I chose this subject mainly because I am very interested in urbanism. Indeed, I'd like to start a master called ISUR in French, which means: “Ingénieurie des systèmes urbains en réseaux”. It is a special program that allows to work in the urbanism sector in developing countries. It seems very interesting, since it ties both the environmental issue and the global poverty. Then, I've been inspired by a report made by the “Courrier International, n885” newspaper, called “Ma ville de demain”, which made me think a lot about the cities as an environmental issue. On the other hand, last year I was responsible in my school, in France, for the debates on movies and I organized one about Al Gore's documentary: “An inconvenient truth”, from whom I picked up one relevant quotation: "There is no more debate. We face a planetary emergency. The phrase sounds shrill but it is an accurate description of the climate crisis that we have to confront and solve." --Al Gore
[...] ¶The installation and exploitation of environmental ¶infrastructures (water, cleansing, ¶and waste) face difficulties to answer quickly to the increasing needs¶: the industrialized countries as in the low development countries¶, ecological pressure, connected with the strong growth the solid waste production, becomes a serious hurdle with the development of sustainable sanitary arrangements on the ¶long term.¶ ¶The response to the requirements in housing and constructions, in one ¶double preoccupation of social equity and sustainability is unsatisfying. ¶Concentration of human activities ¶increases the exposure of the goods and populations to the ¶natural and technological risks, as to the environmental and medical recurring crises¶, (air pollution, insalubrities, and shortage ¶access to drinking water . [...]
[...] But one mustn't forget that the environmental issue of sustainable development is mainly linked to the efforts human beings, which implies individual ones and not only politician's, are able to implement. Therefore, and to finish, I think it is useful to focus on the challenges sustainable urbanism will have to cope with: - Challenge of the urban governance and urban management: the insufficiency of established partnerships - Challenge of the insufficiency of human and financial resources - Challenge of a housing for all and the participation of the destitute populations in the decision-making processes - Challenges of the sustainable urban development: ¶form and city planning - Challenge of a sustainable mobility of the populations - Challenge of a fair-trade management of the natural resources, energy and waste - Challenge of a social and economic sustainability in terms of urbanism - Challenge of a solidarity between Northern and Southern countries Sources Movies inconvenient truth”, directed by David Guggenheim USA -“Manufactured landscapes”, directed by Jennifer Baichwal Canada crude awakening”, directed by Basil Gelpke and Ray Mc Cormack UK 11th directed by [...]
[...] Vauban and Viikki, some achieved areas Vauban, Freiburg, Germany As I am studying in Strasbourg I had many opportunities to visit Germany; notably the pioneer city of Freiburg where a very interesting area- called Vauban (as the famous French engineer, architect and urban planner of the XVIIth Century) has been designed in the idea of sustainable development and equity, since the State provided there cheap-housing. To me Vauban is a perfect example of what sustainable urbanism should mean, because it implies respect of the environment and social diversity and solidarity. [...]
[...] Third European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns was held in Hanover, Germany in 2000:"the Call of Hanover launched by the European mayors at the dawn of the 21st century "gives a framework and guiding lines for the sustainable territorial development of European continent. In the field of the fight against the greenhouse effect, more than 150 mayors and official representatives of local communities (representing of the world greenhouse gases emissions) committed themselves in 1993 to act to reduce local consumption of energy and emissions of carbonic gas (first world Summit of the mayors on climatic changes in New York). [...]
[...] Viikki is the perfect translation of the local Agenda 21 in Helsinki advocating a densification close to the centre of the city, than an urban spreading over, which causes mobility and extra infrastructure costs. Viikki is a result of cooperation between the State, the city of Helsinki, companies and the University. The area gathers housing zone and industrial park. Indeed, the city of Helsinki cares about creating a labor pool and a housing area. For sure, wood is the privileged material for housing construction, and cars are restricted, (roads has been designed to prevent from the contacts between cars and pedestrians or riders). [...]
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