by samuelelupidi | May 28, 2024 | The Urban Media Lab
The story behind pollution
The modern world requires speed, adaptability, and precision. All these three adjectives are not meant to be a statement for people, they are more suitable for a car advertisement. From the beginning, starting with Ford Model T by Henry Ford (1908), the urban context was profoundly changed by cars, at the point that old Victorian and Medieval streets left the scene to flat and bright highways (Ratti, Claudel, 2017).
Car selling increased and the consequence was a reduced rate of investments in public transportation, benefitting instead new roads (Ratti. Claudel. 2017). Population in cities started to increase, and the esteems tell us that nearly 70% of the global population will live in cities by 2050 (Lyons, 2016). The end of the story is well known, beyond traffic congestion and its stressful consequences on the people, GHG emissions started to increase causing considerable problems for the resident population.
The so-called smog, which can be revealed by the AQI Index, is becoming more and more integrated inside commonly used navigation app and sometimes influence the choice to get out. Nevertheless, GHG emissions in the transportation sector increased more in absolute terms than any other sector (EPA.gov, 2024). But a possible way out exists, or at least there is a space for debate on implementing it. The solution is called smart mobility and relies on the fact that:
“Urban mobility of the future could be transformed, with developments such as: new forms of propulsion; new forms of vehicle control; changing business models of ownership and use; mobile technologies that equip and empower individuals; and opportunities to undertake activities without the need to travel. ‘Smart’ is the order of the day.” (Lyons, 2016)
Smart Mobility is: getting smart about mobility
The previous quote pretty much says everything over the topic and specifically focus on the relation between a technology and its management. Governance therefore is a practice that should be taken more into account if we want to manage the issue. As a matter of fact, smart solution already exists, at least in the Global North. Think about scooters, e-bikes, e-cars, hybrid cars; and even the newest governance way, for example: car-pooling, car sharing, and all the sharing apps that let us ride a scooter or a bike.
Which is the problem? The management and governance of these means has not been explored enough to say it is smart. How are we going to match citizens needs if there are only private players in this market aiming to make a profit, and we always follow the demand side?
A multi layered governance of mobility
To act in the governance field, it is needed to specify the level and the actors involved. As first, where do people go when there is too much congestion? The very basic and common commuting that everybody does each day is going to work or school. That is why usually there is congestion, and in the weekend, it feels like everybody disappeared from the city.
To answer this problem people usually say that everybody should use bikes, walk, or get on the public bus to avoid causing more congestion. The thing is people have different attitudes towards the tasks they outperform, even if they seem to be similar.
Therefore, there are three kinds of layers through which the problem can be tackled: Governance, Local zones-local attitudes, and finally the transportation mean. The mean is in the last position because of the problem already stated, it is not the kind of means you use, is the way you use it that causes problems.
Governance
There are a lot of strategies but sometimes they are poorly applied. Because people think about relying on what pollutes the less, instead they should focus on what is the management that better accommodates the needs of the people working/living there. Are they going to work in the same neighbourhood, or they are moving outside the city? Different needs, different means, different rules over the usage of it, this is the point.
Local zones-local attitudes
Each solution should be tailored on a very restricted group of people and on a defined area of interest. This goes in line with other policies related to sustainability, for example in the energy field. If a building has solar panels, a part of the energy can charge the e-vehicles that will be used by the community. A different thing may happen instead in a central part of the city where public transportation is pretty much available.
The transportation mean
Finally, after assessing the environment and having explored the existence of its peculiarities, as well as identifying common traits among the population residing there, it is possible to select the most suitable option.
If there is an event, a problem, or something extraordinary, every citizen should be advised about it. Cities as London implemented a service of rapid communication and monitoring with citizens in order to speed up the resolution of a problem. The city of Rome instead suffers from an extended problem of lack of funding in the public transportation, and a common sense of affection to car (Barbieri, 2016). In this last case welcoming new so called smart means, will just create more congestion, and public transportation should be preferred instead.
Reaching the Social Agreement
Who is going to apply the strategy? Or connect with the people understanding their profile? The State has the right number of tools to apply the strategy. In this way it will be possible to capture the real public value coming from the new smart mobility (Docherty, 2017).
In the future a study of the attitudes of the people towards transportation should be a primary input in the management of climate change. It is not less important than preventing heatwaves, it is rather part of the solution towards them. Therefore, needs and attitudes of the people could be mapped and updated the moment they change so to better optimize space and mobility.
The State should hold information regarding the home-to-work journey of citizens taking into account their needs. The ones who can only go by car could be allowed, while those who benefit from public transportation or other sharing services (for instance if they have solar panels) could organize their journey on a different basis. A more organized city, with the right amount of space for everybody, is less congested, less polluted, and happier.
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Bibliography
Barbieri, Lorenzo. ‘Prossima fermata: adattamento: trasporti pubblici urbani e cambiamenti climatici a Roma: il caso del trasporto di superficie’. Doctoral Thesis, Università degli studi Roma Tre, 2016. https://arcadia.sba.uniroma3.it/handle/2307/5960
Docherty, Iain, Greg Marsden, and Jillian Anable. ‘The Governance of Smart Mobility’. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 115 (September 2018): 114–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2017.09.012.
