by samuelelupidi | Sep 6, 2024 | The Urban Media Lab
Cities, the most promising place
Cities are nowadays increasingly attracting and represent the place where many people try their best to succeed. But in this scenario lies a big paradox which in this historical moment sounds promising and scary at the same time. Cities represent the 80% of the Global GDP (World Bank, 2023), and cause 75% of the global CO2 emissions with transport and building sectors being the greatest contributors (UN environment Programme, 2017).
With environmental issues becoming more pressing and people waiting for a solution, policymakers opted for the ‘green’ or ‘sustainable city’ as a viable planning and policy solution (Angelo & Wachsmuth, 2015). The term ‘planning’ here refers to the action of organizing the urban context and expresses the necessity to incorporate sustainability practices into urban planning.
Why urban planning is a solution?
Historically, urban planning has always encompassed the philosophy behind land use and city development. But how does this relationship help achieve the ultimate goal of contrasting climate change, and how are these two fields specifically connected?
What is urban planning?
There is not one exclusive definition, because this subject connects with various scopes. Nevertheless, in a broader sense it is possible to say:
“Town and country planning is the set of guidelines and public instruments for governing the transformation of the territory, both in the area and in urban areas. Strongly interrelated with economic planning, it is aimed at achieving a better quality of living, through a rational, fair and sustainable use of resources so as to guarantee the well-being of the community over time.” (Cappuccitti, 2014)
Beyond technicalities, it is important to imagine space as a resource and its organization as a political process able to shape new social relations. For example, Raphaël Fischler says that:
“Urban planning is the collective management of urban development, the use of purposeful deliberation to give shape to human settlements. It is the mobilization of community will and the design of strategies to create, improve, or preserve the environment in which we live. This environment is at once physical (natural and built) and cultural (social, economic, and political).” (Fischler, 2011)
This definition is particularly relevant because it links the physical space with how people use it. This connection is crucial for two reasons: first, redefining space involves people’s participation; and second, the design process not only adapts to people’s needs but can also influence them, creating different patterns and encouraging various behaviours. This aspect is essential for promoting sustainable attitudes, as seen in concepts like the 15-minute city, which leverages urban density to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation.
Considering this capability to influence changes and attitudes, which are the drivers that can trigger a sustainability change in cities?
Planning and Sustainability
Broadly speaking, measures are organized into two main categories: mitigation and adaptation strategies. These climate change measures are integral to planning strategies and must be integrated at an urban level to reduce the negative impact on citizens and infrastructure.
Respectively: “Mitigation action lowers the GHG concentrations via reducing GHG emissions and adding carbon sinks, to meet the objective of reducing the pace of climate change and frequency of extreme events.” (Zhao, 2018) While “Adaptation refers to the regulating strategies employed under actual or expected climatic stimulation; their objective being to mitigate climate change impacts and promote adaptive capacity.” (Zhao, 2018)
Usually cities struggle with heatwaves, a problem that can be tackled by increasing the trees coverage which is a perfect example of an adaptation measure. Instead increasing the production of renewable energy and avoiding fossil fuels, reduce emissions and pollution performing a mitigation action on climate change.
For example, the study by Muñoz-Pizza et al. in ‘Linking Climate Change to Urban Planning through Vulnerability Assessment: The Case of Two Cities at the Mexico-US Border’ highlights how certain types of settlements are more susceptible to heatwaves. Additionally, the lack of political action in addressing these issues increases the likelihood that specific areas of the city, along with their residents, will be more vulnerable to climate change than others (Muñoz-Pizza, 2023).
A second point of contact between the areas lies in the democratic management embedded in the planning decision making process. Meerow and Woodruff in ‘Seven principles of strong climate change planning’ exhort planners to encourage new research and move towards the involvement of communities and the general public, who are increasingly aware of climate change issues in our time. (Meerow & Wordruff, 2019) In this sense sustainability planning strategies represent an opportunity to foster a democratic approach.
