Archive for February, 2008
Sustainable Cities - Update from SustainableMelbourne.com
Posted in Events, Models by fedwards on February 5th, 2008
Event reminder - Tomorrow night (Wednesday 6 February) - Han Brezet to speak
How do we harness creativity for a sustainable future? Design, Innovation, Opportunities and Dilemmas – A view from The Netherlands
Professor Han Brezet Head, Design for Sustainability (D4S), Technical University of Delft; City Innovator, Rotterdam; TV Judge, ‘Best Ideas of the Netherlands’
Prof Brezet’s work has supported many famous new products and entrepreneurial activities: the Rotterdam Sustainable Dance Club; Formula Zero (hydrogen fuel cell racing); the Friesland Solar-boat Challenge; the Mitka for Nike; portable electric vehicles; SustainableRotterdam.com; home biogas generators; bamboo products… In the Netherlands, as in Australia, the reality of climate change is shifting the focus of design and innovation from eco-products to new services, new institutions new life-styles and to greater engagement of the community in re-inventing the future.
Sustainability Victoria, the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab, SustainableMelbourne.com and Design Victoria are pleased to invite you to this important free public lecture by an important ECO-LEAD visitor to Melbourne*.
Wednesday 6 February 2008 6pm to 7.30pm (followed by drinks) Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne, Swanston Street, opposite end of Faraday Street, Carlton. Visit http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/venuehire/general/maps.html for a map of the campus.
Professor Han Brezet is head of the oldest Design for Sustainability program in Europe at the Technical University of Delft. He is the City Innovator for Rotterdam, charged with generating new interests, possibilities and collaborations, for the future of Rotterdam. He has focused on the creation of ‘creative city platforms for change’, bringing together designers and design students with industry, government and the community to envision new possibilities for Rotterdam’s development. He is also one of three judges for the “Best Ideas of The Netherlands” TV reality show - one of the most popular reality television shows on Dutch TV in which thousands of people compete to get their ‘invention’ to the market (think The New Inventors meets Australian Idol).
Prof Brezet is also a leader of the research and development program of the Cartesius Institute for Sustainable Innovation in Friesland and a Professorial Fellow of the Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society (ACSIS) at the University
of Melbourne.
This lecture will contribute to the development of Future Melbourne, the City of Melbourne’s plan for the future of the city in 2020 and beyond.
* ‘ECO-LEAD: Leading thinking in eco-innovation’ is a program of Sustainability Victoria and VEIL (the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab at the University of Melbourne).
Tags: energy, networks, Resource
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Recent news - If we build it, will they come?
Posted in Models, Research, Visions by fedwards on February 4th, 2008
Discussed in the latest Metropolis online magazine, the Urban Age Institute recently had a meeting to discuss the possibilities of a sustainable future in terms of smart transportation and smart cities. From the website, they summarise;
“There were some big names presenting solutions that ranged from community shuttles, rapid transit lanes and social-networked ride-share boards to biofuels and electric cars; but amidst the high-profile speakers, planners and auto execs alike worried that without public buy-in to approve the funds or purchase the energy-efficient vehicles, any innovation would fall flat.”
To pursue the discussion visit http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=3143.
Tags: Carbon-neutral, climate change, energy, Provocations, Urban Design and Built Form
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Seeking participation - Online discussion on Achieving Sustainable Development, 4 February to 14 March
Posted in Models, Movements, Research, Visions by fedwards on February 1st, 2008
The United Nations is organizing a moderated online discussion on Achieving Sustainable Development (4 February to 14 March 2008) and invites your participation.
This open, multi-stakeholder e-discussion will bring together experts, practitioners and policy-makers to discuss broadly:
(I) challenges countries face in integrating the goals of economic growth, social development and environmental protection, and;
(II) concrete policy initiatives that can help States to achieve sustainable development.
This discussion would not be complete without the inclusion of views of NGOs and civil society, whose partnership with governments, international organizations and the private sector is fundamental to realizing a truly sustainable development and to securing the future of the planet for generations to come.
The organizers are particularly seeking recommendations to Member States that may help them strengthen their efforts to achieve sustainable development, as well as constructive input to the intergovernmental process on actions it can take to promote sustainable development.
The e-discussion outcome will contribute to the 2008 Annual Ministerial Review of the Economic and Social Council, to be held in New York in July. The discussion will be hosted on MDGNet (http://www.un.org/ecosoc/newfunct/amredis.shtml”>http://www.un.org/ecosoc/newfunct/amredis.shtml>http://www.un.org/ecosoc/newfunct/amredis.shtml.
Tags: Urban Design and Built Form
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