Lyons, Glenn. ‘Getting Smart about Urban Mobility – Aligning the Paradigms of Smart and Sustainable’. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 115 (September 2018): 4–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2016.12.001.
Matters, Transport for London | Every Journey. ‘Tube, Overground, Elizabeth Line, DLR & Tram Status Updates’. Transport for London. Accessed 11 May 2024. https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/.
Matters, Transport for London | Every Journey. ‘Tube, Overground, Elizabeth Line, DLR & Tram Status Updates’. Transport for London. Accessed 11 May 2024. https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/.
Ratti, Claudel. ‘La città di domani. Come le reti stanno cambiando il futuro urbano’. Giulio Einaudi editore s.p.a., Torino (September 2017). ISBN 978-88-06-22522-3.
The World Air Quality Index. ‘World’s Air Pollution: Real-Time Air Quality Index’. waqi.info. Accessed 12 May 2024. https://waqi.info/.
US EPA, OAR. ‘Carbon Pollution from Transportation’. Overviews and Factsheets, 10 September 2015.https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/carbon-pollution-transportation.
by vittoriavalletta | May 14, 2024 | The Urban Media Lab
Degrowth is a social movement, a political debate, and an academic field of research. “An equitable reduction in production and consumption that increases human well-being and improves ecological conditions at the local and global level, in the short and long term” as Schneidera and Kallis say. As a matter of fact, the economic growth model of long-term economic growth depends on the accumulation of capital, the growth of labour or population and the increase in productivity largely determined by technological progress. In the fashion industry, ongoing allegations of exploitation of clothing workers have prompted legislation to take greater account of social impact. The concept of Sustainability in itself takes into account not only environmental, but also economic and social impact.
So, it really possible a sustainable growth or should we start to accept that we need to slow down as a society and accept that the growth cannot be forever to be sustainable?
Hence the idea that a “degrowth” is necessary to really find a balance between human beings and the planet. On the other hand, the 2030 agenda embraces the challenge of finding a just transition. In this regard, many high fashion companies are acting to support this purpose, such as the Prada ocean conservation program “Kindergarten of the Lagoon” and the support from Fendi that with the. program “Hand in Hand” aims to support local craft workshops. As stated by Lorenzo Bertelli, head of corporate social responsibility:
“The dream is to move towards stakeholder capitalism and create a stronger balance between people and the environment”.
Despite the numerous campaigns made by various brands of haute couture, surely it should not be forgotten that green washing is a real problem that obstructs the just transition and indeed feeds a mechanism of inequality. So it will be time to make us understand who really is on the path of change always showing transparency and who is just pretending.
To do so, with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), European Union (EU) legislation that came into effect on January 5, 2023 which mandates European companies (including qualified EU branches of non-European companies) to disclose their social and environmental impacts and the effects of their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) actions on their business. The purpose of the CSRD is to provide clarity to assist investors, analysts, consumers, and other stakeholders in better assessing the sustainability performance of EU companies, as well as related business impacts and risks. In fact, introduced as part of the European Commission’s Sustainable Finance Package, the CSRD significantly expands the scope, sustainability disclosure, and reporting requirements from the previous Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD). The directive’s reporting is based on the concept of the so called “double materiality”, which means that organizations must disclose information on how their business activities impact the planet and people, and how sustainability goals, measures, and risks affect the company’s financial health. For instance, apart from requiring an organization to report its energy consumption and costs, CSRD mandates the communication of emission metrics detailing the impact of energy usage on the environment, reduction targets, and information on how achieving these goals will affect the organization’s finances and all these information disclosed must be made available to the public and reviewed by third parties tasked with verifying its accuracy and completeness.[1]
In addition to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the efforts of high fashion companies towards sustainability, another crucial aspect of achieving sustainable growth lies in fostering a shift in societal values and consumption patterns. Education and awareness campaigns can play a vital role in promoting responsible consumption, ethical production practices, and environmental stewardship. By educating consumers about the true costs of fast fashion and the importance of supporting sustainable and ethical brands, a cultural shift can occur where sustainability becomes a key consideration in purchasing decisions. Furthermore, governments and regulatory bodies can incentivize sustainable practices through policies such as tax breaks for ecofriendly businesses, subsidies for renewable energy adoption, and stricter regulations on harmful practices. Collaborative initiatives between governments, businesses, and civil society can also drive innovation and promote sustainable solutions across industries.
Another crucial aspect to consider in the pursuit of sustainable growth is innovation and technology: in fact, advancements in technology can play a significant role in driving sustainability across various industries, including fashion. For example, the development of sustainable materials, such as labgrown fabrics, bio-based textiles, and recycled materials, can reduce the environmental impact of clothing production. Additionally, innovations in supply chain management, such as blockchain technology for transparency and traceability, can enhance ethical sourcing practices and reduce the risk of exploitation in the fashion supply chain. Moreover, investing in renewable energy sources and adopting eco-friendly manufacturing processes can further contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of the fashion industry. Companies that prioritize sustainability in their operations and not only focusing on the economic growth, can mitigate environmental risks and alos position themselves as leaders in innovation and responsible business practices, which can attract environmentally conscious consumers and investors.
