Climate change and Urban Environment Strategy Antoaneta Yoveva, architect, Director of Sustainable World Foundation (SWF), Bulgaria Email: [email protected],

Climate change and Climate change and Urban Environment Urban Environment

StrategyStrategy

Antoaneta Yoveva, architect, Antoaneta Yoveva, architect, Director of Sustainable World Director of Sustainable World FoundationFoundation (SWF), Bulgaria(SWF), Bulgaria

Email: Email: [email protected]@mail.bg, tel. +359 888 739342,, tel. +359 888 739342,address: bul. Hr.Botev 37, Sofia 1606, Bulgariaaddress: bul. Hr.Botev 37, Sofia 1606, Bulgaria

EU Policy documentEU Policy document

For new EU member states (Bulgaria For new EU member states (Bulgaria Romania and may be others) the Romania and may be others) the document document THEMATICTHEMATIC STRATEGY ON THE STRATEGY ON THE URBAN ENVIRONMENTURBAN ENVIRONMENT is not yet poplar is not yet poplar enough enough

Still some measures are in place and as Still some measures are in place and as good practices in Sofia are good examples good practices in Sofia are good examples and are worth to be shared and are worth to be shared

SWF projects and influenceSWF projects and influence

Our projects deal with physical Our projects deal with physical environment, urban policies, environment, urban policies, methodologies for local authoritiesmethodologies for local authorities (indicators), investment projects for urban (indicators), investment projects for urban development and planning, architecture development and planning, architecture and design, housing refurbishment and and design, housing refurbishment and renovation, etc. , (more than 25 renovation, etc. , (more than 25 initiatives realized with EU funding and initiatives realized with EU funding and from other international donors, our good from other international donors, our good practices for climate change follow )practices for climate change follow )

THEMATICTHEMATIC STRATEGY ON THE STRATEGY ON THE URBAN ENVIRONMENTURBAN ENVIRONMENT

SSustainable construction ustainable construction methodsmethods & techniques& techniques

UUrban designrban design

SustainableSustainable Urban Urban MManagementanagement

Sustainable Urban TransportSustainable Urban Transport

1.1. SSustainable construction ustainable construction methodsmethods & techniques& techniques

SomeSome of the most relevant recommendations included in this report of the most relevant recommendations included in this report are:are:

CComplompliance iance and and responsibility responsibility to to the Kyotothe Kyoto PProtocol commitmentrotocol commitmentss..

PPublic money ublic money toto be spent on projects that be spent on projects that respect therespect the requirements of sustainable requirements of sustainable construction construction

Development of Horizontal Standardised Development of Horizontal Standardised Methods for the Assessment of theMethods for the Assessment of the Integrated Integrated Environmental Performance of Buildings Environmental Performance of Buildings

Taxes and all otherTaxes and all other regulatory mechanisms used regulatory mechanisms used to help motivate the stakeholders to achieve to help motivate the stakeholders to achieve moremore sustainable constructionsustainable construction

1.S1.Sustainable construction methodsustainable construction methods & & techniquestechniques

The use of resources The use of resources toto become more become more

sustainable sustainable -- decentralised decentralised utility utility systemssystems ((recyclingrecycling ofof grey water, energy grey water, energy production, for waste collectionproduction, for waste collection))

Education and awareness raising Education and awareness raising campaignscampaigns must prepare all relevant must prepare all relevant actors to achieveactors to achieve a more sustainable built a more sustainable built environmentenvironment and and a more efficient use of a more efficient use of the built environmentthe built environment

1.S1.Sustainable construction methodsustainable construction methods & techniques& techniquesOObjectives bjectives due todue to be defined at the European institutions level be defined at the European institutions level

and adapted to each member state’s reality in terms ofand adapted to each member state’s reality in terms of climate:climate:

Improve indoor and outdoor air quality;Improve indoor and outdoor air quality; Improve indoor and outdoor comfort conditions (thermal, Improve indoor and outdoor comfort conditions (thermal,

acoustic and visual);acoustic and visual); Improve the energy efficiency of buildings by implementing Improve the energy efficiency of buildings by implementing

appropriate construction methods andappropriate construction methods and techniques (passive techniques (passive solar design) internalising the best of the local climate solar design) internalising the best of the local climate conditions;conditions;

Reduce CO2 emissions per capita and per sector;Reduce CO2 emissions per capita and per sector; Integrate renewable energy systems (active solar and wind) Integrate renewable energy systems (active solar and wind)

and energy management systems forand energy management systems for permanent monitoring;permanent monitoring; Specify systems to maximise efficiency in operation, making Specify systems to maximise efficiency in operation, making

room for flexible performance room for flexible performance Reduce waste and facilitate waste separation;Reduce waste and facilitate waste separation; Reduce water demand and implement grey water recycling Reduce water demand and implement grey water recycling

systems at the local level;systems at the local level; Reduce running and maintenance costs.Reduce running and maintenance costs.

