Oct 31

Paris Bike Sharing Scheme Challenged by Vandals

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The New York Times has a front page story on the Paris bike sharing scheme, Vélib‘. According to the article 80% of the system’s 20,600 bicycles are either stolen or broken.  The article suggests that the vandalism stems from class-based resentment–suburban youth view the system, which is popular with Paris’ cosmopolitan young professionals and tourists, as a frivolous investment that does little to  help mobility for underprivileged communities in the region.

Photo by Gamebouille

Photo by Gamebouille

There may be something to that explanation; however, the Times article brings to mind an almost-identical story done by the BBC in February.   After that article appeared, bike sharing advocates suggested that the notion of a failed and dysfunctional Velib system is highly exaggerated and had more to do, perhaps, with the operator’s desire to negotiate a better deal with the municipal government.

As similar systems come online and evolve in Montreal, Minneapolis, Boston, and the District of Columbia, it will be interesting to see if/how vandalism emerges in these other contexts.  The Bike Sharing Blog, out of Washington is a good place to follow all the happenings in this growing transport sector.

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Oct 16

More on Urban Design and Health

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This example comes from the Daily Journal of Commerce in Portland, Oregon.  The article, headlined “Can Street Layout Affect Residents’ Health,” talks specifically about the problem posed by emergency vehicles getting to residential destinations in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood.

Photo: Portland Ground, Pictures of Portland Oregon

Photo: Portland Ground, Pictures of Portland Oregon

I haven’t been to the neighborhood, but the article describes it as having typical post-war design–a street system lacking connectivity with plenty of cul-de-sacs and dead ends.  This caused a problem recently when emergency vehicles couldn’t reach the scene of a shooting resulting in the death of a high school student.

New Urbanists and public safety departments have been at odds for years, with the latter insisting on wide residential roads and generous, rounded corners to accommodate large fire trucks.   Planners aren’t excited about the ramifications this has for street life and the pedestrian experience.  Streets become too wide, automobile traffic goes too fast, and sidewalks are sacrificed by developers to meet the zoning and infrastructure requirements for emergency vehicles.

The incident in Powellhurst-Gilbert suggests that old-style suburbia also has some problems.

In keeping with the study I referenced earlier, Powellhurst-Gilbert also was found to have issues relating to obesity that have been linked to the neighborhood’s urban design.  What is hopeful from the article is that city officials are looking at ways to change policy and seem to have the support of neighbors–something that is often lacking in other urban and suburban contexts.

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Oct 16

Madison, Wisconsin Engaged in Zoning Reform

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I don’t know the details about what is going on in Madison, but this article in the State-Journal caught my eye.

Apparently the city is engaged in a re-working of its zoning code with an emphasis on “environmental sustainability.”  Among the changes being discussed in the latest draft:

  • Reducing the minimum parking requirements for commercial buildings.  One of the reasons you see a sea of asphalt surrounding your local Big Box retailer is because traditional zoning codes often require that a minimum proportion of the lot be dedicated to parking.  New Urbanists have been arguing for years that zoning codes should include maximums, rather than minimums.  Too much parking results in a degraded environment and an expectation that automobiles should be the primary mode of transport.

    Photo of Madison: Jon Mallard

    Photo of Madison: Jon Mallard

  • Allowing for urban agriculture and gardening.  According to the article, there will be no prohibition on the siting of community gardens and special permission could be granted for small scale agricultural projects.  This is a nice effort to promote local sustainability and food security.
  • Allows for “granny flats” to be built over garages.  This is another New Urbanist staple.  It diversifies the housing stock in neighborhoods, offers a bit of income to home owners, and can enhance affordability

The process of reform is ongoing, but if this article is any indication Madison appears to be on a positive track.

Oct 16

More Evidence Linking Urban Design With Health Outcomes

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The Globe and Mail cites a new study released this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine which found that people who live in neighborhoods that had physical activity amenities and healthy food options were 38% less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.  The same authors published a study last year looking at the same issue with regard to insulin resistance and had similar results.

