Sustainable Cities Contents


SPONSOR PROFILE Parsons Brinckerhoff is a leader in the develop- ment and operation of infrastructure, with around 14,000 staff dedicated to meeting the needs of clients and communities in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia-Pacific regions.


The company offers skills and resources in strate- gic consulting, planning, engineering, programme and construction management, and operations for all modes of infrastructure, including transportation, power, community development, water and the environment.


Its transportation services include: working to


reduce urban congestion; linking transport with development; improving transport efficiency; and preparing infrastructure for climate change. The company also offers carbon management and reduc- tion services, while helping tackle the growth in demand for power.


In community development, Parsons Brinckerhoff


provides a range of multidisciplinary services which help deliver sustainable communities and enhance quality of life. The company is also focused on improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints. It is at the forefront of thinking around mapping embodied energy in buildings and optimis- ing the energy efficiency of existing building stock, particularly in line with the UK Government’s ambi- tious carbon reduction targets. Parsons Brinckerhoff is part of the international infrastructure group, Balfour Beatty plc.


While cities cause the problems, they also have solutions


The world’s cities are a huge contributor to global warming; despite urban areas covering just 1% of the planet’s surface, 75% of the world’s energy is consumed there, contribut- ing around 80% of greenhouse gases. And as global populations grow, people will continue to head to the city for work and play. This special supplement examines the being made to improve the


efforts sus-


tainability of our cities – from homes and commercial buildings, to transportation and leisure – and the role business can play in it.


While national governments continue to


fail in reaching an agreement on how to tackle growing emissions, maybe government nego- tiators can learn from the efforts being made by local governments and city mayors across the planet. You only have to look at the work of the C40 Cities climate leadership group to see the potential on offer. I’d like to say a big thank you to Parsons Brinckerhoff for supporting this supplement, as well as the excellent contributors, PB’s Lynne Ceeney among them. Enjoy.


TOM IDLE EDITOR


10 IDEAS


CONTENTS 04 ❘ The role of business


To have a sustainable future, businesses need to be city makers, not just city takers. Lynne Ceeney explains how col- laboration, sharing and retrofitting are key to meeting the challenges ahead


06 ❘ Interview


The academic Susan Krumdieck tells Katie Coyne why meaningful change towards sustainability has to come from the grass roots – and each city will need its own plan


08 ❘ Transport


Forum for the Future’s new report, ‘Megacities on the Move’, explores the mobility challenges that face the world – and how the responses to those chal- lenges might play out. By Peter Madden


10 ❘ Ideas


The idea of creating a city that mimics nature isn’t new – Leonardo da Vinci was a proponent. But, says Melissa Sterry, the world’s ecosystems could offer some guidance as we battle the impacts of climate change


8 www.sustainablebusinessonline.com 6 Sustainable Business | Sustainable Cities | February 2011 | 3


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