ Cife beneath the asphalt
http+$$sustainablecities.d'$en$city%projeccts$cases$seoul%life%beneath%the%asphalt
D. &eoul won 0T@ pri#e for environment
http+$$english.seoul.go.'r$gt'$news$newsMview.phpPidxQ*E2
8. The @ew For' Times > ;sia =acific > =eeling bac' pavement to expose watery havens
www.nytimes.com$2BB6$B8$18$world$asia$18daylight.htmlPMrQ1
*8
*7
*6
General Information
. !eographical location
elsin'i is the capital and largest city in Finland. .t is located in
southern Finland on the shore of the "ulf of Finland.
The city spreads across a number of bays and peninsulas and over a
number of islands.
Catitude+ DBR1BS@- Congitude+ 2GREDS2
". #otal land area
21* 'm
2
C. Population
E77,6G1 (2B11)
=opulation density+ 28*6$'m
2
References:
1. 1ity of elsin'i > ;nnual <eport 2BB6
www.hel.fi$wps$wcm$connect$GG8Gd2BBGa18G12c71d7e6*d7d1dGDD7$elsin
'iMvuosi'ertomus2BB6Meng.pdfP/53Q;A=2<2&
2. Facts about elsin'i 2B1B
www.hel2.fi$tieto'es'us$jul'aisut$pdf$tas'uB6MenglantiMnet.pdf
*. elsin'i 1ity .nfo
www.helsin'i.com$v$cityMinfo
G. 0orld 5rgani#ation =rospects+ The 2BB6 <evision =opulation 3atabase
http+$$esa.un.org$wup2BB6$unup$p2'Bdata.asp
+ocation of Helsinki
GB
/inland
*weden
'orway
3nited
.ingdom
,altic &ea
elsin'i
@orth
&ea
(enmark
G1
/odel of Green Cit% 0elsin1i
elsin'i is considered as one of the cleanest city in 2urope. .t rates
high in public health and sanitation condition. The drin'ing water is
some of the best in the world. The city has such achievement because
ever since 166B, it has already implemented environmental programme.
.n 1662, the ?nited @ations 1onference on 2nvironment and
3evelopment adopted the ;genda 21, a long%term plan for sustainability.
.n 1668, elsin'i has actuali#ed the ;genda 21 at a local level by
launching the Cocal ;genda 21 (C;21). .n 2BB2, the city has formulated
Helsinki4s *ustaina1ility *trategy and ction Plan. The plan
contained strategic goals and guidelines for the enhancement of
ecological, economic, social and cultural sustainability in elsin'i
during the period 2BB2%2B1B.
The overall targets of the action plan are+
1. <educing greenhouse gas emissions in order to combat climate
change
2. =rotecting and fostering biodiversity
*. =romoting economic development by strengthening the citys
commercial and industrial development
G. .ncreasing the participation of citi#ens
E. =reventing social segregation
D. Fostering cultural diversity and improving the built%up environment
G2
. chievements of the City
.n 2BB*, elsin'i was awarded a certificate of distinction in the
2uropean &ustainable ;ward competition. ;ccording to the 2uropean
"reen 1ity .ndex 2BB6, elsin'i ran'ed seventh with a score of 86.26
out of 1BB. The 2uropean "reen 1ity .ndex see's to measure and rate
the environmental performance of *B leading 2uropean cities. .t ta'es
into account of *B individual indicators such as environmental
governance, water consumption, waste management and greenhouse
gas emission. The following are some of the achievements that
elsin'i has accomplished.
1. 2nvironmental governance
;ccording to the 2uropean "reen 1ity .ndex 2BB6, elsin'i
ran'ed first in environmental governance. .ts &ustainability &trategy
and ;ction =lan 2BB2%2B1B made it the first capital city in 2urope to
complete a full%scale sustainable development action planning process.
2. Town planning
The guiding principle for town planning is to maintain a significant
proportion of green areas. .n 2BB6, par's have constituted for *DJ of
the land area. There are G8 nature reserves in elsin'i, ma'ing up a
total of D2B hectares. The amount of green space per inhabitant is
about 1EB m
2
. &ome old industrial and storage areas in the inner city
have been redeveloped into new housing, office and service areas and
seaside par's. ;ll new residential areas will be lin'ed with rail
transport networ'. The networ' of bicycle lanes is extended to all
neighbourhoods.
G*
*. 2fficient use of energy
The citys energy company elsingin 2nergia is famous for its
technology of co%generation > combined generation of electricity, district
heating and cooling. ,y using this technology, 6*J of the heating
needed in the city is served by this district heating. 3istrict cooling
achieves E times better energy efficiency than building%specific cooling
system. The overall energy efficiency of this technology is very high too,
about 6BJ of fuel energy. .t can also reduce carbon dioxide emission
and fuel costs by GBJ. /oreover, the use of renewable energy in
electricity generation is planned to be increased. Carge offshore wind
power plants have been installed in the ,altic &ea. .t targets to increase
the share of renewable energy from DJ in 2B1B to 2BJ in 2B2B.
The city has tightened the building regulations to re:uire all new
construction and renovation of buildings to meet the low%energy
standards (1BB'0h$m
2
for heating, cooling and electricity in bloc's of
flats). 2co%efficient housing units will be built in a district of elsin'i
where solar energy and local biomass will provide a major part of the
energy re:uired in these housing units.
