Download Toward Sustainable Urban Infrastructure in the Asia- Pacific Region Donovan Storey

Toward Sustainable Urban Infrastructure in the AsiaPacific Region
Donovan Storey
Chief, Sustainable Urban Development, Environment & Development Division
National Workshop on Sustainable Urban Development in the Philippines,
Manila, 10-11 September 2014
The Asia-Pacific: Urban growth & its fragile resource base
 In 2014 the Asia-Pacific region has over 2 billion urban citizens
 Since 2000 an astonishing increase of 630 million people in cities in
the ESCAP region
 A region of megacities - yet largest urban population & fastest growth
is in small-medium size towns & cities
 Mix of migration, population growth & reclassification
 Economic transformation correlated with urbanization
 Cities disproportionately contribute to economic growth relative
to population … but they also consume vast resources
 The Asia-Pacific region utilizes three times the energy input
required for proportionate GDP growth than any other region
 Growth underpinned by inefficiency and resource waste
The Asia-Pacific urban challenge – and opportunity
The region’s urban areas have spatially large consumption, production
and resource footprints: it is an urban growth pattern defined by
inefficiency and waste
The region’s urban areas are increasing vulnerable to climate change
and disasters, which threaten to ‘set back’ the region’s development
gains
What solutions and strategies can be implemented at the city, national
and regional level to close the gaps between urban growth patterns,
sustainability , quality of life and inclusive development?
How can meeting critical infrastructure gaps, particularly public
infrastructure and housing contribute to a greener and more resilient
urban and national future?
Cities as resource consumers
 1 billion new consumers in emerging market cities by 2025

Annual consumption in emerging cities is set to rise by $10
trillion by 2050
Infrastructure challenges for Green Economy
• Infrastructure is a critical determinant of energy consumption,
greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact in general
• It has a long life span, which can create a lock-in effect (energy intensity,
physical structure etc) for decades
• Need then to transition now to green economy based upon eco-efficient
infrastructure design and approaches for future generations
The Increasing Carbon Footprint of Urban Asia