2. U2. Urban designrban design

The tThe three hree main main thematic objectives that thematic objectives that this report addressethis report addresse are are::

Re-designing and retro-fitting existing Re-designing and retro-fitting existing urban areas to support sustainable urban areas to support sustainable developmentdevelopment

Sustainable design for greenfield sitesSustainable design for greenfield sites Knitting the urban fabric together to Knitting the urban fabric together to

achieve an integrated city wide vision, achieve an integrated city wide vision, including viewing urban areasincluding viewing urban areas in relation in relation to their hinterlandsto their hinterlands

2. U2. Urban designrban designKey urban design themes as the focus of policy objectives, legislation, Key urban design themes as the focus of policy objectives, legislation,

targets, guidance andtargets, guidance and researchresearch the re-use and regeneration of urban land the re-use and regeneration of urban land density of new developmentdensity of new development location of new development location of new development – relation to – relation to public public

transport transport and and other accessibility factorsother accessibility factors design of green structures and city landscapedesign of green structures and city landscape streets and movement structurestreets and movement structure ( (pedestrian and pedestrian and

cycle environment, public spacescycle environment, public spaces, , public transportpublic transport)) promoting mixed usespromoting mixed uses designing for affordable housingdesigning for affordable housing accessible public amenities and services for all accessible public amenities and services for all

social groups;social groups; appropriate conservation, renovation and use/re-use appropriate conservation, renovation and use/re-use

of cultural heritageof cultural heritage sustainable, high quality architecture and building sustainable, high quality architecture and building

technologiestechnologies

2. U2. Urban designrban designAn appropriate urban density must allow forAn appropriate urban density must allow for:: Efficient public transport systemsEfficient public transport systems Affordable urban infrastructures and services Affordable urban infrastructures and services Easy access to collective facilities.Easy access to collective facilities. Creating community identityCreating community identity. . In order to achieve the former objectives, the followingIn order to achieve the former objectives, the followingactions should be taken:actions should be taken:

- - Increase density in urban sprawl areas so as to avoid Increase density in urban sprawl areas so as to avoid excessiveexcessive land consumptionland consumption;;- - Consider the use of ‘maximum standards’ to Consider the use of ‘maximum standards’ to discourage low-density developments.discourage low-density developments.- - Adjust density in central areas to maintain Adjust density in central areas to maintain acceptable quality of life levels.acceptable quality of life levels.- - Preserve green areas among existing and new urban Preserve green areas among existing and new urban areas.areas.- - Develop decentralised nodes in large urban areas.Develop decentralised nodes in large urban areas.- - Use available technologies to adjust densities to Use available technologies to adjust densities to quality of life.quality of life.

3. 3. SustainableSustainable Urban Urban MManagementanagementMost of the recommendations for the EC concern funding Most of the recommendations for the EC concern funding

initiatives, initiatives, due due to beto be accomplished either in framework of accomplished either in framework of existing programmesexisting programmes. .

Dissemination and Promotion of Good Practice and Dissemination and Promotion of Good Practice and MethodsMethods ( (IntegratedIntegrated Urban Local Plans by means of Local Urban Local Plans by means of Local Agenda 21 Sustainable Cities CampaignAgenda 21 Sustainable Cities Campaign))

PPromotromoting ing the key role ofthe key role of active national policies as active national policies as political and financial measures supporting Local Agenda political and financial measures supporting Local Agenda 2121 approaches and methods. approaches and methods.

GGood practice demonstration networks/handbooks to ood practice demonstration networks/handbooks to spread information on availablespread information on available tools.tools.