Main takeaways and strategies
Now that the measures have been defined, the challenge lies in the approach chosen to implement and scale them. Long and Rice, in ‘From Sustainable Urbanism to Climate Urbanism,’ emphasize the importance of prioritizing ‘climate urbanism,’ a policy orientation that promotes cities as the most viable and appropriate sites for climate action. This approach also aims to protect the physical and digital infrastructures of urban economies from climate change hazards (Long & Rice, 2019).
However, strategies can vary significantly during the policy application phase, making it challenging to address different issues effectively. A viable pathway that integrates multilevel action within cities has been outlined by Francisco Estrada in ‘A Global Economic Assessment of City Policies to Reduce Climate Change Impacts.’ Estrada develops a strategy that effectively addresses the challenge of measuring and mitigating impacts without solely focusing on growth-oriented decisions. This approach prioritizes investment in reducing carbon emissions—which leads to lower temperatures—and emphasizes the economic productivity of cities to safeguard urban systems from climate change effects (Estrada, 2017).
In conclusion, an organized strategy that correctly connects local city-level actions with broader targets offers a viable way forward. It is crucial to reiterate that securing urban infrastructures is fundamental to prevent disruptions in the economic benefits they generate.
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Bibliography
World Bank. ‘Urban Development’. Text/HTML, 3 April 2023. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/overview
Angelo, Hillary, and David Wachsmuth. ‘Why Does Everyone Think Cities Can Save the Planet?’ Urban Studies 57, no. 11 (August 2020): 2201–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098020919081
Mattogno, Claudia. Ventuno Parole per L’urbanistica, 2014
Fischler, Raphaël. ‘Fifty Theses on Urban Planning and Urban Planners’. Journal of Planning Education and Research 32, no. 1 (September 2011): 107–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456×11420441
Zhao, Chunli, Yan Yan, Chenxing Wang, Mingfang Tang, Gang Wu, Ding Ding, and Yang Song. ‘Adaptation and Mitigation for Combating Climate Change – From Single to Joint’. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability 4, no. 4 (April 2018): 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/20964129.2018.1466632
Muñoz-Pizza, Dalia M., Roberto A. Sanchez-Rodriguez, and Eduardo Gonzalez-Manzano. ‘Linking Climate Change to Urban Planning Through Vulnerability Assessment: The Case of Two Cities at the Mexico US Border’. Urban Climate 51 (September 2023): 101674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2023.101674
Meerow, Sara, and Sierra C. Woodruff. ‘Seven Principles of Strong Climate Change Planning’. Journal of the American Planning Association 86, no. 1 (2 January 2020): 39–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2019.1652108
Long, Joshua, and Jennifer L Rice. ‘From Sustainable Urbanism to Climate Urbanism’. Urban Studies 56, no. 5 (April 2019): 992–1008. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098018770846
Estrada, Francisco, Wouter Botzen, and Richard S.J. Tol. ‘A Global Economic Assessment of City Policies to Reduce Climate Change Impacts’. Nature Climate Change 7, no. 6 (May 2017): 403–6. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate3301
by annalisagiannuzzi | Jul 29, 2024 | The Urban Media Lab
Analyzing the habits and customs of contemporary society, it is evident that we are witnessing a transition in the energy supply model. Moving away from the traditional model based on centralized fossil fuel production, there is a growing trend towards the use of a distributed energy production system that prioritizes renewable energy sources and ensures greater energy efficiency. Issues such as climate change, decarbonization, and economic and social sustainability are not only current topics but also crucial controversies in public debate, involving the management of geopolitical balances and the consolidation of international alliances. The energy transition is no longer a matter of choice, but an urgent necessity to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change. It is “more than just a technological and political change; it also involves significant social and behavioral transformations that challenge historical narratives and accepted notions of democracy and the economy”(i). The construction of a new social organization model based on the production and consumption of energy from renewable sources, requires the direct involvement of citizens in the various processes of restructuring and managing the energy system. These profound transformations will lead, in the short and medium term, to the emergence of new social roles and responsibilities, which citizens might not automatically accept. This is because the necessary and desired change involves not just the mere replacement of unsustainable inputs with less polluting ones but also a conscious use of energy resources that implies the creation of new systemic approaches and paradigms. With this perspective, it becomes essential to develop operational strategies that can translate the proposed projects and development scenarios into reality, as the energy transition, to be concrete and efficient, requires innovative co-governance approaches.
