Environmental planning

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Environmental planning is the process of facilitating decision making to carry out land development with the consideration given to the natural environment, social, political, economic and governance factors and provides a holistic framework to achieve sustainable outcomes. A major goal of environmental planning is to create sustainable communities, which aim to conserve and protect undeveloped land. [1]

Contents

Elements

Environmental planning concerns itself with the decision making processes where they are required for managing relationships that exist within and between natural systems and human systems. Environmental planning endeavors to manage these processes in an effective, orderly, transparent and equitable manner for the benefit of all constituents within such systems for the present and for the future. Present day environmental planning practices are the result of continuous refinement and expansion of the scope of such decision making processes. Some of the main elements of present-day environmental planning are:

The environmental planning assessments encompass areas such as land use, socio-economics, transportation, economic and housing characteristics, air pollution, noise pollution, the wetlands, habitat of the endangered species, flood zones susceptibility, coastal zones erosion, and visual studies among others, and is referred to as an Integrated environmental planning assessment. [2] It is the ability to analyze environmental issues that will facilitate critical decision making.

Many environmental planning actions currently revolve around the reduction of emissions and material reuse, not adaptations in order to lessen future climate change impacts. [3] This is most frequently seen as a result of the difficulty of predicting the long term effects of climate change. Climate action is very complex in nature and the timeline of emissions mitigation is unpredictable. However, as an alternative to avoiding adaptation, several cities in the US have taken an "anticipatory governance" approach. This method intends to explore the uncertainty surrounding the impacts of climate change specific to their communities in order to include adaptation in their environmental planning. [3]

Environmental Justice

Environmental justice is the equitable inclusion and treatment of all human beings in all aspects of environmental planning, as well as in the enforcement of environmental legislation. [4] It is increasingly recognized as a key part of environmental planning. Environmental justice issues are usually fought within communities to establish environmentally-friendly and accessible neighborhoods and living conditions, and to improve the local ecology. The Environmental Protection Agency has declared it essential that residents should play an active role in the reshaping of their neighborhoods. [5]  Many levels of government and international organizations agree on the need for equitable and sustainable housing and transportation, as core characteristics of environmental justice; these are considered today a part of the battle against the climate crisis. Environmental activists act as watchdogs on government support for the battles of underrepresented communities against environmental hazards that threaten their health or way of life.

United States

In the United States of America, there have been numerous examples of the state provisioning of environmental justice in multiple communities. Listed are some of such projects:

North America

Canada

In Canada, "Planners safeguard the health and well-being of urban and rural communities, by addressing the use of land, resources, facilities and services with consideration to physical, economic, and social efficiency" as stated on the Canadian Institute of Planners official website.

United States

Local municipals around the US are implementing Climate Action Plans (CAPs) as urban areas grow. However, the level of detail is variable; some act more as motivational goals while others are a concrete plan for implementation. [7]  In the United States, for any project, environmental planners deal with a full range of environmental regulations from federal to state and city levels, administered federally by the Environmental Protection Agency. [8] A rigorous environmental process has to be undertaken to examine the impacts and possible mitigation of any construction project was Depending on the scale and impact of the project, an extensive environmental review is known as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and the less extensive version is Environmental Assessment (EA). Procedures follow guidelines from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and/or City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR), and other related federal or state agencies published regulations. Eccleston has developed a set of tools and techniques for solving NEPA and environmental planning problems. A study found that the best may to minimize information asymmetry and goal incongruence between organizations working to implement environmental policy is to focus on principal-agent dynamics thus avoiding conflict and allowing for progress in addressing environmental issues. [9]

The Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) is a non-profit organization of interdisciplinary professionals including environmental science, resource management, environmental planning and other professions contributing to this field. AEP is the first organization of its kind in the US, and its influence and model have spawned numerous other regional organizations throughout the United States. Its mission is to improve the technical skills of members, and the organization is dedicated to "the enhancement, maintenance and protection of the natural and human environment". From inception in the mid-1970s the organization has been closely linked with the maintenance of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), due to California being one of the first states to adopt a comprehensive legal framework to govern the environmental review of public policy and project review.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in the major qualification system for green building. It is a certification system created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is used worldwide. The program includes certifications for new types of buildings as well as existing building that are candidates for modification. The multi-tiered point system enables building to be certified beyond local, state and federal standards. [10] LEED standards play an important role in quantifying a building's environmental impact, encouraging sustainable environmental practices, and acting as a hybrid between "material objects and human practices." [11]

