Eco-Cities
Contents Introduction 1 Eco city 1 Benefits of eco-cities 2 Ecological Sustainability 2 Economic Sustainability 2 Social Sustainability 2 Examples of eco cities 2 Masdar City 3 Arcosanti 3 Treasure Island 4 Challenges in transforming African cities into eco cities 4 Conclusion 5 Bibliography 5
Introduction
Eco-Cities are places where people can live healthier and economically productive lives while reducing their impact on the environment. They work to harmonize existing policies, regional realities, and economic and business markets with their natural resources and environmental assets. Eco-Cities strive to engage all citizens in collaborative and transparent decision making, while being mindful of social equity concerns (Khodgson, 2008). This paper seeks to understand the definition of an eco-city and how they work. It shall look at examples of existing eco-cities and the challenges that African cities might face in transforming their cities into eco cities.
Eco city
The concept of an eco-city came about as a challenge in creating a new and superior form of settlements. It is one of the models created towards the City of the Future. These different models have occupied philosophers, architects, planners, and urban theorist throughout the past centuries. The vision of an eco-city involves a mixed-used urban form, with higher density, human-inhabited centres that are the core points for the population and employment growth linked by public transport. Attention has been given to the development of a superior public transport system, and a need for non-motorised modes of travel with a minimal road capacity; it decreases the dependence to automobile and protects the city’s natural areas and its food-producing capacity. Its aim is to establish innovative environmental technologies for water, energy and waste management, an economic growth based on the creativity, innovation and sensitivity to the local environment and cultural
Introduction
Eco-Cities are places where people can live healthier and economically productive lives while reducing their impact on the environment. They work to harmonize existing policies, regional realities, and economic and business markets with their natural resources and environmental assets. Eco-Cities strive to engage all citizens in collaborative and transparent decision making, while being mindful of social equity concerns (Khodgson, 2008). This paper seeks to understand the definition of an eco-city and how they work. It shall look at examples of existing eco-cities and the challenges that African cities might face in transforming their cities into eco cities.
Eco city
The concept of an eco-city came about as a challenge in creating a new and superior form of settlements. It is one of the models created towards the City of the Future. These different models have occupied philosophers, architects, planners, and urban theorist throughout the past centuries. The vision of an eco-city involves a mixed-used urban form, with higher density, human-inhabited centres that are the core points for the population and employment growth linked by public transport. Attention has been given to the development of a superior public transport system, and a need for non-motorised modes of travel with a minimal road capacity; it decreases the dependence to automobile and protects the city’s natural areas and its food-producing capacity. Its aim is to establish innovative environmental technologies for water, energy and waste management, an economic growth based on the creativity, innovation and sensitivity to the local environment and cultural
Bibliography: Anon., 2010. Eco2Cities. p. 2. Anon., 2013. [Online] Available at: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/eco-cities [Accessed 24 03 2013]. Khodgson, 2008. EcoCity Alexandria. pp. 1-2. Pacione, M., 2009. Eco city. 3rd ed. Abingdon: Routledge. Vercillo, K., 2012. Eco cities: what they are and where in the world to find them. [Online] Available at: http://kathrynvercillo.hubpages.com/hub/ecocities-what-they-are-and-where-to-find-them [Accessed 20 03 2013].