The contribution of all social actors, on the topics of: energy transition, the fight against energy poverty and the governance of new energy models; imposes a paradigm shift, according to which, consumers are not only passive market customers, but become prosumers (ii), active subjects that produce value and energy for self-consumption, the circulation and sharing of resources, generating, as a consequence, a circular economy scheme, based on the binomial consumption-production, safeguarding of sustainable energy resources and reduction of fossil carbon emissions. This binomial has also received regulatory recognition following the approval of the RED II directive (iii). In this vision and mission, the concept of energy citizenship perfectly fits, positioning itself at the center of the debate on justice and the fight against energy poverty. Both themes correspond to different yet parallel problems. The recognition of the right to energy also aligns with the concept of energy justice. The latter, in its essence, aims to develop a universal energy system where costs and benefits are equally distributed through governance with democratic decision-making processes that promote and develop empowerment. This is precisely where the main issue lies. It is necessary to seek common solutions that are respectful and fair to the rights of the stakeholders involved to counteract energy poverty, understood as distributive energy inequality. Such a situation would imply not only the inability to see the interests of those with scarce energy resources represented in decision-making processes but also the inability to access energy information, effectively preventing the rightful assertion of their legal rights (iv). A holistic and systemic methodological approach conceived in this way would become an indispensable vector and turning point to facilitate collective participation in energy citizenship, not only to ensure equity but also to enhance the protection of all citizens’ interests regarding energy. Thus conceived, energy citizenship would act as a bridge between a complex technical-technological energy system and society, promoting active citizenship, embracing collective spaces for participation, and overcoming individualistic visions centered on energy technologies and personal consumer investments. Using a metaphor, the path towards energy citizenship could be depicted as a ladder with many rungs to climb, some of which are very unstable and need anchoring to safely reach the top. A practical example to achieve this ascent could be represented by the organizational model conceived by the GRETA – Green Energy Transition Actions project. It is a project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 program, aimed at facilitating the energy transition through the active participation of citizens, supported in asserting their right to energy towards a just and equitable transition. GRETA represents not only a project to reorganize the relationship between citizens and energy infrastructures but also a bottom-up observatory of the obstacles that actually constrain the implementation of energy and social citizenship (v).
Within the framework of the GRETA project is the EN-ACTION lab, a laboratory promoted by the Cesena Campus, which introduces virtuous action strategies on the educational approach for global behavioral change, not only directed and aimed at the energy transition but also student citizenship, so that more subjects of all ages become aware that real change is achieved through education and knowledge of the various aspects related to the energy system. The project examines the conditions and enabling factors for the creation and adoption of energy citizenship for a more sustainable future through a just transition process, without exclusions or imbalances, both at the individual and community level. The actions of this project were aimed at defining the enabling factors for the creation of energy citizenship, raising awareness and knowledge on energy issues, and initiating processes of sensitization and involvement of the entire citizenry and the entire urban territory. The urban energy transition process started from an innovative, bottom-up approach centered on the citizen, their economic and health needs, and their role in achieving collective energy goals. The laboratory was divided into several stages: (micro level), starting from raising awareness among students and citizens on energy issues and promoting awareness of the individual contribution, leading to the drafting of a manifesto for the practical and shared realization of the various initiatives. The creation of the manifesto proved to be a great stimulus, not only to generate value within the community but also to implement public-private co-design initiatives (meso level). The idea behind the manifesto is to create not just a mere declaration of intent but to provide communities with a concrete, operational tool to support not only the birth but also the growth of energy citizenship, providing technical and financial tools and creating synergies between the various actors involved (vi). The GRETA project, developed within the EN-ACTION lab, is still ongoing, but one of the main results obtained so far is the Community Transition Pathway, a document that offers guidelines for engaging communities in the creation of energy citizenship. The latter is based precisely on the idea that each of us can learn to use energy sustainably, without relying on decisions made from above by the major players in the sector. After analyzing the various results and through a step-by-step approach, it will be necessary to: (i) define the boundaries of the context and the community involved, map current policies on the energy transition, assess the community’s status and level of energy citizenship, understand the desire for participation based on available time, (ii) establish a future vision with short, medium, and long-term goals, aim for ambitious targets, facilitate the community in formulating them, and finally (iii) help the promoter and the community identify the correct transition path, considering all necessary steps to achieve the vision and established goals (viii).