Asia

Philippines

In the Philippines, the Republic Act 10587 governs the practice of Environmental Planning. The law defines Environmental Planning as "a multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing, specifying, clarifying, harmonizing, managing and regulating the use and development of land and water resources, in relation to their environs, for the development of sustainable communities and ecosystems.". It is sometimes referred to as urban and regional planning, city planning, town and country planning, and/or human settlements planning.

An Environmental Planner is a person who is registered and licensed to use environmental planning and who holds a valid Certificate of Registration and a valid Professional Identification Card from the Board of Environmental Planning and the Professional Regulation Commission of the Republic of the Philippines. To be a licensed planner, one must pass the Environmental Planning Board Exam. Areas of competency for planners are:

  1. Physical Planning
  2. Social Planning
  3. Economic Planning
  4. Planning Law and Administration; and
  5. Special Planning Studies.

There is a current move to require in five years time the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Planning as a requisite for one to be a licensed environmental planner. As of this writing, the curriculum for BS Environmental Planning is being reviewed by the Board of Environmental Planning and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The only accredited organization for environmental planners in the Philippines is the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP).

Scope of Practice. – REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10587 The practice of environmental planning, within the meaning and intent of this Act, shall embrace the following:

  1. Providing professional services in the form of technical consultation, rendering of technical advice, plan preparation, capacity building and monitoring and evaluation of implementation involving the following:
    1. National, regional or local development and/or physical framework and comprehensive land-use plans;
    2. Zoning and related ordinances, codes and other legal issuances for the development and management, preservation, conservation, rehabilitation, regulation and control of the environment, including all land, water, air and natural resources;
    3. Planning and development of a barangay, municipality, city, province, region or any portion or combination thereof; and
    4. Development of a site for a particular need or special purpose, such as economic or ecological zones; tourism development zones; and housing and other estate development projects, including the creation of any other spatial arrangement of buildings, utilities, transport and communications;
  2. In relation to any of the activities enumerated in paragraph (1) above, preparing the following studies:
    1. Pre-feasibility, feasibility and other related concerns;
    2. Environmental assessments; and
    3. Institutional, administrative or legal systems;
  3. Curriculum and syllabi development in licensure examinations for environmental planners and teaching in academic institutions and conducting review courses in environmental planning;
  4. Serving as expert witness, resource person, lecturer, juror or arbitrator in hearings, competitions, exhibitions and other public fora; conduct of hearings, competitions, exhibits and other public fora;
  5. Ensuring compliance with environmental laws including the acquisition of regulatory permits.
    The Professional Regulatory Board, subject to approval of the Professional Regulation Commission, may add to, or exclude from, this section any activity or act of professional practice, or revise it as the need arises to conform to changes and new developments brought about by the latest trends in environmental planning; and
  6. Perform other acts or conduct other activities that may be determined by the Board, subject to approval by the Professional Regulation Commission in light of the trend of the practice of the profession.

Australia

Background

Planning in Australia has shifted from a focus on amenity and resource use to a more integrated approach.

Table 1.0: Changes of planning focus [12]
Public InterestResourceResource and Environmental ProtectionEnvironment Protection Acts and EIAIntegrated Natural Resource ManagementIntegrated Land use, Environment and Natural Resource Planning and Management
Late 1770s1960s – 1980s1970s – 1980s1980s – 1990s1990s
Health, common lawResource development (Utilitarian)Reducing environmental impacts of resource developmentSpecific environment protection legislation and agenciesConsolidated natural resource legislation and agenciesMulti-level policy integration (plans, policies, and roles)
PollutionPrivate rightsPollution controlICM and Land-care increased regional focusIntegrated planning for natural resources, land use, and environment
Parks and reserves, conservationEIAIncreased powers of EP legislation (Penalties)Integrated regional planning
Environment protection policiesIncorporation with planningNational and state planning strategies
Regional economic development planning land use and resources integrated but low environment priorityEnvironment clearly definedBroader responses to EP legislationExpanded local role in planning and environmental management
Resource laws amended or new laws (Utility still paramount)Some reference to planning (still narrow / specific focus) ESD EMS BMP Environmental valuesEnvironmental priorities raisedBio-regional planning? -> 2000+
SettlementDevelopment
  • Environmental & Social Integration (combines both pressures)
  • Public engagement (awareness & participation)
  • Policy framework (agreements, legislation, etc.)
  • Clarified roles for national, state, and local levels
  • Recognition of environmental, social, cultural, and equity values

