Low carbon city

The way we build and use our cities accounts for around half of national carbon emissions – which me ans if we design and use them better, we can dramatically reduce their environmental impact.

The government has committed the UK to a 60 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2050 – though others have urged a more ambitious target.

How Birmingham plans for the future is critical to cutting emissions of CO₂ and other ‘greenhouse’ gases responsible for climate change.The key to low carbon living is how buildings, spaces, places and transport systems are planned and managed. The future design of the city will also help us to cope with extreme weather changes – heat, downpours, stronger winds.

Carbon emissions are important. But they are only part of the evidence of the inefficient way in which natural resources are being used everywhere. As these resources dwindle, so environmental and economic pressures increase to use them less wastefully. Which is why an energy efficient, sustainable Birmingham will also be a more competitive, wealthier city

Becoming a more sustainable city

Two of the biggest issues for Birmingham in tackling climate change include housing and energy. The city’s homes produce over two million tonnes of CO₂ each year, because much of the city’s housing stock leaks heat. The vast majority of these homes will still be with us in 2050, and the sooner they are adapted (eg through insulation) the better.

The challenge is not just about how we live in our houses, though – it is how we live our lives.

Cities consume massive amounts of energy, and only a tiny amount of the energy Birmingham imports is “green”. This means a leakage of £1 billion from the city’s economy. The challenge is to capture energy instead from solar, ground and air sources, and from waste. This means new partnerships and new local decentralised energy distribution systems.

A well designed, sustainable city will provide a better quality of life for all, being a healthier, less polluted and quieter place to live and work in. It means:

• Less private car use – we need to organise our cities so that we can travel less in our daily lives, and so that walking, cycling and public transport are all easier. New development should have a mix of uses and be well served by public transport. Car sharing, car clubs, and company or school travel plans all help.
• Greener streets – streets can be vents to help counteract the ‘urban heat island’ effect in the summer. Large tree canopies are needed to shade and cool streets and buildings in summer – deciduous trees, so they let the light through in winter. The design of the street, and volume of traffic and how it is managed, determines how pedestrian friendly it is – and walking and cycling help with obesity and public health issues.
• A fairer place to live – with fuel prices soaring, people on low incomes are most affected by poorly insulated homes, which are expensive to heat and car dependency because of lack of affordable public transport. Good design also cuts flood risk, which many low income households are not insured for.
• Public space - greenery cools the air down through evaporation (provided you don’t let green turn brown - winter rainfall needs to be managed and stored). Having high quality open spaces nearby matter most to people without gardens, or who can’t afford holidays or country cottages.
• More prosperity in the future – creating markets and opportunities for low carbon businesses and new green technologies, by designing in space and facilities, makes the city more competitive and future-proofed. Good city design makes the most of existing assets and resources. It promotes easy accessibility – within neighbourhoods and to the city centre. A good environment makes the city an attractive place for businesses to relocate to and invest in. It will also attract a greater range of creative people to live and work here.
• Better use of existing resources – this includes waste, water and energy as well as public transport and strengthening local networks and services. This can save money so makes economic sense as well.
• Inclusive, with a strong identity – a place which takes accessibility seriously and which everyone can enjoy using equally, and which embraces new cultures; a place which builds on its spirit and character, and reflects that in its buildings and spaces and their uses.