Bell starter Read the definition of sustainability below and then look at the

two photos and answer the questions that follow.

Sustainable ‘Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability
for future generations to meet their own needs’.

Describe what you see. Shapes, size colour texture E

Explain which picture you think life is more sustainable C
Explain how one of the pictures could be made more sustainable. A
Lesson 21 22nd April 2021
How can urban areas be more sustainable?

To be able to
describe the To be able to
To be able to
ways in which a describe the
explain what is a
city can be features that
sustainable
sustainable. make a city
urban area.
(Grades 4-6) unsustainable
(Grades 7-9)
(Grades 1-3)

Lesson objectives;

o To develop a greater understanding of how urban

areas can be sustainable.
o To develop a greater knowledge of the features
that make an urban area sustainable.
 What impact do cities have on the environment?
Cities put pressure on the environment by using inputs, like food, water and energy and, at the
same time, by producing outputs, like waste and pollution. However, living in the city can
sometimes be more sustainable than living in the countryside. In cities:
✔ People need to make fewer road journeys because everything they need is closer.
✔ Careful planning of public transport helps to save resources.
✔ People work together to generate ideas or produce goods and services that benefit the
economy.
One way to think about cities is through their ecological footprint, this is the area of land or sea
that is needed to produce all the inputs a city uses and to dispose of the outputs.
Describe how a cities impact on the environment with their ecological
footprint. (4 marks)
Literacy
Can you use these key terms:

• Waste
• Food
• Water
• Energy
• Resources
• Pollution
• Sewage
• Sustainable
• Local people
• Community
• Goods and services
• Public transport
• Ecological footprint
• Recycling
 How can a city be sustainable?
Choose three of the strategies listed below, one social and two environmental. Explain how the strategy
is will help create sustainable living.

Recycling water Providing green

to conserve spaces.
supplies. Making sinks for
the disposal of
toxic chemicals.
Reducing the
reliance on fossil Sustainable
fuels and re- urban Minimising the use
thinking transport strategies. of greenfield sites
options. by using brownfield
sites.

Reducing city waste so

that local rivers and Conserving cultural,
oceans have the Involving local historic and
capacity to absorb communities. environmental sites
them. and buildings.
How can a city be sustainable?
Use the information on the VLE to create a mind map about sustainable cities. You should use the
questions on this slide to guide you.

Conserving the Historic Environment. Reducing and safely disposing of waste.

HOW are old buildings conserved? Some examples are... HOW: YOU, local and national solutions.

Involving local people. Conserving the natural

HOW do you get local people Sustainable city – an environment.
involved? WHY is it important urban area where local HOW can green spaces be
that they are consulted about people have a way of protected in cities? WHY are they
where they live? life that will last a long important for the city?
time. The environment
is not damaged and the
Providing an efficient public economic and social Using brownfield sites.
fabric are able to stand
HOW are brownfield site used? WHY
transport system. HOW to get people the test of time.
should they be used?
to use the bus’: WHY is it important to
create an efficient transport system?
Providing open spaces.
HOW to do this Green belt; urban
sprawl; national park; brownfield site. Literacy
What are they? How do they provide
urban spaces. Can you use these key terms:

• Waste
Levels1 (Basic) 1-3 Level 2 (Clear) 4-6 Level 3 (Detailed) 7-9 • Food
• Water
You describe the features You explain the key You explain the features • Energy
of a sustainable city features of a sustainable of a sustainable city with • Resources
examples. • Pollution
city. • Sewage
• Sustainable
 Conserving the historic environment and
natural environment
Old buildings of historic importance have been kept but their use changed.
The historic environment can be conserved in many ways:
✔ Old industrial buildings like warehouses can be turned into
apartments.
✔ Run down old houses can be re-developed to provide
housing that will last into the future.
✔ Canals in the cities can be rebranded and regenerated as London: Royal Albert
leisure facilities. docks; then and now
The natural environment can be conserved by cities in the following ways:
a) Using more electricity generated renewably. For example by wind or solar power.
b) Collecting and recycling water, instead of piping it in from reservoirs in the countryside.
c) Running fuel efficient public transport systems that cause less pollution.
BedZED

The Beddington Zero Energy Development is near Croydon and is the largest
carbon-neutral eco- community in the UK.