Regulatory framework

Relevant environment protection, planning & administering agencies and legislation at the level of commonwealth, states & territories are as shown in table below. Environmental planning policies vary from state to state.

Table 2.0: Key environment protection, planning legislation in Australia. [13]
JurisdictionLegislationAdministering Agency
CommonwealthEnvironment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts
South AustraliaDevelopment Act 1993Department of Planning & Local Government
Development Regulations 2008Department of Environment & Heritage
Department of Environment & Natural ResourcesEnvironment Protection Authority
New South WalesEnvironmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979Department of Planning and Industry
Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000Department of Planning and Industry
Victoria Planning and Environment Act 1987 Department of Infrastructure
Planning and Environment Regulations 2005Department of Planning & Community development
Planning and Environment (Fees) Regulations 2000Environment Protection Authority
Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 Department of Transport
Transport Integration Act Department of Transport
QueenslandIntegrated Planning Act 1997Department of Infrastructure and Planning
Integrated Planning Regulation 1998 Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Sustainable Planning Act 2009
TasmaniaLand Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment
State Policies and Projects Act 1993
Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal Act 1993
Resource Planning and Development Commission Act 1997
Western AustraliaPlanning and Development Act 2005Department of Environment & Conservation
Planning and Development (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2005Department of Planning & Infrastructure
Metropolitan Region Improvement Tax Amendment Act 2005
Australian Capital TerritoryPlanning and Development Act 2007The Planning & Land Authority

Background

Australia incorporated environmental considerations in land-use planning following the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. This alignment with global trends reflected a shift towards integrated development planning that considers environmental impacts.

Recent environmental planning processes

New South Wales

In NSW the first attempt to incorporate environmental assessment and protection into planning law began in 1974 with the appointment of a Planning and Environment Commission to overhaul the existing predominately urban land-use system. After various delays the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) came into force on 1 September 1980. The EP&A Act establishes a framework for assessing the environmental and community impacts of development proposals. It requires varying levels of assessment based on significance, and considers input from regulatory bodies and the public. The Act has been updated to give the government more influence in approvals, while also incorporating environmental protection measures.

Victoria

The Environment Effects Act 1978 was the first environmental planning control in Victoria, and it assessed the environmental impact of significant developments via an Environmental Effects Statement (EES). However the obligation for presenting an EES remained somewhat unclear and is ultimately at the discretion of the Minister for Planning (Eccles and Bryant 2007). The Planning and Environment Act 1987 created a statewide nested planning process, Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) which has within the statewide objectives:

"the protection of natural and man-made resources and the maintenance of ecological processes and genetic diversity" (PaE Act 1987, s4(1))

To achieve these ends, the VPP includes several overarching policy frameworks, including the identification of important environmental values and assets, such as 'protection of catchments, waterways and groundwater', 'coastal areas' and 'Conservation of native flora and fauna'. Below this level, local planning schemes identify land-uses through Zone designation, and also identify land affected by other criteria, called 'overlays'. Overlays include environmental parameters such as 'Environmental Significance', 'Vegetation Protection', 'Erosion Management' and 'Wildfire Management', but also social issues like 'Neighbourhood Character'. Below this again are various regulations on particular issues, such as details pertaining to regulation of areas of Native Vegetation DSE Victoria.

Reform has occurred to the Victorian framework in recent years aimed at improving land use and transport outcomes including consideration of environmental impacts. The Transport Integration Act [14] identifies key planning agencies as interface bodies required to have regard to a vision for the transport system and objectives and decision making principles if decisions are likely to have a significant impact on Victoria's transport system. In addition, the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 [15] establishes a scheme to improve the approval and delivery of major rail, road and ports projects.

