Urban Planning for Climate Change

Abstract

We need a revolution in urban planning and in urban mobility: including better fuel efficiency; zero emission vehicles; and shifts toward walking, cycling, public transport, and shorter commutes. (UN Secretary-General’s remarks to Meeting with Leading Mayors Supported by C40 Cities: Advancing a Carbon-Neutral, Resilient Recovery for Cities and Nation, 16 April 2021) Urban planning is one of the key instruments for effective action on climate change. The global population now largely lives in urban settlements with this trend of urbanisation expected to continue through the twenty-first century. The future planning and design of our cities, towns and villages provides a unique opportunity to lay the foundations for a more sustainable, liveable and prosperous future, working with nature and delivering real action on climate change with local communities. This book brings together my research and work in coastal planning, regional development, sustainable cities and climate change adaptation. It draws upon my primary disciplinary background of urban and regional planning and is intended to be a positive practical contribution to action on climate change and more broadly implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It builds on my previous book Sustainable Pathways for Our Cities and Regions: Planning within Planetary Boundaries (Norman 2018), which had a wider global perspective on urban sustainability. This book focusses more deeply on the ‘how’, in this case how urban planning is fundamental to action on climate change. In doing so it particularly looks at current practice and opportunities for innovation and capacity building in the future. It is designed to appeal to a broad audience. This includes the next generation searching for more sustainable solutions, decision makers and leading private and public sector participants facing increasingly complex land use and planning in regions of climate risk and the broad array of participants i