Faire la ville durable

INVENTER UNE NOUVELLE URBANITE

Towards Ecological Intelligence

Vers une Intelligence Ecologique et Urbaine

Joe Ravetz
Centre for Urban & Regional Ecology
University of Manchester
www.manchester.ac.uk/cure

Contents
1. Problems
2. Analysis
3. Examples from
Manchester
4. Visions & Pathways

Drawing from various :

One Planet Economy
Network (www.openeu.org)
PLUREL peri-urban
landuse www.plurel.net
GM environment
commission policy
exchange
(www.manchester.ac.uk/p
olicy-exchange
City-region 2020 & CityState 21: relational
thinking & mapping

Problems

1. Visualizing the urban condition

Look - that rich
man is driving
right into that
poor man

So maybe we
need maps &
guide books
but we also
need to see
real stuff &
talk it through

Thats just cities

. Mad, mixed
up but you
gotta loveem

Ok .. so we & the other

characters are coming
through from meetings,
workshops, interviews,
research, campaigns

Right so the more

you can see
characters talking &
thinking, the more
you can see & think
out of the box
Actually the authors
mind & subconscious
could be an influence

Wow so this is
what really goes on
theyre playing
Monopoly with the
whole city

And look at those

poor people
scraping together
their last few coins
to hand over to the
gambler man

2. Deficit mythologies
The stakes are high
you can double your
money, but the next
minute you can lose
everything - houses,
factories, offices,
whole cities all laid
to waste

Actually I dont
think theyre very
happy about that.
they have to go
hungry just so that
the game can go on.

3. Understanding the urban system

To play the REAL city
game I think we need a
Monopoly board with
about 6 layers.
Firstly, the global circuit
elite investors fly in,
place their bets, take the
rewards, and run
Then theres what
cities are supposed
to do, in the circle
of production and
consumption
making stuff and
selling it
Meanwhile the town
hall tries to fix things
and manage health &
education

And for many

the city is a
place of security
in buildings
they dont move
around so much
But what
really counts
is the moral
economy
family,
community,
sense of doing
the right thing
Lastly dont forget that
cities exist in a global
ecology - at the
moment not very
happily

Analysis

 There are many systems

which combine into an urban
system.
Each type of system has
different drivers, actors,
factors, etc.
Each can be supportive or
destructive of other systems.
Experience shows that
sustainable development
comes through different
systems supporting &
working together.
E.g. through social cohesion,
inward investment is
encouraged, enabled by
strong governance, & also
funding ecological
investment

Global-local financial
system

Urban production

Urban
governance &
services

Urban fixed
capital

Urban socialcultural system

Global-local
ecology system

 So how to make it work??

Look for creative
opportunities which build
chains of value added
(social, economic, cultural)
The role of communication,
information, learning &
innovation is crucial for
chains to form.
Economic creativity &
financial re-investment at
every scale is also crucial
Policy should aim to help
mobilize such creative
opportunities.
This can be through
economic, institutional or
informational means

Global-local financial
system

Urban production

Urban
governance &
services

Urban fixed
capital

Urban socialcultural system

Global-local
ecology system

Creative cities - personal & political

sorry, we need
some major
Either creative output by frustration
5.00 today
& anxiety
Or
Dive into
the
source

Emerge from the

unconscious with
new awareness of
possibilities..

Let the
creative
currents
guide you

5. Creative cities - personal & political

sorry, we need
some major
Either creative output by frustration
5.00 today
& anxiety
Or
Dive into
the
source

Take an
average
postrestructuring
urban
agglomeratio Who are these people?
n
What can they do? What
is their purpose in a
globalized 21st century?

Emerge from the

unconscious with
new awareness of
possibilities..

Somehow they
must reconnect with
some kind of
creative source

Let the
creative
currents
guide you

Somehow the social /

economic / cultural city
system can reinvent itself
things & possibilities
emerge

New models: "eco-system services"

I think theres a basic point
simple cause & effect
dont work. As reality is
inter-connected, so we
have to build economic &
political systems which are
inter-connected.

So were trying to
do urban climate
policy but the
boundaries dont
fit the problem
long term benefits
dont fit short term
investments

Sounds
great, but
how on earth
can we do
that?

Bio-mass
& bio-fuel
energy

Fossil fuel
reserves
and
alternative
conversion
CITY
s

CITY-REGION
REGION

Global
atmosphere with
carbon storage
and climate
Renewable
balance
resources,
local &
regional Carbon
sequestration
in soil &
biomass

Energy
conversion &
power
distribution

Urban
buildings &
infrastructur
e as carbon
sink

Carbon
emissions
responsibili
ty via
Carbon stored /
energy
embedded in
demand
waste to landfill
or recovery

Carbon net
trade
balance of
imports /
exports

We call it shared ecointelligence working

with extended ecologysociety-economy
relationships

New models: social system services

So you mean
that climate
policy might be
called
something quite
different?

Exactly like in this town

here, theres a food project,
which is also about local
economy, social cohesion,
cultural capital, landscape,
education, and also - climate
change. We can call this
social-system services

Landscape
owners &
managers
Municipalities

Ok I can see that

might work in a
small town, but
what about a city,
or a massive
urban sprawl?

Farmers

NGOs & social

enterprise
Education &
health
Local democracy
Local markets
SMEs & tourism

Then we got to think

about system effects
not so much more
bureaucracy, but more
eco-intelligent selforganizing networks

New models: entrepreneurial governance

Ok this is all about building
relationships and interconnections. Like insurance
covers your house for 1 year
we aim to cover the city &
the world for 100 years. So
we find ways for everybody
to work together.

And what about

the money?
Urban climate
policy will cost a
load so who
pays?
Municipal green bonds
provide low cost capital:
linked to public
procurement for critical
Finance companies
mass
underwrite &
package the climate
mortgage

Sounds
great.. but
where is the
cash upfront?

Utilities deem the

energy savings as
an upfront capital
sum

Energy / climate
services companies
provide securitization /
investment schemes

carbon
mortgage

Building contractors
join area
consortiums, working Efficiency equipment
manufacturers gain
to efficiency
from innovation
performance
programme &
standards
economies of scale

Climate mortgage
is attached to the
building mortgage
(allocated to meter
point )

Social agencies
manage effects
on social
housing &
neighbourhood
facilities

Households opt-in
to the mortgage
package with
guarantees on less
than zero net cost

If you can finance100k on a

house you can borrow 10k
on this carbon mortgage..

9. New models: relational governance

So maybe theres a
problem with liberal
market democracy
clever in some ways but
stupid in others...

From ORGANIZED
GOVERNMENT

Policy:
hierarchical &
technocratic:
within defined
units & sectors

Sounds
great
but hows
that
gonna
work?

1-way info flow:

(with occasional
elections)
Public:
fragmented &
passive
recipients

To - SELFORGANIZING
GOVERNANCE

Exactly we need a
more intelligent selforganizing, selflearning network
kind of governance.

Policy:
responsive &
inter-connected:
multi-level &
multi-functional

Its a relational
concept not a set
of boxes aiming
only at their own
co-production
survival more like
of shared
working with causeintelligence
effect-response
Public:
chains, and
entrepreneur
stakeholder-value
ial, resilient
cycles, to respond
& selfto problems &
organized
opportunities

Example
Greater Manchester Low Carbon
Economic Area

Built environment problems & opportunities

1965 1940-64

<1919

id
)
ai
so
ne

tte

(m

ta
i-d
e
m

ce

/m

ac

De
t

se

1919-39

ch
ed

he
d

Fl
at

70

Greater Manchester 1
60
million dwellings
50
mand in 1000 40
By 2050, 1/3 million
TWh / yr
30
extra new dwellings
20
10
75% of existing are
0
poor - SAP rated <60
BUT quite feasible
and cost effective to
upgrade
BUT this relies on
coordination and
cooperation !!

Te
rra

Total carbon trends & targets:

Comparing eco-footprint trends and targets, with carbon targets: calculations based on SEI
2008 & Energy White Paper 2007 with positive assumptions.

Business as usual
footprint trend

UK
govt
carbon
target

500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
0
20

indirect CO2eq - land

footprint eq
indirect CO2eq imports
direct CO2eq int.aviation & marine
direct CO2eq business in UK

1
20

1
20

2
20

2
20

3
20

3
20

4
20

4
20

5
20

SD footprint
target

direct CO2eq households

Summary of business case

1 million dwellings in GM
2009 energy bill* 1100m
2009 total CO2 output
9.2 mt
2009 total CO2 value* 270 2700m
Cost of improvements
11000m
Annual cost of 20 year
programme - 550m

2030 annual finance /

management cost* 550m
2030 domestic energy
bill* - 220m
2030 annual costs to
consumers - 770m
2030 total CO2 output
1.8mt
2030 total CO2 value
72-720m

Carbon intelligence
ESCO management &
investment programmes
with real time energy /
carbon analysis

City / region
authorities monitor
carbon flows,
investment & urban
management on an
area basis

MANAGEMENT & TRADING

DECISION SUPPORT
BASELINE & BENCHMARKING
Energy / trans
services

Government
Finance &
markets

Social
enterprise
Carbon
Carbon intelligence
intelligence

Utilities &
infrastructure
Design &
construction
Real-time metering
& load management
enables smart
infrastructure with
intermittent sources.

Social technology
enables networks,
initiatives, debates,
wikipedia type info

Online library of building

types, ages, conditions,
energy technology
opportunities

Householders
& consumers

Buildings &
stock
Buildings, stocks &
types with online
climate profile,
georeferenced &
searchable

Householders keep
online climate activity
profile. Climate bonus
points can be traded.