DDissemination of information on LA21 and EMAS as urban issemination of information on LA21 and EMAS as urban management toolsmanagement tools by strengthening the support given to by strengthening the support given to networks of local and regional authorities,networks of local and regional authorities,

FFacilitating the exchange of information and through acilitating the exchange of information and through awards, eco-labelling andawards, eco-labelling and benchmarking. Training actions benchmarking. Training actions of both local authorities and representatives ofof both local authorities and representatives of NGOs NGOs should be part of this disseminationshould be part of this dissemination

3. 3. SustainableSustainable Urban Urban MManagementanagement– Building Institutional CapacityBuilding Institutional Capacity – Increase– Increaseinstitutional capacity institutional capacity of of local institutionslocal institutionsthrough Structural Funds and other forms of through Structural Funds and other forms of financial support, environmental policiesfinancial support, environmental policies and and rregulatory activities egulatory activities – A A Sustainable Cities Civic Leadership Programme Sustainable Cities Civic Leadership Programme

for local government officials andfor local government officials and politicians should be politicians should be sponsored sponsored

– AAdoption of urban environment management systems doption of urban environment management systems ((EMASEMAS))

– MS to introduce MS to introduce Cumulative Impact Assessment Cumulative Impact Assessment andand Territorial Impact Assessment Territorial Impact Assessment as part of the impact as part of the impact assessment practices through theassessment practices through the provision of guidance provision of guidance

– Proposed Proposed An Urban Environment Framework An Urban Environment Framework DirectiveDirective

4. 4. Sustainable Urban TransportSustainable Urban Transport Air and Noise PollutionAir and Noise PollutionAir pollution levels, especially sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulates, andAir pollution levels, especially sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulates, andhydrocarbons, have been falling, and continue to fall, in many western Europeanhydrocarbons, have been falling, and continue to fall, in many western European c cities,ities,

Safety Safety In the accession countries, traffic accidentsIn the accession countries, traffic accidents are rising, and aare rising, and a decoupling between traffic growth decoupling between traffic growth

and accidents still needs to beand accidents still needs to be realised. Urban areas play a critical role in traffic accidentsrealised. Urban areas play a critical role in traffic accidents Health Health Vehicle emissions, such as carbon monoxide, fine particulates, Vehicle emissions, such as carbon monoxide, fine particulates,

hydrocarbons,nitrogen oxides, and sulphur oxides have severe effects on health. hydrocarbons,nitrogen oxides, and sulphur oxides have severe effects on health. The whole range ofThe whole range of effects includes premature death, illnesses, medical care, and effects includes premature death, illnesses, medical care, and

reduced physicalreduced physical activityactivity Administration Administration inefficient integration between locally managed urban public transportinefficient integration between locally managed urban public transportand urban road systems and often nationally managed railway and highway systems,and urban road systems and often nationally managed railway and highway systems,

or the interactions between private and public sector involvement or the interactions between private and public sector involvement

4. 4. Sustainable Urban TransportSustainable Urban Transport

Flexibility is a key condition given the Flexibility is a key condition given the uncertainty of the future. Overall, the ECuncertainty of the future. Overall, the EC should take action by:should take action by:

establishing a clear EU vision on establishing a clear EU vision on sustainable urban transport, and thissustainable urban transport, and this vision should be consistent throughout all vision should be consistent throughout all EU institutions and EU funding;EU institutions and EU funding;

creating a framework for action, and creating a framework for action, and offering guidance to promoteoffering guidance to promote sustainable sustainable urban transport at the local level.urban transport at the local level.

4. 4. Sustainable Urban TransportSustainable Urban TransportSSpecific recommendations to the EC for thepecific recommendations to the EC for the following following

targettarget areas:areas: Policy Coherence at the EU level;Policy Coherence at the EU level; Sustainable Urban Transport Plans;Sustainable Urban Transport Plans; Financial Policies;Financial Policies; Monitoring of Progress Towards Policy ObjectivesbyMonitoring of Progress Towards Policy Objectivesby Using IndicatorsUsing Indicators and Conducting Impact and Conducting Impact

Assessment;Assessment; EC Policy Initiatives;EC Policy Initiatives; Improved Governance;Improved Governance; Dissemination of Good Practices and Knowledge; Dissemination of Good Practices and Knowledge; Promoting Awareness about Sustainable UrbanPromoting Awareness about Sustainable Urban

Transport.Transport.

