In this chapter, taking an example of the “compact city” policy that is currently
promoted around the world, we will present a quantitative evaluation of the influence
that the ecological environment in each of the world’s regions has, when compared
to the specific urban morphology espoused by that policy. We will then use this
evaluation to scrutinize the applicability of individual urban planning methods
around the world from a negative stance before proposing another perspective that
ought to be considered in any research of urban planning across different regions.
6.1.1 Urban Planning and the Global Environment
Our Common Future, published in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment
and Development (WCED), was a turning point in the broader recognition by the
international community of the concept of “sustainable development.” In the years
since that report, a variety of disciplines have come to regard preservation of the
global environment as an area warranting their concern, and urban planning is one of
those disciplines. Specifically, goals have been set in the form of reducing greenhouse gases, the more efficient use of energy and water resources, the recycling of
resources, and the preservation of ecosystems, and achieving these have become
requirements of urban planning.
Improving the quality of the environment was of course a central topic in urban
planning even before the 1980s. The birth of modern urban planning itself in the
nineteenth century was closely linked to a need to ameliorate the dire sanitary state of
overcrowded city centers at that time. Since then, urban planners have implemented
a range of initiatives with the aim of raising the quality of urban environments, such
as placing controls on urban sprawl and creating “green belts” as well as various
pollution control measures since the 1950s. However, the one important characteristic of urban planning since the 1980s from the viewpoint of the environment has
been the addition of protection of the global environment as a requirement, alongside
such improvements to the environment within cities.
A “sustainable” city, however, is not thought to be achievable through such
environmental improvements alone: the understanding is that it will be achieved
by taking into consideration the so-called “triple bottom line,” which includes social
and economic aspects. This means that how to reconcile solving global environmental challenges with conquering socioeconomic problems has become a central
topic for debate in the field of urban planning (as symbolized by the Leipzig Charter
and the Green Growth movement).
6.1.2 The “Compact City”
Various urban planning studies have been undertaken of the policies that aim to
realize a sustainable city. These policies use a combination of methods that involve
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promoted around the world, we will present a quantitative evaluation of the influence
that the ecological environment in each of the world’s regions has, when compared
to the specific urban morphology espoused by that policy. We will then use this
evaluation to scrutinize the applicability of individual urban planning methods
around the world from a negative stance before proposing another perspective that
ought to be considered in any research of urban planning across different regions.
6.1.1 Urban Planning and the Global Environment
Our Common Future, published in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment
and Development (WCED), was a turning point in the broader recognition by the
international community of the concept of “sustainable development.” In the years
since that report, a variety of disciplines have come to regard preservation of the
global environment as an area warranting their concern, and urban planning is one of
those disciplines. Specifically, goals have been set in the form of reducing greenhouse gases, the more efficient use of energy and water resources, the recycling of
resources, and the preservation of ecosystems, and achieving these have become
requirements of urban planning.
Improving the quality of the environment was of course a central topic in urban
planning even before the 1980s. The birth of modern urban planning itself in the
nineteenth century was closely linked to a need to ameliorate the dire sanitary state of
overcrowded city centers at that time. Since then, urban planners have implemented
a range of initiatives with the aim of raising the quality of urban environments, such
as placing controls on urban sprawl and creating “green belts” as well as various
pollution control measures since the 1950s. However, the one important characteristic of urban planning since the 1980s from the viewpoint of the environment has
been the addition of protection of the global environment as a requirement, alongside
such improvements to the environment within cities.
A “sustainable” city, however, is not thought to be achievable through such
environmental improvements alone: the understanding is that it will be achieved
by taking into consideration the so-called “triple bottom line,” which includes social
and economic aspects. This means that how to reconcile solving global environmental challenges with conquering socioeconomic problems has become a central
topic for debate in the field of urban planning (as symbolized by the Leipzig Charter
and the Green Growth movement).
6.1.2 The “Compact City”
Various urban planning studies have been undertaken of the policies that aim to
realize a sustainable city. These policies use a combination of methods that involve
106
Y. Uchiyama and K. Hayashi