Pollution Free Cities

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Which Organizations Impede Progress on Reducing Climate Change Impacts?

Institutionalizing delay: foundation funding and the creation of U.S. climate change counter-movement organizations(14 page pdf, Robert J. Brulle, Climatic Change, Dec. 21, 2013)

Also discussed here: New Study Shows ‘Dark Money’ Funds Climate Change Denial(The Harbinger, Feb. 25, 2014)

And here: Funders Behind Climate Change Denial Hide Donations(ENS news, Jan. 2, 2014)

And here: Not Just the Koch Brothers: New Study Reveals Funders Behind the Climate Change Denial Effort(Robert J Brulle, Drexel Now Press Release, Dec. 20, 2013)

Today we review an analysis of the rise of well financed efforts mounted by conservative foundations n the USA to counter efforts to reduce carbon emissions. What I find interesting is that the efforts did not start until after the formation in 1989 of the International Panel on Climate Change within the United Nations framework which has had as a main objective international agreements and deadlines for greenhouse gas emission reductions world-wide.

Prior to 1989 Canada’s government and parliament had approved that country’s first Climate Change Program which included significant financial resources to acquire the country’s first super computer (a Cray 1) to carry out climate modeling research and the formation of a team of world-class researchers in what was the Canadian Climate Centre. Similar efforts took place in the USA and in Europe culminating in the first ministerial level conference on climate change at the “Changing Atmosphere” conference in Toronto, Canada in 1988 and the 1991 “Earth Conference” in Rio de Janiero which initiated the Conferences of the Parties to steer climate change agreements such as the Kyoto Accord in 1995.

That all of this momentum was turned back by 91 “climate change counter-movement organizations” with incomes of $7 Billion (led by the Koch brothers and Exxon-Mobil) in less than a decade is the focus of the paper which describes how the public was misled and how the system evolved to one where donors are kept hidden from public scrutiny with the “Donors Trust/Capital” foundation.

Key Quotes:

“In response to a survey question in the fall of 2012:1 Do scientists believe that earth is getting warmer because of human activity? 43 % replied no, and another 12 % didn’t know. Only 45 % of the U.S. public accurately reported the near unanimity of the scientific community about anthropogenic climate change”

Three questions:

”What is the climate change counter-movement? - “Conservative think tanks—the key organizational component of the conservative movement – and their backers launched a full-scale counter-movement in response to the perceived success of the environmental movement and its supporters.”
How are these organizations financially maintained?-“ the 91 CCCM [climate change counter-movement] organizations had a total income of more than $7 billion over the eight year period 2003–2010, with an annual average income exceeding $900 million.”
How do these organizations and their funders interact to form a social movement?”

“Foundations are among the most independent institutions of modern society. They are not subject to market forces or consumer preferences, nor do they have a membership or some electorate to oversee decisions and performance.”

“ The rapid increase in the percentage of funding of the CCCM by Donors Trust/Capital and the decline in both Koch and ExxonMobil corresponds to the initiation of campaigns by the Union of Concerned Scientists and Greenpeace publicizing and criticizing both Exxon-Mobil and Koch Corporations as funders of climate denial.”

“The CCCM efforts focus on maintaining a field frame that justifies unlimited use of fossil fuels by attempting to delegitmate the science that supports the necessity of mandatory limits on carbon emissions. To accomplish this goal in the face of massive scientific evidence of anthropogenic climate change has meant the development of an active campaign to manipulate and mislead the public over the nature of climate science and the threat posed by climate change.”

Monday, March 17, 2014

Car Exhaust Linked to Hypertension in Pregnant Women

Ambient air pollution and hypertensive disorder of pregnancy(Abstract, Xiaohui Xu 1, Hui Hu 1, Sandie Ha 1, Jeffrey Roth, J Epidemiol Community Health, Sep. 10, 2013)

Also discussed here: Air pollution is more harmful than SMOKING for pregnant women: Exhaust fumes could cause dangerously high blood pressure(Ellie Zolfagharifard, Daily Mail, Feb. 17, 2014)

Today we review the harmful effects of air pollution on the development of fetuses during pregnancy. Results indicate not only that air pollution including carbon monoxide from car exhaust causes hypertension in pregnant women which leads to higher blood pressure and harmful effects on their child to be born and throughout their life in terms of lower intelligence. The lessons learned from dealing with cigarette smoking after decades of warnings now need to be applied to vehicle emissions which are even worse.

