Urban Ecology Department

It is estimated that some 40% of the world's population live in cities. The population explosion in the urban centers is a manifestation of two trends – the staggering rise in global population and the simultaneous lack of economic opportunity in rural areas. "Megacities" with populations between 10-15 million, have already surpassed their natural carrying capacities, with air routinely unhealthy to breathe, water unfit to drink, sewer systems overwhelmed by human wastes, and oppressive traffic congestion and noise pollution. While the majority of "megacities" were located in more developed regions as recently as 1950, by the year 2015 only two, New York and Tokyo, are projected to remain on the list. The majority of "megacities" will be located in the developing world, in urban centers where many of the marginalized poor congregate.

A focus on "sustainable cities" requires a fundamental recognition of the urgent need to strike a balance between humans and our environment. Urban planning and management should involve innovative producer-provider partnerships between the government, private and informal sector, NGOs and community-based organizations. Food security, public health services, air quality, waste management, energy efficiency, employment, housing, transportation, education, and communications must be addressed at all levels from an environmentally sustainable standpoint.

Given the strategic role cities will continue to play in the emerging global economy the urban ecology department will work with community groups, urban planners, and other groups to build urban stewardship, preserve and regenerate urban ecosystems.

Services and activities related to the following areas will be undertaken:

  • Air, water, soil and noise pollution
  • Demographic transformations impacting social and economic factors
  • Housing, transportation, public services
  • Resource recovery technologies
  • Transportation diversity and efficiency
  • Preservation of cultural heritage
  • Expanded multi modal transport capabilities that build on existing routes and systems and infrastructure
  • Neighborhoods, quality of life, community linkages
  • Infrastructure
  • Eco-efficiency and cost competitive manufacturing
  • Functional energy, wastewater and sewage treatment systems
  • Recycled and indigenous materials reuse
  • Resources governance and conservation
  • Energy efficiency, resource responsibility, social/public health responsibility, economic/functional responsibility and manufacturer responsibility
  • Eco-industrial parks design and implementation