South Australia

Planning in South Australia is coordinated within the Development Act 1993. Under this law most urban and land-use planning is assessed against local plans of allowed development. The Minister must declare a proposed development either 'Major Development' or a 'Major Project' for it to be subjected to greater depth of environmental assessment and public consultation, via an independent Development Assessment Commission of experts. Complex proposals will generally require an indepth EIS. Planning SA

Queensland

The Integrated Planning Act 1997 [16] vested most planning control with local government, but required 'significant projects' to be assessed by a State Coordinator General and usually required an environmental impact statement (EIS). [17]

This has been replaced by the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 [18] which came into force 18 December 2009. This law aims to 'improve sustainable environmental outcomes through streamlined processes', and incorporates Statewide, Regional and local planning hierarchies, which follow the model of Victoria's VPP. The Coordinator General may still declare projects to be 'significant projects' which then require assessment under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld). [19]

Key milestones and decisions

YearMilestoneRelevance
1973Growth Centres (Financial Assistance) Act 1973*This act enabled the establishment of entities within Australian States to manage the release of land and undertake planning, urban development and infrastructure development in an orderly manner.
1974Urban & Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974*Established to provide financial assistance to states for the purpose of urban and regional development.
1975Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975*The main object of this Act is to provide for the long term protection and conservation of the environment, biodiversity and heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef Region.
1978The Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978*This is the primary legislation under which the division of The Supervising Scientist monitors, advises on, and manages environmental protection related activities in relation to uranium extraction and processing in Australia.
1979Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979**NSW environment planning and assessment legislation which recognised the importance of a comprehensive interpretation of the environment in relation to development planning.
1983Commonwealth blocks the construction of the Franklin river Dam in Tasmania.In 1982 Tasmanians elected a Liberal Government for the first time ever. The Premier, Robin Gray, had campaigned on building the Franklin Dam. In 1983, the then Labor Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, took the Tasmanian Government to the High Court. It decided by just one vote to allow the Federal Government to stop Tasmania building the dam.
1991Madrid Protocol is created in recognition of Antarctica as the last great wilderness on earth.In recognition of Antarctica as the last great wilderness on earth the Madrid Protocol was created under the Antarctic Treaty System in 1991 to make certain mutually agreed resolutions on the environment legally binding upon member nations.
1993Native Title Act 1993*This Act recognises the occupation of Australia by indigenous peoples prior to European settlement.
1994National Environment Protection Council Act 1994*The Commonwealth, the States, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and the Australian Local Government Association have entered into an Agreement known as the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment setting out certain responsibilities of each party in relation to the environment.
1995Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995*Established to provide financial assistance to local government.
1995Publication of Australian Model Code for Residential Development (AMCORD) 1995 by the Australian Government.A comprehensive model code developed for the purpose of providing model guidelines for residential development controls.
1997Protection of the Environment (Operations) Act 1997**A significant environmental protection legislation introduced by the State of NSW, under which a polluter with the highest likelihood maybe retrospectively held liable for damages.
1998Formation of Development Assessment Forum (DAF)The Development Assessment Forum (DAF) was formed in 1998 to recommend ways to streamline development assessment and cut red tape - without sacrificing the quality of the decision making. The Forum's membership includes the three spheres of government - the Commonwealth, State/Territory and Local Government; the development industry; and related professional associations.
1999Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999*Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The EPBC Act is the Australian Governments central piece of environmental legislation. It provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places defined in the Act as matters of national environmental significance. The Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts is required, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, to table a report in Parliament every five years on the State of the Environment (SOE).
2000Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000*This Act was established to:
(a) to encourage the additional generation of electricity from renewable sources; and
(b) to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in the electricity sector; and
(c) to ensure that renewable energy sources are ecologically sustainable.
