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350.org - To solve the climate crisis, we need to organise for a Fossil Free world.

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350.org - To solve the climate crisis, we need to organise for a Fossil Free world.

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350.org: A global campaign to confront the climate crisis

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We are standing up to the fossil fuel industry to stop all new coal, oil and gas projects and build clean energy future for all.

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The Climate Reality Project is a non-profit organization involved in education and advocacy related to climate change.

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Something interesting I read on sponge cities, though personally, I don't think the problem, be it due to humankind and/or an inevitable cycle, is now avoidable. 

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Something interesting I read on sponge cities, though personally, I don't think the problem, be it due to humankind and/or an inevitable cycle, is now avoidable. 

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In an era of rampant land development and increasing climate unpredictability, the world is growing used to alarming images of flooded city streets. Urban floods cost billions of dollars per year. Even the mildest can bring traffic to a standstill and cause economic hardship for merchants and residents. The worst floods drown people, spawn disease, destroy infrastructure and virtually shut down entire economies.

But cities themselves can combat these floods by turning into "sponge cities." By utilizing wetlands - wet areas such as marsh, swamps or shallow ponds - as well as green spaces and floodplains, a city can absorb large amounts of water before it submerges its streets. As we mark World Wetlands Day on February 2, it's time for cities to reconsider the power of wetlands and other natural infrastructure. It's time for sponge cities to fend off the growing scourge of urban floods.

Thai cities have dealt with serious floods in recent years. The flooding of Bangkok in 2011 is estimated to have cost USD 41 billion. Udon Thani, one of the major cities in the northeast region of Isan, has also been impacted. Almost every year during the monsoon, the city's drainage system is overwhelmed. Large areas are inundated, homes and other buildings are flooded, and roads become impassable. Because sewage mixes with flood waters, city flooding can bring increased health risks - causing direct human, as well as financial, costs.

Flooding in Udon Thani, 30 July 2016 (Credit: estudioOCA)

In recent years, economic growth and migration from rural areas has led to rapid population growth in Thai cities like Udon Thani. Increasing population has contributed to dramatic land use changes throughout the city. These changes exacerbate the flooding by increasing the area covered in concrete, asphalt and other impervious surfaces, which prevent rainwater seeping into the ground. This increases water runoff - excess water sitting on the surface of the land. This runoff floods the city.

As with many Thai cities, Udon Thani is growing rapidly and solutions are urgently needed to alleviate the increased flood risk. The Bangkok-based planning and design firm estudioOCA has a vision for the future of Udon Thani as a "green" city, mitigating flooding by using "natural infrastructure," including wetlands, trees and parks.

A perspective showing the proposed Green Infrastructure Master Plan combining natural and built infrastructure systems for the Udon Thani area (Credit: estudioOCA)

In a year-long project, landscape architects, engineers and scientists have worked together, to test the feasibility of natural infrastructure to soak up excess water. Using a hydrological model, in combination with design and engineering tools, they have designed a natural infrastructure network that links green areas across the city.

This work has shown that the wetlands and green areas "buffer" water flows; reducing flooding by slowing water flow during storms and increasing infiltration. In essence, they act as a sponge to soak up water before a flood occurs.

Research in Asia by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has highlighted the value of urban wetlands, particularly for the urban and suburban poor. For example, wetlands within the city boundary of Hyderabad, India support the growing of rice, vegetables and cattle fodder that are sold in the city markets - a major contribution to the livelihoods of many subsistence farmers. Similarly in India's northeast, the wetlands of Kolkata not only help reduce flooding in the city, but also support 32,000 people who fish for a living - all while treating the city's sewage.

In both cases, haphazard urban sprawl is causing the degradation and loss of these wetlands - up to 50% loss in Kolkata between 2000 and 2012 - thereby threatening the poorest residents that are most dependent on the benefits that wetlands provide.

In contrast, the government of Sri Lanka now recognizes the vital benefits of urban wetlands and are working to conserve and enhance their potential, including for flood mitigation. Colombo aims to be one of the first official "Wetland Cities" accredited by the Ramsar Convention. Planners foresee not only better flood protection, but a more competitive and livable international city.

In Udon Thani, the vision is not only to protect existing wetlands, but also restore lost and create new wetlands, along with other natural infrastructure. The aim is to protect the city from flooding, while also providing additional benefits such as green and recreational spaces. A key goal of the "green infrastructure master plan," that estudioOCA has proposed, is to increase the diversity of landforms within the city. In Europe and the US such diversity has been shown to fight floods and help cities recover more quickly in their aftermath.

