arms 1 – dissertation proposal

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ARMS 1 Dissertation Proposal

Is the European concept of Eco-City transferable to India?

1. Introduction

Severities of effects related to issues regarding global climate change and growing

urbanisation are being recognized all over the world. Nations all over are trying to

find effective ways to address these issues. One approach to this is the phenomenon

of Eco-cities. However, it is only in recent years that the eco-city phenomenon has

become truly global and mainstream, against the background of a majority of people

now living in cities and the growing international recognition of the scale and severity

of climate change.Eco-CitiesA Global Survey 2009 (Joss, 2010)

In India the need for Eco-cities is more quality related. Since, there is a need to

increase the standard of living, as the living and sanitary conditions of the bulk of the

urban population are deplorable. Problems like over crowding and haphazard growth

of towns and cities due to land-use conflicts, pollution problems, pressures on

natural resources, socio-economic issues related to industry, commerce and trade

are seen. Whereas, in European countries like in Britain, the major need is to solve

problems of housing and climate change. In Freiburg the need was to protect the

climate, water and soil by reducing the green house gas emissions and reducing the

carbon footprint.

From the above following observations can be made:

Though varied reasons for need due to cultural differences, the basic principle

is urban sustainability and related governance.

Eco-city developments come laden with normative assumptions and cultural

values and involve a range of conflictual policy and political issues.

Hence, Given the recent rapid expansion and mainstreaming of Eco-city

initiatives, it is timely to explore the political, social and economic governance

of Eco-city innovation


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1.1 Research Objective:

Thus, the objective of the study is to explore the nature and extent of transferability

or deliverability of Eco-cities concept through different political and planning systems

from culturally diverse background cities in India and Europe.

1.2 Research Aims:

Within the overall objective the research has the following specific aims:

Are the current policy and regulatory mechanisms for accessing

environmental impact and its mitigation neutral, objective and effective?

To identify key lessons as these could provide guidelines for development of

new Eco-cities.

How effective eco-city development is achieved through the coordination and

integration of the work of designers, engineers, planners and policy-makers.

How various stakeholders and users get involved.

To explore policies, planning processes and implementation strategies within

various local, national and international setting.

2. Context and wider literature:

Urbanization in developing countries is a defining feature of the 21st century. About

90 per cent of global urban growth now takes place in developing countries and

developing countries are projected to triple their entire built-up urban areas between

the years 2000 and 2030. This unprecedented urban expansion poses severe

challenges to cities and nations across the world.

A short time horizon is available to impact the trajectory of urbanization in a lasting

and powerful way. The decisions made today can lock-in systemic benefits for the

present and for future generations. [Eco2 Cities: Ecological Cities as Economic

Cities published by the World Bank (2010)] Thus, initiatives to achieve sustainable

management of resources and planned growth of cities by development of Eco-cities

are being launched to respond to this challenge and help cities in developing

countries.


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India is one of the most rapidly developing countries. The McKinsey report

[(McKinsey Global Institute, 2010 cited in Migration and global environmental change

2011(Dutta, 2011)] on Indias urbanisation has predicted a rise from 28% in 2001 to

almost 36% in 2026. To accommodate this growth, the McKinsey report

suggests that India will need a planned portfolio of at least 2030 new cities.

Urbanisation and Environment are fundamentally related. Rapid urbanisation brings

with it associated environmental challenges of increased greenhouse gas emissions,

resource depletion and changes in climatic conditions. The rapid expansion of Indian

cities has led to increased risks of flooding, drought and a host of other

environmental disasters.

However the current environmental policies in India are weak as they are

contradictory, sending conflicting messages and there are major gaps between

policy wordings and its implementations. In the absence of laws that prioritise

environmental protection, sustainable development of new cities run the danger of

being co-opted by private economic interests. Hence, in order to develop Eco-Cities

in India, need for stringent environmental policies and regulations seem to be one of

the central concepts.

While in Europe, countries like Britain, initial concepts of Eco-cities aroused great

interest but also generated considerable scepticism and opposition to particular

proposals. The reasons for this are complex but at root it is believed that there is a

disconnection between the planning process and the means of delivery.One such factor is provision of funds, even though public funds were being

committed on a major scale, the funds provided by government were still only a

small part of the total investment. The bulk had to come in one form or another from

private investors in the short-term and from house buyers or social housing providers

and their tenants over the longer-term. Thus, achieving an increase in housing

numbers, creating more affordable homes with superb standards of design and

sustainability added significantly to public expenditure. Also, this initiative came at a

time when there was a sharp downturn in the private housing market in the UK. As, a

result in recent years, successful large-scale eco-city developments in UK are hard

to find.


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While in other parts of Europe projects delivering sustainable homes and

communities, which address the concerns about deliverability, economic viability,

building new communities and creating a sense of place are being built and occupied

at a speed, which is unheard of in the UK. It is believed that European examples

have managed to achieve more collaborative ways of working, which are more

efficient and have yielded better results, more quickly. [Beyond Eco-towns- Applying

the Lessons from Europe 2008 (PRP, URBED and Design for Homes 2008)]

The above literature gives a basic outline in understanding the needs, issues and

development of Eco-cities in culturally and politically diverse backgrounds. However,

to understand if the concepts are transferable, particularly focusing on the innovation

and governance processes driving and shaping eco-city developments in varied

cities, there is a need for analysing and comparing contemporary eco-city initiatives.