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References
i Lennon, B., Dunphy, N. P., & Sanvicente, E. (2019), Community acceptability and the energy transition: A citizens’ perspective. Energy, Sustainability and Society, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-019-0218-z
ii M. Castellini, I. Faiella, L. Lavecchia, R. Miniaci e P. Valbonesi, Report annuale – anno 2023, Osservatorio Italiano Povertà Energetica.
iii Directive UE 2018/2001
iv Ibi, ii
v A. Boeri, D. Longo, S. O. M. Boulanger, M. Massari, Energy Citizenship Contract and European Cities Transition, AGATHÓN – International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, 2024
vi C. Trippa, WP2 – Linee Guida per Azioni di Coinvolgimento della Comunità universitaria e del territorio, 2023
vii C. Trippa, WP1 – Mappatura delle buone pratiche e coinvolgimento della comunità universitaria in materia di transizioni energetiche, 2023
by salvatorepisacane | Jul 10, 2024 | The Urban Media Lab
«Every man is our brother, every woman is our sister, always. We want all to live together, as brothers and sisters in the Garden that is the Earth. The Garden of fraternity is the condition for all life»[i].
Thus began the Rome Declaration on Human Fraternity, drafted by 30 Nobel Peace Prize winners, signed by the Secretary of the Vatican State, H.E. Card. Parolin, and presented during the first Meeting on Human Fraternity, promoted on 10 June 2023 by the Vatican Foundation “Fratelli Tutti”.
This Foundation, led by the Vicar of His Holiness for Vatican City, Card. Mauro Gambetti[ii], clearly inspires its mission to the Encyclical of Pope Francis “Fratelli Tutti” and promotes the value of human fraternity through the culture of dialogue, the discovery of reciprocity and mutual enrichment.
One of the goals is the «globalisation de la Fraternitè»[iii] that can offer something positive to values such as freedom and equality because the freedom tends to shrink and wither without fraternity, while equality among all human beings can be a concretely attainable objective as a «result of the conscious and careful cultivation of fraternity»[iv].
On the 8th of March 1970, in a famous speech held during the Cologne Fraternity Week, the Nobel Prize winner for literature, Henrich Böll, invited to constantly remember the secular trinity (freedom, equality, fraternity) from which fraternity derives and from which it must be recovered precisely to allow everyone to be truly free and equal[v].
The fraternitè as the linchpin of the French Revolution and the Christian fraternitas (in particular, in this case, the fraternity described by Pope Bergoglio), also as the civic friendship theorized by Plato and Aristotle, as the fraternalism in the modern worker’s movements represent different historical uses of the ideal of fraternity, but with main and common constitutive elements: a relational bond, mutual aid and equality[vi].
The Foundation wants to reaffirm the fraternity as a value among communities, but also to promote it as a political, social and economic principle or idea. Nowadays fraternity has been forgotten and ii tends to be considered only a duty of solidarity for States to remove inequalities and pursue objectives of substantial equality[vii].
The inculturation of fraternity in society could lead individuals to accept the diversity and autonomy of the others, to recognize equal dignity for all human beings, to cultivate inclusive relationships and «experiences of proximity and contamination with each other»[viii]: there would be a need to rediscover fraternity in the world to win wars and abuses[ix].
We hope that a new time of fraternity will reawaken «the deepest and most deeply rooted desires» of the human soul and will truly lead us into our commitment to reduce inequalities and tolerate diversities; the human beings, who don’t deviate «towards barbarism», should always feel alive the social duty to pity the weak and the suffering and contribute to the conviction that politics «must make common life better and more fraternal and to ensure that the architecture of laws, of institutions and customs of this common life become a home for many brothers»[x].
