Preparing Cities For The Age Beyond Oil

As the world moves towards a future beyond oil, cities around the globe are faced with the challenge of adapting to a new energy landscape. With the increasing urgency to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential for cities to start preparing now for a future without oil.

One of the key factors in preparing cities for the age beyond oil is the development of sustainable transportation systems. The reliance on oil has led to a heavy dependence on automobiles, resulting in traffic congestion, air pollution, and a decrease in overall quality of life. To overcome these challenges, cities need to invest in infrastructure for public transportation, cycling, and walking. By providing accessible and efficient alternatives to driving, cities can reduce the demand for oil-based transport and improve air quality.

Another crucial aspect of preparing cities for the age beyond oil is the promotion of renewable energy sources. Oil is a finite resource, and its extraction and burning contribute to the release of greenhouse gases, exacerbating climate change. By harnessing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power, cities can significantly reduce their carbon footprints and become more sustainable. Implementing initiatives like solar panel installations on buildings, wind farms, and geothermal heating systems can help cities transition away from oil energy.

Planning After Petroleum: Preparing Cities for the Age Beyond Oil

by Anitra Nelson (1st Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4812 KB
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Print length	:	272 pages

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In addition to sustainable transportation and renewable energy, cities also need to focus on creating more resilient and adaptable urban environments. The age beyond oil brings uncertainties and challenges, including extreme weather events and resource scarcity. Therefore, it is essential for cities to invest in infrastructure that can withstand such shocks and stresses. Building green spaces, improving water management systems, and creating more energy-efficient buildings are some of the steps cities can take to make themselves more resilient in the face of change.

Preparing cities for the age beyond oil also involves rethinking urban planning and design. Development patterns need to prioritize mixed-use neighborhoods that allow for easy access to amenities, work, and recreation without the need for long commutes. By designing cities around people and reducing dependency on vehicles, cities can create more livable and sustainable communities. Mixed-use zoning, incorporating green spaces, and promoting compact development are all strategies that cities can employ to move away from the oil-centric model of urban planning.

The transition to a future beyond oil is not without its challenges. Economic issues, political hurdles, and cultural resistance can make the journey towards sustainability difficult. However, preparing cities for the age beyond oil is crucial not only for the well-being of current residents but also for future generations. By investing in sustainable transportation, renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, and smart urban planning, cities can become leaders in the global fight against climate change and create a better future for all.

Planning After Petroleum: Preparing Cities for the Age Beyond Oil

by Anitra Nelson (1st Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4812 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	272 pages

FREE

Thepast decade has been one of the most volatile periods in global petroleum markets in living memory, and future oil supply security and price levels remain highly uncertain. This poses many questions for the professional activities of planners and urbanists because contemporary cities are highly dependent on petroleum as a transport fuel. How will oil dependent cities respond, and adapt to, the changing pattern of petroleum supplies? What key strategies should planners and policy makers implement in petroleum vulnerable cities to address the challenges of moving beyond oil? How might a shift away from petroleum provide opportunities to improve or remake cities for the economic, social and environmental imperatives of twenty-first-century sustainability?

Such questions are the focus of contributors to this book with perspectives ranging across the planning challenge: overarching petroleum futures, governance, transition and climate change questions, the role of various urban transport nodes and household responses, ways of measuring oil vulnerability, and the effects on telecommunications, ports and other urban infrastructure. This comprehensive volume – with contributions from and focusing on cities in Australia, the UK, the US, France, Germany, the Netherlands and South Korea – provides key insights to enable cities to plan for the age beyond petroleum.