Why a green conceptual framework should be considered for the post-pandemic recovery, and how this could mitigate the climate crisis within our cities
The world is facing several quandaries regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, climate emergency and economic precariousness. The pandemic has indicated how fragile our cities have become - the social, environmental, economic pillars have fractured among our communities.
This has redefined the meaning of what sustainable cities should incorporate. There is a real and relevant acquirement to how our cities should function. In the wake of catastrophic loss, there is an opportunity to transition away from our anthropogenic tendencies towards fossil fuels and move towards a green sustainable recovery, that mitigates the climate crisis.
The premise of a green recovery involves radical rethinking when planning and designing sustainable cities, and places our natural ecosystems at the forefront of our cities. It requires accommodating for growth within a city, while developing local and global sustainability, which meets the needs of the present, without repressing future generations requirements.
Restrictions from coronavirus pandemic provided substantial evidence that a change in lifestyle could reduce air pollution; hydrological systems improved; and nature became more visible. People began to connect with their local community green spaces, but the restrictions also brought to light the perilous inequality between human living lifestyle and planetary eco-systems (Sharifi and Khavarian-Garmsir, 2020).
A green conceptual framework could be the necessary action that is required to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic. Within Glasgow there are 29 derelict land sites each the size of Kelvingrove Park (Colmer and Forsythe, 2020). 60% is publicly owned, meaning 591 hectares (1460 acres) of land is not being used, and could be designed to support a green recovery. This is why a green conceptual framework could develop the necessary action and requirements needed to transform the unused spaces within our cities.
A Doughnut Economic City, derived from Kate Raworth’s (2020) Doughnut Economic Model (DEM), challenges the present day predicaments. The social foundation (Figure 1) are 12 human requirements which every person should have in a post pandemic world. On the outer ring are nine planetary degradations which are required to be safeguarded.
DEM embraces a circular economy which means people can live within the means of our life giving planet from a local, national and global level. The vacant land spaces could be maximised by turning these areas into multi-functional spaces which correlate with the 12 social foundations.
This could include designing cultivating greenhouses; outdoor allotments that provide organic produce that are social and culturally diverse; building infrastructures which enhance carbon capture with green rooftops on side walls; circularised rooftop mechanisms for collecting rainwater; and developing a circular food waste system which can be used for mulch and compost. We can also use nature to relieve mental health issues, while reducing global dependency on essential amenities, increasing biodiversity, pollinating and green economy jobs.
A transition towards a 15 Minute city dynamic for green recovery, would involve integrating six social functions (Figure 2). Carlos Moreno (2019) reintroduced the theory of Chrono-Urbanism, with the quest to enrich the quality of life by reducing the daily anthropogenic habits which are creating environmental and climate injustices.
In this instance, derelict land could be used to interconnect areas throughout Glasgow, and transform them to reduce the requirements for a vehicle. Reducing the number of cars and increasing carbon capture roads, pathways and parks, will improve the boundaries between wildlife and population horizons, and reduce extreme heat, droughts and flooding. They will also improve physical, mental and general wellbeing, and therefore reduce the dependency on NHS services.
Overall, these two green conceptual frameworks could be combined together or used separately, to transform unused spaces, enhance the post-pandemic green recovery and mitigate the climate crisis.
Climate Exp0 is the first virtual conference from the COP26 Universities Network and the Italian University Network for Sustainable Development (RUS), sponsored by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Cambridge University Press, the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI), and the 2021 UN Climate Change Summit (COP26).
Running from 17–21 May 2021, it takes place at a critical juncture in the COP26 pre-meetings and negotiations, and is part of the All4Climate Italy 2021 official pre-COP26 initiatives. Learn more and register your place via https://www.climateexp0.org.
Reference list
Colmer, S. and Forsythe, S. (2020). After the Pandemic A Glasgow Response to Covid-19. Glasgow: Lateral North, Fergus Bruce, Laura McHard, p.29.
Moreno, C., Allam, Z., Chabaud, D., Gall, C. and Pratlong, F. (2019). Introducing the “15-Minute City”: Sustainability, Resilience and Place Identity in Future Post-Pandemic Cities. Smart Cities, [online] 4(1), pp.93–111. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2624-6511/4/1/6?type=check_update&version=1 [Accessed11 May 2021].
Pakzad, P. and Osmond, P. (2015). A Conceptual Framework for Assessing Green Infrastructure Sustainability Performance in Australia. [online] The State of Australian Cities Conference, pp.1–14. Available at: .
Raworth, K. (2020). Introducing the Amsterdam City Doughnut. [online] Kate Raworth. Available at: https://www.kateraworth.com/2020/04/08/amsterdam-city-doughnut/. [Accessed11 May 2021].
Richardson, A. (2020). Climate Emergency Implementation Plan. [online] Glasgow City Council. Available at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=50623&p=0 [Accessed11 May 2021].
Sharifi, A. and Khavarian-Garmsir, A.R. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic: Impacts on cities and major lessons for urban planning, design, and management. Science of The Total Environment, [online] 749, pp.1–14. Available at: https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0048969720359209?token=BA457D18C8543D2432A295D05DDEE02EA0E2BE0F10C0231B2D2F485FF51CD5B4DF477DA66D77003858E4752186F287F5&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20210420090116 [Accessed11 May 2021].