Key Quotes:

“exposure to high levels of air pollution during early pregnancy and the full gestational period was associated with increased prevalence of HDP [hypertensive disorders of pregnancy]”

“Hypertension (high blood pressure), in particular, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, causing a lot of problems for the mother and fetus, including pre-term delivery”

“the worst offending pollutants include two specific types of particulate matter; carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide…. Sulphur dioxide is emitted from power plants and industries, while most carbon monoxide is produced by car exhaust”

“Exposure to air pollutants throughout the first two trimesters of pregnancy increased women’s risk of developing one of these conditions “researchers say more air pollution control is necessary to prevent dangerous complications in pregnant women and babies.”

“A study of pensioners found those whose mothers had high blood pressure scored an average of 4.36 points lower on IQ tests than those who did not”

“Our study suggests that even declines in thinking abilities in old age could have originated during the prenatal period when the majority of the development of brain structure and function occurs”

Friday, March 14, 2014

How are the Germans planning to make their second largest city car-free?

Auf grünen Wegen durch die Stadt(translation from German: “On green routes through the city”, Ministry of Urban Development and Environment, City of Hamburg, Germany)

Also discussed here: Hamburg Sets Out to Become a Car-Free City in 20 Years(Ignasi Jorro, Films for Action, Feb. 12, 2014)

And here: Hamburg's answer to climate change(Elisabeth Braw, The Guardian, Oct. 31, 2013)

Today we review reports about plans made in Hamburg to replace many roads in the urban core with parks and greenspace linked with cycling and pedestrian paths. This addresses one of the biggest problems that many cities in the USA and Canada have in their larger cities with multi-lane freeways cutting across their centres and clogged roads leading out of the urban cores- with all of the pollution and health issues that accompanies this. In less than 20 years, Hamburg will become a city where the need to use a car is much less and the enjoyment of the city both for getting from place to place and for leisure activities is enhanced.

Key Quotes:

“local authorities are to connect pedestrian and cycle lanes in what is expected to become a large green network…the Grünes Netz (Green Web) plan envisages “eliminating the need for automobiles” within two decades.”

“smooth inner traffic flow…lay out new green areas and connect them with the existing parks, community gardens and cementeries. .. Hamburg will pride itself on having over 17,000 acres of green spaces, making up 40% of the city’s area."

“the green ring will play a crucial role to help the metropolis fight against rising temperatures and urban flooding. The average temperature in Germany’s second-largest city has risen by 9 degrees Celsius in scarcely half a century”

“the interspersed patches of green areas will let residents hike, swim, do water sports, enjoy picnics and restaurants, experience calm and watch nature and wildlife right in the city”

"Other cities, including London, have green rings, but the green network will be unique in covering an area from the outskirts to the city centre. In 15 to 20 years you'll be able to explore the city exclusively on bike and foot."

"The green network makes sense from a climate change adaptation perspective, especially since our residents are quite progressive when it comes to climate change adaptation. Many Hamburgers are willing to give up their cars, which is very unusual in Germany."

“the green network could take up space that's needed for housing and businesses, but "on the other hand, it brings economic advantages because it attracts highly educated and competent people to the city."

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Modelling Cities According to Isobenefits

Simulating future societies in Isobenefit Cities: Social isobenefit scenarios(16 page pdf, Luca D’Acci, Futures Journal, Sep. 25, 2013)

Today we review a paper about a model of various urban forms that are evaluated according to the benefits that each confers to its citizens. The forms include a traditional Central Business District form where the population and economy is highest in the centre and radiates outward to a second form where there are several sub centres or sub cities of activity to a third form where there is a ring city surrounding .The isolines of benefits (isobenefits) are based on formulae which estimate such things as benefits to pedestrians and cyclists (pedestrian and bike paths for example) and specific examples from cities around the world are tested. Results indicate the types of cities that could be designed as well as what might be done to existing cities to improve benefits. The optimum one seems to be a multi-centre city.

