Name of Module 5: Urban Planning and Environment

5.1 Environment and Resources

Urban planning is essentially the foundation of any city. Without comprehensive planning, a city
will be unable to meet the ever-changing needs of its residents, which can lead to the emergence
of other challenges. It’s also commonly understood that as urban areas become more populated,
certain human activities can negatively impact the surrounding environment.

A crucial aspect of modern urban planning is taking into account the various environmental factors
and how certain city development projects could potentially impact the surrounding environment.

Let’s take a deeper look at environmental urban planning and how cities around the world are
focusing on environmental sustainability during the planning stages.

Understanding Environmental Urban Planning

In order to understand environmental urban planning, it’s important to first understand the
definition of general urban planning. Urban planning, also referred to as city, town, and regional
or rural planning, is a process that focuses on the development of land use and design in the built
environment.

City planners have numerous responsibilities across various departments. They spend time
outlining the logistics behind public transportation systems, communications, distribution
networks and public services. This is not an exhaustive list, as city planners are responsible for
many other aspects of city development.

Conventional urban planning did not make the environment and sustainability a top priority.
However, the looming climate crisis sparked change and brought environmental concerns
regarding urban planning to the forefront.

Ensuring outdoor air quality, access to clean water, the preservation of natural resources and using
land appropriately are critical aspects of sustainable city development. The goal is to support
current and future city communities by using sustainable strategies and practices that provide
livable and safe conditions for all residents.

Here are some of the key areas of environmental urban planning and development:

• Architecture
• Engineering
• Technology
• Materials Science
• Biology and Environmental Science
• Transportation
• Law
• Economic Development
• Accounting and Finance
 • Government

City planners must be well-versed in these areas, but many planners become experts in specific
disciplines. For example, some master’s programs focus on transportation, while others offer
specializations in community design and development.

Environmental Urban Planning Creates Sustainable Cities

City planners must take various environmental aspects into consideration so they’re better
positioned to build sustainable cities.

Sustainable cities incorporate eco-friendly practices to reduce air pollution, protect natural
resources, and lower the amount of carbon emissions and other beneficial strategies to benefit the
environment. Here are some examples of the critical traits of a sustainable city include:

• Access to green spaces and public resources

• Sufficient EV charging stations
• Supportive of urban farming
• Utilizes green architecture
• Traveling without dependence on gas-powered vehicles
• Water conservation, wastewater management and waste reduction

All of these characteristics of a sustainable city are directly linked to environmental urban
planning. Cities with these qualities are better prepared to handle increases in their populations.

As populations increase, the demand for energy, resources and space increase, which would strain
a traditional city’s infrastructure. If a city does not have the proper systems in place, residents
might face more challenges and have a lower quality of life. Environmental urban planning can
also positively impact public health within cities.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) established a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
also known as Global Goals. These goals represent a call to action for nations around the world to
end poverty, protect the environment and foster peace and prosperity for the future.

The 17th SDG outlined by the UN is Sustainable Cities and Communities. Sustainable cities cannot
exist without transforming how the world builds and manages some of the largest cities with the
highest populations, according to the UN.

For each SDG, the UN includes a number of smaller milestones that will contribute to reaching
the overall goal of building sustainable cities and communities. Some examples of these
milestones, which the UN wants to achieve by 2030, include:

• Access to safe and affordable housing and basic services, and upgrading slums
• Access to affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems
 • Improving road safety by strengthening public transport, and meeting the needs
of vulnerable populations (women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons)
• Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization, capacity for participatory, integrated and
sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries
• Protect the cultural and natural heritage

As several different entities and professionals come together to work toward these goals, they will
likely face their fair share of challenges.

Today, cities worldwide already grapple with a plethora of obstacles. For example, some cities
deal with housing crises, lack of clean water and smog. They will need to spend extra time
anticipating future ones and forming potential solutions to avoid them.

