Environmental Management of Cities

ENS 64 Land Use and Urban Environmental Planning

Mike Arieh P. Medina
Central Mindanao University
College of Forestry and Environmental Science

Bayamo City, Cuba

Before 2004

After 2004

Global Urbanization

50% percent of the

worlds population lives
in urban areas

Cities provide opportunities, economies of scale, a

future with more choices.

it attracts a rising tide of humanity, of people hoping for

a better life for themselves and their children.

Urban sustainability
multiplier

The process through

which the high density
of urban living
significantly shrinks
the per capita
ecological footprints
by reducing energy
and material needs.
(Rees, 2003.)

Urban sustainability
multiplier

High population
densities, which
reduce the per capita
demand for occupied
land

Lower costs per capita

of providing
infrastructure and
public amenities

Reduces per capita

consumption of
building materials and
services infrastructure

Cities are also at risk from industrial hazards, natural

disasters, and the specter of global warming.

it also been blamed for causing environmental catastrophes, for

marginalizing communities, for diminishing the quality of life of the poor.

Global slum populations

African
s 199M
Asians
581M

Latin
American
s 134M

Ecosystem Services in Cities

Clean air is essential to a healthy environment

Ecosystem Services in Cities

Rivers and water bodies provide drinking water and act as
natural pollution filters.

Ecosystem Services in Cities

Biodiversity is essential for food, materials, medicine and
improved quality of life, not just locally but also globally.

Ecosystem Services in Cities

Forests serve as watersheds, habitats, carbon sinks, leisure
amenities and tourist destinations.

Ecosystem Services in Cities

Wetlands filter and process waste and act as a nursery for
fisheries.

Ecosystem Services in Cities

Sand dunes, coral reefs and mangroves protect cities from storm surges, prevent
erosion and siltation, and in the case of the latter two act as nurseries for fisheries.

Ecosystem Services in Cities

Parks and greenbelts act as sinks for carbon dioxide (CO2)
and counteract the heat island effect of large built-up areas.

Question?

If the environment is such

an asset to cities, why is it
often last on the list of
priorities for urban
managers?

ANS. A key reason is the

use of accounting systems
that externalize real costs
and do not account for
natural capital.

City-Environment
Interactions
Loss of Biodiversity

Slums

Poor
Urban
Planning

Solid Waste

Coastal Erosion

Sprawl
Flooding

Population Most at Risk

Environmental
hazards are
responsible for the
most common causes
of ill health and
mortality among the
urban poor.

lack of clean drinking water

quality
undernourishment poor health

sanitation and drainage poor air

inadequate public health services

Population Most at Risk

Poverty forces the

urban poor into
hazardous areas,
unsuitable for
habitation:

flood plains
steep or unstable hillsides
highly polluted areas

The Role of Local

Governments

how urbanenvironment
relationships evolve,
and

how their cities

interact with the
hinterland and with
the wider global
community.

The Role of Local

Governments

Pass legislation

Design systems

Land use decisions

Improve economy

Land tenure/land rights

Develop financing tools

Encourage participation

The Role of Local

Governments

For a city to grow and

develop in the long term, it
cannot disregard its
environment.

The environment cuts across

all sectors, income groups
and management areas.

An ad hoc approach to
environmental issues is
fragmentary, expensive and
inefficient.

The solution lies in the

integration of environmental
issues in planning and
management

Advantages of Environmental
Action on Urban Improvement
Environmental
Actions

Direct Effects

Other Effects

Promotion of cleaner
household fuels

Reductions in
respiratory and other
problems
through reduced
indoor and outdoor
air pollution.

Reduced contribution
of household
stoves to city air
pollution.

Improved provision
of solid waste
management
services

Greatly reduced risk

of many animal
and insect disease
vectors and stops
garbage blocking
drains.

Considerable
employment
opportunities
in well managed solid
waste collection
systems where
recycling, reuse and
reclamation are
promoted.

Instruments for Environmental

Integration
Instrument Type

Options

Tool Examples

Policy Instruments

Voluntary: Product
labeling, branding,
voluntary codes of
practice or standards,
externally accredited
environmental
management
standards or audits,
voluntary
agreements

Sustainable
procurement, product
life cycle analysis,
eco-labeling

Process instruments

Visioning
Participation

Metaplan, task forces,

round tables,
expert panels,
workshops, etc.