Upstream
Infrastructure
Downstream

Mortgage holders &

investors monitor
carbon flows &
trades on financial
basis

Mortgage / loan finance model

mortgage finance
extended to carbon
mortage for LC investment
with charge on property:
Utilities segment energy
bills to include LC payback
direct to mortgage finance;
RSLs / social sector
manage & coordinate
works for economies of
scale.
Consumer direct costs
remain level: added
incentives through shadow
CO2 markets.
Government (national /
local) provides quality
assurance, regulation &
collateral for risk reduction.

Governme
nt
Civic sector
Design &
technology

Public
services
Social &
community

Finance
sector

Consumers
Intermediaries

Utilities
Primary
resources
Producers

constructio
n

LC finance models
Commercial loan, handsoff
Commercial loan, joint
collateral
Mortgage finance
Mortgage finance with
utility as co-party
CERT extension of
CRC
SPV / Joint Venture: short
term
SPV / Joint Venture: long
term

HH risk, transaction cost,

conditions: loan security
HH aversity: privacy,
conditions, maintenance,
futurity
Lender risk: HH
transaction cost:
Lender risk: leakage,
substitution

Pathways

Building eco-intelligence
Hey this is the
same room as
the gambling
den was in
before !!

And look at
the
Monopoly
board now
its a game
for kids

Somehow theyve turned it

around the people who live
in the city are now
designing it & running it, in
real time, on the table

I think the key is building

the intelligence - getting
the money to go around
and not collect all in one
place. Same with
information & power

One Planet City Pathways concepts

(agendas for institutional economy transformation)

Turning market failure

into institutional
opportunity

Working towards a
relational economy
based on collaboration
& partnership

Taking a strategic view

on opportunities &
benefits

Identify pathways
modes of collaboration
between different
sectors
Government
Finance
Science - technology
Business
Civic / social
Consumers
Overseas

One Planet City Pathways

(agendas for institutional economy transformation)

a)

b)

c)

Public sector:
stewardship
Governmen
t
procurement
Civic sector
pathway: for stability
Public
& strategic planning: Science &
procure
technology
pathway
Financial sector:
stakeholder finance
Finance
Innovation
pathway: resector
pathway
engaging capital
with communities,
Overseas
Stakeholder
employees &
Finance
environment:
pathway
Primary
(Innovation &
resources
Secondary
Science &
social
industry
enterprise
technology sector:
pathways not
Innovation /
shown)
enterprise pathway:
opportunity seeking

Public
services
Social
enterprise

Households

Infrastructur
e
Tertiary
services

One Planet City Pathways

(agendas for institutional economy transformation)

d) Business sector:
service chain
pathway: advance
investment & leasing
model along the
supply chain:
e) Civic sector: social
enterprise pathway:
mobilizing the energy
& commitment of
citizens &
communities:
f) Development & trade
sector: fair trade
pathway: engaging
with overseas
development & global
strategy.

Governmen
t
Civic sector

Public
services

Science &
technology

Social
enterprise

Fair trade
pathway
Finance
sector

Households

Service
chain
pathway

Overseas
Primary
resources

Social
enterprise
pathway
Secondary
industry

Infrastructur
e
Tertiary
services

Principles & practice

Eco-intelligence
combines soft creative
innovation networks, with
hard institutions &
structures.
Institutions, regulations,
regimes need to enable
creativity, not ignore or
suppress it.
Creative networks need
to be multi-level, multilateral & clearly linked to
institutions

Each system level in the

city needs to link to
others
New forms of finance
depend on new kinds of
institutions & partnerships
then trust can increase,
cost of finance can
reduce.
ICT can be enabler but
not the whole solution.

Vision urban eco-intelligence

So this is ecointelligence in
action !! .. and
how does it work?

Ok but - who
gets to decide
on these
connections and who are
the winners or
losers?

Basically its about

connections. We connect
between different parts
of the ecological cycle.
Then we connect these
with different layers of
the economic system.

The whole city decides,

in a deliberative ecointelligence foresight
network . With this we
can begin to reduce
extreme differences of
wealth and poverty, with
a better balance of
economic, social and
ecological systems.

Vision process
So how can
you tell if were
achieving this
urban ecointelligence
thing?

And how do
we get from
here to
there?
seems like it
could be
complex and
fuzzy

You can see the difference

between a smart organization
and a stupid one similar
with cities. You can look for
internal measures, and then
sooner or later, physical
results.

Again, no magic blueprint. But

we now have some tools which
can help self-organized learning
networks, & the evolution of
eco-intelligent democracy.

 And so on .

Joined up thinking... (in progress)

Worlds largest feasibility

study linking spatial,
economy, environment,
society, governance.

Environment and
the City - critical
perspectives on the
urban environment
around the world

Worlds largest business

strategy shared
intelligence for the
relational economy