The Role of Technology in Sustainable, Smart City Development

New technologies will play a significant role in environmental urban planning in the future. For
example, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), 5G,
renewable energy sources and more will support virtually every aspect of environmental urban
planning. Cities with these technologies are already reporting several benefits for the region and
its citizens.

It’s worth noting that one direct result of environmental urban planning is the emergence of smart
cities. A smart city, as its name suggests, leverages “smart” technologies, such as those listed
above, for specific purposes. For example, renewable energy sources, like solar, create green
buildings and AI can be used to improve city traffic management.

Some primary goals of smart cities include improving the quality of life and living standards for
citizens, achieving environmental sustainability, supporting local businesses and providing new
job opportunities.

Finding Sustainable Solutions for Urban Planning and Development

It’s clear that a massive amount of work, time, money and effort goes into traditional city planning.
However, nations around the world will likely prioritize sustainable development, meaning the
role of the city planner will shift.

City planners, construction firms, politicians, public services employees and other personnel must
collaborate to ensure successful results. In other words, “it takes a village,” to build a sustainable
city.
5.2 Sustainability Assessment- Future Scenarios

Procedural tools

SAFS – Sustainability assessment framework for scenarios

Sustainability assessment framework for scenarios (SAFS) is a methodological framework
describing the procedure for the qualitative assessment of future scenarios [31]. The
framework is designed for assessments on a societal level with a consumption perspective
and life cycle thinking, addressing a range of environmental and social aspects. The
consumption perspective implies that the starting point is consumption within a society,
in contrast to a production perspective. Life cycle thinking implies that impacts occurring
during the whole life cycle should be considered including the production of products and
services, the use phase and waste management, wherever they occur.
SAFS consists of the following steps: scoping, inventory analysis, assessment of risks and
opportunities, and interpretation. In the scoping, the goal and scope of the study are
defined and the aspects to be addressed are decided upon. The inventory analysis includes
gathering relevant information from the scenarios as well as collecting data on current
state of the chosen aspects. Assessment of risks and opportunities consists of three sub-
steps. First, an analysis of interrelation between various factors described in the scenarios
and environmental as well as social impacts is done based on factual knowledge, literature
and workshops with experts and stakeholders. Then an assessment of risks and
opportunities is carried out through discussions in an assessment team based on the
outcomes of the first step. Last, the results for environmental and social aspects are
integrated. Finally, the results are interpreted.
SAFS was developed to be applicable in various contexts and timeframes; however, its
qualitative approach makes it best fitted for assessing long-term scenarios with large
transformative changes [31]. For short-term assessments, a quantitative approach may
be preferred, as it allows for getting a more precise and easily communicated result. On
the contrary, qualitative tools such as SAFS can accommodate for the high degree of
inherent uncertainty characterizing long-term scenarios.
SAFS doesn’t provide the list of aspects to address but provides guidelines for defining
those aspects and emphasizes the importance of addressing both environmental and
social aspects. It was applied for assessing scenarios of future Swedish ICT societies in
2060 [31], against both environmental and social aspects.

Sustainability impact assessment (SIA)

Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) (not to be confused with Social Impact
Assessment, also abbreviated SIA) is a process-oriented tool and aims at assessing the
sustainability effects based on environmental, social and economic indicators of changes
on sector level, using baseline and scenario descriptions. It allows for tailoring specific
system boundaries, and is flexible in how to merge various data as well as how to model
local supply chains. The SIA approach - and the linked Tool for Sustainability Impact
Assessment (ToSIA) - was applied on the development of local energy supplies in a region
in Italy within a rather short-term (2020) [32]. ToSIA is a tool for comparing scenarios
with the baseline and/or against each other, based on quantified impacts and was
originally developed for the forestry sector. In this application, only a limited number of
indicators were considered. The indicators chosen were selected from the ToSIA
framework and decided upon based on local conditions. Indicator data was calculated
manually, based on the instructions in the tool and assessed quantitatively.