Photo: Yo Ghurt

Photo: Yo Ghurt

As the evidence piles up linking sprawling, automobile-centric, urban design with poor health outcomes,  you wonder when policymakers are going to start linking public health concerns with efforts underway to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.  All of these environmental factors result in negative outcomes in numerous policy areas.  Sensible land use reform and smart planning could possibly be a crucial step in solving a host of social problems with a single policy intervention.

Oct 16

Movement on Senate Climate Bill Expected

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The New York Times has an article today on the current state of play for the Senate climate bill.

After being introduced in draft form two weeks ago, there seems to be a push to at least get hearings underway this month and–perhaps–a vote by the time negotiators meet in Copenhagen for the UN climate change conference.

There are several committees that have jurisdiction on the energy and climate bill, but the chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Barbara Boxer, has tentatively scheduled hearings to begin on October 27 followed by a markup of the bill.  The Senate takes a couple of weeks off in November for Thanksgiving and Veterans Day, but it is conceivable that a bill could come to the floor early in December.

Even if the Senate hasn’t voted on the full legislation by Copenhagen, positive action by key committees will help the US negotiators in Copenhagen support their position that the US is being proactive on mitigation.

Oct 15

Financing For Developing Countries Major Sticking Point for Climate Talks

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The New York Times has a nice article explaining the persistent tension between the G-77 (and China) and the industrialized countries.  It basically comes down to money.

In UN parlance, this is concern over technology transfer and adaptation.  The highest rates of growth for carbon usage are in developing countries; but these countries see this growth as essential to developing vibrant economies.  They are willing to use low carbon alternatives, but argue that the West should pay for it since the West had the luxury of deploying decades of high carbon growth.

“Adaptation” refers to the urgent money needed to help the most vulnerable countries adapt to the immediate challenges of a hotter planet.  Part of what makes these countries (like small island developing states) so vulnerable is rapid change and inadequate resources.  Given that these countries didn’t contribute to the climate problem, any global deal will need to have significant financing.

The current Kyoto structure for financing is woefully inadequate.  There is a small tax placed on carbon credits, but it hasn’t raised nearly enough money.  The article places the figure at $18 million.  Nicholas Stern says that there should be about $85 billion per year going to adaptation.

The rich countries have not agreed on a financing framework. The EU is proposing somewhere between $33-$74 billion per year.  Even if that figure was agreed to in theory, the mechanisms by which financing would be insured are uncertain.  The West generally likes to push market and private sector solutions; but the the G-77 prefers direct transfer from governments, arguing that market mechanisms can be too unpredictable.

With all of the talk in the US about emissions reductions, it is important to recognize that the North-South financing issue may be an even bigger obstacle in the journey to secure a global deal.

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Oct 10

India Ready to Deal in Copenhagen

Climate, Copenhagen, India Comments Off

Jake Schmidt of the National Resources Defense Council has an interesting post discussing a speech given yesterday by India’s Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh.

I’ve reported on statements made by Ramesh in the past few months that have been perceived as being relatively provocative.

photo of Jairam Ramesh: Matthew McDermott

Photo of Jairam Ramesh: Matthew McDermott

Schmidt’s post, however, suggests that Ramesh is shifting tone. Yesterday he apparently highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by the country from climate change and highlighted the numerous domestic policies being undertaken to mitigate emissions, particularly with regard to regulations requiring efficiency in transport & building, expansion of renewable energy production, and deforestation.

With this approach it seems like India is following China’s strategy of highlighting domestic action to claim the moral high ground while the United States continues to stay quiet on the key issue of mitigation targets.

Oct 09

Obama’s Nobel Prize–Implications for Climate Talks?

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US President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize today.   The award comes just several short months into his Presidency, making him quite a surprise pick.  Normally the committee makes these awards after significant breakthroughs in international peace or long careers in diplomacy or development.

Photo: White House

Photo: White House

Climate Progress has an interesting angle on the implications of the award on the international climate change talks underway.   They point out that in the announcement of the prize, the Nobel committee mentions that “thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting.”