Therefore, in the second edition of the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, entitled “#behuman”, held on 10th and 11th of May 2024 in Rome, the “Fratelli Tutti” Foundation has launched a work of spreading fraternity in the social, political and economic ecosystems[xi] through 12 working tables (sport, social cooperation, education, peace, children, health, sustainability and enterprise, work, agriculture, local government, information, social media) composed of experts, intellectuals, changemakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists and representatives of institutions[xii].
The Foundation has two ambitious goals: making fraternity «a principle of social action in the public space»[xiii] and realizing a Charter of the human to reconstruct «a grammar of humanity, on which to base choices and behaviour […] to build up this spirtuality of fraternity»[xiv].
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References
[i] Declaration on Human Fraternity, Rome, St. Peter’s Square, June 10th, 2023. Available: https://www.fondazionefratellitutti.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Dichiarazione-sulla-fraternita-umana.pdf
[ii] https://www.fondazionefratellitutti.org
[iii] Joli, Michel. La fraternitè globale. Expliquée à ceux qui veulent changer le monde, èditions érès, Toulouse, 2021, 130.
[iv] The Holy Father Francis, Encyclical Letter on Fraternity and Social Friendship, Par. 103-104. Available: www.vatican.va
[v] Boll, Heinrich; Wolf, Christa. Fraternità difficile, Piccola Biblioteca morale, Edizioni e/o, Rome, 1999, 64-65.
[vi] Puyol, Angel. Political Fraternity. Democracy beyond freedom and equality, Routledge, New York, 2019, 59-60.
[vii] Mattioni, Angelo, Solidarietà giuridicizzazione della fraternità in Marzanati Anna, Mattioni Angelo (a cura di), La fraternità come principio del diritto pubblico, Città Nuova, Rome, 2007, 7-10.
[viii] Barbaro, Sergio, Fraternità e Common Law: il caso della responsabilità per “omissione di soccorso” in Cosseddu Adriana (a cura di), I sentieri del giurista sulle tracce della fraternità. Ordinamenti a confronto, Giappichelli, Torino, 2016, 96-97.
[ix] Zuppi, Matteo Maria, Odierai il prossimo tuo. Perché abbiamo dimenticato la fraternità. Riflessioni sulle paure del tempo presente, Piemme, Milano, 2019, 150-157.
[x] Maritain, Jacques, Cristianesimo e democrazia, Passigli, Firenze, 2007, 40-41.
[xi] About economy and fraternity: Punzi, Antonio, La convenienza del bene. Mercato, informazione e persuasione nella Caritas in veritate in Graziadio Serena (a cura di), Etica lavoro mercato. La Caritas in veritate, Aracne, Roma, 2011, 54-61.
[xii] Cardinale, Gianni, Francesco e i premi Nobel per la pace: dodici tavoli per un mondo più umano. Available here: https://www.avvenire.it/chiesa/pagine/francesco-e-i-premi-nobel-per-la-pace-dodici-tavoli-per-un-mondo-pi-umano
[xiii] Based on words of the Secretary of the Fratelli Tutti Foundation, Father S.I. Francesco Occhetta: “Incontro mondiale fraternità: padre Occhetta, “rimettere la fraternità come principio dell’azione sociale nello spazio pubblico”. Available here: https://www.agensir.it/quotidiano/2024/5/7/incontro-mondiale-fraternita-padre-occhetta-rimettere-la-fraternita-come-principio-dellazione-sociale-nello-spazio-pubblico/
[xiv] The Holy Father Francis, Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to the participants in the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, Clementine Hall, Saturday, 11 May 2024. Available here:
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/may/documents/20240511-world-meeting.html
by liviaalegi | Jun 21, 2024 | The Urban Media Lab
Introduction
Technology has become a central part of our lives, as more and more aspects of our daily routines rely on digital technologies. While our lives have become “smart”, little thought has been given to the environmental consequences. Since technology is often viewed as purely beneficial, it does not typically raise environmental concerns.