Regarding the concept of degrowth, Robert Kennedy’s speech from 1968 serves as a reminder of how the “growth” alone cannot be an wellness index, connecting it to the GPD growth of a Nation:
“We will never find a purpose for our nation or personal satisfaction in the mere pursuit of economic well-being, in endlessly amassing material goods.
We cannot measure the national spirit by the Dow-Jones index, nor the country’s successes by the Gross Domestic Product.
GDP includes air pollution and cigarette advertising, as well as ambulances to clear our highways from weekend carnage.
GDP accounts for special locks on our doors, and prisons for those who try to break them. It includes television programs that glorify violence to sell violent products to our children. It grows with the production of napalm, missiles, and nuclear warheads, and includes research to improve the dissemination of bubonic plague. It increases with the equipment police use to quell riots and rises even more as slums are rebuilt from their ashes.
GDP does not consider the health of our families, the quality of their education, or the joy of their leisure time. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of family values, the intelligence of our debates, or the honesty of our public officials. It does not account for justice in our courts or fairness in our relationships. GDP does not measure our wit, courage, wisdom, or knowledge, nor our compassion or devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life truly worth living. It can tell us everything about America, but not if we can be proud to be Americans.”
In light of Kennedy’s insights, achieving sustainable growth in industries like fashion necessitates a comprehensive and mindful approach. It involves not only economic prosperity but also ethical considerations, environmental stewardship, and social well-being. Embracing technological advancements for eco-friendly materials and transparent supply chains is crucial, alongside responsible business practices and adherence to regulatory frameworks promoting sustainability.
Moreover, educating consumers about sustainable choices and fostering collaboration among stakeholders are also key elements. For these reasons, Kennedy’s speech prompts us to reflect on the broader impacts of economic activities beyond GDP figures. It underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and a genuine commitment to sustainability in steering industries towards a greener, more equitable, and sustainable future. By integrating these principles into business strategies and societal norms, we can strive for a balanced and resilient global economy that prioritizes the well-being of both people and the planet.
In conclusion, achieving sustainable growth in industries like fashion demands a multifaceted and holistic approach. This entails embracing technological innovation for eco-friendly materials and supply chain transparency, practicing responsible business ethics, adhering to regulatory frameworks like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, educating consumers about sustainable choices, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. While the concept of degrowth prompts reflection on the sustainability of perpetual economic expansion, a balanced and resilient future is attainable through sustainable practices, regulations, education, and collaborative efforts. Transparency, accountability, and a genuine commitment to sustainability are pivotal in steering industries toward a greener, more equitable, and sustainable global economy that benefits both people and the planet.
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[1] https://www.ibm.com/it-it/topics/csrd
by manfredivaleriani | Apr 22, 2024 | The Urban Media Lab
Manfredi Valeriani
The complexity of the world we live in requires more and more encompassing approaches towards the problems that societies face across the globe. New conceptualizations of development and sustainability have been created in the past based on intersectionality, highlighting the interconnection among issues. A clear example of this is represented by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) that years ago have created a structured formalization of how issues substantially different in nature (i.e. gender equality and life below water) maintain certain levels of interdependence, both positive and negative, and all need to be tackled simultaneously to promote a more efficient action towards a better future. From the formalization of the SDGs there have been further conceptualizations that have favored holistic approaches towards development and sustainability. Most of these initiatives still find their origins in the UN framework and in the networked approach of the SDGs. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) is promoting a wider approach towards human health. The “One Health” approach recognizes the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. This concept starts from the understanding that global health challenges cannot be tackled without a diverse approach that intervenes in various sectors including human and veterinarian health, environmental science, biology, and ecology, etc. As the SDGs themselves suggest, there is no preferential start when tacking action and there are no hierarchies among the goals.
Another example of this process is the role that Food Systems have in fostering a healthier and more sustainable development. Food systems can be defined as systems that “comprise all the people, institutions, places, and activities that play a part in growing, processing, transporting, selling, marketing, and, ultimately, eating food” (Food System Dashboard 2023). The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has developed a framework around the concept of food systems that allows for an encompassing approach towards development. It is not a secret that food production alone is accountable for high levels of greenhouse emissions up to one quarter of the global total (Ritchie 2019). The impact on the environment of food systems is extremely high, not only in terms of greenhouses emissions, but also in terms of land and resource (i.e. water) consumption. At the same time, food is the most basic factor that determines human survival. Unfortunately the global food environment has been deteriorating in the last years (The Economist 2022). It is within this framework that FAO has focused its work on Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) that are based on meeting today’s needs for food security without compromising future generations. To be defined as such, the sustainability of a food systems has to be met on three levels: economic, social and environmental (Nguyen 2018) showing once again the high intersectoral nature of food system, their impact, and the need for an encompassing action. However, it is important to keep in mind that while holistic approaches might ensure a more effective action at the systemic level, they might lose efficacy if applied at the local level. The urban food systems are an example of this.