Framework for participatory impact assessment (FoPIA)

Several of the assessments reviewed included participatory approaches. One tool
specifically looking at how to ensure participation of stakeholders is the Framework for
Participatory Impact Assessment (FoPIA), which provides a template to facilitate the
involvement of national, regional and local stakeholders in assessing sustainability
impacts. FoPIA to assess land use scenarios in developing countries. It consists of a
preparatory phase, a stakeholder workshop and an evaluation phase. The scenarios were
explorative land use scenarios with different timeframes from 2015 to 2030. The
workshop was structured to follow certain steps, whereof ‘specification of the
sustainability context’ and ‘assessment of scenarios impacts and analysis of possible
trade-offs’ are two. The assessment was made qualitatively by assigning score in the scale
−3 to +3, thus considering both negative and positive impacts.

Analytical tools

Qualitative mapping of sustainability impacts and goal conflict analysis

One way of mapping sustainability impacts is by using a checklist. This is a tool that helps
identify and avoid overlooking relevant issues when analysing the consequences of a
certain measure or decision . If different scenarios are assessed at the same time, this may
be done in a matrix approach, with questions for the checklist on one axis and the
scenarios on the other.

Network analysis
Network Analysis (NA) is a tool that analyses the relationships between the entities within
the area of the analysis, rather than the entities themselves. That may be for example how
different actors interact with each other, or how different actions relate and influence each
other. NA is seen as helpful to assess real world systems in which drivers do not act in
isolation, where there might be several different impacts and consequences, and to
understand which entities are key in the system . NA was used on explorative scenarios
in a 25 years perspective, assuming different future agricultural policies on a national
level (Greece). The casual relationships between drivers of change, their impacts and
performances in relation to sustainability objectives are analysed and NA allows for the
identification of critical paths, and entities that control the flows. The steps in the
assessment consisted of a baseline assessment of past and current situation, and an
identification of sustainability objectives. After generating the scenarios, the
sustainability assessment was done at a cross-disciplinary stakeholder meeting; the
scenarios were dis-aggregated and the causal relationship between the drivers of change
and the impacts and consequences were assessed qualitatively, against the agreed set of
objectives.
The scenarios are assessed against environmental objectives. The approach consisted of
interviewing stakeholders in order to understand the drivers of change and their impacts
on sustainability in the local context, to review scenarios and to identify sustainability
objectives for the study. The selected sustainability objectives were also based on policy
documents.

Life cycle assessment

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool to assess the potential environmental impacts and
resources used throughout a product’s or service’s life cycle from raw material acquisition
through manufacturing, use to final waste disposal. The aim of an LCA is to assess the
potential impacts from a system’s perspective to avoid sub-optimization and problem
shifting when identifying strategies for improvement. LCA consists of four main steps –
goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation. LCA
is a quantitative method requiring collection of detailed data although life-cycle thinking
can be used as a qualitative approach.

Social life cycle assessment

Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) is a rather novel method, aimed at assessing social
impacts from products and services all along the product life cycle. It is based on LCA,
using the same methodological approach, but addressing social instead of environmental
impacts. S-LCA has been used for assessing scenarios in a few case studies. Scenarios for
different combinations of treatment methods for used PET bottles were assessed [53].
These scenarios were of a short-term character, rather assessing different combinations
of treatments than long-term developments. The assessment was done in alignment with
the Guidelines for S-LCA. Data collection for the selected social aspects, chosen from the
aspects listed in the guidelines, but limited to those deemed relevant for the topic, was
largely based on interviews during which questionnaires were filled in by different actors
such as scavengers (private and state) and different categories of workers (landfill,
incineration and flake production industrial) capturing their views on the social
performance for the different industries.

Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA)

Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) is the combination of three separate life-cycle
based assessments of environmental, social and economic impacts from products or
services; LCA, S-LCA and LCC (Life Cycle Costing). LCC is a method for addressing the
life cycle based costs for the products or services considered, thus including costs for
operation, service, maintenance and waste. In some approaches, only producer-related
costs are considered, in other also costs borne by other actors and sometimes the whole
society are included [82, 83]. It was applied on scenarios on electricity generation in a
long term perspective (2070) [55].
Input-output analysis
Input-output analysis (IOA) is an economic tool describing the whole economy in a
society including transactions between sectors . An IOA can be used for identifying
environmental impacts by adding emission coefficients to the monetary IOA. Results can
be presented for sectors and for broad product groups . IOA can be used as a tool for LCA
inventory, when information on resource use and emissions for each sector are included
[76].
Multi-regional input-output analysis (MRIO) allows for including trade between different
regions as well as geographic differentiation of economic and environmental aspects. It is
a rapidly developing field. Its use for calculation of global environmental footprints, and
in discussions and analysis of climate policy issues, has made a significant contribution
to the field’s development

Tools for aggregating impacts

The above-mentioned tools are used to assess environmental or social impacts of
scenarios. However the different scenarios or plans may be difficult to compare to each
other as some scenarios might prove to be better in some aspects but worse in some
others. In some cases it may therefore be useful to further aggregate the results.
The mainly qualitative results from the checklist and matrix approaches described above,
are sometimes turned into semi-quantitative approaches by adding the positive and
negative impacts, or plus and minus signs. Multi-criteria decision analysis and cost-
benefit analysis are families of tools that can be used for aggregation of different types of
impacts.

Multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA)

Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) (or Multi Criteria Assessment (MCA)) is a family
of methods that "evaluate(s) alternative options against several criteria and combines
these separate evaluations into one overall evaluation" [34: 102]. MCDA is typically "used
to assess and rank alternative options in an impact assessment, or to assess the extent to
which a variety of objectives have or not been met, in a retrospective evaluation or fitness
check" [93]. The aim of MCA is "the identification of compromise solutions in a
transparent and fair way" [36: 1068]. Indeed, MCDA is a tool where the values and the
priorities of the decision-makers are made explicit. It can also in its different versions
handle data in different formats (e.g. qualitative and quantitative) as well as uncertain
data.
This method is used as a second step, once other tools have been used to calculate the
impact for an environmental or social aspect (e.g. GHG emission), MCDA can be used to
rank scenarios against one another by allocating weights to the different aspects.

Cost benefit analysis (CBA)

Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) is an economic tool, which aims to assess total costs and
benefits, including environmental costs, of a project [95]. By weighing the costs of
different alternatives against their benefits, this tool can provide guidance as to which
option to choose.
If the results from the qualitative impact assessment described in the previous section on
qualitative mapping of sustainability impacts proved too weak, i.e. if no decision could be
made as to which scenario or alternative is preferable, then a CBA could help ranking
different options. The CBA of the different technical and administrative measures was
done back-office and only for one of the explorative scenario (worst case scenario with the
most significant climate impact 2060) . The benefits considered were both environmental
(ecological benefits) and social (recreational benefits, freshwater supply to households
etc.)

Combined scenario building and assessment methods

The methods discussed above are more or less stand-alone tools that can be used to assess
scenarios. The scenario generation and the assessment can in these cases be seen as
separate activities. In some cases however, the assessment of the scenarios is an
integrated part of the scenario generation method and can therefore not be seen as an
isolated exercise. Below are some examples discussed where some sort of sustainability
assessment is integrated in the scenario modelling.

Systems modelling and simulation

Computer-based modelling and simulations of complex and dynamic systems can be
applied for prediction, forecast, policy making, social learning, theory building, system
understanding and experimentation [96]. A number of techniques can be used for
systems modelling and simulation, e.g. system dynamics and agent-based modelling.
Systems Dynamics (SD) is a computer-based approach used for policy analysis and
design. SD considers dynamic problems that arise in complex social, managerial,
economic or ecological systems [97]. The basic principles of SD approaches are feedback
control theory, understanding the decision-making process, and the use of computer-
based technologies for developing simulation models [98]. There are two layers of SD –
qualitative, at a systems thinking level, and quantitative, including a computer simulation
model [99]. Agent-based (AB) modelling covers the interaction between autonomous
entities in a system [96]. AB models usually have three components: a set of agents; a set
of agent relationships and ways of interaction; the agents’ environment ([99] based on
[100]).
SD simulation can be used as an add-on to for example Social Impacts Assessment as
illustrated in Karami et al. [62]. The dynamics are defined based on collected data, for
example from affected households, and then used to forecast future conditions and
consequences.

