Perspectives on Urban Sustainability and the Evaluation of Geo-ICT for Land Governance Diego Navarra, PhD

Editor's Notes

• #5: http://yosemite.epa.gov/EE/epa/eed.nsf/webpages/btworkshop.html/$file/bt_workshop_proceedings.pdfImpacts on land and soil Climate change and related water stress are having, and will in future continue to have, impacts on land and soil around the world, including in Europe. The rural environment, meaning natural habitats, agricultural land and forests is under a variety of pressure, much of it anthropogenic, which is magnified by climate change stress. Climate change and associated changes in water regimes are predicted to be particularly damaging to natural ecosystems, which are already under tremendous pressure from human land use requirements, pollution, and resource exploitation and are thus degraded and vulnerable to begin with. Natural Ecosystems Deserts face conflicting influences under climate change: potentially seeing more vegetation with higher CO2 levels, but overall facing increases in drought and warmer temperatures. As ecosystems in deserts are already in a fragile environment, impacts could be severe. Grasslands are influenced by precipitation – even where increased, seasonal variability is important, and declining summer rainfall could be damage grassland fauna. Mediterranean ecosystems are diverse and vulnerable, susceptible to changes in water conditions. Even in the range of 2 degree warming, 60-80% of species may be lost in the Southern Mediterranean, while the Cape Fynbos in South Africa may lose 65% of its species. Tundra/arctic: with greater warming at the poles, the loss of permafrost and the potential for methane release is a major concern Mountains are seeing shortened and earlier snow and ice melt and related changes in flooding. At higher altitudes, increased winter snow can lead to the opposite problem of delayed snow melt. Wetlands will be negatively affected where there is decreasing water volume, higher temperatures and higher-intensity rainfall. http://www.waterlink-international.com/download/whitepaper_uploadfile_1.pdfEnvironmental - Social - Economichttp://www.vtt.fi/inf/pdf/researchhighlights/2012/R1.pdf page 44The project produced a concept of an EcoCity to be built in Miaofeng Mountain Town in Mentougou District Beijing, and suggestionsfor implementation of the concept as long-term development. The feasibility study combined Chinese and Finnish expertise and experiences with sustainable communities.
• #9: Climate and energy through energy savings, locally produced sustainable energy and efficient use of fossil fuels, the CO2 emissions within the city are reduced.Mobility and air quality. Amsterdam will be an accessible city on condition that our transport system is sustainable.Sustainable innovative economy. (Inter)national companies choose our city because doing sustainable business in Amsterdam is worthwhile.Materials and consumers. Amsterdam is a liveable city where citizens and companies use raw materials in an effective way, live and act in a sustainable way and where the municipal organisation itself demonstrates this approach.http://www.sustainablecities2012.com/images/uploads/documents/SC2012.pdfP 27
• #16: Melting Arctic sea-ice and shipping routeshttp://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/09/melting-arctic-sea-ice-and-shipping-routes`