Cities increasingly dominate & drive
economic and development transformation

But this ‘development’ has a high cost

Globally, cities account for 67% of all
energy use and emit 71% of all GHG

The carbon footprint of Asian cities is
rapidly increasing, several factors:
 Urban expansion & ‘suburbanisation’
 Rising consumerism & changing
lifestyles
 Poor urban planning, management
and governance
 Lack of effective institutional
relationships
Climate Change Vulnerability of the Region
Climate Change Vulnerability Index 2013
 Manila is the second highest city which are at risk
caused by climate change
Source: www.preventionweb.net
The World’s Infrastructure Gap
Closing Gaps for a Sustainable Urban Future
 Through new thinking & commitment such gaps can be closed which
support inclusive, sustainable and resilient cities
– Ecology: Infrastructure development should contribute to greening
cities
– Green economics: Infrastructure development should strengthen &
deepen urban economies, and livelihood opportunities
– Governance: Through a more engaged civic involvement, through
greater cross-sectoral coordination and planning
– Socio-cultural: Outcomes should build upon and enrich cultural norms
and values, and create benefits for society as a whole through the
built-environment
– Resilience: Through strengthening cities but also communities, and
providing greater capacity & resources to recover from disaster
Adapted from Paul James, University of Western Sydney
Understanding urban systems, vulnerability &
climate change
• Meeting the region’s
infrastructure gaps,
need for resilience,
eradicating poverty and
dealing with projected
impacts of climate
change require holistic
& integrated
approaches
Source: Sam Kernaghan & Mark Vassarotti
9 Essential transformations
1. Change the way we design cities: a paradigm shift in which
sustainability moves from the periphery to centre of planning
2. Change the way people move: from private cars to public transport,
from road to rail, mitigating need for movement
3. Change the way we design and operate buildings: from energy
wasting to energy creating
4. Change the way we produce, transport and consume energy:
improve the efficiency of the energy system and diversify to renewable
energy sources
5. Change the way water resources are managed: develop ecoefficient approaches to water resources
6. Change the way solid waste is managed: from a cost to a resource
7. Address patterns of exclusion so that investment in people becomes
the next driver of growth
8. Change the way cities are governed and broaden the stakeholders
9. Change and strengthen the financing sources for urban
development
Challenges and Opportunities
Energy-water
efficiency in
industry
Enhancing
industrial
competitiveness
Greening
Industries
Sustainable urban
development
Improving
resource
accessibility –
basic needs for
life
Reducing
negative
environmental
impacts
Improving
public health
The Philippine Context
Urbanization in the Philippines
• Urban population in the
Philippines:
- 37% of total population (1980)
- 46% of total population (2030)
(Source: UNDESA, 2014)
Natural Disaster Vulnerability of the Philippines
Source: www.preventionweb.net
The Economic Cost
Source: www.preventionweb.net
Infrastructure ‘Gaps’ in the Philippines
• Infrastructure focus for the government’s development plan.
In 2014/15 15 major projects worth a total US$14 billion
• A tripling of public spending as % of GDP to 5% over Aquino’s
term: most to transport, energy and airports
• Financing: Govt; ODA & emphasis on PPP
• A housing gap of 3.6 million units in 2010 – to 5.8m in 2016
(NHMFC, 2013)
• Natural disasters are increasing this gap & vulnerable areas
limit land available (HUDCC)
• DepEd to build & repair 50,000+ classrooms from 2014
• There are opportunities to close gaps through green, resilient
and pro-poor responses: to build better & more sustainable
cities
Importance of Integrated Sustainable Urban
Infrastructure
Urbanization
Urbanization results in
informality & vulnerability to
disasters, larger consumption
footprint which contribute to
climate change
Urbanization entails increased
demand of resources and
infrastructure.
Sustainable
Urban
Infrastructure
(Resilient and
Eco-Efficient)
Lack of Natural Resources
/ Infrastructure
Climate Change Impacts
(natural disasters)
(energy/water)
Lack of drainage infrastructure
led to larger flood damage.
Natural disasters degrade
natural resources
Source: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Theo KÖTTER (2004),
World Bank (2005),
UN-HABITAT (2007)
Integrating Resilience into Urban Infrastructure
 Resilience
“The ability of system and its component parts to anticipate, absorb, accommodate,
or recover from the effects of a hazardous event in a timely and efficient manner,
including through ensuring the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its
essential basic structures and functions (IPCC 2012).”
“Infrastructure plays an important role in the development of countries. In many
developing countries, evolving infrastructure can be particularly climate-sensitive and
therefore highly vulnerable to the destruction that occurs due to natural disasters.
(UNDP 2010).”
• Various efforts for integrating resilience into infrastructures have been placed :
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure by UNDP
- Critical Infrastructure Resilience Strategy by Australian Government
- Climate Resilience Infrastructure Development Facility (CRIDF) by DfID
- Climate Resilient Infrastructure Services (CRIS) by USAID
Integrating Resilience into Urban Infrastructure
• Means of integrating resilience into Urban infrastructure
For Informal Settlement Upgrading
1) Integrating Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and green
building materials into the work programs of organizations
dedicated to informal settlement upgrading.
2) Strengthening connections between the informal and formal sectors,
between rural and urban communities.
3) Advocating for the revision of shelter policy to include green and
resilient materials
4) Sustained programs for capacity building of informal settlement
communities.
Source: Adapted from ADPC
(2013)
Integrating Resilience into Urban Infrastructure
• Case for informal settlement upgrading
“Bang Bua squatter community, in northern Bangkok, Thailand”
The Baan Mankong National Collective Housing Program aims at addressing physical and
socio-economic vulnerabilities and providing housing security to urban slum dwellers
whose tenure is insecure or not legally recognized. Bang Bua community has over time
reduced vulnerability by:
1) Factoring risk information into layout and decisions. The community sought to ensure
that design and layout considerations included risk information.
2) Implementing structural strengthening. Structural measures focused on establishing a
resilient structural housing design in compliance with building codes and in response
to risk assessment findings.
3) Ensuring housing security. An affordable long-term leasing agreement was reached
with the Treasury Department, and the existing community savings groups successfully
mobilized the community fund reserve to ensure consistent payment.
During the 2011 floods, the Bang Bua community was not as affected as other informal
settlements in the Bangkok area.
Source: ADPC (2013)
Affordable, Green & Resilient Housing
Joint ESCAP & Hilti Foundation project in the Philippines to develop local
sustainable value chains & social enterprises producing affordable, green
(i.e. resource & energy efficient, pollution min.) building materials &
disaster resilient & climate sensitive building systems
Increased use of affordable & green building designs & technologies &
related site & infrastructure development supporting sustainable urban
development (retrofitting, upgrading, reducing housing backlog, holistic
settlement planning, green infrastructure) through increased capacity
Integrating Eco-efficiency into Urban Infrastructure
 Eco-efficiency
“The concept of eco-efficiency
seeks to develop synergies
between the economy and the
environment rather than just
balance the trade-offs. An ecoefficient approach to urban
infrastructure development can
help governments save
precious financial resources.
Eco-efficiency can drive green
growth and green economy.
(UNESCAP, 2011)”
Source: UNESCAP (2011)
Integrating Eco-efficiency into Urban Infrastructure
Strategies for integrating eco-efficiency into urban infrastructure
1. Driving Change: Leadership and political commitment
- Political commitment and leadership are essential for moving
beyond ad hoc decision-making and sector-specific policies,
allowing governments to respond to challenges and creating
opportunities for the long term.
2. Bridging the gap: Long-term vision and transition
management
- Only governments can bridge the time gap between short
-term costs and long-term benefits of eco-efficient
infrastructure.
3. Building the business case: Leveraging financing
- Governments need to build the business case for eco-efficient
infrastructure. Governments need to tilt the balance in favour
of sustainable practices and channel private sector investment
into eco-efficient infrastructure project (e.g. PIMAC in Republic of Korea).
Source: UNESCAP (2013)
Integrating Eco-efficiency into Urban Infrastructure
Strategies for integrating eco-efficiency into urban infrastructure
4. Reshaping governance: Integration and coordination
- Promoting eco-efficient infrastructure requires looking at
infrastructure networks as a whole system, adopting a
life-cycle approach and prioritizing policies with multiple
returns (economic, social and environmental).
a) Vertical integration: Coordination between central
and local governments
b) Horizontal integration: Coordination among relevant actors
5. Leveraging public support: Public participation
- While strong leadership is required to steer cities in an
eco-efficient direction, public participation in planning and
designing infrastructure can drive change.
Source: UNESCAP (2013)
The Opportunities

Fundamentally the shift is about how cities are to develop

Cities that embark on a resource efficient and low carbon
transformation will become more livable, competitive, sustainable
and ultimately more successful

Change requires breaking away from ‘brown growth traps’

A quantum shift in thinking and action: governance, innovation,
technology and enablers (esp. fiscal policy)

Regional cooperation mechanisms: enhancing institutional
strengthening & development; technology transfer; mobilization
of finance: new normative frameworks for low-carbon urban
development based on regional platforms of exchange
THANK YOU