Can A City Inspire A Country?

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Can a City Inspire a Country? Pode uma cidade inspirar um PaĂ­s? SUS500 Blue Team Sustainability Project - Brazil Bernard Asagai, Patrick Donovan, Matt Barbour, Shannon Blake


Brazil - Introduction Brazil contains within its own borders examples of virtually all the major issues confronting global policy makers concerned with sustainable development. How it deals with these will have huge implications for all of us, and for the world in which we all live. The assesment of challenges, achievements, and statistics of Brazil's three major cities will help us achieve a better understanding of Brazil's diverse practices in regard to sustainability.


Brazil - Facts and Statistics

● 6th largest country in both geographic size and population

● 8th largest & fastest growing economy in the world ● Key industries: Agriculture, Mining, Manufacturing & Service ● Amazon Rainforest -highest biodiversity in the world ● Varied demographics: 86% urban; 53.7% white, 38.5% mulatto, 6.2% black; 74% Roman Catholic ● Largest Cities: Largest São Paulo, 2nd Rio De Janeiro, 7th Curitiba


Brazil - Carbon Footprint Total carbon footprint: 18th in the world, 123rd per capita Including deforestation: 4th highest in the world Bad ● Deforestation not under control ● Tremendous pressure still exists on the land ● Hydropower capacity tapped out Good ● Amazon deforestation down 50% in recent years ● Low-carbon energy focus keeps emissions low ● 85% of power from existing hydropower ● Ethanol exports could lower world carbon emissions


Carbon Footprint & Deforestation Problems ● 70% of carbon emissions, 2.5% of total global worldwide ● Amazon deforestation rates down 50%- pressure displaced to Cerrado ● Pressure on the land- 25% of GDP from crops and grazing Solutions ● Brazilian government committed to solving the problems ● 70% reduction in deforestation rates by 2017 ● Ongoing protection of Amazon, new protection measures for Cerrado ● Future carbon credits for keeping forest intact


Population - Urban and Rural


Biocapacity

http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_ publications/living_planet_report/demands_on_our_ planet/biocapacity/


São Paulo - City Statistics ● Average Life Expectancy: ○ Male - 62 ○ Female - 70 ● 86.5% of the population has completed high school ● 38.7% of the population has a college education ● Per Capita Income - $14,821 USD ● Diversity- Portuguese, Italian, German, Japanese, American, and Middle Eastern

● Gross domestic product (GDP) in 2006 was $165,902,513,210 USD


São Paulo - City Facts ● Industry - Coffee, Finance, Marketing

● 10th Richest City in the World (2008) ● Home of the most billionares in Latin America (10) ● Largest City in South America and 7th largest city in the world


São Paulo- Transportation ● Infrastructure Project to build a High Speed Rail which will connect Rio and São Paulo ● Expresso Bandeirantes project for medium speed rail service from São Paulo to Campinas ● Automobiles are main transportation into the city ● 17,000 buses including 290 trolleys ● Metro considered one of the best, safest subway systems by the NBR ISO ● Three rapid transport systems


São Paulo - Challenges ● Inequality/ Unequal distribution of Income ● Heavily polluted Tiete and Pinheiros rivers, which once supplied fresh water ● Air Pollution ● Poor infrastructure design ● Congestion


São Paulo - Green Accomplishments ● 30 Parks ● 15 million sq. meters of Green Space ● 5.2 million passengers ride the metro rail each day ● Extensive Family Health System ● Government Vehicular Restrictions


Rio De Janeiro - Statistics ● Area - 456.2 sq mi ● Economy ○ GDP $187,374,116,000 USD ○ Tourism (68%), Taxation (23%) and industrial activity (11%) largest components ● Life Expectancy - 73.1 years ● Per Capita Income $13,433 USD


Rio De Janeiro - Transportation ● Diesel-burning buses are the major form of public transportation. 440 lines service 4 million passengers daily ● Second largest Metro system in Brazil after São Paulo has 2 lines and 35 stations ● All taxis run on natural gas ● Tram mainly used by tourists ● 5 main highways


Rio De Janeiro - Challenges ● Water pollution is bad ● Air pollution causes major health problems ● Trash is a severe issue ● Inequity between rich and poor large ● Environment-minded candidates have done poorly in recent elections ● Favelas encroaching on Atlantic Forest, "EcoBarrier" solution viewed unfavorably by human rights groups ● Power grid prone to massive blackouts


Rio De Janeiro - 2016 Olympics Promises to be fully carbon neutral. Sustainable initiatives include: ○ New sewage treatment plants ○ Solar City to power the Olympic village ○ All games-related buses running on biofuel or fuel cell ○ Cleanup of polluted Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas ○ Reduce plastic bag usage ○ Large tree planting campaign ○ New bike paths ○ Solar heating for swimming venues ○ Organic meals for athletes