Plans for a new park on a canal in Udon Thani, creating a new wetland to slow the speed of water during storms and increase infiltration during (a) dry, and (b) monsoon seasons (Credit: estudioOCA)

In recent years, urban development in Thailand - and throughout most of Southeast Asia - has largely outpaced proper urban planning. Now is the time to recognize that wetlands are an integral part of urban landscapes; a key component of natural infrastructure that provide numerous benefits. As such they must no longer be neglected. Wetlands must be incorporated explicitly in urban planning.

The vision for Udon Thani illustrates what can and must be done. Planning and wisely using wetlands and other natural infrastructure to create "sponge cities" is a crucial step on the way to the greener, healthier and less flood-prone cities of the future.
This blog was originally published as an Op-Ed in The Bangkok Post and the version published here has been lightly edited. Thrive blog is a space for independent thought and aims to stimulate discussion among sustainable agriculture researchers and the public. Blogs are facilitated by the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) but reflect the opinions and information of the authors only and not necessarily those of WLE and its donors or partners. WLE and partners are supported by CGIAR Fund Donors, including: ACIAR, DFID, DGIS, SDC, and others.

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In an era of rampant land development and increasing climate unpredictability, the world is growing used to alarming images of flooded city streets. Urban floods cost billions of dollars per year. Even the mildest can bring traffic to a standstill and cause economic hardship for merchants and residents.

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Although a random search, something like this might be of value in some instances. A practical solution it could be, though I think we need to treat the causes rather than the symptoms. 

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Although a random search, something like this might be of value in some instances. A practical solution it could be, though I think we need to treat the causes rather than the symptoms. 

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The government of Thailand asked the two architecture firms to work on a solution for the increasing problem of flooding in Thailand. In the past, most people in Thailand lived near the river in homes equipped to deal with the rise and fall of the water, but as people have expanded beyond the river, their homes are no longer appropriate for flooding. As such, Site Specific and Prefab Laboratory were tasked with creating a solution that could permanently solve the property damaging and at times, life threatening, issue. Their solution came in the form of floating buildings that can rise and fall with the water. The various buildings are situated within the community so that neighbors can help each other during the flood and everyday life can continue on.

Four different types of buildings were designed to accommodate most of the needs for the community, including a residential building and civic buildings. The building is constructed on top of a prefabricated steel floatation system located in a trench underneath the home and is kept in place by a slip-column system that lets the house travel up and down with the water. The floatation system is underground for two reasons. First, with it under the house, the floatation system is hidden and the home sits at the street level, making it more appropriate for modern Thai life. Second, as flooding begins, water first pools in the trench and the home begins to be buoyant before major flooding occurs.

Backup systems like rainwater collection, solar and wind power systems, and protected food storage areas allow each home to function even if city utilities fail. The new buildings would be arranged in mini-communities typically made out of 5-10 buildings, so families can assist each other during the flood until more help arrives. Ideally, as the buildings float, no property is lost or damaged and people can continue to live as normal, albeit traveling by boat rather than by foot.

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Amphibious Houses Could Provide A Permanent Solution For Flooding In Thailand

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The government of Thailand asked the two architecture firms to work on a solution for the increasing problem of flooding in Thailand. In the past, most people in Thailand lived near the river in homes equipped to deal with the rise and fall of the water, but as people have expanded beyond the river, their homes are no longer appropriate for flooding.

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Another very disturbing video showing the effects of flooding. 

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Another very disturbing video showing the effects of flooding. 

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Woman dies after torrential rainfall hits the UK

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Storm Ciara Effects in Yorkshire. It makes me realise how lucky I am. Sometimes, I don't know I'm born...

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Storm Ciara Effects in Yorkshire. It makes me realise how lucky I am. Sometimes, I don't know I'm born...

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Storm Ciara brings flooding and severe disruption to UK | ITV News

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Padlet of Resources

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Padlet of Resources

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What Can Designers do to tackle the Climate Change Crisis?

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What Can Designers do to tackle the Climate Change Crisis?

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Sarah Dawood explores what designers can do about environmental issues in this article for Design Week

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We talk to graphic, product and industrial experts about the responsibilities the industry has in helping to save the planet, from designing persuasive visual campaigns through to better public transport and car-sharing schemes.

As environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion took to the streets to protest this month, people across the world are waking up to the impact human intervention has had on the planet, from carbon emissions and rising global temperatures to plastics polluting the oceans.

While the group's interferences across London, Edinburgh and more look to push governments to take the issue seriously and cut carbon emissions to zero by 2025, climate change activists recognise that is crucial for both policy-makers and individuals to take action - another of the organisation's demands is to create a citizens' assembly, allowing the public to oversee authorities' progress and contribute to the cause.

Much of the debate around pollution, carbon emissions and climate change is centred around the consumerist and Capitalist nature of Western culture in particular, which fuels people's obsession with buying, throwing away and replacing goods. Fast fashion and electronics are two of the biggest culprit industries; the UK has the highest consumption of new clothing in Europe, with an estimated 23 million items of clothing sent to landfill in 2017.