Energy consumption was reduced in this settlement by:

1. Using building materials that store heat.
2. Using natural and recycled building materials.
3. Introducing a car sharing club for getting to work.
 Reducing and safely disposing of waste
• FACTS:
• The UK produces 30 million tonnes of household waste a year. 400million if you
include mining and quarrying waste!
• 20% of household waste could be composted.
• 18% of waste is paper and card. This can be recycled.
• In the last ten years recycling has increased from 11% to 40%.
• The UK produces 275kg of waste per person per year.
• YOUR Solutions.
• Buy goods with less packaging e.g. apples do not need to
come in plastic bags!
• Use ‘bag for life’ carrier bags’.
• Council solutions
• Burn (incinerate) waste because landfill sites are running
Landfill out. Advantages = less waste going to landfill and can be
used to make energy: Disadvantages = fears about
pollution and health e.g. in Kings Lynn
• Government solutions
• Make people pay for carrier
Incineration bags e.g. Marks and Spencer
charge 5p
Providing open spaces and using brownfield sites
Open spaces or green spaces are vital to make cities more sustainable. They can act
like ‘green lungs’ for the city, by reducing the impact on the environment and
recycling carbon. Plants take in carbon dioxide and return oxygen back into the
atmosphere, and so help to reduce pollution.

Using brownfield sites (derelict areas of land)

for new buildings is a way of recycling the
land. This avoids using greenfield sites (new
land on the edge of the city), and stops the city
growing in size at the expense of the Epping forest is Greater London’s largest
surrounding countryside. open space. It stretches over 12 miles
from east London to just north of Epping
in Essex. Its almost 600 acres in size.
Using brownfield sites also makes the city
look more appealing for those living in the
areas near the disused sites. It is also cheaper
as much of the infrastructure such as water,
electricity and sewage is already there.
 Providing an efficient public transport system
Encouraging people to use public transport
⮚ New cleaner fuel buses make it more attractive to travel by bus.
⮚ Bus stops have been turned into bus shelters and have electronic signs telling people when the
next buses are due.
⮚ In London children under 16 travel for free – to encourage them to use buses later in life.
⮚ Buses have CCTV to increase the feeling of security.
⮚ Bus lanes have been provided to allow buses to move through traffic jams.
⮚ In London the ‘oyster card’ allows people to prepay for bus tickets so they don’t need to carry
cash.
⮚ There is a single fare of £1.50 one way for central London: clear pricing!

Transport planners surveyed local people to get their ideas. Many

of these ideas where suggested at residents meetings around
London. If people feel involved and in control they are more likely
to respond positively and therefore use the bus and NOT the car..
Cleaner electric hybrid technology
 Involving local people
Involving local people in decisions about their communities means that they are more
likely to accept the decisions that are made, as they feel they have been consulted and
that their views are of value- leading to a more sustainable community.

Local councils consult people about a wide range of things- from where new homes
should be built, to how health and social care services are planned and run.

An important part of the Aston Pride scheme

in Birmingham was involving the local
community. Residents, community and faith
groups have been involved in the decision
making process to help regeneration in the
area and to make the Aston Pride NDC area a
better place to live.
Aston Pride is the 10-year regeneration program that was launched in 2001 to
improve the local area. The scheme focuses on the themes of:
• Health
• Education and Lifelong Learning
• Employment
• Community Safety
• Housing and the Environment
 Level 1 Exam questions…
▪ You demonstrate limited
knowledge of how cities can be
more sustainable.
▪ You demonstrate a limited
ability to use key terms.

Level 2
▪ You demonstrate a clear
knowledge of how cities can be
more sustainable.
▪ You are able to use some place
specific detail.
▪ You are able to use key terms
correctly.

Level 3 Give two reasons for Explain two ways Using an example you
▪ You demonstrate detailed
knowledge of how cities can
why cities are often that the have studied describe
▪
be more sustainable.
You are able to use place
consider not development of how a sustainable
specific detail thoroughly. sustainable. urban areas can be urban area was
▪ You are able to use key terms
consistently correctly. made sustainable. achieved.

Advice
✔ Use examples (4 marks) (6 marks) (6 marks)
✔ Use key terminology
✔ Make links between
points
Key words Transport Recycling Transport
✔ Use point, example,
Energy Ecological footprint
Water
explain, link to structure
your answer Green space