A planet and its people under pressure: why cities matter, a presentation by Paul Toyne, Global Head of Sustainability at WSP - presentation given at Be2camp workshop at Green Build Expo in Manchester on 8 May 2013

1. Why we must not lose
sight of biodiversity
maintenance and
managing consumption!
- the role of built environment
and future city
8th May 2013
GreenBuild, Manchester
Dr Paul Toyne
Group Sustainability Director WSP
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2. Outline
 What the problem is
 Trends in population and consumption
 Impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems
 Why does it matter?
 Future Cities – the solution?
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3. The number of people on earth…….
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..has been growing rapidly,
more are expected……
…as a species we
dominate the planet...

4. Why is this a concern?
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People are increasingly living in dense, overcrowding
 Overcrowding:
• Mental health problems
• Poor health and diseases
(e.g. tuberculosis)
• In urban areas, almost 137
million people have no
access to safe drinking
water, and more than 600
million do not have adequate
sanitation
Infant mortality rate
MDG is not on target

5. Why is this a concern?
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We are reaching environmental limits…………….

6. The increasing rates of change in human activity since the
beginning of the Industrial Revolution
6Steffen W et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 2011;369:842-867

7. An inequal world – Consumption and population growth rates
vary greatly across countries according to income groups
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8. Pressures on the Earth must increase…………………
 People already dominate the Earth and manage it for immediate needs,
especially food, energy and water.
 Population numbers are still increasing.
 Consumption is growing faster than population numbers, especially in
developing countries where poor living standards must improve.
 Land use change continues and climate change impacts are yet to come.
We are going to need more environmental resources, for more people,
distributed more equitably, in a changing environment.
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9. IMPACTS ON BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS -
Population declines
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Marine fish Amphibians
Freshwater fish
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals

10. Why does it matter? Three roles of biodiversity
 Intrinsic / inherent values.
The value of something independent of its value to
anyone or anything else.
 The genetic library of life.
The source of all evolutionary innovation necessary for
future adaptive potential and diversification.
 Instrumental and extrinsic values.
For example as natural capital and for ecosystem
services.
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11. Extrinsic values derived from ecosystems (ecosystem
services)
Food, Medicine,
Industrial Products,
Building Materials

12. Biodiversity loss is continuing, with damaging
consequences
 Biodiversity loss is continuing, often at increasing rates.
 It matters for many reasons: intrinsic and instrumental.
 Biodiversity plays a critical, if poorly understood role in
ecosystem services and functions.
Biodiversity may be more important in future than now,
because of increasing pressures, multiple demands on
ecosystems and a changing environment.
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What can be done?

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16. Reduce population growth or reduce consumption?
 In a developing country
(India) and a developed
country (USA)..
 using real population
demography..
 assuming each person has a
consumption of 1 unit per
year..
 What is the effect of reducing
fertility by 1% per year for 50
years compared to reducing
consumption by 1% per year
for 50 years?
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18. Are we designing our cities to best reduce consumption
and conserve biodiversity?
 In the UK, building design is improving – responsible
sourcing and life cycle assessments of products,
construction waste reducing, energy and water
efficiencies.
 Is biodiversity being considered – is it just about bird
boxes, newt re-location, a green roof and wall?

19. So are we making the right decisions?
Local biodiversity v’s global biodiversity?
• Do we know how to influence behaviour and consumption
patterns in the home and office to protect and restore
biodiversity and ecosystems?
Is it just about waterless loos, fair-trade coffee and
FSC office furniture?
And we are okay with the progress we are making?
Do we know the full impact of our consumption in buildings
and cities

20. The role of a future city: buildings, infrastructure and its
citizens
Must haves?
We need our future cities to be
 Self-sufficient in energy (no GHG emissions) and water use, and generate
no waste
 Provide affordable housing and transportation
 Provide shelter and security from weather and changing climate
 Access to food and materials
 Provide a quality of life for its citizens (health & well-being, employment)
Achievable?
 And have no negative impact on global biodiversity and ecosystems?
More questions than answers – sorry!!