As creators of new "stuff", from advertising posters through to smartphones, furniture and magazines, designers have a role to play in the responsible sourcing of materials and production of goods. Equally, digital and UX (user experience) designers creating new websites, apps and artificial intelligence (AI) technology are at the forefront of a movement that is enabling physical things to become intangible, helping to cut physical waste by bringing music, books, radio and more into the digital space.

However, it is easy to forget that digital products such as websites and apps also have a carbon footprint - the internet, powered mostly by servers in data centres, consumes a gargantuan amount of electricity, while the advancement of digital also means that people's appetite for new physical products, such as phones, smart home hubs and virtual reality headsets, is also growing.

Designers of all fields have a responsibility to contribute to helping the climate change crisis in some way - whether through upcycling new mobile phones through old components, sourcing biodegradable materials for furniture and packaging, or helping to spread a message through effective graphics. In fact, Extinction Rebellion itself has placed a lot of emphasis on its graphic design, employing an art team to create inspiring, consistent and colourful protest materials, open-source for anyone to use.

Create effective, powerful visuals

Graphic designers, illustrators and UI (user interface) designers have a big part to play in helping to decipher dense statistics and information around the environment, from rising temperature and sea levels to the number and type of species and habitats becoming extinct. Freelance illustrator, Ben Tallon, says that visual communicators should "avoid the temptation to be visually angry and preachy", and instead try to be "clever, subtle and original" in sharing facts that make for difficult reading. The best way to do this is through not working in an isolated way, but instead alongside scientists and environmental specialists who can help to digest and lay out information, he says.

Tessa Simpson, designer at studio O Street, adds that it is graphic designers' core job to make any information "digestible" and enticing, and they therefore have a responsibility to do this for "the biggest problem [the world] currently faces". "There's a lot of data out there about the impact of climate change and now more than ever this needs to be packaged up, branded and communicated to the masses," she says.

As well as empowering the public by breaking down arguments visually, Danny Miller, co-founder at Human After All, adds that designers should use their skills as emotive communicators to "truly resonate" with people, not only simplifying complex data but also sharing stories of human experiences and focusing on how people will individually and collectively be impacted by climate change.

Don't design in isolation

Creating a single range of furniture made from a natural material such as cork, seaweed or a fungus like mycelium might be a step in the right direction and is something many designers have attempted in recent years - but this is little more than a token gesture towards a massive problem, says Nicolas Roope, founder at digital studio Poke London.

Rather than creating individual products "in a vacuum", product and industrial designers in particular should be using their skills and imaginations to actually change industry and "move markets towards new modes and behaviours". One example of this is CupClub, a cyclical coffee cup reusable system, originally created by Studio D-Tale, which has since helped to form part of a wider conversation around reusable cups and plastic waste. "Designers should make these steps feel like progression, not compromise," says Roope.

Paul Priestman, co-founder at industrial studio PriestmanGoode, agrees that designers should be thinking on a "macro", or large-scale, level, tackling societal issues such as public transport and city infrastructure. This includes helping to design bus and train networks that are more accessible, better walking routes around cities, and vehicle-sharing systems that complement the advancement of self-driving cars. As well as benefiting the environment, all these societal changes would impact populations in other ways, he says, including improving general health and wellbeing, and creating a more inclusive environment for those with disabilities and physical impairment.

When it comes to creating smaller, mass-produced products such as electronics and furniture, Priestman adds that designers have a responsibility to create "consumer products that last", or which can be "repurposed", rather than encouraging a throw-away culture. In doing so, this will have a wider impact on people's buying and living habits: "We need to move away from a culture where people want to change their mobile phone every six months," he says. "It's about changing consumer behaviour as well as affecting the supply chain."

Be ethical in who you work with

Design studio leaders are very much aware of the bottom line, and the subsequent need to balance worthwhile but lower-paying jobs, such as charity work, with less inspiring, corporate projects that bring in money.

But Katie Cadwell, senior designer at Supple Studio, says that given the scale of climate change, designers today do have a moral obligation to be pickier about which clients they work with, adding that "working with someone is endorsing them".

Recent examples of studios committing to eco-friendly and worthwhile projects include NB Studio's branding and packaging for sustainable children's clothing brand Petit Pli, and studio Ilka's collaboration with the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce to create Circular Hub, an exhibition showcasing products designed to be reused and recycled.

Equally, Pentagram used its authority as a global design entity to promote environmental group Do The Green Thing in 2016, through creating its Christmas campaign Ungifted, which encouraged consumers to give "time rather than tat" as presents, using the power of visual communication to help limit mass consumption.