2001The Environment Protection and Heritage Council of Australia and New Zealand was established in June 2001 by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).The Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) addresses broad national policy issues relating to environmental protection, particularly in regard to air, water, and waste matters. The EPHC also addresses natural, Indigenous and historic heritage issues. The EPHC incorporates the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC). The NEPC is a statutory body under the NEPC Acts of the Commonwealth, the states and the territories. The NEPC meets simultaneously with the EPHC. The NEPC Service Corporation provides support and assistance to both EPHC and NEPC.
2002New South Wales State Environmental Planning Policy 65** - Quality of Residential Flat Development released in 2002.This act was introduced to ensure the maintenance if design quality in residential flat buildings and thereby improve the quality of urban high density living.
2004New South Wales State Environmental Planning Policy** - Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) 2004 is released.This act was introduced to ensure adherence to minimum levels of sustainable design in residential development in the areas of water use, thermal comfort and energy use.
2005AusLink (National Land Transport) Act 2005*The object of this Act is to assist national and regional economic and social development by the provision of Commonwealth funding aimed at improving the performance of land transport infrastructure.
2005Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005*Under this act the Water Efficiency Labelling and standards (WELS) scheme was implemented to improve water use efficiency nationally for a variety of devices. The Australian Government administers the scheme in cooperation with state and territory governments, which have complementary legislation to ensure national coverage.
2007Water Act 2007*For more than a century our greatest system of rivers and aquifers, the Murray-Darling Basin, was managed between five states and territories, each of which has had competing interests. The Water Act provides the capacity to meet the future challenges facing water management in the Murray-Darling Basin, one of the nations great assets.
2007The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007*This Act was passed in September 2007 establishing a mandatory corporate reporting system for greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and production.
2007Tamar Valley pulp mill development approved in 2007.The Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2007 approved the controversial plan for a pulp mill in Tasmania's Tamar Valley, with 48 conditions. The nature of conditions imposed provides the commonwealth the power to exert influence on development based on environmental outcomes.
2008The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is established.The Murray–Darling Basin Authority's principal aim is to manage the Basin's water resources in the national interest. The establishment of the MDBA means that, for the first time, a single agency is now responsible for planning integrated management of the water resources of the Murray–Darling Basin.
2008Formation of Infrastructure Australia.Infrastructure Australia 2008. Infrastructure Australia has the primary function of providing advice to the Minister, Commonwealth, State, Territory and local governments, investors in infrastructure and owners of infrastructure on matters relating to infrastructure, including in relation to the following:
(a) Australia's current and future needs and priorities relating to nationally significant infrastructure;
(b) policy, pricing and regulatory issues that may impact on the utilisation of infrastructure;
(c) impediments to the efficient utilisation of national infrastructure networks;
(d) options and reforms, including regulatory reforms, to make the utilisation of national infrastructure networks more efficient;
(e) the needs of users of infrastructure;
(f) mechanisms for financing investment in infrastructure.
2009Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) fails to pass through Australian Parliament.The pricing of Carbon via an emissions trading scheme was acknowledged as a necessity by both major political parties of Australia prior to 2007general election. However the proposed legislation in relation to an emissions trading scheme proved to be unpopular among some sections of the political realm.
2009Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Act 2009*In August 2009, the Government implemented the Renewable Energy Target (RET) Scheme, which is designed to deliver on the Government's commitment to ensure that 20 per cent of Australia's electricity supply will come from renewable sources by 2020.
2010 Transport Integration Act In July 2010, the Victorian Government commenced a scheme to reform land use and transport activity across the state. The Act promotes strong policy, planning and operational connections between planning and transport decisions and has a sustainability theme which includes emphasis on environmental outcomes.

Europe

Over the past decade the European Union has given the environment more attention with more strict legislation on issues such as air, soil, and water pollution as well regulations for toxic and hazardous substances. Currently over 18% of the territory belonging to the EU is denoted as protected areas for nature. [20] To date, the European Union's Environmental Policy is determined by the 7th Environmental Action Programme and is expected to be followed up through 2020. The EU has goals beyond this, however, and hopes by 2050 to have an "innovative, circular economy where nothing is wasted and where natural resources are managed sustainably, and biodiversity is protected, valued and restored in ways that enhance our society’s resilience." [21]

The EU has three core objectives to help achieve this vision: conservation of natural resources, conversion to an efficient, environmentally sustainable economy, and protection of the health of citizens. [21]

Professional qualifications

Environmental planning qualifications are offered in a number of forms by various universities throughout the world.