Sofia good practicesSofia good practicesAlternative transport – SWF’s specific Alternative transport – SWF’s specific

project “With a bike to school” project “With a bike to school” biking lanes to several downtown biking lanes to several downtown schools, participation in the design of schools, participation in the design of the Sofia master planthe Sofia master plan

Energy saving solar houses in Energy saving solar houses in suburban Sofia areas – SWF’s design suburban Sofia areas – SWF’s design work and urban planswork and urban plans

Projects for housing refurbishment in Projects for housing refurbishment in central city parts – technologies, central city parts – technologies, renewable energy resources, etc.renewable energy resources, etc.

Alternative transport – biking lanes Alternative transport – biking lanes specific project “With a bike to school”specific project “With a bike to school”

The master city plan envisagesThe master city plan envisages a system a system of biking lanes all over the city as an of biking lanes all over the city as an alternative transport alternative transport

Detailed plans for each district exist and Detailed plans for each district exist and will be realized at funding availability (EU will be realized at funding availability (EU structural funds)structural funds)

Specific project for 4 Sofia schools – its Specific project for 4 Sofia schools – its results are : educated children and results are : educated children and provided safe condition for biking to provided safe condition for biking to school – its achievements are good and school – its achievements are good and are demonstrated bellow are demonstrated bellow

With a bike to schoolWith a bike to schoolproject of SWF – 2002project of SWF – 2002

Investment measures realized - safe condition Investment measures realized - safe condition

for biking to schoolfor biking to school

Investment measures realized - safe Investment measures realized - safe condition for biking to schoolcondition for biking to school

Safe condition for biking Safe condition for biking to schoolto school

Investment measures realized - safe Investment measures realized - safe condition for biking to schoolcondition for biking to school

Energy saving architecture design Energy saving architecture design

New technologies introducedNew technologies introduced Energy conservation measuresEnergy conservation measures Renewable energy resources useRenewable energy resources use Recycling of waterRecycling of water Life style improvement – less energy Life style improvement – less energy

consumptionconsumption Presented is the design of single family Presented is the design of single family

house for the suburban areas, which will house for the suburban areas, which will be constructed in a number of lotsbe constructed in a number of lots

Energy saving architecture designEnergy saving architecture designA single family house for suburban areas designed forA single family house for suburban areas designed for

energy saving and renewable energy resources use energy saving and renewable energy resources use

OrientationOrientation

- south, east, - south, east, windows , windows , “throb walls” “throb walls” collecting collecting solar heatsolar heat

Energy saving architecture designEnergy saving architecture designA single family house for suburban areas designed forA single family house for suburban areas designed forenergy saving and renewable energy resources useenergy saving and renewable energy resources use

Green barriers Green barriers – evergreen – evergreen trees to north trees to north to protect to protect from winds, from winds, deciduous to deciduous to south to allow south to allow sun flow in sun flow in winterwinter

Energy saving architecture designEnergy saving architecture designA single family house for suburban areas designed forA single family house for suburban areas designed forenergy saving and renewable energy resources useenergy saving and renewable energy resources use

Innovative Innovative technologies technologies

solar water solar water heating heating

collectors, collectors, voltaic voltaic

batteries, batteries, thermal thermal

pumps, pumps, etc.etc.

Housing renovation projects – private Housing renovation projects – private initiatives and donor's programmes are initiatives and donor's programmes are

ongoing in Sofiaongoing in Sofia

Measures that contribute to climate change:Measures that contribute to climate change:

Introduction of renewable Introduction of renewable resources – geothermal resources – geothermal heatingheatinginsulation and double insulation and double glazingglazingventilation systems will be ventilation systems will be replaced, with more energy replaced, with more energy efficient onesefficient ones district heating system - district heating system - main supply of heatmain supply of heatsmart control systems smart control systems resulting in additional savingsresulting in additional savings

THANK YOU FOR THE THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION!ATTENTION!

We referred to a EU document, which is popular We referred to a EU document, which is popular among the EU countries and is still disputable. among the EU countries and is still disputable.

However, its principles are important and there is However, its principles are important and there is no harm to repeat them again. Some of our no harm to repeat them again. Some of our projects support it practically and are worth projects support it practically and are worth sharing as good practices from Sofia. sharing as good practices from Sofia.

Climate change will be slowed down and Climate change will be slowed down and stopped, if reasonable architectural measures are stopped, if reasonable architectural measures are implemented, alternative transport introduced implemented, alternative transport introduced wider, and lifestyle (daily behavior) for energy wider, and lifestyle (daily behavior) for energy saving is made familiar to everybody…saving is made familiar to everybody…