Adaptive Ecopolis Development to Meet the Challenge of Environmental
Change -
Ecopolis
http://www.icsu-scope.org.cn/english_version/Ecopolis/main.htm
Chairpersons: Wang
Rusong (China), Ian Douglas
(UK)
Scientific Advisory Committee: Billy Cobbett (USA),
Peter Dogse (UNESCO, France), Peter J. Marcotullio (Japan), Peter Newman
(Australia), Richard C. Rockwell (USA), Alexander Tetior (Russia), Philipp
Vergragt (The Netherlands), Rodrigo Victor (Brazil)
The Ecopolis Initiative goal is to develop comprehensive strategies
in order to render cities more ecologically healthy and sustainable.
Urban areas have long been the focus of study by international and national
agencies and organisations (i.a. UNESCO/MAB Urban Ecology Programme,
other UN Agencies-- particularly UN-HABITAT and UNEP, the United Nations
University, the European Community, and the Asian Development Bank).
However, the environmental science involved is fragmented. Urban public
health, urban climatology, urban ecology, urban geology, and urban hydrology
have relatively little to do with each other, and few connections with
urban design, planning and management.
The Ecopolis project
is designed to assess the present scientific understanding of the ecological
basis for managing and creating resilient cities that contribute to
sustainable development, and to ascertain the most pressing scientific
questions requiring further attention. This assessment will contribute
to the improved quality of urban life through practical application
of its findings.
By drawing attention
to the ecological planning and management of urban regions, this SCOPE
project synthesises and assesses the science needed to make progress
towards more sustainable cities. The term "ecopolis" is used
to imply an ecologically sound city or large urban area and its immediate
periphery in sectors of cities and towns.
The Ecopolis Secretariat
and scientific coordination are currently located at the Research Center
for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing,
China. This project works closely with the Peri-Urban Environmental
Change (PU-ECH) project.
The Ecopolis project
is developed in three phases
I. Assessment
of relevant urban problems and lessons and experiences of example-cities
(2005)
II. Development of region-specific solutions and implementation tools
(2006/2007)
III. Publications and dissemination of final project results (2007/2008)
The first meeting was held in October 2004 in Ningbo, China finalsied
the project structure and agenda, and an international forum on Ecopolis
Development was held.
Experts on ecological
and sustainable urban development from 12 countries gave keynote presentations
on specific aspects of Ecopolis development. This forum received important
support from the People’s Government of Ningbo City, SCOPE China
and The Ecological Society of China (ESC), the Ningbo Association for
Science and Technology (NAST) and Ningbo Environmental Protection Bureau.
Proceedings of the International Ecopolis Forum in Ningbo. A workshop
for the local authority at Mengoutou, China followed the forum.
Future Activities
This ongoing project
promotes the dialogue between all stakeholders on the future of the
human environment, from communities to decision makers, from industry
to consumers, and from resource and land developers to conservationists.
A regional meeting
for Europe will identify and prepare Europe-specific issues and case-experience.
A workshop is in the planning stage and will address issues such as:
- the assessment
of results in Ecopolis development;
- chance and limitations
of indicator systems;
- coupling spatial
development of cities with green systems and transportation networks,
in order to avoid or reduce car dependency (particularly in fast growing
cities, with a fast increase of private motorized vehicles);
- and the establishment
of a website on "Ecopolis in the World: Theories and Practices"
.
Publications & Presentations Relating to the Ecopolis Initiative
In addition to reports
and possible journal special issues from the regional workshops, a synthesis
volume is planned and tentatively entitled "Adaptive Ecopolis Development:
From Wealthy Paradise to Healthy Praxis":
- The global challenges
of unsustainable urban living
- Eco-sanitation
in cities of developing countries
- Eco-security
in cities of developing countries
- Eco-health in
cities for both poor and rich
- Eco-metabolism:
a new production mode of industry
- Multi purpose
urban ecoscape planning: fighting the effects of heat island, green
house, crowding, flood management, wildlife support, air pollution
reduction and enhancement of urban ecosystem services.
- Eco-culture:
institutional, behavioral and spiritual enhancement for urban sustainability.
- Better practices
of ecopolis development in the world
- Integrative
ecopolis planning and management
See also:
Wang RS (ed.): Complex Ecosystem and Recycling Economy, Meteorological
Press, Beijing, 2003.
Wang RS (ed.): Ecoservice for Urban Survival and Development, Meteorological
Press, Beijing, 2003.
Wang RS (ed.): Proceedings of Ecopolis Forum Ningbo, October 2004.
Last up-dated May 2008