The City Solution: How The City Solution: How Making Cities Livable can Making Cities Livable can Address Climate Change Address Climate Change

and Well-Beingand Well-BeingKevin M. LeydenKevin M. Leyden

Research Professor of Social Science & Research Professor of Social Science & Public Policy Public Policy

Centre for Innovation & Structural ChangeCentre for Innovation & Structural ChangeJ.E. Cairnes School of Business & EconomicsJ.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics

National University of Ireland, GalwayNational University of Ireland, Galway

We Are Becoming More UrbanWe Are Becoming More Urban

2008 marked a turning point in 2008 marked a turning point in historical settlement patterns; for the historical settlement patterns; for the first time in human history the first time in human history the majority of us live in urban areas. majority of us live in urban areas. This trend will continueThis trend will continue. .

India, for example, is expected to India, for example, is expected to build 500 new cities over the next 20 build 500 new cities over the next 20 years. years.

The City in the 21The City in the 21stst Century Century

““The 19The 19thth Century was a century of Century was a century of empires, the 20empires, the 20thth century was a century was a century of nation states. The 21century of nation states. The 21stst century will be a century of cities.”century will be a century of cities.”

Wellington E. Web, former Mayor of Denver, Colorado as Wellington E. Web, former Mayor of Denver, Colorado as quoted in quoted in A Vision for Smarter CitiesA Vision for Smarter Cities, published by IBM, published by IBM

The Future of the City: IssuesThe Future of the City: Issues It is essential that we come to understand how to make cities and towns It is essential that we come to understand how to make cities and towns

more livable, attractive places with a high quality of life. Our failure to do so more livable, attractive places with a high quality of life. Our failure to do so – in the U.S. - lead to the decline of many urban cores.– in the U.S. - lead to the decline of many urban cores.

Cities and towns hold huge potential for combating Climate Change. Cities Cities and towns hold huge potential for combating Climate Change. Cities and towns have smaller carbon footprints per capita. And they can be made and towns have smaller carbon footprints per capita. And they can be made far more efficient with green technologies and retrofits, renewable energy, far more efficient with green technologies and retrofits, renewable energy, smart metering, and pedestrian and transit-oriented planning.smart metering, and pedestrian and transit-oriented planning.

We need to figure out how to enable people to age in place. Cities and towns We need to figure out how to enable people to age in place. Cities and towns need to be attractive places for families with children and the elderly, for need to be attractive places for families with children and the elderly, for example.example.

Urban design and planning has important implications for human health and Urban design and planning has important implications for human health and

well-being. We must gain a better understanding of issues of walkability, well-being. We must gain a better understanding of issues of walkability, social connectivity, public places and access to nature in the city. social connectivity, public places and access to nature in the city.

There is a need for research that examines how matters of urban design, There is a need for research that examines how matters of urban design, transportation planning, and all types of urban public policy (e.g., housing transportation planning, and all types of urban public policy (e.g., housing policy, the support of cultural activities, crime-control and education policy) policy, the support of cultural activities, crime-control and education policy) affect the attractiveness of places for creative people and innovative firms).affect the attractiveness of places for creative people and innovative firms).

Places DifferPlaces Differ

To what extend does Urban Design To what extend does Urban Design and Transportation Planning affect and Transportation Planning affect the Well-being of People and the the Well-being of People and the

Environment?Environment?

Time-tested urban and town Time-tested urban and town planning designs that emphasize planning designs that emphasize the importance of Mixed-Use and the importance of Mixed-Use and

Pedestrian Oriented Pedestrian Oriented Neighborhoods with a Unique Neighborhoods with a Unique

Sense of Place Sense of Place

But for the last 50 years or soBut for the last 50 years or so

Many countries –not all- have Many countries –not all- have planned and built places that are planned and built places that are very different. Places that are largely very different. Places that are largely planned by developers and are planned by developers and are oriented around roads and the oriented around roads and the automobile.automobile.

Too Car-Focused?Too Car-Focused?

There is now one car for every two There is now one car for every two adults in Ireland, an increase of 62 adults in Ireland, an increase of 62 percent since 1990. percent since 1990.

Source: Energy in Transport Trends and Influencing Factors, 2006. --Sustainable Energy Source: Energy in Transport Trends and Influencing Factors, 2006. --Sustainable Energy IrelandIreland

In the United States there is approximately one In the United States there is approximately one car for every adult. (car for every adult. (251 million 251 million registered registered passenger vehicles).passenger vehicles).

Source: US Bureau of Transit Statistics (2006)Source: US Bureau of Transit Statistics (2006)

The City Solution:The City Solution:

Climate Change and Carbon EmissionsClimate Change and Carbon Emissions

Health, Planning and the Built Environment

Health Problems and costs associated with:

• Obesity and Inactivity• Depression and Stress• Social Isolation and the lack of

social support• Air and Water Pollution

35

1999

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1990, 1999, 2009

(*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person)

2009

1990

No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

Benefits of Physical Activity(30-40 minutes of walking a day)

• Life span increase: 2 years• Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: 40% less• Rates of High Blood Pressure and Diabetes:

Reduced• Risk of breast & colon cancer: Reduced• Mood and mental health status: Improved• Body Mass Index (BMI): Reduced• Health care costs: $300-$400 less per year• Cost: minimal

Surgeon General’s Report, 1996

There is clear evidence that walking & cycling are good for our health:

Yet in many cases we are planning and engineering walking out of our lives. A lot of it is because we plan our communities around the car.

Obesity in the U.S.

• Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%

• Percent of American children who walk or bike to school:

• 1974: 66% • 2000: 13%

(CDC, 2000)

"How happy are you now?"

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Key Factors Explaining HappinessKey Factors Explaining Happiness

Good HealthGood Health IncomeIncome Job Opportunities/Cost of LivingJob Opportunities/Cost of Living Marital StatusMarital Status Feeling Connected to the People Feeling Connected to the People

in Neighborhoodin Neighborhood Opportunities to Volunteer In Opportunities to Volunteer In

CityCity

Happiness: Additional Variables Happiness: Additional Variables

Access to Culture and leisure facilities Access to Culture and leisure facilities such as movies, museums, concert such as movies, museums, concert hallshalls

Access to LibrariesAccess to Libraries Availability of convenient Public Availability of convenient Public

TransportationTransportation My city is a good place to rear and My city is a good place to rear and

care for childrencare for children Role of Life-cycleRole of Life-cycle

In many places we have turnedIn many places we have turnedour backs to the city or to towns our backs to the city or to towns and village lifeand village life

Serious need to revitalize urban places.We need to refocus our public policies on

making urban places more livable, healthy, creative, and sustainable.

Part of that is to focus upon planning that emphasizes pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use zoning models with a sense of place

Low-tech solutions matter too!Low-tech solutions matter too!