Computable general equilibrium (CGE) models

Computable general equilibrium (CGE) model is a quantitative method for evaluating the
impact of economic and policy shocks in the economy as a whole [101]. The approach
allows reproducing the structure of the whole economy, including all existing economic
transactions between all economic agents, e.g. industrial sectors, households,
 government, etc. The CGE approach is especially useful for evaluation of policy
implementation with the expected complex effects materializing through different
transmission channels.

Integrated models used for IPCC scenarios modelling and assessment

A number of integrated models were used for modelling and assessing IPCC scenarios .
Each of these integrated models is a set of multidisciplinary models consisting of
macroeconomic models (e.g. CGE models), energy systems models (which can be based
on SD), land and water use models and GHG emissions models . Based on exogenous
drivers, the models can be used for calculating GHG emissions in different scenarios. As
results they will also produce other sustainability related results such as other emissions
and use of resources.

Tools for strategic environmental assessment

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a strategic change-oriented procedural tool
used for policies, plans and programmes , which can include different analytical tools.
There is however, no single method that is most suitable in all situations for identifying,
describing and assessing all types of significant environmental effects for use in an SEA.
Many tools are suggested]. Most methods mentioned are included in our review above
e.g. checklists or life cycle analyses. Additional methods listed that could potentially be
useful for assessing scenarios are:
• Geographical information system (GIS)
• Overlay/constraint maps
• Trend analyses, extrapolation
• Vulnerability analyses
• Risk assessments, risk analyses
• Carrying capacity, Ecological footprint
• Planetary boundaries
The SEA reports that have been reviewed in this project only constituted a limited sample.
It is however, still interesting to note that the tools described in the SEA literature and
recommended by the EPA are rarely used in practice. Semi-quantitative or qualitative
assessments are most often used. Checklists based on regional environmental goals and
overlay maps are the most common methods used to compare alternatives. Most
assessments were based on experience and knowledge of the people doing the SEA. It is
also interesting to note that the aspects analysed are different in the different reports.
Most common are environmental aspects such as water, noise, landscape, natural
environment, cultural environment, risk and air. Others include also social and economic
aspects such as security, equality and integration, attractive location, and effective land
use.

5.3 Form of Urban Region- Managing the change

The changes to urban form occur in various scales within the hierarchical nesting of
morphological elements, and they are reflected in modifications in urban pattern. Any
change in the hierarchy or roads, open space system, and distribution of functions among
the whole city at a major scale; arrangement of street-blocks, plot series as well as plot
pattern and building pattern at a medium scale; and the height, facade and materials of
buildings and their disposition within the plot at a minor scale will give effect to any
change in the character of a city. From the morphological perspective, the planner should
develop principles about the shaping of urban form in relation to its morphological
elements within the hierarchical structure. That is not to focus solely on the physical
restructuring of urban form. Rather, the planner should bear on his/her mind that the
city(urban space) is a socially constructed phenomenon, and it should be created and
shaped within its cultural context. Any change to urban form should be made with
reference to the cultural and historical continuity and hierarchical nesting of urban forms.
That is to say, the ‘good city’ is the one in which the continuity of its complex structure
is maintained while progressive change is permitted (Lynch 1981). Such a view requires
to develop site-specific decision on how the plots, buildings, plot series, blocks, street
systems should develop within the part-to-whole relationship of urban form elements. In
other words, the planner should develop responsive planning instead of insensitive
planning through employing morphological investigations into urban form.
5.4. Integrated Planning-Sustainable Development

Cities and Integrated Planning

Most cities face the growing challenge of having to effectively govern, plan, develop
infrastructure and support

their rapidly growing population, while dealing with the impacts of the triple planetary
crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Integrated planning is a powerful tool to ensure environmentally sensitive and just urban
development. Sustainable and integrated urban design is a holistic approach that creates
synergies by combining various aspects of city design and management, such as place-
making, transportation, housing, health and biodiversity.

