Utopic visions have often influenced the way in which we think about the future.
Ever since Plato's Republic (c. 380 B.C.) and Thomas More's 1516 work Utopia (itself a play on words meaning either "good place" or "no place"), writers and filmmakers have strived to create compelling visions of what the future might look like. The city has been at the heart of these visions for the future, whether portrayed in a utopic or dystopic light. In the same way, we can trace utopian thinking through the urban design principles of intellectuals such as Le Corbusier, the famed pioneer of modern architecture, and Ebenezer Howard, whose utopic vision for cities had people and nature living in harmony.
But now more than ever, cities need to envision and strive for a more sustainable future. Such visions help people make sense of the future; they help us to determine what sort of future we want; they promote discussion and debate; and they allow us to see how we can mobilize, deploy, and manage resources to achieve a desired future.
Many cities have already developed compelling visions for the future. Vancouver, for example, has plans to be the greenest city in the world by 2020. Bristol has developed a city vision, "High on Hope," which aspires to eradicate poverty and where educational underachievement is wiped out. And in London, Gensler has recently set out its 2050 vision for the City of London, based on positioning itself as the capital of a new global free-trade zone that extends from the US to China.
Every city is different of course, and there's no single visionary blueprint. But recent research for RICS has shown how four simple building blocks can create a strategic approach to planning for a low-carbon future in cities. Looking at the UK and internationally, the cities that are succeeding with their low carbon plans are those that 1. Set ambitious targets; 2. Place them in an integrated low carbon and climate change framework; 3. Have innovative financing in place; and 4. Use partnerships creatively.
So, for example, since the 1990s, Copenhagen has reduced its carbon emissions by 20 percent. In 2009, the City Council unanimously agreed on the Copenhagen Climate Plan, which will lead the city to further 20 percent carbon reduction by 2015 and carbon neutrality by 2025. In 2009, the Siemens Green index appointed Copenhagen as "the greenest major city in Europe." Part of the secret for Copenhagen has been its use of a "mixed market" approach to develop its district heating network, which supplies 98 percent of the city’s needs. The system is combined heat and power (CHP), but in contrast to the UK, dumping heat is forbidden and all of it has to be used. Power stations, which generate only electricity, are not allowed and transmission companies have to buy heat from the power stations. The Danish government is responsible for overall energy policy, legislation, tax, and subsidies, and the local municipalities are responsible for heat planning and project implementation.
Copenhagen serves as a great model for global cities, which will ultimately need to create their own visions that stand the test of time and are resilient and adaptable. Recent research has shown how, in an urban retrofit context, we can imagine a "compact city" or a site of intensive and efficient urban living; or a "smart city" or hub within a highly networked, competitive society; or a "self-reliant" green city, where the city lives in harmony with nature, with each of these visions having different implications for people, technology, and governance structures.
The challenges for futuristic vision, as Dorothy realized in her journey with her friends to the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz, lie in not only finding the right road to our destinations, but in being flexible enough to cope with uncertainty and danger along the way and upon arrival.
Re: "In dreams begin responsibilities" What wise words Mary! Our political strife, a monster of our own making is indeed a roadblock to change and change for the better. These political committees and sub committees while meant for good are all so often in conflict with the voters and with advancement of an idea. Here is San Diego, we are often impeded by the "Enviornmental Protection Agency", which just relented and gave the go ahead for a sea water to fresh water desaliination plant in Carlsbad, which although it will provide only a fraction of our freshwater needs, it is a step in the right direction, at least currently. Climate change has brought a drought upon us and the growing population in the west has already put a drain upon our dwindling H2O resources. Yet with miles and miles of coastline we have been unable till now to actually capture the availabe resources and convert it to a product of our needs.
Urban visions Great post! There's something fundamental in how a city can plan and act on issues like carbon, when a government of a country often can't, and perhaps amongst other factors it is because a city can create a 'place specific' vision of the future, a vision that is connected to real, identifiable physical change?
Perhaps the breakthrough in global carbon talks will happen when city governors meet and forget about their national interests?
"In dreams begin responsibilities" Thanks for an inspiring post, Timothy. A write once said that dreams led to responsibilities, and I agree. It's great to have utopian visions, if they spur action toward a better plan.
Perhaps if more people imagined a world without the political strife that's holding up progress, change might just get a foothold.
Re: Long Range Planning Thank you for your comments. I think all of the comments so far are driving at the point that often short-term political expediency can prevent longer-term environmental progress. We can't allow that to happen if we are going to meet our carbon reduction targets, and that's why city visions are so important. Unfortunately the UK government seems to have forgotten it should be incorporating a 2030 target in decarbonising its energy supplies--a policy oversight that will have long term consequences for the planning and investment that is needed for renewable energy.
Re: Long Range Planning I agree that long-term planning is key to achieving something that is as close as it can get to a 'Utopic' city. The way politics works sometimes is unfortunate. Sometimes, officials should get it into their heads that they aren't elected into office to do what they want and hold whatever grudges they might've formed during the elections.
So stick to the plan and carry it out. If the plan doesn't exist then one should be written!
Long Range Planning Thank you for this post....it is very important that a City has long range planning (2050). Just because Political Representation changes does not mean that a common long range goal cannot be set, attained and maintain! Pats on the back to Cities with long range plans that benefit there residents!!!!!!
Changes at the local level Thank you for an inspiring post, Tim. It's great to read about examples of cities that are imagining "utopic" futures for themselves, as these will be the cities that serve as models for the rest of the world. In the US, climate change is, unfortunately, a political issue, which keeps us from making progress as a nation. However, as with Copenhagen, the cities themselves can set goals for carbon-neutral futures, and eventually serve as an example for the nation. I know that New York's PlaNYC is working toward the goal of cutting carbon emissions by 30 percent. If we can do this in New York, I think we will serve as a great example for other dense cities.
Smart City Money Makers companies and solutions that are most prominent, and destined to be most profitable, in the smart city revolution.
How to Make Your City Smarter Cities all over the world need to become smarter and more sustainable. But where to start? Download this guide to learn the first, proven steps toward making your city smarter.
Site Moderators Future Cities is looking for engaged readers to moderate the message boards on this site. Engage in high-IQ conversations; earn kudos and perks. Interested? E-mail: moderators@ubmfuturecities.com
webinars
Latest Archived
3/19/2013 From Smart Building to Smart City In this Webinar, speakers from the industry and from IBM will explain how smart buildings become smart cities. Attendees will learn the basic characteristics and functions of smart buildings; how these facilities are interconnected; what kinds of urban systems can be included in such a network; and how the cloud model can create a smart, sustainable, and self-regulating city from the foundation of smart buildings.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This