The following are some of the qualifications offered by tertiary education institutions:

See also

Cities

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental law</span> Branch of law concerning the natural environment

Environmental laws are laws that protect the environment. Environmental law is the collection of laws, regulations, agreements and common law that governs how humans interact with their environment. This includes environmental regulations; laws governing management of natural resources, such as forests, minerals, or fisheries; and related topics such as environmental impact assessments. Environmental law is seen as the body of laws concerned with the protection of living things from the harm that human activity may immediately or eventually cause to them or their species, either directly or to the media and the habits on which they depend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation planning</span> Process of planning for movement of people and goods

Transportation planning is the process of defining future policies, goals, investments, and spatial planning designs to prepare for future needs to move people and goods to destinations. As practiced today, it is a collaborative process that incorporates the input of many stakeholders including various government agencies, the public and private businesses. Transportation planners apply a multi-modal and/or comprehensive approach to analyzing the wide range of alternatives and impacts on the transportation system to influence beneficial outcomes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land-use planning</span> Process of regulating the use of land by a central authority

Land use planning is the process of regulating the use of land by a central authority. Usually, this is done to promote more desirable social and environmental outcomes as well as a more efficient use of resources. More specifically, the goals of modern land use planning often include environmental conservation, restraint of urban sprawl, minimization of transport costs, prevention of land use conflicts, and a reduction in exposure to pollutants. In the pursuit of these goals, planners assume that regulating the use of land will change the patterns of human behavior, and that these changes are beneficial. The first assumption, that regulating land use changes the patterns of human behavior is widely accepted. However, the second assumption - that these changes are beneficial - is contested, and depends on the location and regulations being discussed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green building</span> Structures and processes of building structures that are more environmentally responsible

Green building refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This requires close cooperation of the contractor, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Green building also refers to saving resources to the maximum extent, including energy saving, land saving, water saving, material saving, etc., during the whole life cycle of the building, protecting the environment and reducing pollution, providing people with healthy, comfortable and efficient use of space, and being in harmony with nature. Buildings that live in harmony; green building technology focuses on low consumption, high efficiency, economy, environmental protection, integration and optimization.’

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable urban infrastructure</span>

Sustainable urban infrastructure expands on the concept of urban infrastructure by adding the sustainability element with the expectation of improved and more resilient urban development. In the construction and physical and organizational structures that enable cities to function, sustainability also aims to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the capabilities of the future generations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental impact assessment</span> Assessment of the environmental consequences of a decision before action

Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) is the assessment of the environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or actual projects prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. In this context, the term "environmental impact assessment" is usually used when applied to actual projects by individuals or companies and the term "strategic environmental assessment" (SEA) applies to policies, plans and programmes most often proposed by organs of state. It is a tool of environmental management forming a part of project approval and decision-making. Environmental assessments may be governed by rules of administrative procedure regarding public participation and documentation of decision making, and may be subject to judicial review.

Green development is a real estate development concept that considers social and environmental impacts of development. It is defined by three sub-categories: environmental responsiveness, resource efficiency, and community and cultural sensitivity. Environmental responsiveness respects the intrinsic value of nature, and minimizes damage to an ecosystem. Resource efficiency refers to the use of fewer resources to conserve energy and the environment. Community and cultural sensitivity recognizes the unique cultural values that each community hosts and considers them in real estate development, unlike more discernable signs of sustainability, like solar energy,. Green development manifests itself in various forms, however it is generally based on solution multipliers: features of a project that provide additional benefits, which ultimately reduce the projects' environmental impacts.

Landscape planning is a branch of landscape architecture. According to Erv Zube (1931–2002) landscape planning is defined as an activity concerned with developing landscaping amongst competing land uses while protecting natural processes and significant cultural and natural resources. Park systems and greenways of the type designed by Frederick Law Olmsted are key examples of landscape planning. Landscape designers tend to work for clients who wish to commission construction work. Landscape planners analyze broad issues as well as project characteristics which constrain design projects.