The idea of food systems becomes increasingly complex when applied in urban contexts. While cities are often presented in full contraposition to rural areas in a clash between grey and green, urban spaces can still see the flourishing of local initiatives that can produce small scale food systems. However, these food systems share difficulties given by the environment they are created in. Urban agriculture faces limiting spatial constraints that lead to low production and the physical incapacity to have a strong impact on the food needs of the broad urban population (McClintock 2010). Limited production means limited economic sustainability, implying that urban farming is not a solid form of income and cannot be considered as a full-time activity, at least not in every community. This means that urban farming is used very differently depending on where it is implemented. Urban farming is shown to be directed to those with high amounts of resources in terms of time and capital, while vulnerable communities might see no interest in engaging in such activities. These factors can strongly undermine the long-term sustainability of these projects (Guitart, Pickering, and Byrne 2012). Yet, urban food systems are still capable to enhance access to fresh produce, to promote dietary diversity, to increase education on sustainable food practices and consumption and to foster community building (Carney 2012; Sanyé-Mengual et al. 2020). These effects are indeed higher in contexts where access and knowledge of food are limited. Therefore, the impact of urban farming is drastically different when looking at initiatives applied in different parts of the world. While in the Global North it might have limited impact in terms of providing basic needs, in the Global South it can still represent a form of income for low income communities its impact changes as the as we move to the north of the world where for high income communities it represents an improvement in ecofriendly production rather than a livelihood activity (Cavallo, Di Donato, and Marino 2016).
As other holistic approaches, food systems are indeed capable of grasping the complexity and the interdependencies that characterize the physical and social environment we live in. At the same time, questions should be asked on the applicability of these approaches to the different local contexts. While theoretically sound, these global approaches such as those posed by the UN might fail the test of the local, favoring generalization at the expenses of the specific needs of vulnerable communities worldwide. Research is moving towards reconsidering the dimensions on which this generalization has been built. Dividing the globe according to lines drawn across the equator might impede the capacity to estimate new trends and new differences that are rising worldwide. Low-income communities in the south might be more similar to low-income communities in the north rather than to high-income communities of their areas. This implies that approaches to sustainable development might require new frameworks that go beyond intersectionality giving more attention to dimensions such as inter-community and inter-generation. Food systems, with their capacity to disseminate impact from global to local might be the perfect test to apply new approaches built on these dimensions.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 873119.
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References
Carney, Megan. 2012. “Compounding Crises of Economic Recession and Food Insecurity: A Comparative Study of Three Low-Income Communities in Santa Barbara County.” Agriculture and Human Values 29: 185–201.
Cavallo, Aurora, Benedetta Di Donato, and Davide Marino. 2016. “Mapping and Assessing Urban Agriculture in Rome.” Agriculture and agricultural science procedia 8: 774–83.
Food System Dashboard. 2023. The Food Systems Dashboard. The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). https://www.foodsystemsdashboard.org/.
Guitart, Daniela, Catherine Pickering, and Jason Byrne. 2012. “Past Results and Future Directions in Urban Community Gardens Research.” Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 11(4): 364–73. doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2012.06.007.
McClintock, Nathan. 2010. “Why Farm the City? Theorizing Urban Agriculture through a Lens of Metabolic Rift.” Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society 3(2): 191–207. doi:10.1093/cjres/rsq005.
Nguyen, Hanh. 2018. “Sustainable Food Systems: Concept and Framework.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome, Italy.
Ritchie, Hannah. 2019. “Food Production Is Responsible for One-Quarter of the World’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/food-ghg-emissions (April 2, 2024).
Sanyé-Mengual, Esther, Kathrin Specht, Jan Vávra, Martina Artmann, Francesco Orsini, and Giorgio Gianquinto. 2020. “Ecosystem Services of Urban Agriculture: Perceptions of Project Leaders, Stakeholders and the General Public.” Sustainability 12(24): 10446. doi:10.3390/su122410446.
The Economist. 2022. Global Food Security Index 2022.
by viktoriyapisotska | Apr 8, 2024 | The Urban Media Lab
Author: Viktoriya Pisotska, PhD
In recent times, the conversation surrounding the influence of digital technologies on creative industries has gained momentum, emphasizing the significance of digital platforms and the emergence of digital ownership via NFTs (Chalmers et al 2022), a trend amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic (Khlystova et al., 2022). The discussion has evolved to include the critical role of artificial intelligence (AI) in creative industries, a sector where the definition of creativity within the AI context remains a subject of debate.
This article examines the creative industries, defined as activities that originate from individual creativity, skill, and talent and have the potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property (DCMS, 2001). The distinctive nature and ways of working of this sector render it particularly susceptible to profound changes and innovations propelled by generative AI (Hong et al., 2014), with a vast impact on economies and societies (Campbell et al., 2022, Dwivedi et al., 2023b). A comprehensive understanding of the interplay between generative AI and creative industries is crucial for leveraging potential benefits, addressing emerging challenges of these industries and beyond (Amankwah-Amoah, 2024).
The objective of this concise article is to stimulate inquiry and critical analysis among scholars and practitioners regarding AI’s ramifications for creative industries, their artists, as well as to discuss AI’s broader societal implications. It endeavors to initiate a dialogue by posing fundamental questions aimed at unraveling the nuances of creativity in the AI milieu. These inquiries include: How should we redefine creativity in the age of AI? Who qualifies as creative in this new context? How can one differentiate between artworks solely created by humans and those partially or entirely produced by AI? In what ways can AI tools enhance the creativity and productivity of artists? What competencies will be essential for artists in an AI-evolving landscape? Moreover, what strategies can artists employ to safeguard their creations, assert ownership, and what ethical guidelines should govern AI’s application in the creative sectors?
