City-Level Decoupling-Case Studies

The project is supported by the global conservation charity World Wide Fund for Nature and the sustainability group BioRegional. In response to the project’s commitment to zero carbon, zero waste and other environmentally friendly goals, WWF and BioRegional have endorsed Masdar City as an official 'One Planet Living' community. It will host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and will act as a place of experimentation with researchers and engineers from the Masdar Institute regularly analyzing its performance. Despite lofty intentions, many commentators have questioned whether Masdar will be able to be the world’s first carbon-neutral city. Critics are concerned that the city will be only symbolic for Abu Dhabi, and that it may become just a luxury development for the wealthy. For example, the New York Times called it the ultimate gated community, "...the crystallization of another global phenomenon: the growing division of the world into refined, high-end enclaves and vast formless ghettos where issues like sustainability have little immediate relevance...." 28 Even if Masdar becomes a premium eco-development, its impact on the carbon intensity of mainstream development is likely to be limited. It remains to be seen whether the ambitious targets that have been set can be realised. On the positive side, Masdar is an example of how large-scale investment can be secured to support a long-term vision for a new sustainable city. Engagement with the renewable energy industry has given credibility to its energy ambitions, and the development has systematically staked its claim on a number of technology opportunities from solar to bio energy during the planning stages. Although the financial crisis has been an obstacle, the project has moved forward by focusing on its role as a research and development location and test bed, thus allowing it to remain relevant and maintain its unique focus despite having to postpone the development of some areas.

4. Songdo, Republic of Korea - A New International Eco-City 29

By Dr .Kulwant Singh (Advisor, UN-Habitat), Prof.GyeWoon Choi (Dean of University Development, University of Incheon) and Lian Guey LER (Researcher at International Centre for Urban Water Hydroinformatics Research & Innovation, University of Incheon)

Songdo International Business District (IBD) is a free trade and international business hub currently under construction on 6.1 km 2 of land reclaimed from the Yellow Sea, near Incheon International Airport in Republic of Korea. Developed by Gale International and Korea’s POSCO E&C, this master- planned aerotropolis is a model of city-scale sustainable development that is only 3 ½ hours flying time from a third of the world’s population. With the completion of the new 15 km suspension bridge in 2009, Incheon International Airport is just a 20 minute drive from the eco-city, making Songdo well-positioned to become an economic hub for Northeast Asia. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, the 9.2 million m 2 master plan includes commercial office space, residences, retail shops, hotels as well as civic and cultural facilities. When fully developed in 2015, the city will house 80,000 apartments, 4,600,000 m 2 of office space and 930,000 m 2 of retail space.

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