Curitiba - Statistics ● The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.8 million people (7th largest nationwide) Metro areas add another 1.4 million ● GDP is $18,859,007,000 USD ● Per Capita Income $10,544 USD ● It is located 65 miles west of the sea port of Paranagua ● Curitiba City, founded in 1653, is one of the oldest in North or South America


Curitiba - Challenges ● In 1964 Curitiba needed to upgrade it's 20-year-old infrastructure to accommodate its rapidly growing population (already 400,000) ● To address this need, the city government utilized skilled architects, and public input to construct a comprehensive plan ● This plan would become the roadmap for Curitiba from 1966 through today ● Increased public transportation was needed to service the high-density corridors along the X-shaped layout


Curitiba - Transportation ● Curitiba used zoning laws to encourage construction of taller buildings along the bus routes to ensure that residents wouldn't have to travel far to get to public transportation ● Buses in Curitiba account for well over half of all transport ● Some of the specially designed buses can carry 270 passengers at one time ● Bus Rapid Transit system has been copied by over 2 dozen cities around the world


Curitiba - Accomplishments ● 75% of the population commutes to work by bus ● Unused buildings are turned into sports and leisure facilities ● Integration of three main themes: ○ land zoning ○ roads systems ○ mass transportation ● Greenways serve as parks, natural flood control and water pollution filters ● The parks are kept neat and well trimmed by the city’s team of non-polluting sheep grass trimmers


Curitiba - Accomplishments ● 99% per cent of the residents of Curitiba are happy with their city (compare that with New Yorkers, 60% of whom want to leave!) ● According to the American magazine Reader's Digest, Curitiba is the best place to live in Brazil ● With its strict environmental policy, the city recycles two thirds of its refuse ● In 2010 the city was awarded the Globe Sustainable City Award


A Convenient Truth


References Anupam. (2010, March 19). Solar City Tower by RAFAA turns into an urban waterfall to generate energy. Retrieved October 13, 2010 from http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/solar-city-tower-by-rafaaturns-into-an-urban-waterfall-to-generate-energy/ Asner, G.P. for Environmental Defense Fund. (2008). Measuring Carbon Emissions from Tropical Deforestation: An Overview Boscov-Ellen, L. (2009, September 4). Brazil Finds Way to Deal with Slums: Hide them Behind Walls. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.brazzil.com/component/content/article/208september-2009/10251-brazil-finds-way-to-deal-with-slums-hide-them-behind-walls.html Boyd, E. for Science and Development Network Online (2005). Measuring Carbon Emissions from Tropical Deforestation: An Overview. Retrieved October 22, 2010 from http://www.scidev. net/en/opinions/emissions-trading-cannot-solve-amazon-deforestatio.html Brandão, T. (2010, May 25). The environment as a trashcan. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http: //www.globalgarbage.org/blog/index.php/2010/07/11/the-environment-as-trash-can/ Brazil- Brazilian government website. (2010). Environmental Situation- Control of deforestation. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.brasil.gov. br/sobre/environment/environmental-situation/control-of-deforestation. Brazil- Office of the Presidency, Secretariat of Social Communication. (2009). Brazil announces new plan to fight Cerrado deforestation. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.brasil.gov. br/para/press/press-releases/february/brazil-announces-new-plan-to-fight-cerrado-deforestation? set_language=en


References continued Brooks, B. (2010, April 8). Rio Mudslide Death Toll Over 200. The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/08/rio-mudslide-death-toll-o_n_530069.html Chambers, N. (2010, March 8). Brazil's 10 Millionth Ethanol Flex-Fuel Vehicle Hits the Road. Retrieved October 13, 2010 from http://gas2.org/2010/03/08/brazils-10-millionth-ethanol-flex-fuel-vehicle-hitsthe-road/ CIA- The World Factbook. (2010) Brazil. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from https://www.cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/br.htmcuritiba-brazil/ Connor, S. for the Independent (2009). Retrieved October 24, 2010 from http://www.independent.co. uk/environment/climate-change/annual-cost-of-climate-change-will-be-163190bn-1778391.html Duong, P.T. (Daisy) for the Green Changemakers. (2010). Curitiba- Designing a Sustainable City. Retrieved October 15, 2010 from http://green-changemakers.blogspot.com/2010/04/curitibadesigning-sustainable-city.html Fuel Cell Buses. (2010, October). Retrieved October 13, 2010 from http://www.fuelcells. org/info/charts/buses.pdf Gawryszewskia, V. P., & Costab, L. S. (2005). Social inequality and homicide rates in Sao. Rev Saude Publica, 1-3. Retrieved October 15, 2010, from http://www.scielosp.org/pdf/rsp/v39n2/en_24041.pdf