Research on AI commenced in the mid-20th century. The term “artificial intelligence” was first introduced in 1956 during the Dartmouth Conference, where a consortium of researchers convened to explore the feasibility of creating machines capable of demonstrating human-like intelligence. Since that time, AI research has advanced substantially, with significant developments across various subfields, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. However, the adoption of AI applications has been gradual (Allam & Dhunny, 2019). An intriguing trend is highlighted by an analysis from Google Trends (Fig. 1), which illustrates a decrease in AI interest from early 2004 to 2008, followed by a notable resurgence in AI’s popularity from 2014 to 2024 (Google Trends, 2024).
Fig.1: Popularity of AI from 2004 to 2024 (Google Trends, 2024).
In the realm of creative industries, a growing number of scholars (e.g., Anantrasirichai & Bull, 2022) have recently begun to explore the application of AI in this sector. One of the limitations in the past was the readiness of the technology itself. Researchers (e.g., Davies et al., 2020) have suggested that the growth rate of research publications on AI, particularly those pertinent to creative industries, has increased by more than 500% in numerous countries. Predominantly, these studies have focused on AI’s application in creative industries (Anantrasirichai & Bull, 2022), the related challenges (De Cock Buning, 2018), and discussions about creativity (Lee, 2022). A recent survey conducted by Adobe (2018) revealed that three-quarters of artists in the US, UK, Germany, and Japan would consider using AI tools to assist in tasks like image search, editing, and other ‘non-creative’ activities. This demonstrates a widespread acceptance of AI as a supportive tool within the community and indicates a general awareness of the current state of technology, as most AI technologies are designed to operate in specific domains where they assist and support human efforts rather than replace them. Remarkably, the first painting created entirely by AI was auctioned for $432,500 in 2018 (The New York Times). Despite the growing interest in the intersection of AI and creative industries, this area of research remains nascent, with many questions yet to be addressed.
One pressing question is: how, and if, should we redefine creativity in the age of AI? Lee (2022) argues that AI holds the potential to re-humanize the notion of creativity, which has been increasingly perceived through a dehumanized lens due to the prevailing discourse within creative industries over the last two decades. Lee suggests that the industry’s characterization of creativity as a form of capital obstructs a labor-centric view of creativity. Explorations into AI and creativity probe the intrinsic nature of human creativity and the artistic process, while also recognizing the potential challenge AI poses to human creators by detaching creativity from human agency. Thus, the discussion surrounding AI and creativity in the context of creative industries invites critical examination of the political-economic aspects of creativity (labor vs. capital) and the source of creativity (humans/artists vs. mechanical processes/capital).
Regarding the question of whether we will be able to distinguish between artworks entirely created by humans and those that are partially or entirely generated by AI, current research does not provide a definitive answer. As AI technology advances, producing increasingly sophisticated and human-like creations, this task will undoubtedly become more challenging. Several methods could potentially differentiate between the two. Firstly, artists can disclose whether their works are AI-assisted or solely human-made, although this depends on the creator’s honesty and transparency. Appropriate software could identify AI-generated artworks. Techniques such as forensic analysis, artistic style analysis, and expert critique can be employed to detect subtle patterns or ‘fingerprints’ in AI-generated images, identify the human touch in art, and involve art critics and experts in differentiating between human and AI-generated creations. However, these analyses may become more difficult as AI evolves. Consequently, there is a need to establish legal standards mandating the disclosure of AI usage in creative works.
To reflect on how AI tools can enhance not only an artist’s creativity but also productivity, consider the example of 20th Century Fox. The company employed AI algorithms developed by IBM Watson to analyze movie trailers and predict which elements would most resonate with different target audiences (Forbes, 2024). Furthermore, independent filmmakers and smaller production companies have utilized AI for tasks like script analysis, video editing, and even composing music scores. Although AI has not reached the capability to independently produce entire films, it has been incorporated into the filmmaking process, streamlining certain tasks and boosting creativity and efficiency.
Regarding the necessary skills, insights can be gleaned from artists who are already integrating AI into their creative work. For instance, Hans Zimmer, a celebrated composer known for his scores in movies such as “The Lion King,” “Inception,” “Interstellar,” and “Dune”, has expressed his interest (e.g., in his interview for GQ) in using technology to enhance his creative process and expand the limits of music composition. He identifies essential skills including emotional intelligence—a quality AI lacks—along with creativity, originality, artistic identity and vision, authenticity, and the ability to engage in critical thinking and problem-solving. In Zimmer underscores the importance of striking a balance between technology and human expression, ensuring that technology augments the artistic vision rather than detracting from it.
