Also posted in research and urban design
A participatory approach linking academia and councils
Philippa Howden-Chapman, Jan Logie, Ralph Chapman, Michael Keal, Geoff Fougere, Wokje Abrahamse
Also posted in blog and media and urban design and urban governance
Sustainable Cities workshop to be held in Wellington on March 26th.
This is a one day meeting that is being organised by the Wuppertal Institute in Germany and by Massey University, with support from both the German government and the Wellington City Council. The topic is also becoming increasingly important as will be clear from the introductions to be given by Celia Wade-Brown, Mayor of Wellington, and His Excellency Thomas Meister, Ambassador from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Entry is free, but you are asked to let Oliver Lah know if you will attend the workshop by emailing him at: oliver.lah@wupperinst.org
PDF: Sustainable Cities Workshop 26.03.2012
Also posted in blog and climate change and research
| The OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050 asks “What will the next four decades bring?” Based on joint modelling by the OECD and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), it looks forward to the year 2050 to find out what demographic and economic trends might mean for the environment if the world does not adopt more ambitious green policies. It also looks at what policies could change that picture for the better. |
This Outlook focuses on four areas: climate change, biodiversity, freshwater and health impacts of pollution. These four key environmental challenges were identified by the previous Environmental Outlook to 2030 (OECD, 2008) as “Red Light” issues requiring urgent attention. Based on model projections, this edition of the Environmental Outlook paints a possible picture of what the environment might look like in 2050. It focuses on four areas which were identified by the previous edition of the Outlook as needing urgent attention: climate change, biodiversity, water, and health and environment.
PDF: OECD Environmental Outlook to 2010 The Consequences of Inaction
Also posted in research
New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities Working Paper 2012 / 1 February 2012
By Ralph Chapman, Philippa Howden-Chapman, Anthony Capon and Pengjun Zhao
Cities are complex ‘socio-technical’ systems, the sustainability of which is vital to citizens’ well-being. We focus on two connected systems, transport and energy, to draw out implications for health and sustainability and consider the challenges of the multi-level, coordinated governance needed to keep cities running and resilient. We draw three main conclusions. First, there is a need to build knowledge about urban transport, land use and energy in a more integrated way. Secondly, there is a need for greater horizontal policy integration, emphasising appraisal of co-benefits of policies, and policy experimentation. Thirdly, rather than growing cities waiting for detailed and perfect knowledge about urban issues and policies, they need to adopt precautionary policies on sustainability, if important opportunities to address the pressing issues of energy insecurity, climate change and maintaining health and wellbeing are to be successfully taken.
Pdf: Cities as systems: Implications for sustainability and health
31 December 2011 – 4:12 pm
Also posted in research
The Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart (WUNZ:HS) programme began on July the 1st 2009. WUNZ:HS is a $340 million dollar multi-year year programme funded by the New Zealand government that provides funding for insulation retrofits and clean, efficient heating grants for New Zealand households. It is the largest programme of its type in New Zealand history and is intended to produce a range of energy and health related benefits.
In 2010 the Ministry of Economic Development (MED), EECA’s parent organisation, tendered a contract to carry out a full cost benefit analysis of the programme. The bid was won by a consortium including academics including New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities members Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman and Nick Preval.
The evaluation was completed in Oct 2011 had produced very favourable results. Although at the present time the evaluations carried out have not been made publicly available an internet search found the following text in the document Energy and Resources Portfolio: Briefing to the Incoming Minister (Dec 2011):
The government’s $340 million Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart home insulation scheme has been well implemented, with a formal assessment of the scheme showing a strong net national benefit – primarily from health benefits. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is keen to expand its successful energy efficiency programmes.
Links to the four reports that make up the evaluation will be made available when the reports become public and further information is available at the University of Otago website.
31 October 2011 – 9:56 am
Also posted in media and urban governance
“Sizing up the City: Urban form and transport in New Zealand Edited by Philippa Howden-Chapman, Keriata Stuart and Ralph Chapman, Steele Roberts Publishers, RRP $29.99, ISBN 978-1-877577-27-7, Available now.
Sizing up the City is a collection of essays explaining how the city works: where we live, how we get around and the wider effect those decisions have on our lives. The love affair with the car is broken down, graphed, and a blueprint for a more liveable city is put in its place.”
The review and link to PDF is viewable here.
27 October 2011 – 1:57 pm
Also posted in research and urban governance
This document produced by Landcare Research in May 2011 provides and inventory of 92 post activities initiated earthquakes and a list of 144 people who have made a contribution to the rebuilding research, planning or practice.
Ph Helen Fitt 64 3 321 9999 for more details.
Christchurch Earthquake Activity Inventory
