Cooling cities with green spaces: policy perspectives Judy Bush PhD candidate, University of Melbourne Supervisors: A/Prof. Lu Aye (Engineering) Dr Dominique Hes (Architecture, Building and Planning) March 2016 INTRODUCTION Identifying the gap in research KEY ISSUES KEY • Australia: highly urbanised nation • Urban sprawl and densification • Urban heat island effect: existing research • South east-Australian climate, heatwaves • Climate change: impacts, mitigation, adaptation • The role of public policy for urban green space Research question and sub-questions KEY ISSUES KEY • How can policies contribute to retaining and maximising green space? • How is policy success defined by research and practice? • Which policies for urban green space and urban heat island are successful and why? • Because research is valued by policy makers, how can collaboration between research and practice communities be enhanced? Research approach Hume City Council Moreland City Council • PhD research 2014 - 2017 City of Melbourne • Qualitative research: FINDINGS KEY – interviews and document analysis for urban green space and urban heat island policies in Melbourne; – Secondary comparative case study of London (comparative example of ‘best- practice’ city) Source: http://www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/local-government/find-your-local-council Policy analysis framework (Sources: Loorbach, 2010; Vogel & Henstra 2015) Strategic: Tactical: Operational: Reflexive: Research approachproblem coalitions, mobilising evaluation, structuring, transition actors, projects monitoring & transition agendas & experiments learning arena, visions • GoalsPolicy analysis framework: Targets– policy research: content and process FINDINGS KEY content Instruments – sustainability transitions theories: transition management Agents Policy Policy Agenda setting Problem framing Engagement: stakeholders community process Setting priorities Policy Policy Policy options Political support Policy integration Initial results: Australian policies audit Themes Federal Victorian Municipal Cities, urban National Urban Policy Vic Planning Provisions Municipal Strat. Statement design and 20 Million Trees program Plan Melbourne: Metro Council Plan planning Green Star rating tool Planning Strategy (& Refresh) Local Planning Policy Health,• Australian Dept of Health Planpolicy, audit:Public Health & Wellbeing Municipal health & wellbeing emergency Aust. Emergency M’ment, Emergency Management Municipal Emergency M’ment FINDINGS KEY managementPolicy Disaster domains Resilience Strategy andVictorian policies Heatwave Plan at federal,Heatwave Strategy state Water, andWater local Act 2007 levels State Environ Protection Policy Integrated Water M’ment Plan stormwater National Water Initiative Living Victoria, Living Waterway management plans management Melbourne Climate Emission Reduction Fund Climate Change Act 2010 Mitigation Plan change Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Plan Adaptation Plan Open space Dept of Health Plan Metro. Open Space Strategy Urban Forest Strategy and Healthy Parks, Healthy People Open space strategy recreation Green Roofs & Walls Strategy Street Tree strategy Ecology and Environment Protection & Environment Protection Act Urban ecology strategies biodiversity Biodiversity Conservation Act Flora & Fauna Guarantee Act Environment Effects Act VEAC Metro Melbourne Buildings National Construction Code Building regulations, permits Initial results • Overview of policy instruments: KEY FINDINGS KEY – Information and advocacy – Incentives – Government provision and demonstration – Regulation Policy mechanism Policy instruments Initial results • Overview of policy instruments: KEY FINDINGS KEY Information/ Advocacy Incentive Government provision Regulation Community– informationinformation: heatwaves and (including advocacy vulnerability mapping) Community information, engagement, participation: urban green space (including– communityDemonstration plantings, etc.) Guidelines and toolkits: urban greening; green roofs, etc. – Incentives Incentives during the planning process for proposals incorporating increased green space– regulationprovisions: • Increased floor area ratios • ‘Green door’ fast tracking of approvals • Waiving planning fees • Exempt certain works related to urban greenery Stormwater fee discount with increased pervious surfaces Grants, rebates, financing for installation of urban greenery features Policy mechanism Policy instruments Initial results • Overview of policy instruments: KEY FINDINGS KEY Information/ Advocacy Incentive Government provision Regulation Leadership,– includinginformation demonstration and of urban advocacy green space treatments Creation –of pocketDemonstration parks from street closures or realignment Opportunistic public works (utilities/ easements management) Integrated– governmentIncentives decision -making on urban infrastructure and land use planning: inclusion of UHI – regulation Integrated government decision-making: ensure existing regulations do not pose a barrier for urban green space implementation and innovation Metropolitan Open Space Strategy: include urban heat island mitigation as a goal, and use vulnerability and exposure data to prioritise actions Water sensitive urban design treatments integrated with street tree plantings Policy mechanism Policy instruments Initial results Information/ Advocacy Incentive Government provision Regulation Water sensitive urban design treatments integrated with street tree plantings FINDINGS KEY Developer contributions for public open space Regulations, mandated for particular types of development, using Green Star model (Green Star Communities rating tool; ENV 3 UHI) Planning scheme overlays for ‘hot spots’ (based on thermal data): require specific heat mitigation treatments for private development Protection of public trees: penalties for damage Policy mechanism Policy instruments Initial results KEY FINDINGS KEY Government provision Regulation Information/ Advocacy Incentive Data collection, monitoring, evaluation of both urban heat and of urban green space indicators Research and implementation partnerships: universities, peak bodies Awards, recognition programs Informing policy approaches • ‘Best-practice’ approaches to green space policy • ‘Success factors’ in policy process: APPLYING RESULTS APPLYING – champions/ policy entrepreneurs – networks – community engagement and support – policy ‘ownership’ across organisation – budget allocations • Translating research to policies’ evidence-base Informing policy approaches • Issues: – Minimum standards & incentives Impervious & permeable – RESULTS APPLYING – Gardens & outdoor living rooms – Public land: competing uses, maintenance costs and standards – Political ‘capital’ for decision making – Cross-cutting issue: risks of duplication, working at cross-purposes, coordination and consultation Gaps in knowledge and application • Limitations of policy: – Evidence base (and communication of research) – Political capital, decision-making and funding GAPS KNOWLEDGE – Trade-offs: green space vs other land uses Gaps in knowledge and application • Beyond policy: – Role of developers and their clients in incorporating green space into new developments KNOWLEDGE GAPS KNOWLEDGE – Retaining green space in existing residential areas Gaps in knowledge and application • Systems approaches (including feedback loops): assessing impacts of implementation of green space policy approaches on urban development patterns KNOWLEDGE GAPS KNOWLEDGE – sprawl, densification, – housing affordability and equity Publications • Conference paper Bush, J. Aye, A and Hes, D. Cooling cities with green space: a policy analysis framework. State of Australian Cities conference December 2015 • Accepted abstract for edited book: Australian Urban Sustainability Transitions (ASTRA) Bush, Aye, Hes and Murfitt, How can sustainability transition theories contribute to practice? • Other articles Interview in Ecolibrium, AIRAH’s industry magazine, Feb 2016 PUBLICATIONS Photos: J. Bush Sources Policy analysis framework: Loorbach, D. 2010, 'Transition management for sustainable development: A prescriptive, complexity-based governance framework', Governance, 23, (1), 161-83. Vogel, B. & Henstra, D. 2015, 'Studying local climate adaptation: A heuristic research framework for comparative policy analysis', Global Environmental Change, 31, 110-20. Best practice policy instruments AECOM 2013, Urban heat island report: City of Greater Geelong, Wyndham City Council. City of Melbourne 2012, Urban forest strategy. Making a great city greener. 2012-2032, Melbourne. City of Sydney 2012, Green roofs and walls strategy. GHD 2011, 'Urban heat island effect. Mitigation strategies and planning policy approaches. Unpublished report for City of Melbourne'. ——— 2013, 'Green infrastructure and the private realm: international review. Unpublished report for City of Melbourne'. Green Building Council of Australia 2014, Green Star – Communities PILOT V0.1 rating tool, Sydney. Inner Melbourne Action Plan 2014, Growing green guide: green roofs, walls and facades policy options background paper. Norton, B, Coutts, A, Livesley, SJ & Williams, NSG 2013, Urban heat island report: decision principles for the selection and placement of green infrastructure, Victorian Centre for Climate Adaptation Research, Melbourne. State of Victoria 2014, Growing green guide: a guide to green roofs, walls and facades in Melbourne and Victoria, Australia, Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Melbourne. SOURCES Sweeney Research 2014, A quantitative research report on 2014 heatwave business impacts - social research. Report for City of Melbourne, Melbourne. US EPA 2008, Reducing urban heat islands: compendium of strategies, Washington, DC. Victorian Department of Transport Planning and Local Infrastructure 2014, Plan Melbourne. Metropolitan planning strategy. .