References continued de Gouvello, C. (lead author), World Bank Group. (2010). Brazil Low-Carbon Country Case Study. Retrieved October 22, 2010 from http://siteresources.worldbank. org/BRAZILEXTN/Resources/Brazil_LowcarbonStudy.pdf Hawken, P., Lovins, A. & Lovins, H.L. (1999). Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. Howden, D. for The Independent. (2007). Deforestation: the hidden cause of global warming. Retrieved October 15, 2010 from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/deforestationthe-hidden-cause-of-global-warming-448734.html Iberdrola Renewables Wins Contract for Nine Wind Farms in Brazil with Installed Capacity of 258MW. (2010, September 3). Retrieved October 13, 2010 http://www.offshorewind. biz/2010/09/03/iberdrola-renovables-wins-contract-for-nine-wind-farms-in-brazil-with-installedcapacity-of-258-mw/ Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. (2007). Population Count 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2010 from http://www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/populacao/contagem2007/default.shtm de Jong, J. and Lima, V.G. (2010, January 11). Rio 2016: Green Games. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.majoreventsint.com/pub/news.php?mpID=&mscID=820 Kooye, R. for International Institute for Environment and Development. (2009). Keeping the forests we've got. Retrieved October 15, 2010 from http://www.iied.org/climate-change/keyissues/economics-and-equity-adaptation/keeping-forests-weve-got Lewis, L. (2009, September 14). Four cities promising green and sustainable 2016 Olympics. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.ecosalon.com/24412/


References continued Lights flicker on after blackout in Brazil. (2009, November 11). The Associated Press. Retrieved October 13, 2010 from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33844757/ Medina, Y.F.G. (2010, August 3). Brazil: Worldwide Leader in Recycling Aluminum Cans. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52370 Messenger, S. (2010, Janusry 19). Air Pollution Can Harm Reproduction. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/air-pollution-can-harm-human-reproduction.php Nature's Regenerative Capacity. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2010, from WWF: http://wwf.panda. org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/demands_on_our_planet/biocapacity/ Osava, M. (2006, October 31). Eye on Urban Water Pollution. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=35308 Plügel, L. (2010, September 17). Development Trumps Environment on Election Agenda. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52877 Population. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2010, from IBGE: http://www.ibge.gov.br/english/ Ribeiro, S.K. and D'Agostso, M.D.E. (2004, December). Assessment of Hybrid-Drive Bus Fuel Savings for Brazilian Urban Transit. Transportation Planning and Technology, 27(6). pp. 483-509. Rio de Janeiro Metro from Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro_Metro


References continued Rio de Janeiro's Power Island. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2010 from http://science.discovery. com/tv/build-bigger/projects/power-island/power-island.htm Rio2016 Celebrates World Environment Day. (2009, June 5). Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http: //www.rio2016.org/en/Noticias/Noticia.aspx?idConteudo=889 Rio2016: Live Your Passion. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.rio2016.org. br/sumarioexecutivo/rio2016_en.pdf San Paulo, City of (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2010, from City of Sao Paulo: http://www.capital. sp.gov.br/portalpmsp/homec.jsp da Silva, J.M.C. for World Wildlife Fund. (2001). Cerrado. Retrieved October 10, 2010 from http: //www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0704_full.htm Stern, N. (2006). Stern Review on The Economics of Climate Change. HM Treasury, London. Tournemile, H. (2010, May 24). 2016 Olympics in Rio Part 1 - Urban Biodiversity Going Carbon Neutral. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.energyboom.com/emerging/2016-olympicsin-rio-part-1-urban-biodiversity-going-carbon-zero Welle, B. for City Parks Blog. (2009). A Green City: Parks in Curitiba, Brazil. Retrieved October 15, 2010 from http://cityparksblog.org/2009/10/13/a-green-city-parks-in-Cervero, R. The Transit Metropolis. pp 265-296. Washington, DC: Island Press. 1998.


References continued Wikipedia. (2010). Deforestation in Brazil. Retrieved October 15, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Deforestation_in_Brazil Wikipedia. (2010). List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions. Retrieved October 10, 2010 from http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions. [Data sourced from United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Statistics Division. Carbon dioxide emissions. http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/SeriesDetail.aspx?srid=749 ] Wikipedia. (2010). San Diego. Retrieved October 28, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/San_diego Wikipedia. (2010). Sao Paulo. Retrieved October 15, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3% A3o_Paulo#cite_note-IBGEMAPop2008-7 . [read footnote 8]. World Bank. (2010). Urban Transport. Retrieved October 15, 2010 from http://web.worldbank. org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTTRANSPORT/EXTURBANTRANSPORT/0,,menuPK:341455~pagePK: 149018~piPK:149093~theSitePK:341449,00.html


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