Sustainable Urban Systems

Objectives

This course in the 3rd semester benefits from knowledge and skills previously acquired in other courses (climate mitigation and adaptation options, circular economy models, innovation for sustainability and sustainability analysis tools). The course Sustainable Urban Systems aims to integrate knowledge applied to urban systems. Students will acquire knowledge and skills on:

- complexity of urban systems and their impact on sustainability and climate change on the planet, and in promoting the competitiveness of countries

- technological and ecological dimensions of urban systems

- solutions based on nature, and circular solutions for the provision of water, energy, mobility and food services, based on the concepts of sufficiency and efficiency

- training in integrated sustainability analysis tools

- development of system thinking, individual autonomy, teamwork, critical and innovative capacity

General characterization

Code

12680

Credits

3.0

Responsible teacher

Available soon

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

n.a.

Bibliography

Austin, G. 2014. Green Infrastructure for Landscape Planning: Integrating Human and Natural Systems, Routledge

 Binder, C. R. et al. (Eds). 2020 Sustainability Assessment of Urban Systems. Cambridge Univ Press.

 Cohen-Shacham, E. et al 2016. Nature-based Solutions to address global societal challenges, IUCN Coutts, C 2016. Green Infrastructure and Public Health, Routledge

EEA 2015. Exploring nature-based solutions. The role of green infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of weather- and climate change-related natural hazards, EEA report No12

Musango, et al 2017. Urban metabolism for resource efficient cities: from theory to implementation. Paris: UN Environment.

Rosenzweig, C. et al (Eds.) 2018. Climate Change and Cities: Second Assessment Report of the Urban Climate Change. Research Network. Cambridge Univ Press.

Teaching method

Available soon

Evaluation method

Available soon

Subject matter

1. Systems’ approach to urban systems; components and agents. Multiple scales (building, district, city, metropolitan area, peri-urban systems).

2. Cities: impact on sustainability and climate change. Competitiveness of cities.

3. Urban ecology: resource flows and stocks, urban biodiversity (from natural ecosystems to socio-ecological systems).

4. Green infrastructure and solutions based on nature: Natural Capital and the sustainability of cities; ecologically based management and urban ecological structure, Green Infrastructures (definitions, functions, types and services),

5. Circular technological solutions and Smart Cities: Urban water, energy and food cycle, mobility,

6. Integrated methodologies and tools: Superblock’s Model. Urban Metabolism, Supply Chain Analysis. Ecological footprint of cities. Sustainability indicators.

7. Final workshop to present students'''' work

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: