Theme 1: Human-Nature Relationships & Sustainability

Where did early cities come from?

agriculture & the domestication of nature (first instance of human ecological control)

Progress traps

when technological advances create new vulnerabilities (overcrowding, pollution)

modern parallels of progress traps

heat islands, waste accumulation 

What is urban evolution inseparable from?

environmental limits

Patrick Geddes

introduced ecological and biological analogies into urban theory

What did patrick geddes advocate for?

thinking globally, acting locally, understanding cities as part of regional ecosystem

What did Patrick Geddes emphasize

observation, community participation, and organic growth instead of imposed-top down systems

Regionalism 

understanding a city requires understanding its surrounding region and natural system 

example of regionalism

Sunny side gardens, NYC - applied Howard and Geddes principles to create low-income, community-focused housing

What does urban expansion threaten?

agricultural land and food security, especially in NZ

What must planners balance?

population growth, environmental quality, and economic opportunity 

Development type: Greenfield

blank slate on rural land, allowed new design freedom, but causes habitat loss and sprawl

What models aim to reduce sprawl and protect natural systems

Smart growth, transit-oriented development, new urbanism (priortizie public space), and greenbelts

Environmental thinkers

Crutzen, Carson, Commoner reframed urbanization within planetary boundaries 

Anthropocene view

humans as a geological force capable of altering Earth’s systems

Role of the environmental planner

reduce consumption, increase efficiency, prioritize what matters most to humanity and the natural environment

What do planners now focus on?

resilience, designing cities that adapt to climate and resource shocks 

What does the shift from growth to wellbeing reframe?

planning as aligning the economy, ecology, and humanity

wellbeing as capital

human and ecological wellbeing are central to planning

Recurring pattern

technological and urban progress create both solutions and new forms of dependency on nature 

Reversal needed

modern sustainability efforts represent an attempt to reverse centuries of environmental alienation

Systems thinking

true sustainability means planning for interdependence (linking social equity, environmental health, and economic function)

NZ application (Legal personhood for nature (Mount Taranaki))

Recognizes the Maori worldview of kinship with the environment 
Moves beyond the anthropocentric view - environment as a legal entity 

NZ application: RMA

sustainable management as a legal duty - integrating environment, society, and the economy

NZ application: wellbeing economy frameworks

Shift from economic growth metrics to wellbeing indicators

Urban design in NZ

Compact city policies in Auckland promote resilience and reduce sprawl, aligning with Geddes regional principles