"If we all made a decision to only work for people who are doing good by our planet, then the best-looking brands on the shelves would also be the ones with an eye on our future," says Cadwell. "We should be using our powers for good."

Jonathan Barnbrook, a graphic designer well-known for his political work protesting issues such as the arms and weapons trade, agrees that designers should be "using their creativity in a way that is useful to society", rather than producing "'cool' work for companies that encourage endless consumption". He also recognises that studios face challenges in doing so, including a less steady income, being rejected by potentially lucrative and commercial clients in the future and the risk of a more daring or maverick project not working out.

"It is not an easy path to be contrary, but really what is more important - that you are comfortable or that you are decent?" he says. "Designers, no matter where they work, as citizens of the world first and foremost, and need to do whatever they can to be good citizens."

Take individual, as well as collective, responsibility

Bearing in mind Barnbrook's point of the necessity to be a "good citizen" as well as a good professional, designers should be advocating sustainability and limited consumption in their own personal lives as well as work lives, adds Cadwell.

"We need to get rid of apathy, and do things on a smaller scale too," she says. "We should stop thinking 'recycling this one baked bean tin won't matter', as well as 'it's fine taking on this one client that makes me feel a bit uneasy'. It's time we stopped excusing ourselves with 'it won't make a difference'."

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What can designers do to help tackle the climate change crisis?

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We talk to graphic, product and industrial experts about the responsibilities the industry has in helping to save the planet, from designing persuasive visual campaigns through to better public transport and car-sharing schemes.

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'Signpost' page to Transition Town Worthing with links to local campaigns about environmental issues

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We live on a finite planet with finite valuable resources. When we say we are throwing something away, where is "away" and what damage to the environment is the result?

Our aim is to create a shift in consciousness towards reducing and refusing packaging, reusing, recycling, refilling, repairing, repurposing, upcycling, composting and sending nothing to landfill. Click here to find out more about zero waste.

Repair Cafes are free meeting places where people can come together to repair household items that might otherwise end up in landfill. At the Transition Worthing Repair Cafe you'll find volunteers, with appropriate tools to help you repair all kinds of things. Some needing more expertise than others!

Please click here for Plastic Free Worthing.

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We live on a finite planet with finite valuable resources. When we say we are throwing something away, where is "away" and what damage to the environment is the result? Our aim is to create a shift in consciousness towards reducing and refusing packaging, reusing, recycling, refilling, repairing, repurposing, upcycling, composting and sending nothing to landfill.

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Laura Lamn explores 'Off Grid' Living in this vlog report on Earthship Brighton

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VLOG - Tour of Earthship Brighton - Laura Lamn - Off Grid Living

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Local organisation which sets up environmental projects about the built environment such as Earthship Brighton

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Welcome to the Low Carbon Trust and the home of Earthship Brighton.

We are a not-for-profit organisation formed in 2001 to set up, manage and promote environmental projects around the built environment.

You can get updates on Earthship Brighton and our projects by subscribing to our newsletter ' Low Carbon News'.

One of our first projects was building Earthship Brighton. Despite the name, the aim of this project was not to build a 'ship' in the conventional sense, but to construct a building that would be used to show how a low energy and low waste future could look. All of our green building training and Eco Education Days for local schools are based at the earthship.

Earthship Brighton is an environmental education centre and after winning numerous awards is being showcased as one of the most progressive eco-buildings in Europe. Our book Earthships in Europe covers the project in detail. Also, click here for an interactive demonstration of the structure and function of Earthship Brighton. We offer regular and private tours of Earthship Brighton.

Our objective is tackling climate change through highlighting the connection between buildings, behaviour, energy use and carbon emissions.

Our aims are to:

Promote low carbon buildings, policies and livelihoods in the face of climate change

Promote and develop models of good practice of low carbon construction

Initiate and support the adoption in the UK and in Europe low carbon developments as affordable buildings

We do this by running innovative sustainable construction projects, research projects, green building courses and Eco Education Days for schools. We offer a range of low carbon consultancy services including Passivhaus design. We also run awareness raising events and conferences such as Eco Open Houses.

We are proud to be members of the AECB, Earth Building UK, the Passivhaus Trust, the Federation of Open Home Networks and the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance.

Please support our ongoing work in tackling climate change and realising a low energy future:

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Welcome to the Low Carbon Trust and the home of Earthship Brighton. We are a not-for-profit organisation formed in 2001 to set up, manage and promote environmental projects around the built environment. You can get updates on Earthship Brighton and our projects by subscribing to our newsletter ' Low Carbon News'.

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Online archive of documentaries about social and environmental change

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Films For Action: A Library for Changing the World

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Browse and watch 5000+ documentaries and videos - 99% free. No ads. Submit films. Share with friends. Let’s change the world together!