Urban Resilience: Lessons on Urban Environmental Planning from Turkey

Urban Resilience is a book that advocates for the reintroduction of natural areas and biodiverse green spaces within cities to combat climate change. It emphasizes the need to reduce and de-seal urban surfaces to achieve authentic resilience and introduces a novel approach to understanding resilience for urban planners. The book explores the societal significance of embracing a new cultural paradigm characterized by reduced consumerism and provides a case study of Turkey as a pioneering testing ground for resilient approaches to urban transformation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 116 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2024
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited

Urban Resilience is a concept that emerged from my two-year experience living and teaching ecological planning in Turkey. It stems from the realization that the expansion of urban areas, driven by rapid population growth and economic development, is no longer sustainable. This expansion has led to an increase in the ecological footprint of cities, which is not only detrimental to the environment but also poses significant challenges to human well-being.

To address these challenges, Urban Resilience advocates for the reintroduction of natural areas and biodiverse green spaces within our cities. These spaces not only provide valuable ecosystem services such as air purification, water filtration, and climate regulation but also contribute to the physical and mental well-being of urban residents.

Resilience, in the context of urban planning, refers to the ability of cities to adapt to the changing climate and other environmental stresses. It involves designing cities that are more efficient, sustainable, and equitable, while also being able to withstand and recover from natural disasters and other unexpected events.

Authentic resilience in urban planning requires embracing the reduction and de-sealing of urban surfaces. This means reducing the amount of concrete, asphalt, and other hard surfaces that absorb heat and contribute to urban heat islands, which are a major cause of climate change. It also involves creating more permeable urban spaces, such as parks, green roofs, and urban gardens, that allow water to infiltrate and reduce runoff, which can lead to flooding and other water-related problems.

Stefano Salata, a leading expert in urban resilience, underscores the importance of reducing and de-sealing urban surfaces as the sole viable means of confronting the challenges posed by climate change. He argues that the expansion of the ecological footprint of urban areas is no longer sustainable and that we need to move towards a new cultural paradigm characterized by reduced consumerism and increased sustainability.

Salata's approach to understanding resilience is novel and streamlined. He identifies the key components of knowledge that urban planners need to acquire in order to effectively address the challenges posed by climate change. These include understanding the impacts of climate change on urban systems, developing strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and designing resilient infrastructure and buildings.

In addition to his methodological outlook, Salata provides short personal reflections on Turkish space and society. He explores the societal significance of embracing a new cultural paradigm characterized by reduced consumerism and increased sustainability. He argues that this shift is necessary to create a more resilient and sustainable future for cities and their residents.

Taking the Turkish case as a pioneering testing ground, Salata substantiates the potential of resilient approaches for urban transformation. He showcases successful examples of urban regeneration projects that have integrated natural areas and green spaces into urban planning, resulting in improved air quality, reduced carbon emissions, and increased social and economic benefits.

Urban Resilience is a concept that has the potential to transform the way we design and manage our cities. By embracing the reduction and de-sealing of urban surfaces, we can create more sustainable, resilient, and livable cities that are better equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century. However, this requires a shift in our cultural and societal attitudes towards consumption and sustainability.

In conclusion, Urban Resilience is a concept that emerged from my two-year experience living and teaching ecological planning in Turkey. It stems from the realization that the expansion of urban areas is no longer sustainable and that we need to embrace a new cultural paradigm characterized by reduced consumerism and increased sustainability. By reducing and de-sealing urban surfaces, we can create more resilient and sustainable cities that are better equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century. However, this requires a shift in our cultural and societal attitudes towards consumption and sustainability.

Weight: 316g
Dimension: 158 x 237 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781835496176