Environmental impact design (EID) is the design of development projects so as to achieve positive environmental objectives that benefit the environment and raise the stock of public goods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green infrastructure</span> Sustainable and resilient infrastructure

Green infrastructure or blue-green infrastructure refers to a network that provides the “ingredients” for solving urban and climatic challenges by building with nature. The main components of this approach include stormwater management, climate adaptation, the reduction of heat stress, increasing biodiversity, food production, better air quality, sustainable energy production, clean water, and healthy soils, as well as more anthropocentric functions, such as increased quality of life through recreation and the provision of shade and shelter in and around towns and cities. Green infrastructure also serves to provide an ecological framework for social, economic, and environmental health of the surroundings. More recently scholars and activists have also called for green infrastructure that promotes social inclusion and equity rather than reinforcing pre-existing structures of unequal access to nature-based services.

Comprehensive planning is an ordered process that determines community goals and aspirations in terms of community development. The end product is called a comprehensive plan, also known as a general plan, or master plan. This resulting document expresses and regulates public policies on transportation, utilities, land use, recreation, and housing. Comprehensive plans typically encompass large geographical areas, a broad range of topics, and cover a long-term time horizon. The term comprehensive plan is most often used by urban planners in the United States.

This page is an index of sustainability articles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land recycling</span> Reuse of abandoned buildings or sites

Land recycling is the reuse of abandoned, vacant, or underused properties for redevelopment or repurposing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EPA Sustainability</span>

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in July 1970 when the White House and the United States Congress came together due to the public's demand for cleaner natural resources. The purpose of the EPA is to repair the damage done to the environment and to set up new criteria to allow Americans to make a clean environment a reality. The ultimate goal of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urban planning in Australia</span>

Urban planning in Australia has a significant role to play in ensuring the future sustainability of Australian cities. Australia is one of the most highly urbanised societies in the world. Continued population growth in Australian cities is placing increasing pressure on infrastructure, such as public transport and roadways, energy, air and water systems within the urban environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable urbanism</span> Study of cities and the practices to build them

Sustainable urbanism is both the study of cities and the practices to build them (urbanism), that focuses on promoting their long term viability by reducing consumption, waste and harmful impacts on people and place while enhancing the overall well-being of both people and place. Well-being includes the physical, ecological, economic, social, health and equity factors, among others, that comprise cities and their populations. In the context of contemporary urbanism, the term cities refers to several scales of human settlements from towns to cities, metropolises and mega-city regions that includes their peripheries / suburbs / exurbs. Sustainability is a key component to professional practice in urban planning and urban design along with its related disciplines landscape architecture, architecture, and civil and environmental engineering. Green urbanism and ecological urbanism are other common terms that are similar to sustainable urbanism, however they can be construed as focusing more on the natural environment and ecosystems and less on economic and social aspects. Also related to sustainable urbanism are the practices of land development called Sustainable development, which is the process of physically constructing sustainable buildings, as well as the practices of urban planning called smart growth or growth management, which denote the processes of planning, designing, and building urban settlements that are more sustainable than if they were not planned according to sustainability criteria and principles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Low-impact development (U.S. and Canada)</span>

Low-impact development (LID) is a term used in Canada and the United States to describe a land planning and engineering design approach to manage stormwater runoff as part of green infrastructure. LID emphasizes conservation and use of on-site natural features to protect water quality. This approach implements engineered small-scale hydrologic controls to replicate the pre-development hydrologic regime of watersheds through infiltrating, filtering, storing, evaporating, and detaining runoff close to its source. Green infrastructure investments are one approach that often yields multiple benefits and builds city resilience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urban planning</span> Technical and political process concerned with the use of land and design of the urban environment

Urban planning, also known as town planning, city planning, regional planning, or rural planning in specific contexts, is a technical and political process that is focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas, such as transportation, communications, and distribution networks, and their accessibility. Traditionally, urban planning followed a top-down approach in master planning the physical layout of human settlements. The primary concern was the public welfare, which included considerations of efficiency, sanitation, protection and use of the environment, as well as effects of the master plans on the social and economic activities. Over time, urban planning has adopted a focus on the social and environmental bottom lines that focus on planning as a tool to improve the health and well-being of people, maintaining sustainability standards. Sustainable development was added as one of the main goals of all planning endeavors in the late 20th century when the detrimental economic and the environmental impacts of the previous models of planning had become apparent. Similarly, in the early 21st century, Jane Jacobs's writings on legal and political perspectives to emphasize the interests of residents, businesses and communities effectively influenced urban planners to take into broader consideration of resident experiences and needs while planning.

The Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) [Originally QSAS] is the first performance-based system in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, developed for assessing and rating buildings and infrastructure for their sustainability impacts. In 2016, FIFA officially endorsed GSAS as the sustainability assessment system for Qatar's eight stadiums set to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The primary objective of GSAS is to create a sustainable built environment that minimizes ecological impact and reduces resources consumption while addressing the local needs and environmental conditions specific to the region. GSAS adopts an integrated lifecycle approach for the assessment of the built environment including design, construction and operation phases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environment and Ecology Bureau</span> Hong Kong policy bureau

Environment and Ecology Bureau is one of the fifteen policy bureau of the Government of Hong Kong. The agency was established on 1 July 2022. The current Secretary for Environment and Ecology is Tse Chin-wan.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Beathley, Timothy (1995). "Planning and Sustainability: The elements of a new paradigm". Journal of Planning Literature. doi:10.1177/088541229500900405. S2CID   108642248 . Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  2. ↑ p.160, Petts
  3. 1 2 Quay, Ray (2010-09-29). "Anticipatory Governance: A Tool for Climate Change Adaptation". Journal of the American Planning Association. 76 (4): 496–511. doi:10.1080/01944363.2010.508428. ISSN   0194-4363. S2CID   155678316.
  4. ↑ Salkin, Patricia (2014). "Environmental Justice and Land-Use Planning". American Planning Association's Planning Advisory Service– via JSTOR.
  5. ↑ United States. Environmental Protection Agency, issuing body. Environmental justice: key resources for building a community of practice for local use planning. OCLC   921477466.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Agyeman, Julian; Evans, Tom (November 2003). "Toward Just Sustainability in Urban Communities: Building Equity Rights with Sustainable Solutions". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 590 (1): 35–53. doi:10.1177/0002716203256565. ISSN   0002-7162. S2CID   145274467.
  7. ↑ Bassett, Ellen; Shandas, Vivek (2010-09-29). "Innovation and Climate Action Planning: Perspectives From Municipal Plans". Journal of the American Planning Association. 76 (4): 435–450. doi:10.1080/01944363.2010.509703. ISSN   0194-4363. S2CID   152544975.
  8. ↑ p.1, Environmental planning for communities
  9. ↑ Fowler, Luke (2020-07-02). "Best practices for implementing federal environmental policies: a principal-agent perspective". Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 63 (8): 1453–1469. Bibcode:2020JEPM...63.1453F. doi:10.1080/09640568.2019.1670627. ISSN   0964-0568. S2CID   211331149.
  10. ↑ Pushkar, Svetlana; Verbitsky, Oleg (December 2018). "Strategies for LEED certified projects: the building layer versus the service layer". Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering. 45 (12): 1065–1072. doi:10.1139/cjce-2017-0497. ISSN   0315-1468. S2CID   116027557.
  11. ↑ Cidell, Julie (August 2009). "A political ecology of the built environment: LEED certification for green buildings". Local Environment. 14 (7): 621–633. Bibcode:2009LoEnv..14..621C. doi:10.1080/13549830903089275. ISSN   1354-9839. S2CID   7743411.
  12. ↑ (p89, Conacher and Conacher 2000)
  13. ↑ Cited in Conacher & Conacher "Environmental Planning & Management In Australia". Updated from various websites(Sep 2010)
  14. ↑ "Transport Integration Act 2010" (PDF). Victoria State Government. 1 September 2010.
  15. ↑ Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009
  16. ↑ Now repealed and available at http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Repealed/repealed_I.htm
  17. ↑ Per the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 available at http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/S/StateDevA71.pdf
  18. ↑ Available at http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/S/SustPlanA09.pdf
  19. ↑ See section 26 of that Act available at http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/S/StateDevA71.pdf
  20. ↑ "Environment Action Programme to 2020 - Environment - European Commission". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  21. 1 2 "Environment Action Programme to 2020" (PDF). Europa . European Commission. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  22. ↑ "Planning Program". yorku.ca.

Bibliography

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