City-Level Decoupling-Full Report

• At the same time, they provide innovative contexts for the development and potential testing of innovative responses within a protected experimental niche that is concerned with established utilities, social interests and technological practices. development means that the solutions may not be socially robust or they create premium ecological enclaves. The appropriateness of premium green enclaves in contexts where large sections of the population have limited or no access to existing infrastructure threatens to undermine the sustainability of these projects by overlooking the social context. Only a few have had to engage with established communities and socio- technical network technologies. contested as the issues of how they are connected to the city and highway network and the consequences this has for the transport systems. 6.4 Constructing new 'urban networked infrastructures' This section examines alternatives to conventional energy, water, waste and transport networks through the construction of new infrastructure systems and the creation of new or restructured resource interdependencies. These developments, particularly in developed world cities, build more resilient resource flows at the scale of the city, under conditions of climate change and resource constraint. The strategic interest in the development of new energy networks at the urban scale and beyond drives district heating systems for the distribution of heat and cooling, and alternative fuels such as hydrogen, biofuels, and other gases. Parallel water systems distribute grey water and recycled water alongside potable water systems. Public transport, pedestrian walkways, cycling networks, and the use of electricity, biofuels and hydrogen in vehicles • The internal relative self-sufficiency of the integrated developments has not been as • The protected nature of the eco-

consume. The city of Auroville recycles 86% of its total generated waste, has 20 community- level sewage treatment facilities experimenting with wastewater treatment methods, is powered by renewable energy from 200 photovoltaic panels, and circulates water using 140 solar water-pumping units and 30 windmills. Symbolically at least, initiatives frequently seek to limit private car use and to promote public transportation. The controversial issues involved with transport and mobility infrastructure are often addressed through the design of pedestrian-friendly streets, widely accessible public transport, car sharing schemes, and shorter distances between residential areas and local amenities, as in Treasure Island. Vauban has 'parking free' residential streets and a 'car-free living' scheme. These combinations of design, regulations and policies also include the development of new lifestyles and community organising (see also the Seoul and Portland cases for examples of new transport alternatives). These plans for integrated eco-urbanism present a model for the development of sustainable urban futures. Often these are highly contested, the balance between the more regressive and progressive elements differs, and the ways in which they have come to be seen as exemplary and emblematic is less than clear. Formal evaluations of 'integrated eco- urbanism' experiments are scarce, making it difficult to assess their impact on resources. Even so, the cases represented in this report provide some insights into outcomes. • Many of the integrated eco-developments have faced significant challenges, even cancellations and delays, in their implementation. Where they are being implemented, commercial constraints may reduce the innovative technologies used or existing standards may have been raised in support of greater sustainability. 6.3.4. Lessons learned

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