Key Quotes :

“visionary examples of virtual future societies habitats:

the Ring City (a city without the ‘city centre’, where the ‘city centre’ is all around the peripherical ring, or in a series of rings),
the Homogeneous City (a city where the ‘city centre’ is everywhere), the Annulus City (a city without any geometrical centre in the city) and
the Punctiform City (an interconnected net of urban hyperdense ‘points’ throughout nature, parks and lands)”

“When these influences are objectively negative (pollutions, stress, daily wasting of time for commuting, crime, low quality of life, segregations, urban sprawl or over density, obesity, etc.) and predictable, why not try to avoid them at their origin rather than wait decades and change them just after having continuously suffered their negative effects rather than before?”

“re-transition in some cases is in a forced way, by planning and laws even with strong opposition from the populations which still want to park and pass through the city centre by car; in some opposite cases it is the population who force planning and laws because they want pedestrian areas; in some other cases there is a mutual influence”

“In an isobenefit city there will be a uniform distribution of public transport, streets, and attractiveness, and the typology (parks, pedestrian areas, libraries, shops, etc.) and amount of the attractiveness (both Urban Centralities and Urban Fuzzy Quality) will (ideally) meet the preferences of citizens.”

“Models in modern economics are structured on decision-making-agents; in urban terms this means models which should value individuals who balance decisions.” “the isotropic approach shapes our urbs, which shape our civitas, which shape our urbs.”

Monday, March 10, 2014

How Much has Your City Reduced its CO2 Emissions?

Climate Action in Megacities(248 page pdf, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), Feb. 5, 2014)

Also discussed here: C40 Releases Landmark Research Detailing a Clear Trend of Expanding and Accelerating Climate Action in the World’s Megacities(4 page pdf Press Release, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), Feb. 5, 2014)

And here: C40 city mayors lead action on climate change(ARUP, Feb. 5, 2014)

And here: How much power do cities really have to combat climate change?(Emily Badger, Grist, Feb. 7, 2014)

Today we review a report from the C40 group of 63 cities from around the world (with only two in Canada: Toronto and Vancouver) on progress being made on climate action plans since 2011. Most notable is the emphasis on flood risk reduction and reducing CO2 emissions from private vehicles and from heating and cooling buildings – these targets being seen by most Mayors as the ones that would yield the most effective results. Striking also is the focus taken to reduce car use with priority put on making public transit more accessible (even to the point of offering free fares) and encouraging more walking and cycling, rather than investing in Light Rail Transit, seen as the “silver bullet” for cities such as Canada’s 4^th largest city, Ottawa, notably not a member of C40 and not engaged in significant action on climate change. In comparison, cities such as Paris are making excellent progress since 2003 on reducing vehicle emissions by 60% by 2020 and by reducing and charging more for parking and through a major bike sharing program (Velolib). The 60% reduction target by 2020 is much closer to a realistic one to stabilize global climate warming than the much less ambitious 20% targets seen in the USA and Canada.

Key Quotes:

“98% of reporting cities indicate that climate change presents significant risks to their city”

“Actions to improve energy efficiency in buildings account for more than 20% of activities axcross alls sectors reported by C40 cities” “currently, 41% of actions are in effect on a citywide scale”

“Mayors have the most significant power over assets/functions in the Water, Buildings and Community-scale Development sectors”

“projects/Programmes and Policy/Regulations are used to deliver more than 80% of actions”

“North American cities reported the highest average CO2 e-emissions per capita (9 tons/year); 60% higher than cities in East Asia which is the second most carbon intensive region”

“in Paris, the 2001 Mobility Plan.. set ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions from traffic by 60% by 2020..[as of 2013] the city reduced parking by 9% (14,300 spots) and started charging for 95% of spots that were previously free. Vehicle kilometers travelled in the city are down by 13% since 2003”