Innovation_for_sustainability_toward_a_s.pdf - Sustain...

SPECIAL FEATURE: OVERVIEW ARTICLE Sustainability science: bridging the gap
between science and society
Innovation for sustainability: toward a sustainable urban future
in industrialized cities
Ji Han
•
Psyche Fontanos
•
Kensuke Fukushi
•
Srikantha Herath
•
Niko Heeren
•
Vincenzo Naso
•
Claudio Cecchi
•
Peter Edwards
•
Kazuhiko Takeuchi
Received: 7 October 2011 / Accepted: 20 December 2011 / Published online: 18 January 2012
Ó Springer 2012
Abstract Achieving a sustainable urban future has
become an important focus globally. In this paper, three
major themes of a sustainable urban future are presented:
a low carbon society, cities in the context of an ageing
population and revitalization of the urban–rural fringe.
Visions of these themes, in the context of highly industri-
alized regions, are discussed. To achieve a low carbon
society, the importance of technological innovations such
as new technologies and systems applied in buildings
(homes and businesses), industries, and transportation are
emphasized. To adapt to an ageing society, a compact city
is seen with responsive transport, infrastructure and ser-
vices that cater to the needs of the elderly. To enhance the
urban–rural fringe, the introduction of eco-industries,
which can create opportunities for both sides, is proposed.
Keywords Urban sustainability Á Low carbon city Á
Compact city Á Ageing society Á Urban–rural fringe
Introduction
The world is becoming steadily more urban as people
continue moving to cities and towns. According to the
World Urbanization Prospects report, by the middle of
2009, the number of people living in urban areas
(3.42 billion) had surpassed the number living in rural
areas (3.41 billion) (United Nations 2009 ). As of 2009,
already about 82% of North American populations live in
urban areas, as do almost 80% of people in Latin America
and the Caribbean as well as more than 70% of people in
Europe and Oceania (Fig. 1 a). In both Africa and Asia,
urban dwellers represent about 40% of the total population.
By 2050, the world urban population is expected to
increase by 84%, from 3.4 billion in 2009 to 6.3 billion by
mid-century. There are, however, significant variations
between individual countries, and some major disparities in
the level of urbanization remain among developing ones.
Figure 1 b shows the top 30 most populous countries, where
more than three-quarters of urban dwellers lived in 2009.
By 2050, 29 of the 30 most populous countries in 2009 will
have more than 50% of people living in urban areas.
In addition, there is a continuing trend towards ever-
larger urban agglomerations. In 2009, there were 21
megacities in the world, each with at least 10 million
inhabitants, accounting for 9.4% of the world urban pop-
ulation. Megacities come about because of the fusion of
several cities or urban localities that are linked functionally
and form an urban agglomeration. It is projected that the
number of megacities will increase to 29 in 2025, and they
will be habited by 10.3% of the world urban population.