This approach is an opportunity to move towards low-carbon and human-scale models of

urban development and address jointly challenges of climate change, pollution, and
biodiversity loss, while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development
Goals.

UNEP is developing a holistic and practical approach to better integrate environmental

concerns in strategic planning at city level. The approach draws from experiences of cities
in different continents as well as inputs from international organizations and reputable
research institutions. It is designed to help cities, particularly those in developing
countries, to set up a more sustainable city infrastructure through better long-term
planning.
Green and Thriving Neighborhoods

Good neighborhoods are the cornerstone of sustainable cities and the fundamental scale
of people-centered and sustainable urbanism. A good neighborhood is a place where
people can easily meet their daily needs while feeling safe; where people find high-quality
urban landscapes and green spaces, shopping and recreation, economic opportunities,
good schools and childcare facilities, as well as well-connected and accessible transport
networks.

The neighborhood scale is an ideal entry point for cities to start implementing integrated
urban planning and management. Neighborhoods are big enough to aggregate the
interrelated components of urban life and test innovative approaches, yet small enough
to reduce some of the complexities and costs of system integration and to see results in
a shorter time period.

UNEP has supported the development of the Integrated Guidelines for Sustainable
Neighbourhood Design to help cities create sustainable neighbourhoods and supported
pilot implementation in several cities, including Bacolod (Philippines), Bogor
(Indonesia), Renca (Chile), Lalitpur (Nepal), and 7 new towns and settlements in
Morocco.

UNEP, in partnership with UN-Habitat and C40 Cities, has developed a free "Green and
Thriving Neighbourhoods" online training course in six languages under the umbrella
of UrbanShift. By following the training course, you will be able to explore how to develop
green and thriving neighbourhoods in your city with an integrated vision, a set of design
strategies, and a step-by-step delivery roadmap. This course will inspire you to think
differently about neighbourhoods and provide the necessary tools to take action.

Climate Adaptation Planning

UNEP is helping cities build climate change resilience through the restoration of urban
ecosystems, encouraging governments to develop city adaptation plans, investing in
urban flood defense technologies, introducing loans schemes to help communities
‘hurricane-proof’ their homes, and producing practical guidance and expertise through
publications such as the Practical Guide to Climate resilient Buildings & Communities or
the Beating The Heat: A Sustainable Cooling Handbook for Cities. One UNEP project in
Lao PDR is aiming to reduce flooding for 700,000 people – roughly 10% of the entire
population, while another is using nature-based solutions and rainwater harvesting
systems in Latin American and Caribbean cities to benefit 115,000 people.

UNEP leads global initiatives and programmes that aim to reduce climate impacts in
urban environments, such as the Global Alliance for Buildings & Construction (Global
ABC), the UrbanShift initiative, or the Cool Coalition, which recently established an urban
cooling programme to help cities take action on extreme heat and the rising demand for
cooling. The programme will provide technical assistance to 100 urban areas.

UNEP is also supporting countries to develop their National Adaptation Plans (NAP),
which are designed and implemented at sub-national and local levels in both rural and
urban contexts. The NAP process seeks to identify medium- and long-term climate
change adaptation needs, informed by the latest climate science. Once major
vulnerabilities and risks to climate change have been identified, the NAP process
develops priority adaptation strategies and programmes to address them, including at
urban level.

For instance, the municipality and capital city of Lilongwe, Malawi, will develop flood-
zoning guidance to address medium- and long-term climate change impacts. In other
countries such as Costa Rica and Sao Tome and Principe, the NAP is prioritising the
development of local adaptation plans at the district level.