Re-imagining our cities' futures to give Europe a new lease of life

Energy and climate issues might appear to be new on the agenda when we consider our cities’ future.
Although often presented as added constraints, don’t they present – quite to the contrary – an opportunity to rethink our cities and improve our quality of life?

Transforming our cities to improve our lives

Historically, people settled close to energy sources (water, wood and, later, coal deposits) until the electricity revolution, and subsequently oil and gas, changed the order of things.
"Freed" from the constraints of local energy supplies, regions embarked on "above ground" development programmes, without regard to energy supply constraints and environmental consequences. Energy sources, though vital, became remote and anonymous. Cheap energy took care of the rest. Construction proceeded with no thought for energy consumption. Cities sprawled unimpeded, relying on inexpensive private transport. Long-term town planning decisions disregarded energy considerations.
Long-distance travel for work, leisure, shopping, and educational purposes, for instance, became the be all and end all of urban development; often at the cost of quality of life.

With oil prices at $100 a barrel – and likely to rise much higher in the future – and the consequences of its unrestrained use for social cohesion and world stability, on account of climate change and the financial and human costs, the balance of nature has forced itself on our attention - our approach to development is unsustainable because it cannot be replicated throughout the planet. And yet, it is being applied right round the world.

In taking this approach, we have gradually transformed the "freedom" referred to above into "dependence"; all major decisions about energy supplies are taken very far from where we live.

Little by little, we are making ourselves vulnerable but our addiction prevents us from appreciating the full extent of the problem. If only we knew!

Cities and regions as drivers for change: an achievable Utopia

Intergovernmental climate experts tell us that, in Europe, we have to cut our greenhouse gas emissions by three-quarters by 2050. The European Union has set itself the target of 3x20% by 2020.
Some mayors are to commit to meeting and going beyond these objectives under the Covenant of Mayors. None of us, from individuals right through to cities, regions or States, can now be in any doubt about the course we have to take.

What does this mean?

What seems " extraordinary/outstanding" today - very low-energy or "energy positive" consumption; living, working, shopping and socialising locally; travelling on foot, by bicycle, or on user-friendly public transport; making substantial use of local renewable resources, etc. – will have to become the norm. What is beginning to spark the imagination of local decision makers today will have to become commonplace. [1]
Does this smack of Utopia? Of course it does.
Is it an achievable Utopia? Probably - we have only to think what would happen if we did not set ourselves resolutely on this path.

Unless local authorities are central to this change, it will never happen. The cities of the future will be built in consultation with the public, businesses, banks and NGOs. Isn’t this an incredible opportunity to give Europe a new lease of life and a more upbeat image with its citizens?