The impacts of generative AI go beyond creative industries’ boundaries, affecting culture, policy and society (Amankwah-Amoah et al., 2024). Governments worldwide recognize AI as a key driver of economic growth and societal advancement (Hall & Pesenti 2018). A prime example of its application is in the development of smart cities, which leverage Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) to boost urban efficiency and the overall workings of city life (Allam & Dhunny, 2019). The advent of digitized cities, equipped with an array of sensors, computational cores, and diverse telecommunication networks, has unlocked the potential to collate extensive data from various neighborhoods about how people in cities live, and how cities evolve over a certain period of time. It is possible to obtain data about land spaces, open spaces, buildings and such. This data acquisition can enable a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of urban life and the evolving dynamics of city spaces, including the efficient use of land and the interaction within open and built environments (Allam & Dhunny, 2019). When such data is processed through AI systems it illuminates aspects of urban logistics and informs the decision-making processes of urban planners, fostering more effective governance and policy-making that align with the needs and well-being of urban residents. Moreover, AI can be instrumental in shaping urban policies that address and mitigate the impacts of climate change—recognizing the critical importance of developing resilient and sustainable cities for future generations. Yet, despite these optimistic strides, concerns regarding privacy breaches and the overarching social implications of AI remain salient issues requiring further scholarly investigation and ethical deliberation (Jha et al., 2021; Yigitcanlar et al., 2020; Anantrasirichai, Bull, 2022). While generative AI is here to stay (Dwivedi, 2023a), it is imperative to critically reflect on its congruence with societal and cultural norms and to contemplate the ethical implications for those involved. As we journey forward, ensuring that innovation and technology enhance, rather than overshadow, the human touch in our creative tapestry is imperative. In essence, actively managing the creative process and directing AI’s evolution, rather than merely consuming it, will become increasingly important. At the time of writing this article, several questions remain open to interpretation, not least of which is the query of whether AI has crafted this text.
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References
Allam, Z., & Dhunny, Z. A. (2019). On big data, artificial intelligence and smart cities. Cities, 89, 80-91.
Amankwah-Amoah, J., Abdalla, S., Mogaji, E., Elbanna, A., & Dwivedi, Y. K. (2024). The impending disruption of creative industries by generative AI: Opportunities, challenges, and research agenda. International Journal of Information Management, 102759.
Anantrasirichai, N., & Bull, D. (2022). Artificial intelligence in the creative industries: a review. Artificial Intelligence Review, 55(1), 589-656.
Campbell, C., Plangger, K., Sands, S., Kietzmann, J., & Bates, K. (2022). How deepfakes and artificial intelligence could reshape the advertising industry: The coming reality of AI fakes and their potential impact on consumer behavior. Journal of Advertising Research, 62(3), 241-251.
Chalmers, D., Fisch, C., Matthews, R., Quinn, W., & others. (2022). Beyond the bubble: Will NFTs and digital proof of ownership empower creative industry entrepreneurs? Journal of Business Research.
Davies, J. (2020). The art in the artificial. London: Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre and Nesta.
De Cock Buning, M. (2018). Artificial Intelligence and the creative industry: new challenges for the EU paradigm for art and technology by autonomous creation. In Research handbook on the law of artificial intelligence (pp. 511-535). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DCMS (2001). Creative Industries Mapping Document. London: Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, L., Bhadeshia, H. K., Ananiadou, S., Cohn, A. G., Cole, J. M., … & Wang, X. (2023)b. Artificial intelligence (AI) futures: India-UK collaborations emerging from the 4th Royal Society Yusuf Hamied workshop. International Journal of Information Management, 102725.
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by dianafilomeni | Mar 20, 2024 | The Urban Media Lab
Renders Municiplity.
The Nordic Waste scandal has brought attention to the environmental hazards posed by a massive landslide that occurred at one of its facilities in Ølst, Denmark, last December.
In December 2023, a thunderstorm caused a massive landslide at one of Nordic Waste’s facilities in Ølst, Denmark. Nordic Waste is a company specializes in processing polluted soil from industry and its shareholder is Danish billionaire Torben Østergaard-Nieelsen. Millions of tons of contaminated soil flowed towards the nearest river, caused by bout of extreme weather seen during winter, posing a significant ecological disaster threat that could lead to pollution of waters and the local landscape.
What happened?
December 16th, 2023, the municipality of Randers had decided to activate the measures of mitigation due to danger of significant pollution of Alling Å. These measures of mitigation were to be implemented at the expenses of the company Nordic Waste (Law regarding the protection of environment comma 70, sec.1).
On December 17th, Nordic Waste agreed on the potential environmental consequences of the situation and handed the plant to Randers Municipality.
The company has announced on December 19th that they had stopped the work on preventive measures, as they believed there were enough opportunity to take sufficient measures to stop the landslide. Randers Municipality therefore had to implement a series of measures in self-help to avert imminent risk to Alling Å.
In January the authorities had ordered the company to move some of 8,000 tonnes of polluted earth from Ølst facilty landfill at Fasterholt near Herning, to avoid environmental damages during the heavy snow falls.
Randers Municipality’s lawyers concluded, after investigation, that the company was responsible for the landslide and therefore filed a police report against the company. The argumentation they have presented was that the gradient of the contaminated earth piles at the company’s facility were too steep. However, the company replayed stating that the number of the municipality’s reports from the inspections done prior to the landslide are quite unreliable (newspaper Børsen 2024) to which the municipality has admitted but that the liability for the landslide is on Nordic Waste.
Why was the soil moving.