This article looks at three ways digitalisation impacts the environment: by performing any action on the Internet, by disposing of devices improperly, and through the existence of data centres themselves.
Google searches
On the Internet, every click implies energy consumption. The impact generally depends on the size of the websites and the elements (such as images, videos and graphical elements) featured on pages, but even a simple Google search can pollute. It is difficult to accurately calculate the impact of Google searches on the environment: the company itself does not publish its data and there is no standardised independent source on Google’s volume data.
However, estimates can be made. In 2014, researcher Joanna Moll calculated that “on average, the production of 1 kWh emits 544 gr. of CO2. It takes 13 kWh to transmit 1GB of information, the equivalent of 7,07 kg. of CO2.”[1] The google.com homepage weighs about 2MB, so its current (estimated) 105,000 searches per second[2] would generate 1,485kg of CO2 emissions per second. This is an imperfect calculation since it uses data from 2014 and since energy may be produced through renewable sources, but still validly demonstrates the impact of digital interactions.
Tackling e-waste
E-waste refers to electronic products which are no longer functioning or used, and includes household appliances, office equipment and personal devices. Only 20% of e-waste is collected for recycling; owners often keep their previous phones and old devices rather than disposing of them. Of the remaining 80%, 76% has unknown fate and 4% is thrown into household waste. When e-waste ends up in landfills, metals contained in electronic devices, such as mercury and lead, may seep into the ground and contaminate groundwater. The Global North does not suffer the consequences of this mismanaged disposal, as disused and unwanted products are mostly sent to countries in the Global South. It is places like Agbogbloshie, a suburb of Accra in Ghana, that suffer the drastic consequences of the 215,000 tonnes of electronic goods dumped here. “Out of 100 soil samples collected in Agbogbloshie, more than half have shown an amount of lead which is over twice as much as the standards allowed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).”[3]
Data centres
Data centres are the backbone of the Internet and, as such, they require high amounts of electricity to run. In addition to the electricity required to run the computers where data is stored, vast amounts of energy are also needed to cool the computers. This is typically done through mechanical cooling (e.g. fans) and amounts to roughly 25% of a data centre’s total power consumption.
Researchers reported that data centres accounted for 1%[1] of world energy use in 2005, when there were roughly one billion people on the Internet.[2] With users have grown to over five billion, one might expect their energy consumption to have sharply increased over time, but this is not the case. However, this has not been the case: data centre energy consumption has only slightly increased (it is now roughly 1.4-1.7%[3]) thanks to widespread and sustained efforts in improving efficiency.
Conclusion
Our future is digital, and digitalisation is not a process that can be reversed. Our reliance on this infrastructure highlights the importance of ensuring that future generations can enjoy both the convenience of such technologies and a healthy planet. Technology clearly has very concrete effects on our environment we cannot ignore only because of the convenience of digital tools.
Acknowledging that the exponential growth of the digital world is currently unsustainable – and will only worsen in the future – is important because it allows us to focus on finding solutions to the above problems. Data centres show that pollution is not the sole option, and that sustainability and innovation can go hand in hand. However, quick and decisive action must be taken to limit the impact of our digital lives on the environment.
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References
[1] Moll, Joana. ‘CO2GLE’. Jana Virgin. Accessed 6 June 2024. https://www.janavirgin.com/CO2/CO2GLE_about.html.
[2] Domo. (2023). Data Never Sleeps 11.0. https://www.domo.com/learn/infographic/data-never-sleeps-11
[3] J. Ottaviani, ‘E-Waste Republic’, accessed 6 June 2024, https://web.archive.org/web/20180628102332/https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2015/ewaste/index.html.
[4] Jonathan G Koomey, ‘Worldwide Electricity Used in Data Centers’, Environmental Research Letters 3, no. 3 (2008), https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/3/3/034008.
[5] ITU. ‘Number of internet users worldwide from 2005 to 2023 (in millions).’ Chart. November 27, 2023. Statista. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/273018/number-of-internet-users-worldwide/
[6] IEA. “Data Centres & Networks.” Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.iea.org/energy-system/buildings/data-centres-and-data-transmission-networks.
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.
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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
