Public Space and the Climate Convention Cop21

I N T E R N AT I O N A L
CONFERENCE
Public space and the
Climate Convention
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21/CMP11) in Paris in December
2015, will have a major impact on the New Urban Agenda. Replacing the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the conference objective is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on
climate. The Climate Convention will build on the outcome of the CoP20 in Lima in December 2014 stating that cities can contribute to reducing climate change in various ways.
Public space for walking and cycling
One of the fundamental functions of public space is that
it allows us to move around – on foot, by bicycle, by car,
motorbike or public transport. A key objective of public
space design and management is therefore to reconcile
the needs of these often conflicting modes of transport.
A reduction in car use reduces fine dust particles PM10
and PM2.5 and NO2 as well as CO2 which is also lowered when vehicle speeds are reduced. “Share the street”
initiatives are facilitating walking and biking in the city
without banning motorised traffic. These are zones
where pedestrians always have priority but bikes and
cars are allowed at low speeds. The implementation of
auto restriction measures along with improving conditions for public transport, pedestrians and bicycles has
proven to be an efficient measure to reduce pollution
levels. Weekly temporary pedestrian/bicycling corridors
have become a frequent measure globally. Other measures for reducing distances and overcoming barriers
such as the introduction of passages and bridges can
lead to significantly reducing emissions.
Public transportation
Public space can help mitigate climate change by linking
places together and encouraging people to use public
transport. No matter whether the mode of public transportation is green or not, it is always more eco-friendly than
driving individual cars. Improving the public transportation system therefore always has important impact on climate change through reduction of vehicle usage and associated emissions. Regulating public transport and introduc-
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ing systems such as bus rapid transit (BRT) systems can
move large numbers of passengers at low costs, and at the
same time reducing traffic congestion and emissions,
while optimizing the use of the current road network. Innovative measures, particularly in mountainous cities, are the
aerial cable car and outdoor escalators. It is not only
cost-efficient but very eco-friendly and connects remote
areas with the city centre by only a few minutes journey.
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I N T E R N AT I O N A L
CONFERENCE
Green spaces as catalyst
The significant increase in hard surfacing and the reduction in green spaces lead to higher temperatures in cities
than in the surrounding countryside known as “the urban
heat island effect”. Vegetation in the public space can
help to redress this imbalance. Additionally, vegetation
can minimise carbon emission by acting as carbon sinks
through absorption of carbon from the atmosphere.
Green spaces can help adapt to the effects of climate
change by acting as a sustainable drainage system, solar
temperature moderator, source of cooling corridors,
wind shelter and wildlife habitat.
Energy efficiency in public facilities
Reducing loss and enhancing energy efficiency such as
improving isolation and ventilation or changing light
sources or other materials to less energy consuming varieties can have important impact in public facilities in reduc-
ing greenhouse gas emissions. It is also possible to minimise carbon emissions through greening of infrastructure
by the choice of materials, construction technologies, and
passive design which reduce energy consumption.
Public sanitation
Where there is a lack of sanitation infrastructure, as is
often the case in informal settlements, investment in
public sanitation facilities such as public toilets, washing
and laundry facilities diminishes open waste which is a
source of methane and other climate change contributing
emissions and reduce the risk of polluted waste water
and damaged soil. Introducing systems with public
eco-sanitary composting toilets with adjoining showers
is an important solution.
Public recycling
Recycling in the public space has become more frequent
but can still be developed. Programmes such as “garbage
that is not garbage” have become leading examples for
low cost and effective waste management. Encouraging
separation of organic and nonorganic components and
collecting recyclable waste can produce energy for the
city’s public facilities. Diversion of waste from landfill
can mitigate emissions both from the reduced waste in
landfills and the reduced transportation related emissions
to landfills.
Public sharing
Materials and facilities can be shared in the public space
in order to reduce emissions; from bicycles and electric
cars, to public wireless or books. Most famous is the
Velib’ initiative – a large-scale public bicycle sharing
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system. The scheme was recently complemented by
Autolib', an electric car sharing scheme operating on
similar principles.
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