G. ;ir :uality
The citys air :uality has improved as a result of the introduction of
district heating and cooling and the replacement of coal by natural gas
for energy production. owever, the carbon dioxide emission is
relatively high, D tonnes per head (2BB6) which is higher than the
average of *B 2uropean cities (E tonnes). This is a result from the heavy
demand for heating and electricity consumption.
GG
E. 2fficient use of public transport
The public transport system of elsin'i was ran'ed second in
comparison of 2* 2uropean cities in 2BB6. ;bout *BJ of all trips of
the city dwellers were made by car, *2J by public transportation, 26J
on foot and 8J by bicycle. .n the city centre, only 2BJ of all trips
were made by car. .t is targeted that the share of sustainable transport
modes will be increased by *J by 2B12.
The major public transport modes in the city are metro and
commuter trains, supplemented by buses and trams. /etro and
commuter trains are large carriers which use less energy per head than
automobiles and release less exhausted fume. These systems will also
be extended to cover the outer area of the city. /ost buses run on
diesel but a certain number are fuelled by natural gas. 1ycling is also
encouraged. The city ran'ed first with regard to the length of its
cycling networ' among the 2uropean cities. .t has committed to
double the share of cyclists to all trips to 1EJ by 2B2B. /ore cycle
paths will be built and pedestrian%only streets will also be extended in
the city centre.
D. 0aste Treatment
a. 0ater treatment
;ll waste water from elsin'i and some nearby areas is purified in
an efficient central treatment plant before it is disposed into the sea by
pipelines. The energy needed in the treatment process is generated by
anaerobic decomposition of nutrients, which produces heat and biogas.
eat energy from the purification process is utili#ed for the generation
of district cooling and heating. <emaining sludge is processed into soil
compost.
GE
b. &olid 0aste treatment
,y 2BB6, the elsin'i /etropolitan ;rea produced about *BB 'g of
household waste each year. ;bout EEJ of the waste is recycled and
reused. 1ompost made from organic waste is used for landscaping.
,iogas is also collected from old landfills and waste treatment plants.
The city also has introduced recycle programmes of paper,
cardboard, metal, glass and biodegradable waste. 5ver 6BJ of the
residents claimed that they recycle paper, nearly 7BJ recycle
cardboard and 8BJ recycle glass waste on a regular basis. The
government also enforced the producers and importers of such
products as electrical and electronic appliances, used tyres, paper
products and batteries to organi#e their waste treatment.
8. 2nhancing environmental education and awareness
2fforts to raise environmental awareness have been introduced,
including operating nature schools, organi#ing environmental
campaigns and seminars, and arranging wal's in neighbourhoods. 2co%
support activities are organi#ed in all wor'places to improve
environmental management, eco%efficiency and environmental
awareness. 2co%supporters in wor' communities are appointed and
trained to encourage environmental responsibility. .n schools,
environmental programmes have been planned to raise environmental
awareness among students.
GD
7. &trengthening social cohesion and citi#en participation
.n order to achieve a mixed population structure, new districts will
be developed on the principle of mixed land use > mixing housing with
commerce and services, as well as mixing various types of housing to
promote diversity. Foung people are given opportunities to participate
in planning their living environment.
". /uture Challenges for the city
The city still needs improvement in+
1. reducing traffic volumes, traffic noise and carbon
dioxide emissions
2. protecting the ,altic &ea and decreasing harmful
discharge into the coastal water
*. reducing the volume of waste and further
improving recycling and reuse of materials
G. protecting the ecosystem and maintaining
biodiversity
E. reducing the use of non%renewable energy
D. reducing the emission of carbon dioxide to combat
climate change
References:
1. 1ity of elsin'i > ;nnual <eport 2BB6
www.hel.fi$wps$wcm$connect$GG8Gd2BBGa18G12c71d7e6*d7d1dGDD7$elsin'iMvuosi'ert
omus2BB6Meng.pdfP/53Q;A=2<2&
2. 1ity of elsin'i > 2nvironment
http+$$en.uuttahelsin'ia.fi$sections$E$environment
*. 1ity of elsin'i > 2nvironmental =rotection
www.hel.fi$h'i$helsin'i$en$&ervices$ousingVandVtheVenvironment$2nvironment
G. 1ity of elsin'i > 2nvironmental &ustainability .ssues and challenges in elsin'i 2B1B
www.hel.fi$wps$wcm$connect$8dE6*dBBG2671D6a6886bfGb6EDb7aEE$2nvironmentalV&us
tainabilityV%esiteMnettiin.pdfP/53Q;A=2<2&HlmodQ%
617GG67E2H1;12.3Q8dE6*dBBG2671D6a6886bfGb6EDb7aEE
E. 1ity of elsin'i > ousing and the 2nvironment
www.hel.fi$h'i$helsin'i$en$&ervices$ousingVandVtheVenvironment
D. 2uropean "reen 1ity .ndex
www.siemens.com$entry$cc$features$urbani#ationMdevelopment$all$en$pdf$reportMen.pdf
8. .1C2. > Cocal "overnments for &ustainability+ 1ity of elsin'i, Finland
www.iclei.org$index.phpPidQ6*17
G8