The dynamics of urban metabolism in the face of digitalisation and changing lifestyles UIO:Energy Forum 2019 Lars Böcker Postdoctoral researcher Dept. Sociology & Human Geography University of Oslo Metabolism © Paul Brunner Urban metabolism “Metabolism of cities” (Wolman, 1965) • Quantify inputs, outputs, transformations and flows • Traditionally three pressing metabolic challenges: water, pollution, sewage/waste • Today fourth (more global) metabolic challenge: CO2 / other greenhouse gasses Literature on urban metabolism • Optimising metabolism of industrial systems through symbiosis industrial ecology • Relationship humans - urban surroundings urban ecology • Relationship human economies and natural ecosystems ecological economics • Ecosystems as socially constructed: role of culture/politics political ecology • Relation with production/trade between nations political economy Common interests across disciplines • social and natural systems • city and hinterland • concern for sustainability in urban areas • concern for urban inequality Broto et al., 2012 Dynamics of urban metabolism Wegener, 2004; Dijst, 2013; Dijst et al., 2018 Urban metabolism Urban metabolism ' d n ' ' a Stocks'and'flo s' ' d , of'people,'goods,' n m a r ' i informa4on,' f ' m , money'and'ideas' r i d f l ' , o d h l e ' o ' s y l h s u e l e o v s e w visualised h e v Enerwgy'flo s' u l / ' e l o l l ' a h a l / u n a l d o n a i o u 4 v i d u 4 i d t u v n t 4 i i i ' 4 d Matewrial'stocks' s t s n n a i i ' n and'flo s' ' i s t a ' m i s a e ' d m n o a c ' t s r Study'area' u e O v i r D Urban metabolism Urban metabolism ' d n ' ' a Stocks'and'flo s' ' d , of'people,'goods,' n m a r ' i informa4on,' f ' m , money'and'ideas' r i d f l ' , o d h l e ' o ' s y l h s u e l e o v s e w visualised h e v Enerwgy'flo s' u l / ' e l o l l ' a h a l / u n a l d o n a i o u 4 v i d u 4 i d t u v n t 4 i i i ' 4 d Matewrial'stocks' s t s n n a i i ' n and'flo s' ' i s t a ' m i s a e ' d m n o a c ' t s r Study'area' u e O v i r D Urban metabolism Urban metabolism ' d n ' ' a Stocks'and'flo s' ' d , of'people,'goods,' n m a r ' i informa4on,' f ' m , money'and'ideas' r i d f l ' , o d h l e ' o ' s y l h s u e l e o v s e w visualised h e v Enerwgy'flo s' u l / ' e l o l l ' a h a l / u n a l d o n a i o u 4 v i d u 4 i d t u v n t 4 i i i ' 4 d Matewrial'stocks' s t s n n a i i ' n and'flo s' ' i s t a ' m i s a e ' d m n o a c ' t s r Study'area' u e O v i r D Urban design and metabolism Atlanta Barcelona Pop. = 2.8 million Pop. = 2.8 million 6 inhabitants / Ha. 176 inhabitants / Ha. Area stretches 137km Area stretches 37km 74km metro line 99km metro line 4% within 800m from station 60% within 600m from station 4.5% of trips by public transport 30% of trips by public transp. 100M tons CO2 7M tons CO2 Davoudi & Sturzaker 2017 Car travel in km per person per day Competitiveness public transport compared to car Eidsvoll Råholt Hønefoss Jessheim Rotnes Skedsmokorset Lillestrøm Oslo Lørenskog Sandvika Asker Nesoddtangen Hokksund Drammen Ski Ås Askim Moss Throndsen, 2017 Letnes, 2019 Urban metabolism and remote impacts Direct resource use inside the city is only part of story, what about remote impacts? Example from San Francisco Wachsmuth et al., 2016; Stanton et al., 2011 Urban metabolism and remote impacts Direct resource use inside the city is only part of story, what about remote impacts? Example from San Francisco Wachsmuth et al., 2016; Stanton et al., 2011 Urban metabolism and remote impacts Direct resource use inside the city is only part of story, what about remote impacts? Example from San Francisco Wachsmuth et al., 2016; Stanton et al., 2011 Lifestyles and lifestyle expressions Lifestyles opinions and orientations What people want to do Lifestyle expressions Observable pattern of behaviour what people want to do mediated by what they are able to do Van Acker et al. (2014) Lifestyles and lifestyle expressions Lifestyles opinions and orientations What people want to do ∆ individual wellbeing inequalities and societal wellbeing Lifestyle expressions Observable pattern of behaviour what people want to do mediated by what they are able to do matters for urban metabolism Van Acker et al. (2014) Peak car? From motor age to digital age From motor age to digital age Digitalisation and physical travel Substitution effects Generation effects Teleworking More long distance interactions Online shopping Induced demand for delivery logistics Teleleisure Increased aeromobilities or flyskam? Digitalisation and physical travel Substitution effects Generation effects Teleworking More long distance interactions Cosmopolitan/global lifestyles Online shopping delivery Teleleisure Increased aeromobilities or flyskam? Implications for... - Health - Lifestyles - Wellbeing - Urban development Digitilisation, lifestyles, energy costs, urban development and mobility -3% travel reduction 53% travel reduction +35% travel reduction -25% travel reduction Example of sharing economy • The more you own, the more you can share • Owning with sharing revenue in mind • Strip away our commons (Mehta, 2015) Sharing economies and urban metabolism Energy and resource Energy and resource Rebound Implications for savings in production savings from usage effects Urban Metabolism Car Ride Bike Accom- modation Garden Concluding remarks • Digitalisation may recraft lifestyles expressions of energy-intensive consumption and mobility practices, possibly even how such practises interlock, but there are important challenges • Rebound effects • Uneven access, digital divide, rural-urban divide, market-driven supply catering predominantly the well-off --> reinforced inequalities • Scenario planning is useful, but acknowledge and communicate the uncertainty. Also, not just forecasting, also backcasting [email protected] Implications for urban development Hegemonic urban development strategy: densification (pros and cons) • Reduces distances which eases walking, cycling and health • Generates critical mass for public transport and hampers car use • Thus positive effects on daily mobility, but not on long distance (air) travel • Density supports collaborative consumption but mixed urban metabolism implications [email protected] Implications for urban development Hegemonic urban development strategy: densification (pros and cons) • Reduces distances which eases walking, cycling and health • Generates critical mass for public transport and hampers car use • Thus positive effects on energy use for mobility, but not on long distance (air) travel • Density supports collaborative consumption but mixed urban metabolism implications But it is about more than just mobility and other lifestyles... • Limited loss of valuable natural/agricultural land • Lower energy use in apartments, lower per capita building / infrastructure stock, • Yet also higher dependence on carbon-intensive building materials (e.g. concrete) • Concentration of people, jobs, activities, travel and resource use may lead to friction, negative externalities and pressure on wellbeing and health • Lack of access to nature and afforable housing may pressure wellbeing/health/equality - Social justice dimensions (Procedural, Recognition, Distributional) of digitalisation, urban transformation and decarbonisation need to be addressed and evaluated. [email protected].