Barbara Norman

Published: Jan 19, 2018 by Global Asia
Authors: Barbara Norman & Nicole Gurran
Subjects: Built Environment, Environment and Sustainability, Urban Planning

If we imagine an Asian future under climatechange, the scenario is bleak — violent weather, displaced communities, coastal flooding, foodshortages and more. But this does not have to happen. Concerted efforts at the urban, rural and national level can help create a manageable future. China and the US already showed a way forward by agreeing to limits on global warming.

Published: Nov 01, 2017 by ANU Press
Authors: Barbara Norman & Nicole Gurran
Subjects: Built Environment, Environment and Sustainability, Urban Planning

This chapter explores the experience of regional alliances in identifying what strategies could provide the foundations for more sustainable coastal planning and the implications for multi-level governance. The chapter suggests that a national policy framework for sustainable cities and regions should underpin long-term regional arrangements for a more sustainable and resilient coastal future.

Published: Aug 01, 2017 by Journal for Nature Conservation
Authors: Michael Mitchell, Susan A. Moore, S Clement, M Lockwood, G Anderson, S Gaynor, L Gilfed, B Norman, E Lefroy
Subjects: Environment and Sustainability

This paper presents an evaluation of the strategies fostering transdisciplinarity adopted by the Landscapes and Policy Hub. A heavy emphasis on communication, with skilled knowledge brokering, regular face-to-face meetings using participatory activities and shared field engagements enhanced transdisciplinary interaction between researchers and research users.

Published: Aug 01, 2017 by AMBIO
Authors: R Webb, X Bai, M Stafford Smith, R Costanza, D Griggs, M Moglia, M Neuman, P Newman, P Newton, B, Norman, C Ryan H & ors
Subjects: Environment and Sustainability, Urban Studies

There is an increasing need for collaborative knowledge development that supports a whole-of-system view, and transformational change at multiple scales. Such holistic urban approaches are rare inpractice. A co-design process involving researchers, practitioners and other stakeholders, has progressed such an approach in the Australian context, aiming to also contribute to international knowledge development and sharing. DOI 10.1007/s13280-017-0934-6

Published: Oct 01, 2016 by National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Australia
Authors: Barbara Norman & Nicole Gurran
Subjects: Built Environment, Environment and Sustainability, Urban Planning

Projected population growth in Australia is from 24 million at present to 40 million by 2050, and the vast majority of these people will live in our large urban centres. Preparing cities to be 'climate ready' is critical to minimising risk for urban communities and, in the longer term, improving urban resilience to projected climate change impacts.

Published: May 01, 2016 by Solutions
Authors: Xuemei Bai, Barbara Norman, Peter Edwards
Subjects: Built Environment, Environment and Sustainability, Urban Planning, Urban Studies

There are numerous challenges associated with rapid urbanization, including providing for rapidly growing urban populations, managing air pollution, reducing carbon emissions, preparing for climate change risks, and improving social integration and governance procedures. In this regard, understanding cities as systems that are nested within larger systems will be critical.

By: Barbara Norman
Subjects: Built Environment, Environment and Sustainability, Urban Planning

The global population is predicted to rise to 10 billion by 2050, and the majority of those people will live in cities. Given that cities already account for 75% of the world’s energy use and 76% of carbon dioxide emissions, there’s a growing focus on how urban planning and design can reduce emissions and help humanity to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Representatives of the world’s global powers have gathered in Bonn to attend the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change – more pithily known as COP 23.

Working together to affect large-scale change has been the key message of the conference. There has been a groundswell of urban innovation on show, largely driven by the mayors and governors of cities and regions, as well as industry leaders and universities interested in promoting opportunities for greener growth.

These bodies have formed alliances and networks to develop ideas and strategies around smart mobility, renewable energy, living infrastructure and sustainable urban design. This has been the good news story of COP 23. The conference has given nation states a unique opportunity to work more closely with cities, to plan for climate change.

By: Barbara Norman
Subjects: Built Environment, Environment and Sustainability, Urban Planning

As the global population grows from seven to nearly ten billion by 2050, we will need to build the equivalent of a city of one million people every five days to house them.

The world already has ten cities with more than 20 million inhabitants, including Tokyo (37 million), Beijing (21 million), Jakarta (30 million) and New Delhi (25 million). Out of the seven billion people in the world, 6.7 billion live with pollution above WHO clean air standards.

By 2050, around 12 million people from 23 cities in East Asia alone will be at risk from coastal inundation. Planning for climate change will be critical to minimise risk to these areas.

These are just some of the stark facts about our global urban future.

With these issues in mind, up to 50,000 participants have gathered in Quito this week to discuss a New Urban Agenda at Habitat III – the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development.

The adoption of the agenda will set standards for sustainable development with a strong emphasis on social inclusion, cultural diversity, urban prosperity, urban governance, urban spatial development, and integrated urban planning including climate change.

By: Barbara Norman
Subjects: Built Environment, Environment and Sustainability, Urban Planning

What is really needed to rescue the reef is an integrated regional plan. That would take into account the environmental impacts both on land and on water, from port development and associated infrastructure, coastal urban development, agriculture and tourism. It should also factor in impacts such as farm run-off and climate change.

Without such a plan, decisions such as those taken about Abbot Point are piecemeal and premature.

As a maturing developed nation, it’s time for Australia to decide what is really important to our future. Protecting the Great Barrier Reef – one of the great wonders of the world and a treasure to be preserved for future generations – must be on that list.