Murdoch University: Cities and Sustainability Journal Assignment

This assignment presents a student's journal entries exploring the multifaceted relationship between cities and sustainability. The journal covers four key topics, including the importance of urban planning and cooperation in resource management, the evolution of urban transportation and its impact on city density and land use, the challenges of 'urbanization of the poor' and urban metabolism, and the future of urban life in the face of climate change. Each topic is addressed with reflective analysis, drawing on course readings, lectures, and external resources. The student reflects on the concepts learned, including mitigation strategies, sustainable transportation, and the impact of human activities on the environment. The journal concludes with a reflection on personal learning outcomes, highlighting how the acquired knowledge will inform future professional and career development in urban planning and environmental sustainability. The student emphasizes the importance of sustainable measures in cityscapes to ensure future development and incorporates their own experiences and insights to demonstrate their understanding of the complex issues presented.

Running head: CITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY
Cities And Sustainability
Name of the Student-
Name of the University-
Author note-

1CITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY
Topic 1
After analyzing the readings, it can be mentioned that the aspect of sustainability in
relation to cities forms a crucial part in the development of the cities. It is seen that in order to
sustain the resources in urban areas, it is essential to incorporate urban planning and cooperation
amongst various communities. This century has been called the ‘first urban century’ because
there has been widespread migration and urbanization in this century (D and D 2010, p. 21, para
2). It can be reflected that the major ‘push’ factor for rural to urban migration is related to higher
income and better living standards (D and D 2010, p. 22, para 2). Urban places are crucial for
sustainability because of the problem of leaving carbon footprints in suburban areas. Urban areas
also faces the problem of sanitation and provision of water (Editors 2011, p. 40, para 2).
Recent studies reveal that due to the increase in the rate of ‘urbanization’ and migration
to cities, it is necessary to include urban planning and to collate the best planning ideas (Editors
2011, p. 40, para 4).
The unit’s learning outcomes will assist in understanding the various areas that need to be
improved and the measures to be adopted. The unit will also help in gauging migration and
sustainability issues in urban areas.

2CITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY
Topic 2
Until 1800s, the population density in cities were less because of the lack of proper transit
and commutation facilities. Transit cities developed after 1850s (Schiller and Kenworthy 2010,
p. 26, para 2). For Example, it is seen that the changes in the transportation facilities of 19th
century have changed and increased the density of the population. It is seen that automobiles
allowed physical expansion of the cities (Schiller and Kenworthy 2010, p. 27, para 2). The land
use and transportation facilities of Perth can be read in terms of the automobile expansions. The
modernized landscapes and land usage that included urbanization over the natural mountainous
areas (Davison 2004, p. 77, para 3). Additionally, the rampant usage of transportation means of
‘cars’ led to the expansion of the city (Davison 2004, p. 77, para 2).
Car usage is increasing in developing countries because it is one of the means that allows
easy commutation amidst the various areas. Car ownership is increasing in the urban areas of
developing countries because of the presence of the factor of ‘automobile dependence’ in the
urban areas. It can be reflected that urban areas face the problem of automobile pollution and
increased carbon footprints. Many Asian countries have adopted sustainable transportation
means. For example, in Asian countries such as Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, it is seen that they
have developed automobile cities aligned to various needs (Schiller and Kenworthy 2010, p. 28,
para 5). ‘Walking City’ reveals that we can use sustainable means of transportation (Schiller and
Kenworthy 2010, p. 25, para 1). In the urban areas, the sustenance of the farm areas can be
introduced. Through ‘Transit City’ the urban areas can implement the mixed usage of land.

3CITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY
Topic 3
‘Urbanization of the poor’ refers to the role of urbanization in reshaping the developing
world. This is the result of the development of the ‘slums’ in urban areas (Davis 2004, p. 12, para
2). Due to rampant migration to urban areas, this trend is occurring. The first feature of slum
dwellers if the low standard of living, the second is exposure to environmental hazards, third
condition is the breakout of various diseases, the fourth condition is the unhealthy living
conditions (Unhabitat.org 2019). ‘Urban Metabolism’ refers to the relation between the urban
landscape and the environment. The movement from linear to circular metabolism in urban areas
refers to the manner in which the issue of sustainability is incorporated in the usage of the natural
resources. In linear metabolism, it is seen that resources are used and waste are disposed
(Girardet 2004, p. 3, para 7). As mentioned by the author “…The metabolism of cities like
London, now a city of seven million people, is basically linear - resources are taken from
somewhere, and the biosphere is used as a sink for their wastes...” (Giradet 2004, p. 3, para 7).
A shift to circular metabolism will allow the shift to the sustainable usage of resources. It
can be reflected that there are many problems that are associated with the automobile
dependence in urban areas. It is seen that automobile dependence leads to the generation of
various environmental pollution and impacts the environment in a negative manner (Schiller and
Kenworthy 2010, p. 7, para 1). It is also seen that automobile dependence leads to the generation
of carbon footprints.

4CITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY
Topic 4
It can be reflected that a visual picture of the urban life in 2050 can be imagined in terms
of the increased 9 billion population, composed by half the population residing in urban areas. It
can also be reflected that by 2050, the urban population and the density and the related carbon
emissions will increase manifold (United Nations Human Settlements Programme 2011). It can
also be said that it is easy to predict the urban landscape of 2050 because the current trends in
urbanization is reflective of the future scenario. It can also be said that the chief sources of
greenhouse gases emissions in urban areas are various human activities (Gavron 2007, p. 372,
para 2). Activities such as heating, transportation and fuel consumptions lead to the perpetration
of the greenhouse gases.
Climate change in urban areas affects their precipitation rates, which in turn, will lead to
the scarcity of water in many areas. Particularly, urban areas with high population density will be
affected by climate change. Climate change may affect the urban residents depending on various
other factors because climate change affects the people of varied age groups in a varied manner.
While children are affected vehemently, others are not (United Nations Human Settlements
Programme 2011, p. 169, para 1). The mitigation measures that can be adopted relates to the
adoption of urban tree planting along the suburbs and fringes. For example, it is seen that in
Korail, Dhaka, the residents have decided to combat the various changes in Nature through the
community savings group as well as the regular collaboration with the NGOs (United Nations
Human Settlements Programme 2011, p. 175, para 5).

5CITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY
Reflection
Through the above discussion, I have inferred that it is highly important to inculcate
sustainable measures in the cityscapes and urban areas to ensure the future development. I have
learnt about the various mitigation measures.
This will help in my professional and career development in the various future prospects.
The acquired knowledge about urban sustainability will assist in the better understanding of the
concepts and practices of urban planning in cities.
Through the acquired knowledge about the effects of climate change in urban areas, I
aspire to meet the personal learning outcomes of devising as well as implementing the strategies
for mitigating the environmental impact and sustainable cities.
The acquired knowledge about the history of the development of cities from ‘walking
cities’ to ‘automobile dependent cities’ can assist in the future professional enterprise of urban
planning. The acquired knowledge will also assist in incorporating the strategies in accordance to
the needs.

6CITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY
References
D, Saunders, and Saunders D. 2010. Weekend Australian, V. 1 2010. Ebook. R Murdoch.
Davis, Mike. "Planet of slums." New left review 26 (2004): 5.
Davison, Graeme. Car wars: How the car won our hearts and conquered our cities. Allen &
Unwin, 2004.
Editors. 2011. Scientific American, V. 305 (3) 2011. Ebook. Scientific American.
Gavron, N. (2007). The endless city; the urban age project by the London School of Economics
and Deutsche Bank's Alfred Herrhausen Society (2007). Phaidon, pp.Towards a Carbon Neutral
London pp. 372--374.
Girardet, Herbert. "Cities people planet." Liviable cities for a sustainable world (2004).
Schiller, Preston L., and Jeffrey R. Kenworthy. An introduction to sustainable transportation:
Policy, planning and implementation. Routledge, 2010.
Unhabitat.org. 2019. Unhabitat.Org. https://unhabitat.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02-old/Slum
%20Almanac%202015-2016_EN.pdf.
United Nations Human Settlements Programme. (2011). Cities and climate change; global
report on human settlements, 2011 (2011). Earthscan, pp.Chapter 7 pp. 163--183.