Søren Munch Kristiansen, an expert from Aarhus University, attributes the phenomenon of contaminated soil glacier moving at a rapid pace of 30 to 40 centimeters per hour near a Nordic
Waste facilityto the unique properties of the soil, which behaves like a bar of soap on a wet surface when moist. The clay composition, deposited millions of years ago, prevents water seepage but becomes extremely slippery when wet.
Ølst report, December 2023 (Renders Municipality)
Report on situation between Dec-Jan. (Renders Municipality)
Was it caused by natural event or by human activity?
United Shipping and Trading Company, appointed by Nordic Waste, had initially blamed the landslide on climatic conditions beyond its control. They stated that the area has been exposed to a great amount of rain, which has resulted to a natural disaster.
However, a report by the Geological Survey (GEUS) stated that it was the continuous deposit of soil on top of a sloping clay pit at Nordic Waste the main cause of the landslide.
Who is accountable?
The Danish government did not exclude the potential role of Randers Municipality in the landslide scandal and Environment Minister Mangus Heunicke opened an inquiry to determine who was responsible.
However, Denmark’s wealthiest families finds themselves at the center of controversy following the bankruptcy declaration of Nordic Waste. Torben Østergaard-Nielsen, along with his daughters, holds significant ownership in Nordic Waste, yet despite their substantial wealth, they appear reluctant to foot the cleanup bill, which is estimated to exceed DKK 200 million.
The bankruptcy ruling revealed that among the creditors seeking compensation, Østergaard-Nielsen’s own companies, DSH Recycling and DSH Environment, are demanding a total of DKK 75.2 million from the bankruptcy estate. With the family holding a 78 percent stake in these companies, their combined claim amounts to DKK 58.7 million.
Legal experts assert that it is within the rights of these companies to file claims in the bankruptcy estate, albeit with slim chances of receiving full compensation due to their status as “simple claims,” which typically rank low in priority for repayment to creditors. To which Mangus Heunicke replied that with this decision the company showed a “lack of societal responsibility”.
In conclusion, the Nordic Waste scandal, triggered by a massive landslide last December, has brought to light the devastating consequences of environmental negligence. The government must determine whether all responsibility should rely on Nordic Waste company or if Renders
Municipality should be also held accountable due to lack of providing precise data on reports in previous year. Despite the company’s failure, the government pledges to exhaust all available resources to ensure that Nordic Waste and Renders Municipality will bear the costs of the cleanup and any damages incurred. Facing bankruptcy complicates assigning greater responsibility to the company. However, the order to the company to move some 8,000 tonnes from Ølst facility still stands and is important to avoid environmental damage.
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Bibliography:
“There’s polluted dirt coming down that hill”: Danish village faces threat from Nordic Waste landslide. (2024, February 8). The Local Denmark.
https://www.thelocal.dk/20240208/theres-polluted-dirt-coming-down-that-hill-danishvillage-faces-threat-from-nordic-waste-landslide
Petley, D., & Petley, D. (2024, January 23). The Nordic Waste landslide scandal in Denmark. Eos.
https://eos.org/thelandslideblog/nordic-waste-1
Euronews. (2024, January 20). Nordic Waste faces criticism over bankruptcy scandal. Euronews.
https://www.euronews.com/2024/01/20/nordic-waste-faces-criticism-over-bankruptcyscandal
Ny rapport: Enorme mængder jord er i bevægelse hos Nordic Waste. (n.d.). Randers Kommune.
https://www.randers.dk/nyheder/ny-rapport-enorme-maengder-jord-er-i-bevaegelse-hosnordic-waste/
Miljøresultater på vandmålinger omkring Nordic Waste. (n.d.). Randers Kommune.
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Første miljøresultater på vandmålinger omkring Nordic Waste er klar. (n.d.). Randers Kommune.
https://www.randers.dk/nyheder/foerste-miljoeresultater-paa-vandmaalinger-omkringnordic-waste-er-klar/
Business-update: Torben Østergaard-Nielsen bliver udskældt, men en anden har tjent millioner på Nordic Waste. (2024, February 1). Berlingske.dk.
https://www.berlingske.dk/business/business-update-torben-oestergaard-nielsen-bliverudskaeldt-men-en-anden
Danmarks og grønlands geologiske undersøgelse rapport 2024/12 (GEUS)
https://www.geus.dk/om-geus/nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2024/feb/ny-rapport-omjordskredsaktivitet-og-scenarier-for-skredudvikling-ved-nordic-waste-i-randers-kommune
by pietrozappanico | Mar 11, 2024 | The Urban Media Lab
The modern food industry has undoubtedly reached impressive milestones in terms of efficiency, diversity, and accessibility of products, largely owing to globalization. Traditional globalized food supply chains now offer customers an extensive range of food options, spanning from exotic fruits to international cuisines.
However, this convenience comes at a significant cost to both society and the environment. Today, there is increasing debate over the long-term viability and sustainability of global food supply chains. Socially, concerns arise due to the concentration of food distribution and marketing activities in the hands of a few highly profitable corporations. Additionally, there are environmental concerns regarding the detrimental effects of these practices based on long-distance food transportation, extensive monoculture farming, and the widespread use of synthetic pesticides. This have accelerated environmental degradation, significantly contributing to climate change. Indeed, the carbon footprint associated with transporting food across continents, coupled with agricultural deforestation, has made the food industry a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers has led to soil depletion and water contamination, posing threats to the very ecosystems upon which our food production relies.