Close observers of the US stance in the climate talks will acknowledge a change in the US attitude at the talks since Obama took office.  But there has been much less movement of the actual US position on key issues such as mitigation.  In fact, the meetings this past week in Bangkok nearly ground to a halt as developing countries accused the US of being a “stumbling block” in efforts to advance the negotiations.  They have essentially moved from being obstructionist under President Bush to being non-committal.

Climate Progress suggests, however, that the Nobel could be the shot-in-the-arm needed to breathe energy into the talks.  Obama mentioned the challenge of climate change in his address this morning where he said he looked upon the award as a “call to action.”

It has been reported that he will attend the award ceremony in Oslo on December 10.   This falls late in the first week of the big climate talks in Copenhagen–a mere hour flight away.

The timing isn’t perfect.  As Reuters points out, the high level ministerial sessions begin six days later on the 16th.  There is a movement from civil society groups to push heads of government to attend the sessions in order to highlight the urgent need for a global deal.

Regardless of whether Obama attends the meeting in Copenhagen or not, his presence in the region in the midst of the talks to accept an award for his global leadership will certainly influence the proceedings.

Oct 07

Future of Kyoto Protocol Sticking Point at Bangkok Talks

Bangkok, Climate, Copenhagen Comments Off

As the penultimate pre-Copenhagen climate negotiations wind down this week in Bangkok, it appears that long-standing tensions between the United States and developing countries are reaching the boiling point.

Photo: Adopt a Negotiator

Photo: Adopt a Negotiator

At issue is the future of the Kyoto protocol which the US has not ratified, but which developing countries want to extend after its first commitment period ends in 2012.  Reuters is reporting that the G77 negotiators, representing developing countries, walked out of an informal meeting on Wednesday after the US insisted on shelving Kyoto for an entirely new agreement.

The US, of course, is not a party to Kyoto and according to head negotiator Jonathan Pershing “we are not going to be in the Kyoto protocol.”  Developing countries, however, see the rejection of Kyoto as a rejection of the principle that developed countries should bear the bulk of the responsibility for emissions reductions since they have historically been the largest contributors.

It is a bit disconcerting that this dispute is only now stalling negotiations since the basic point of contention has been apparent for years.   Back in 2007 parties to the UN climate change convention established a parallel negotiating structure with Kyoto parties discussing the post-2012 environment on the one hand and an “Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action” on the other.

At the time it may have made sense since the Bush administration was decidedly antagonistic to the whole idea that climate change was a problem.  However, the result seems to have been to sweep real differences under the rug only to surface at the 11th hour of negotiations.

That said, there is still a perception amongst delegates that despite the change in administration, the US is still dragging its feet at the negotiating table.  Although Obama has made statements that he thinks of the US as a “leader” in negotiations, the fact that the US delegation can’t come to the table with an explicit set of binding reduction targets is not likely to be helpful.

This is particularly problematic since the US and other G8 countries pledged to limit global warming to 2 degrees in line with the scientific assessments.  At this stage in the game, the emissions pledges on the table won’t be enough to meet that goal.

Oct 07

EPA to Study Atrazine Regulations

agriculture Comments Off

The New York Times is reporting that the EPA is going to investigate the health risks associated with the herbicide atrazine.  Atrazine is used in agriculture, landscaping, and golf courses to control weeds and has been shown to contaminate groundwater.  Excessive exposure to the chemical has been linked to elevated risks for cancer and birth defects.

This is long overdue.  The Natural Resources Defense Council sued the EPA during the Bush years to force a reconsideration of the current regulations on atrazine, but was met with resistance.

Today’s move shows that the EPA under Lisa Jackson is assuming a more aggressive stance towards protecting human health.

Since atrazine is primarily used in heavily-subsidized corn production, it would also be helpful for federal officials concerned with agriculture to investigate ways to reduce its use.  Taking the radical step of subsidizing less environmentally problematic production methods might be a start.

In the European Union, atrazine has been banned for years.

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