3. The study design

The methodology I will be using is current theoretical and empirical research focuses

on the following areas of Eco-city development through use of various secondary

data sources:

International comparative analysis, including comparing policies, types (new

build/in-fill/retrofit), planning processes and implementation strategies within various

local, national and international settings

Governance analysis, including understanding into decision-making structures,

processes and contexts and related issues of risk and complexity management,

planning co-ordination and political/public accountability

Innovation studies, including analysing socio-technological, economic and cultural

innovation structures and processes.

International eco-cities Initiative, 2010 (Jose, 2010)

To begin the research I will do an initial horizon-scanning of recent eco-city

initiatives carried out by identifying eco-city initiatives through the analysis of relevant

academic literature, policy documents, and websites of international networks and

interest groups in order to determine the scale and extent of the phenomenon and to


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understand the cultural diversity. While this methodology may not capture all eco-city

developments it should nevertheless be sufficiently comprehensive and robust to

identify major initiatives.

As, my research will be more focused on the recent period, earlier initiatives, which

did not go beyond conceptual stage or were abandoned will not be included.

Secondly, identification of eco-city initiative, including information about the nature of

development, key factors involved, and availability of data and thirdly I will try to

identify key trends and patterns across the identified eco-cities.

Another secondary source of data I would be using is case studies of three Eco-

cities set in culturally diverse backgrounds. The included case studies will be:

India, LavasaIndias first eco city?

Germany, Freiburg - with its two new urban extensions: Vauban and

Rieselfeld

Both, these case studies are from varied backgrounds. One is a semi-successful

attempt of an Eco-city and other is an already well-developed Eco-city. Analysing

and comparisons between their initiatives in various national and cultural contexts

and drawing conclusions about the common features in terms of final product and

process will help in identifying answering to the dissertation question.

Furthermore, I will use the knowledge I gained from attending the following:

A seminar on environmental impacts due to climate change

A seminar and workshop on Freiburg.

I also wish to contact Simon Joss who is a part of the International Eco-cities

initiative and has done extensive research in the subject of Eco-cities, to gain more

information and further understanding of concepts of Eco-cities at an international

level.

However, I do understand that there can be limitations. As, the secondary research

methods need to be scrutinized closely since the origins of the information may be

questionable. Also, other affecting factors such as presentations not in form that me


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the exact market needs as well as the time of collection of the data. Thus, adaption

of a method that is most likely to meet the objective of the research is essential.

How to do research, (Nick Moore)

4.Ethical Issues

Every project has associated ethical issues.according to Kitchin and Tate, [cited in

Women in Planning, (Anon, n.d.)] However, common ethical and political issues in

social research are presented as merely technical issues with the researcher as a

detached scientist finding out the truth about objective reality. But, as research is asocial activity within a socio-political context, outcomes are determined by how the

research is carried out, how it is reported and to whom. (SHU ARMS module guide,

2012)

In case, of the methodologies I would be using to do the research, most of the data

is being acquired from secondary data sources such as books, reports, official

websites and case studies. Hence, there are no concerned research ethical issues

involved in my dissertation that would be responsible to affect any participants

beliefs.

Another ethical issue that must be adhered to is of confidentiality. In case, being

granted access to certain official documents to support my research I will see to it

that respect their confidentiality status and use them only for referencing.

Thus, my main agenda for undertaking this research is purely for academic purposes

and expanding my knowledge and in no way breaching any ethical codes of conduct


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5.Biblography:

Datta, Ayona. (October 2011). Migration and Global Environmental Change

CS11: A review on the potential risks associated with development of new

eco-cities in India in relation to climate risks/urbanisation.Case study: MumbaiPune region.

This review has been commissioned as part of the UK Governments

Foresight Project, Migration and Global Environmental Change. The views

expressed do not represent the policy of any Government or organisation.

Fielding, Nigel and Jane. (1987). Linking Data- qualitative research methodsseries.

Joss, S., Tomozeiu, D. and Cowley, R., 2011. "Eco-Cities - a global survey:eco-city profiles", University of Westminster (ISBN 978-0-9570527-1-0), 101pages.

Joss, S. 2009. Eco-Cities A Global Survey.

Joss, S. 2010. Eco-Cities A Global Survey 2009. Part A: Eco-City Profiles.

Kin, Robert. (2003). Case study research- designs and methods, third edition.

Moore, Nick. (n.d.). How to do research, second edition.

PRP, URBED and Design for Homes. (2008). Beyond Eco-towns- Applying

the Lessons from Europe. Report and conclusions.

Shashikant Nishant, SharmaSakshi and SedhaTryambakesh Shukla.

(October 2010). Eco-City- A case study of Dogton, China
http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=119909http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=119909http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=119909http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=119909http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=119909http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=119909http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=57966http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=119909http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=119909http://www.westminster.ac.uk/?a=119909


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arms 1 – dissertation proposal

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