In response to these challenges, the concept of city-region food localization has gained traction among governments and has been endorsed by international bodies such as the FAO. According to the World Bank, almost 6 out of 10 people currently resides in cities, and this urbanization trend is expected to persist, leading to 70% of the global population projected to live in urban areas by 2050. It’s evident that cities cannot rely solely on their rural surroundings to meet their food demands, yet becoming fully dependent on complex and globalized supply chains is also unsustainable. Given these considerations, cities are emerging as ideal testing grounds for local food systems that offer innovative solutions to these pressing concerns. Cities have the potential to address this challenge and become hubs of change by promoting local production through urban agriculture.
URBAN AGRICOLTURE
Urban agriculture, as defined by the FAO in the 2007 is “the growing of plants and the raising of animals for food and other uses within and around cities and towns, and related activities such as the production and delivery of inputs, processing and marketing of products”. As noted earlier, the majority of the global population now resides in cities, making it unrealistic to expect urban areas to fulfill their food requirements solely depending on rural regions or the global supply chain. Consequently, urban areas are adopting policies aimed at enhancing their self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on the global market or rural hinterlands for food.
Consequently, urban agriculture has emerged as a tactic with the potential to tackle the sustainability issues associated with global supply chains. Its aim is to improve the availability and accessibility of fresh, locally sourced food within cities. This strategy promotes the growth of local food economies by establishing areas within urban spaces where individuals and communities can cultivate and sell their own crops. Two key benefits become evident: the avoidance of corporate-controlled food systems that often support unsustainable industrial agriculture techniques and the shortening of food supply chains. Furthermore, cities have a significant food demand, so shifting some food production to these areas can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with long-distance transportation
The typologies of urban agriculture are diverse, but they can generally be categorized into three main groups based on the scale of agricultural activity: private (e.g., household gardens), commercial (e.g., vertical farms), and community-based initiatives (e.g., community rooftops). These activities encompass personal gardens, large-scale commercial operations, and community-based initiatives that serve as a connection between the two.
Considering the available spectrum of urban agriculture options, and that various factors (e.g., geography, production methods) must be carefully assessed when developing specific urban agriculture projects, it’s clear that a one-size-fits-all approach cannot be used. Despite this diversity, it is possible to analyze urban agriculture initiatives from an ESG perspective and find similarities in them.
In terms of the environment, urban agriculture offers significant advantages. By farming in cities, the need for long-distance transportation is reduced, resulting in lower emissions and fresher produce due to shorter storage times. Additionally, urban agriculture can positively impact waste management by minimizing the distance between production and consumption, facilitating food waste recycling. For instance, some urban farms recycle organic waste into their operations, creating a sustainable closed-loop system that supports the circular economy. However, challenges may arise in urban areas due to elevated pollution levels, which could affect the quality of produce.
Socially wise, urban agriculture provides valuable benefits to local communities, including enhanced food security and opportunities for active community involvement. Furthermore, urban agriculture contributes to reducing vulnerability to supply chain disruptions during emergencies, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cities with urban agriculture initiatives have shown greater resilience by shortening the supply chain and providing residents with direct access to locally grown produce.
Under the aspect of economy and governance, urban agriculture has the potential to stimulate the development of new local economies by generating employment opportunities in agriculture for residents. On the other hand, the scale of food production within cities may not always suffice to meet overall demand, potentially limiting its benefits due to insufficient quantity of food produced.
In conclusion, urban agriculture emerges as a promising strategy to address the sustainability challenges posed by global supply chains. By improving the availability and accessibility of fresh, locally sourced food within cities, urban agriculture fosters the growth of local food economies and reduces reliance on long-distance transportation. This approach not only shortens food supply chains and mitigates the environmental impacts associated with industrial agriculture but also strengthens community resilience and social cohesion. However, the diverse nature of urban agriculture requires tailored approaches that consider various factors such as geography and production methods. Overall, urban agriculture presents a multifaceted solution that can contribute to building more sustainable and resilient cities in the face of global food challenges.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Arthur, H., Thornton, A. and Tranter, P. (2022) ‘Private actors and Food Safety Governance in the Accra City Region: Implications for local food policy’, Cities, 131, p. 104069. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.104069.
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Urban Development Overview (April 2023) World Bank. Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/overview
FAO (2007) Profitability and sustainability of urban and peri-urban agriculture. Agricultural Management, Marketing and Finance Occasional Paper 19. FAO, Rome
Theresa Nogeire-McRae, Elizabeth P Ryan, Becca B R Jablonski, Michael Carolan, H S Arathi, Cynthia S Brown, Hairik Honarchian Saki, Starin McKeen, Erin Lapansky, Meagan E Schipanski, The Role of Urban Agriculture in a Secure, Healthy, and Sustainable Food System, BioScience, Volume 68, Issue 10, October 2018, Pages 748–759, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biy071
Yoshida, Shingo, and Hironori Yagi. 2021. “Long-Term Development of Urban Agriculture: Resilience and Sustainability of Farmers Facing the Covid-19 Pandemic in Japan” Sustainability 13, no. 8: 4316. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084316
