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21 November 2008, Cambridge, USA MIT workshop on regional sustainability
A group of MIT faculty members from across the institute met to discuss the multi-disciplinary research projects on regional sustainability being developed at MIT. The objective was twofold:
1. To develop a broader understanding of the regional sustainability projects at MIT
2. To see if there is a synergy among the different projects that can be further explored or harnessed for the development of new initiatives
An interactive workshop held under the auspices of the Alliance of Global Sustainability and hosted by Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Cities, properly managed, can be transformative arenas in which natural resources are used efficiently and economically to provide a high quality of life for everyone. And by doing so, cities offer our best hope of reducing human impacts upon the environment and achieving global sustainability. It can be argued that there is no one model for urban futures because of the underlying history and cultural diversity of our urban areas. However, the challenge of urban futures is clear – we have exceeded 50% by 2030. The resultant pressure on infrastructure, services, safety and security, political stability and social services is immense.
Selected experts have been invited to present and discuss their views on African Urban Futures, thereby raising regional-level awareness and providing an important contribution to the global research agenda
Facilitator:
Peter Willis, University of Cambridge Programme for Industry, South Africa
Keynote address: “Putting people first in urban development” by Mamphela Ramphele, Circle Capital Ventures, South Africa.
Presentations:
“African urban innovation” by Edgar Pieterse, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
“An overview of some of the challenges facing the city of Johannesburg” by Lael Betlehem, Johannesburg Development Agency, South Africa.
“Future urban transport challenges in selected African cities” by Roger Behrens, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
“Sustainable urban design” by Mokena Makeka, Makeka Design Lab, South Africa.
“Social dimension of urban development” by Alan Mabin, University of Witwatetsrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Finance and governance models for urban development” by David Savage, Independant Consultant, South Africa.
“The Lake Victoria higher education initiative”, by Stephen Agong, Maseno University, Kenya.
“Toward sustainable water use in cities” by Rolfe Eberhard, Palmer Development Group, South Africa.
“Renewable energy for sustainable urban development” by Harro von Blottnitz, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
“Capacity building for sustainable urban development” by Björn Malbert, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.
Innovation exercise – “Looking at wants and aspirations, strategies to achieve these and interventions by key sectors”
Best posters presentation
Executive committee:
Dr. Sebastien Rauch, Chalmers
Prof. Olalekan Fatoki, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Prof. Jim Petrie, University of Cape Town
Dr. Yvonne Hansen, University of Cape Town
Contact:
Dr. Sebastien Rauch
Water Environment Technology, Chalmers
sebastien.rauch@chalmers.se
14 November 2008, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Urban Futures Research: Tackling Complex Reality
This seminar illustrated the dimensions of research that tackles the complex reality of urban futures, and aimed to achieve a better understanding of how interdisciplinary research must be designed and carried out, using examples from the ETH domain. It also reported on the results of the AGS workshop Interdisciplinary Dialogue on Urban Futures.
Futures Vehicles and Fuels report “On the Road in 2035″
The AGS Energy Flagship team at MIT released a synthesis report of research on future vehicles and fuels. “On the road in 2035: reducing transportation’s petroleum consumption and GHG emissions” first assesses the performance, cost, and life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of individual new vehicle and fuel technologies. The authors then evaluate the total impact of on-the-road fleets, and compare the potential of these technologies.
The report concludes that a 30-50% reduction in fuel consumption is feasible over the next 30 years through a combination of improved gasoline and diesel engines and transmissions, gasoline hybrids, and reductions in vehicle weight and drag – with costs in the range of US$1 500-4 500 per vehicle. Over the long term, plug-in hybrids and later still, hydrogen fuel cells may enter the fleet in numbers sufficient to have a significant impact on fuel use and emissions. In contrast, alternative fuels that could replace petroleum fuels in the near-term (such as current biofuels) are unlikely to change GHG emissions significantly.
Progress must therefore come from a comprehensive, coordinated effort to develop and market more efficient vehicles and benign fuels, and to find more sustainable ways to satisfy transportation demands.
More than 50 percent of the world population lives in cities. The majority of the population in cities lacks fundamental living qualities including acceptable housing and clean water. This is the main challenge for architecture and the construction industry for the future. The initiative seminar turns towards researchers and students from various disciplines and industrial and community players from various sectors. With the help of initiated insights from international guests with various backgrounds and perspectives we look forward to active and engaged participation in an important debate which will be part of our work on urban futures. The goal of the seminar is to frame a platform for research within a number of prioritized areas and define strategies for collaboration within Samhällsbyggnadsnoden – a meeting place for learning, research, innovation and debate.
Programme for Day 1:
Moderator: Alexandra Pascalidou
Welcome, by Hans Lindgren and Carl-Eric Hagentoft, John Holmberg, vice president – Chalmers Initiative
Cities in climate change, Marco Keiner, ETH
Design and concepts for habitability in extreme environments, particularly on Moon and Mars, Larry Toups, NASA
Sustainable development – the importance of city planning, architecture and construction, Ulla-Britt Fräjdin-Hellqvist, board member in public and private companies (Castellum, Kongsberg Automative, Tällberg advisors)
Sustainable business: how busenesses are reacting to the requests of a sustainable agenda – a global perspective, Roger Flanagan, University of Reading
Urban futures for the next generation – sixth grade student competition on urban futures, produced by Bengt Nilsson & Dan Jåma, shows how children have been working on the theme Future cities
Summary, Alexandra Pascalidou
Welcome, by Hans Lindgren and Carl-Eric Hagentoft,
John Holmberg, vice president – Chalmers Initiative
“Cities in climate change”, by Marco Keiner
“Design and concepts for habitability in extreme environments,
particularly on Moon and Mars”, by Larry Toups
“Sustainable development – the importance of city planning,
architecture and construction” by Ulla-Britt Fräjdin-Hellqvist
“Sustainable business: how businesses are reacting to the
requests of a sustainable agenda – a global perspective”, by Roger Flanagan
“My view on sustainability” by Gert Windgårdh
“Urban Futures for the next generation”,
6th grade student competition,
Five Views on Urban Futures 2008, AGS Chalmers
