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Rethinking the Role of MetropolitanPlanning in Sustainable Development

CPN-MOC Conference

June 14-16, 2006 Beijing

Qing Shen

Professor of Urban Studies and PlanningSchool of Architecture, Planning and Preservation

University of Maryland, College Park

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Presentation Outline1. Connection between urban land use,

urban transportation, and sustainabledevelopment

2. Rethink the role of metropolitan planning

3. Challenges and opportunities for urbanplanning research and practice in China

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1. Connection between Urban Land Use,Urban Transportation, and Sustainable

Development

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Dimensions of sustainable development

Definition of sustainable development

Meets the needs of the present generation withoutcompromising the ability of future generations tomeet their needs (WCED, 1987)

Dimensions

Environmental

Economic

Equity

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Urban focus of sustainable development

Sustainable development is focusing

increasingly on urban areas because theyare where most people will reside and whereeconomic activities will be most intensive

How the future cities are built and the futureurban population live, work, and travel will bea key determinant of sustainability

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Consequences of low-density auto-oriented

patterns of urban development

Environmental (more details to be provided)

Economic (more details to be provided)

Equity (more details to be provided)

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2. Rethink the Role of Metropolitan Planning

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Function of metropolitan planning

Urban planning at the metropolitan scale

Manipulation of urban form and structurefundamentally determine how people couldlive and travel

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Illusive effects of metropolitan planning on

sustainable development

Effects on actual land use and travel

outcomes are unclear Current levels of resource consumption and

emissions are unsustainable

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Importance for rethinking the role of

metropolitan planning

Uncertainties

High risk

Irreversibility

Changing conditions for plan making andgovernmental policy

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Resetting guiding principles

Create choices

Maintain the capacity to adapt

Influence behavior

Example in land use and transportationplanning

Proposed study by Levine, Shen, and others

From automobility to accessibility andadaptability

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Modified performance measures

Example in land use and transportation

planning Proposed study by Levine, Shen, and others

Three measures (accessibility, minimum required

travel, and viability of public transportation) Similar measures can be devised for land use

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3. Challenges and Opportunities for UrbanPlanning Research and Practice in China

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Chinas recent policy developments

The emphasis on sustainability

The recognition of disadvantaged populationgroups

The emphasis on developing a harmonious

society (diversity does not translate intopolarization and social conflicts)

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Global importance

details to be provided

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Knowledge creation

details to be provided

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Institutional reform

details to be provided

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Some suggestions

Consider jointly land use and

transportation (e.g. housing andtransportation costs of residentialoptions should be examined

simultaneously)

Broaden and enrich the functionality of

metropolitan planning Learn from different cities