An Article from Gehl Architects blog:
"In Copenhagen it is possible to buy an
organic kiwifruit from New Zealand. These are displayed in the supermarket
alongside non-organic Italian varieties. Which one should I choose? Should I
buy the ethically farmed NZ kiwi, or should I buy the Italian one with fewer
air miles? What is the most sustainable decision? And is it possible for the
most sustainable decision to also give me the highest quality of life?
Decisions regarding sustainability are
increasingly affecting how we build cities. This is especially true in
Christchurch as it embarks on the single largest infrastructure investment in
its history – that of rebuilding.
Debate around sustainable cities has
historically centred on individual buildings. In this regard, it is very easy
to get caught-up discussing the merit of a five-star versus six-star green star
certification, or green roofs, or solar power, without considering other
factors. This is evidenced in Melbourne, where the majority of new 6-star green
certified homes have been built on the urban fringe. With limited access to
public transport and cycling infrastructure, occupants require cars for most
journeys. Just like the organic kiwi, a large amount of high-carbon transport
is required to make these ‘sustainable’ homes accessible. Is it right to buy an
organic kiwi on the other side of the world to where it grew? Can a ‘green’
house have a three-car garage?
What the Melbourne case highlights is
that we must consider end-user behaviour if we want to make the most
sustainable city. A recycling bin is no good if nobody uses it, or if its
contents are contaminated and so taken to landfill. The most modern green
workplace accessed by car produces more emissions than an older workplace
accessed by public transport. A green building potentially isn’t green if its
inhabitants use it differently than expected. A sustainable city is not simply
a collection of green buildings, it is the infrastructure for a collection of
people to enjoy sustainable lifestyles because they offer a higher quality of
life.
A major factor in a sustainable
lifestyle is transport choice. In 2009, 91% of trips were made by car in the
Greater Christchurch Region. In Copenhagen the figure is 30%. Copenhagen has a
long history of cycling which it has researched extensively. In 2010, 37% of
people cycled to work in Copenhagen, with 70% continuing through winter. When
asked their reason for choosing to cycle, the overwhelming reason respondents
gave was convenience. Cycling in Copenhagen has nothing to do with
ethical choices, it has to do with finding the easiest way to get from a to b.
It is the result not of a ‘special Scandinavian mentality’, but of ongoing
investment in cycling infrastructure by the City of Copenhagen, as well as the
development of urban forms that create short enough distances for cycling to be
viable. Copenhagen is internationally celebrated for the high quality of life
cycling affords its citizens including health and accessibility benefits.
This identifies the issue at the heart
of building a sustainable city. The central challenge is to make it easy
and even desirable to be green – to create the infrastructure that will
allow inhabitants to make sustainable decisions because they are in their
own best interest. The challenge is for a city to be ‘Good for me’ and
‘Good for the planet’. This sometimes involves trade-offs such as weighing an
isolated green building against integrated green transport. It will involve
having an open mind.
In May last year, we asked you: ‘What
kind of city do you want?’ Many of the most popular responses related both
to a better lifestyle and sustainability. When debating your new sustainable
city I encourage you to consider not ‘Is this city sustainable?’ but instead
‘How can this city make a sustainable lifestyle attractive for me?’ The answer
to the latter question will illuminate the path to an enduringly sustainable
city.
But back to the supermarket: Which
kiwifruit did I buy – the organic New Zealand variety, or the lower-transport
Italian? I bought the organic Danish apple.
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