Sustainable urban planning
Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersWhat is sustainable urban planning?
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 15 Flashcards — Sustainable urban planning
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
What is sustainable urban planning?
Answer
Designing and managing cities to meet present needs while protecting the environment and quality of life for future generations.
💡 Hint
Meet needs now and later
Question
State the 3 Es and give one example of each in city planning.
Answer
Environment (green spaces), Economy (jobs and viable transport), Equity (affordable housing and access to services).
💡 Hint
3 Es examples
Question
What is transit-oriented development (TOD)?
Answer
Dense, mixed-use development concentrated around public transport hubs to reduce car use.
💡 Hint
Build around transit
Question
What is a green belt and what is its purpose?
Answer
A protected ring of countryside around a city that limits outward expansion and reduces sprawl.
💡 Hint
Limit city expansion
Question
What does “compact development” aim to reduce?
Answer
Urban sprawl and car dependency (by increasing density and walkability).
💡 Hint
Density reduces sprawl
Question
What is one key advantage of compact cities?
Answer
Reduced car dependency and lower per-capita emissions due to shorter travel distances.
💡 Hint
Shorter travel
Question
Give two strategies that reduce flooding and runoff in cities.
Answer
Permeable surfaces and sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) such as retention ponds or swales.
💡 Hint
Permeable + SUDS
Question
What is green infrastructure in cities?
Answer
Natural or semi-natural features such as parks, trees, green roofs, and permeable surfaces that provide ecosystem services.
💡 Hint
Nature built into cities
Question
Name two common sustainable transport strategies.
Answer
Bus rapid transit/metro systems and safe cycling infrastructure (bike lanes, bike sharing).
💡 Hint
Transit + cycling
Question
What are the 3 Es of sustainability?
Answer
Environment, Economy, and Equity.
💡 Hint
Triple focus
Question
What is a common challenge in implementing sustainable urban planning?
Answer
High upfront costs, political resistance, and equity issues (who benefits and who pays).
💡 Hint
Costs + politics + fairness
Question
Why are named examples valuable in sustainable city answers?
Answer
They show real-world application and improve evaluation (e.g., Curitiba for BRT, Copenhagen for cycling, Singapore for water).
💡 Hint
Use named cities
Question
What is an eco-city?
Answer
A purpose-built city designed to minimise environmental impact (energy, transport, waste, water) while supporting quality of life.
💡 Hint
Designed to be low-impact
Question
Why is “equity” essential in sustainable city planning?
Answer
A city is not truly sustainable if benefits and burdens are unfairly distributed or if poorer groups are displaced or excluded.
💡 Hint
Fairness matters
Question
Essay tip: What makes a strong evaluation of planning strategies?
Answer
Compare multiple approaches and judge them using effectiveness, cost, equity, feasibility, and co-benefits.
💡 Hint
Evaluate with criteria
Read the notes
Full study notes for Sustainable urban planning
Topic 8.2 hub
Urban systems and urban planning
More from Topic 8.2
All flashcards in this topic
ESS exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free